Author: VeloHuman

The Recon Ride Podcast: Giro d’Italia 2016, Part I

Episode 42: Giro d’Italia 2016 Show, Part I

Grand Tour cycling is upon us! The Recon previews the Giro d’Italia, covering the overall parcours and contenders, and taking a closer look at the first nine stages of the race.

[powerpress]

Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano look ahead to the first Grand Tour of the season, the Giro d’Italia, with particular focus on the first several stages. Astana’s Jakob Fuglsang and Trek-Segafredo’s Giacomo Nizzolo lend a hand with previewing the action.

Photo by ENGIE Italia (CC).

May 4, 2016
Tour de Romandie 2016 Preview

The Spring Classics are in the books, which means it’s time for the Tour de Romandie to kick of several months of big-time stage races. The cycling world has been focused on flatter Northern Europe for the last few weeks, but the Swiss Alps should provide the stage racing GC riders with plenty of opportunities to strut their stuff.

The Route

The race opens with a very short prologue Tuesday before a mostly flat Stage 1. Stage 2 is likely to have some GC impact with two late climbs, though riders may keep their powder dry for the two all-important stages to come.

Stage 3 is a 15km time trial that does have a bit of a climb in it, while Stage 4 will pit the peloton against three Cat. 1 climbs (and two Cat. 3s). The 70th Tour de Romandie concludes with a likely sprinters’ stage in Geneva.

The Overall Contenders

Several former champions are making the start in Romandie this week. Team Sky brings a powerhouse squad led by two-time race winner Chris Froome, whose all-around talent makes him an obvious favorite. Geraint Thomas and Michal Kwiatkowski are also versatile riders whose ability to time trial and climb could put them into contention.

Katusha boasts two former winners in Simon Spilak and last year’s victor Ilnur Zakarin. Both riders thrive in one-weekers, and Spilak in particular has a long history of being very successful racing in Switzerland.

BMC’s one-two punch of Tejay van Garderen and Richie Porte seems almost certain to be in the mix. Porte landed a few Top 10s in the race in the past even when riding in a support role at Sky—given more room to roam, his one-week prowess and excellent TT abilities make him a very dangerous rider.

Nairo Quintana will love the mountainous Stage 4 and can’t be counted out as an overall contender. The time trial mileage is a bit of a question mark for the Colombian however, who may not be 100% motivated at this point in the season anyway. If he is, he’s a threat. If he’s not, Ion Izagirre may be the guy for Movistar.

Thibaut Pinot has turned into a strong time trialist, which will come in handy here. He had a good race in 2015, winning a stage. Cannondale’s three-pronged attack of Rigoberto Urán, Andrew Talansky, and Pierre Rolland could make things interesting. Rui Costa, like Spilak, always races well in Switzerland and has a knack for one-week affairs. He’s coming off a decent run at the Ardennes, which would suggest that the form is there.

Tom Dumoulin, Rafal Majka, Wilco Kelderman, Ryder Hesjedal, Mathias Frank, Miguel Ángel López, Romain Bardet, Bauke Mollema, and Simon Yates are other potential GC protagonists to keep an eye on.

The Stagehunters

Five-time Romandie stage-winner Michael Albasini is an obvious candidate to pick up more victories this year, especially coming off a great week in the Ardennes. Marcel Kittel will be the heavy favorite for any bunch sprints, with Ben Swift and Moreno Hofland as potential outsiders.

VeloHuman Top 10 GC Favorites

Winner: Richie Porte
Podium: Chris Froome, Simon Spilak
Other Top Contenders: Nairo Quintana, Thibaut Pinot, Ilnur Zakarin, Rigoberto Urán, Rui Costa, Tejay van Garderen, Geraint Thomas

Photo by Georges Ménager (CC).

April 26, 2016
The Recon Ride Podcast: Tour de Romandie 2016

Episode 41: Tour de Romandie 2016 Pre-race Show

The Spring Classics are done and dusted and the peloton is gearing up for the Grand Tours. The Tour de Romandie offers some of cycling’s top stage racing stars a chance to showcase their skills in the Alps.

[powerpress]

Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano have all the pre-race angles covered ahead of Switzerland’s Tour de Romandie, which usually boasts an impressive startlist and spectacular mountain scenery. This year is no exception.

Photo by Georges Ménager (CC).

April 24, 2016
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2016 Preview

Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège caps off the 2016 Spring Classics season with a chance for the climbers to nab a big one-day victory. Plenty of big names will make start hoping to come away with a Monumental addition to their palmares in the 102nd edition of “La Doyenne.”

The Route

Liège-Bastogne-Liège takes the peloton 253km from Liège to Bastogne and then back to the general vicinity of Liège, with the finish line actually in the town of Ans. The parcours includes 10 climbs officially, though the race ends on a climb that will almost certainly be critical to the overall victory. The last two official climbs are likely to play a big role as well. Expect attacks to fly on the 1.2km Côte de Saint-Nicolas (8.6% average grade) and the new Côte de la Rue Naniot, a short climb at just 600 meters but steep enough to break things up at 10.5%.

The Contenders

Defending champion Alejandro Valverde is hunting down a fourth career win, and he certainly looks strong enough to pull it off after winning La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday. His strong team should help keep the race under control so that he can dominate the finale with his strong finishing kick.

Etixx-QuickStep brings two of the top favorites to challenge Valverde. Dan Martin is a past winner, and he’s looking good after another Flèche Wallonne podium performance. Liège is a race that suits him very well, and the added climb will give him another chance to attack his rivals. And if Martin isn’t up for this, his teammate Julian Alaphilippe is a terrific second option, with a nice turn of speed.

Simon Gerrans‘s form is a bit of a question mark right now, but if he’s feeling strong he has a great chance to pick up a second career win here. He’s probably the fastest finisher among the top contenders for the victory.

Vincenzo Nibali finally took his first Monument win last year in Lombardy, and he could use the same combination of climbing and descending skills to make a run for the Liège win. A late attack seems practically guaranteed.

You could probably say the same about Tim Wellens. He almost always swings for the fences, and his attacking style has already earned him two Eneco Tour overall wins and the GP Montréal. He hasn’t been able to hit a home run in the Ardennes just yet, but he’s certainly got a shot. Lotto-Soudal also has Tony Gallopin and Jelle Vanendert.

Joaquím Rodríguez didn’t look to be at his best at La Flèche Wallonne but he’s almost always in the mix in this race and can’t be counted out. Neither can Rui Costa, who is made for this sort of profile. Enrico Gasparotto, Michal Kwiatkowski, Romain Bardet, Wout Poels, and Samuel Sánchez are others to keep an eye on.

VeloHuman Top 10 Race Favorites

Winner: Alejandro Valverde
Podium: Dan Martin, Vincenzo Nibali
Other Top Contenders: Julian Alaphilippe, Joaquím Rodríguez, Simon Gerrans, Tim Wellens, Rui Costa, Michal Kwiatkowski, Enrico Gasparotto

Photo by Jean Housen (CC).

April 24, 2016
The Recon Ride Podcast: Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2016

Episode 40: Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2016 Pre-race Show

The Recon Ride dives into the route and the favorites for the final big race of the 2016 Spring Classics season – and the fourth Monument of the year – Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

[powerpress]

“La Doyenne,” the Old Lady of spring classics, brings Ardennes Week to a conclusion this Sunday. Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano preview Liège-Bastogne-Liège, one of the most climber-friendly one-day races on the calendar.

Photo by Jean Housen (CC).

April 22, 2016
La Flèche Wallonne 2016 Preview

“Ardennes Week” is in full swing. The peloton took on the Cauberg this past weekend, which can only mean it’s time for the Mur de Huy this Wednesday…

The Route

La Flèche Wallonne is surprisingly short, particularly this year, at just 196 kilometers.

There are officially 12 climbs on the menu, starting at kilometer 67 and running all the way to the finish. The first 11 will serve to wear away at the legs of the peloton, particularly the 1.3km, 8.1% Côte de Cherave, but this race is almost always decided on the final climb, the Mur de Huy.

A winding 1.3km at 9.3%, the Mur is a brutal challenge that punishes those who don’t time their jump perfectly. Experience matters on the steep slopes of the climb, which maxes out at over 25% for one small section. Things do flatten out near the finish line, meaning that the pure climbers will want to go a little earlier than those with a bit of a sprint.

The Contenders

Alejandro Valverde makes the start in pursuit of a record fourth career win at La Flèche Wallonne, and he looks like a strong candidate to pull it off. For one, the race and the final climb in particular suit him perfectly. These sorts of climbs have been Valverde’s bread and butter for years. He looks strong this season too. Meanwhile, some of the other names that come to mind for this race have yet to really show off any stellar form, making Valverde that much stronger a race favorite. Movistar also has Daniel Moreno, a former winner himself, as another card to play, and Carlos Betancur could be up there as well.

Joaquím Rodríguez probably should have won this race more than just the once, but he’s always a dangerous contender on this sort of finishing climb. It’s hard to say what kind of shape he’s in, but he’ll almost certainly be in the mix.

Form is a question mark after he pulled out of País Vasco, but rarely is Dan Martin not in shape to contest this event, one of his favorites. He has always done well here. Etixx-QuickStep also has Julian Alaphilippe, runner-up just last year. If anyone can challenge Movistar’s top-to-bottom strength, it’s the Irish-French duo leading the Belgian supersquad.

Speaking of former runners-up, don’t overlook Sergio Henao. He has been flying all season and should be able to fight with the very best on the Mur. Sky has a nice support squad to put him into position, and he has an underrated kick on this sort of finish.

Michael Albasini of Orica-GreenEdge is always one to watch at La Flèche Wallonne—he’s never won, but he’s almost always in the mix. Lotto-Soudal has several options with Tim Wellens, Tony Gallopin, and Jelle Vanendert. Look to one of the three (probably Wellens) to try something long-range. Philippe Gilbert looked out of shape at Amstel and is probably beyond the point of being considered a favorite here, but he did win the race once upon a time and so can’t be counted out. BMC teammate Samuel Sánchez may be more of a threat.

Amstel Gold Race winner Enrico Gasparotto, Tom-Jelte Slagter, Michael Woods, Rui Costa, Diego Ulissi, Warren Barguil, Wilco Kelderman, and Roman Kreuziger are others to watch.

VeloHuman Top 10 Race Favorites

Winner: Alejandro Valverde
Podium: Sergio Henao, Joaquím Rodríguez
Other Top Contenders: Dan Martin, Julian Alaphilippe, Michael Albasini, Daniel Moreno, Rui Costa, Tom-Jelte Slagter, Tim Wellens

Photo by Stacy Clinton (CC).

April 20, 2016