Volta ao Algarve *SPOILERS*

[Flying_Monkey]

First stage today - a very late escape involving ruined Cav's chances and he didn't bother contesting the 'best of the rest' sprint. The stage was won by Paul Martens (Blanco) who just held of Tiago Machado (Radioshack Leopard)

 

[rich p]

HTC wouldn't have let a late break from 1km out spoil Cav's chances! The days of the dream team are over with Eisel, Goss, Renshaw all working for him but it's fun watching him learn to adapt.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

HTC wouldn't have let a late break from 1km out spoil Cav's chances! The days of the dream team are over with Eisel, Goss, Renshaw all working for him but it's fun watching him learn to adapt.

Not sure Sky would have done either. But apparently he prefers the more relaxed atmosphere at OPQS, and I guess if you have a more relaxed atmosphere, this is going to happen now and again.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

This is a hard race to try and predict, lots of wild cards in there, be good to find some tv coverage.

 

[thom]

The build up to the finale is from about 16 mins. Seemed like there was a decent hill before the end that gave a handfull of attackers a good opportunity to escape. Not so surprising if Cav got left behind a bit.

 

[rich p]

As an aside there's another British rider in this race who you may not have heard of...

http://www.veloveritas.co.uk/2012/01/05/tomas-swift-metcalfe-interview/

riding for a local Portuguese team, Carmim-Tavira.

 

[Nearly there]

The footage on eurosport was awful very grainy blurry picture

 

[smutchin]

WTF was going on with that roundabout at 14mins? Were they supposed to go the long way round? Where were the marshals?

Edit: Same again at 17:30!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Looked like Blanco and Radioshack did better reconnaissance of the course than OPQS.

 

[smutchin]

Yes, it looked as if the finish took most of the peloton by surprise.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Ex-track rider, Theo Bos (Blanco) today. Lots of hard chasing over Cat 3s, so Cav nowhere to be seen.

 

[raindog]

the socks are a mistake though

 

[rich p]

Theo Bos was worse than Cav at the small lumps last year and there was speculation that he'd abandon the road and go back to the track. He certainly seems to have upped his game.

 

[rich p]

the socks are a mistake though

Remind me RD, who was it who popularised black socks?

 

[raindog]

It bloody well wasn't me