Prologue review. Fantastic Fabian - Again.
Cancellara blasted around the 8.9km in a time of 10:00. It was a perfect ten, as he pointed on the podium. With Martin a further ten seconds back and David Millar (Garmin-Transitions) third at 10:20.
Lance Armstrong was 4th in his best TT since returning to cycling and race fave Alberto Contador was five seconds behind. Some media commentators have said that Contador would be disappointed and worried, but in my opinion being 4 seconds behind a guy he knows he has covered in the hills is perfect, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
The failures though - Last years 4th place getter and renowned TT rider Brad Wiggins - he conceded 34 seconds to Armstrong and 29 to Contador and 2nd favourite Andy Schleck lost 47 to Armstong (42 to Contador).
Stage 1 - Rotterdam to Bruxelles 223.5 km
So here we go, Stage 1. Through the flatlands of Holland and into Belgium.
The opening stages of the 2010 Giro d'Italia were through the windy wet roads of the Netherlands and they caused carnage. There were multiple crashes on the first 2 stages there, most of Team Sky fell on one stage Christian Vande Velde had to withdraw. Major riders were caught up behind the crashes and lost time.
The wind will be a large factor (they do have windmills in Holland for a reason) and as we saw in last years TdF when Lance Armstrong stole 41 seconds off his GC competitors, the cross winds can cause echelons to form and breaks can be hard to chase down. The big teams of Saxo Bank and Radioshack might flex their muscle here and look to ride at the front and turn on the power in an attempt to catch a few napping and get time off them. Being in the Netherlands the stage is pancake flat meaning that unless we see someone take the initiative it will be at the advantage of the peloton, meaning the sprinters come to the fore. Time after time in last years TdF we saw HTC-Columbia control these stages and chase down any break, they ensured that they had the field covered and that they delivered their man, Mark Cavendish to the line every time.
The Dutch will come out in the 100s of 1000s and line the roads, they will be supporting their men in Orange fresh from the big World Cup win over Argentina on Friday. Early stages mean a lot to sponsors and reputations - My prediction?
Big sprint finish with Cavendish going head to head with Farrar, Hushovd and McEwen for the first of many times. Watch for the action mid race and the possibility of falls.
No comments:
Post a Comment