[Burkni]

TA organizers clearly wouldn't mind another Cancellara win ... the course has interesting classic-like finishes on a couple of stages but by the looks of it, no huge climbs and TWO TTs (one team, one individual)
Stages here.

[Burkni]

And not one but two stages of 240kms.
Quite clear what is the race to be for MSR-contenders ...

[shag]

For whatever reason T-A doesn't really capture my imagination the way it should. I mostly think of it as "The Race in Which at Least One of My Favorite Riders Will Crash and Break a Bone."

[Jayhawk]

shag, on 09 February 2011 - 09:51 PM, said:

For whatever reason T-A doesn't really capture my imagination the way it should. I mostly think of it as "The Race in Which at Least One of My Favorite Riders Will Crash and Break a Bone."

Seems that way, doesn't it?

I love this race -- beautiful setting & usually good competition. Is Cance in this one? That could make it boring.

[Burkni]

I love this race too but agree, also crash-infested.
Stuart O'Grady, for one, shouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole

[Burkni]

The logo is ridiculously cool:

I will hereby go on record, not to predict the winner of TA but to narrow down to the winner of MSR:

It will be a rider who contends the sprints on stages 2 and 3, goes through 240km stages 4 and 5 losing a bunch of minutes on each, and then abandons before the TT on stage 7.

[The Rake]

Burkni, on 08 March 2011 - 09:57 AM, said:

The logo is ridiculously cool:

I will hereby go on record, not to predict the winner of TA but to narrow down to the winner of MSR:

It will be a rider who contends the sprints on stages 2 and 3, goes through 240km stages 4 and 5 losing a bunch of minutes on each, and then abandons before the TT on stage 7.

Great design. Based on the exploits of the great Francesco Moses perhaps

[Jayhawk]

The Rake, on 09 March 2011 - 08:07 AM, said:

Great design. Based on the exploits of the great Francesco Moses perhaps

[Jayhawk]

What is going on with Universal Sports? We were channel surfing tonight, and there's the race on Universal -- one hour coverage. This is very confusing.


There was the press announcement from Velonation in February saying Universal would show Strade Bianche, T-A & the Giro. But last week there was no Strade Bianche coverage. When I checked Universal's web site, I didn't see any road cycling in their TV line up for March. Strange.

I really wish Universal would do a better job of promoting their cycling coverage. I really wanted to see this race & have missed a chunk of it thanks to Universal's confusing web site.

[N.B.O.L.]

Universal is not much of an option for me. The only way I can get it is from a internet broadcast package from a "Faith Based" company. I have nothing against them, but Universal sports is the only thing they have that I want that I don't already have with Directv. It is a pretty expensive way to watch a little bicycling coverage. I did know they were carrying the race by the cross promotion on Versus. Why they can't get it straight on their site as to what they are carrying and what they aren't I don't know.

[Jayhawk]

I realize this is being over optimistic, but I much prefer Universal's coverage to Versus's and was hoping Universal would expand. Last year, they were consistent: programming began at noon, lasting for 2 1/2 hours, with repeats later on. This year, at least for T-A, today's show begins at 5 pm, one hour only.

I just hope this isn't a sign of what NBC thinks of cycling, relegating coverage to bits & pieces here & there. Or I hope NBC doesn't relegate it all to Versus. I'm so sick of Phil & Paul & Bob. Steve & Todd at Universal don't fawn over favorites & are much more informative.

[Jayhawk]

Very much enjoying the Scarponi-Cunego tag team & the return of the Killer.

[Burkni]

Jayhawk, on 13 March 2011 - 10:27 PM, said:

Very much enjoying the Scarponi-Cunego tag team & the return of the Killer.

+1

Two big-name Italians with similar qualities getting on that well on the same team is far from being a given.
I guess Cunego feels comfortable to have someone that complements his qualities and takes some pressure off him.

[Jayhawk]

Lampre could have an punchy, race-changing team this year, provided we see more of this tag-team stuff from Scarponi & Cunego, and that Andrey Kashechkin has something to offer. I've yet to see Kash make an appearance in a race, though. Wonder what the story is?

[shag]

That was a fantastic stage. An excellent parcours; that last km through the narrow streets was great. And Evans . . . looking pretty strong to put it mildly.

[Burkni]

shag, on 14 March 2011 - 03:43 PM, said:

That was a fantastic stage. An excellent parcours; that last km through the narrow streets was great. And Evans . . . looking pretty strong to put it mildly.

True.
There isn't an aggressive, race-shaping team whos wheels he can't follow in an uphill victory.
He will breeze to overall victory tomorrow.

[shag]

Burkni, on 14 March 2011 - 04:28 PM, said:

True.
There isn't an aggressive, race-shaping team whos wheels he can't follow in an uphill victory.
He will breeze to overall victory tomorrow.

C'mon Burkni, lay off ol' Cadel. He raced that smart. Now, if you want to offer some criticisms of his approach to the victory "salute", I'm totally on board with that.

[Burkni]

Very smart, I agree. Did exactly what he needed , it was up to the others to try and drop him, and they failed. Hell, his team even hit the front in the last 10km

Not being able to muster a decent salute after completely draining yourself I can completely understand ...

[Jayhawk]

Cadel fought with every ounce of effort for his win today, with Scarponi, Basso, Gilbert, Velits, Garzelli, et al. all gunning for the stage. I didn't see him wheel following during the end.

Cobblestones, sharp turns & steep grades -- oof! I thought Cadel was going to toss his cookies after finishing, he looked beyond spent.

[buddy]

YAY Cadel. Anytime Burkni make a negative comment on Cadel I know he has done good or great.

Many many many riders are wheel sucks. That is why they are team leaders. They get that priviledge. With that priviledge goes the pressure. The pressure to perform and keep the sponsors happy. Many a rider crumbles under the pressure.

A team leader has workers to do the work. Yes that is why they are called workers. They get paid to do that, not win races. To bag out BMC just because Cadel wins a race is pretty poor form. Are we so critical of other teams when one of theirs wins a race. Not every team blows the race apart. Not all teams are capable.

A win is a win no matter how it comes about. They are all professional and they do what they need to do.

I think Cadel has been quite a brilliant rider since his world championship win. His maturity in his racing certainly improved and his results followed suit. That he could beat that class field on an uphill run to the line was sensational. He went for it at the right time .... everyone else not.

So once again, YAY Cadel.

Thanks,

Buddy