Tag: 2016

E3 Harelbeke 2016 Preview

Friday’s E3 Harelbeke is the first of three WorldTour-level cobbled classics in Belgium. Featuring many of the climbs used in the Tour of Flanders, it’s an excellent prep race for De Ronde hopefuls, and it’s also a big prize in its own right. Recent editions have offered plenty of excitement, with late attacks keeping things interesting until the end.

The Route

206.4km in total, the race starts and finishes in Harelbeke, Belgium, traversing 15 climbs along the way. The Oude Kwaremont, among the most important climbs in the Tour of Flanders these days, offers a decisive launching pad late on in the stage, followed by the Karnemelkbeekstraat and the Tiegemberg.

From there, however, it’s roughly 20 flattish kilometers to the finish—as such, anyone hoping to get clear on the hellingen will need a big engine to stay away in the finale.

The Contenders

This race has typically come down to a small group of escapees late on in the day, but a strong finishing kick can be very helpful given the less challenging final kilometers.

Greg Van Avermaet has made a living with his late attacks, and he is sprinting at a very high level right now as well. He’s never won a one-day race on the WorldTour, but this seems like the perfect time to start.

2014 winner Peter Sagan also has the right combination of skills to take the win. Motivation may be a question, but if he’s up for it, the world champ should be in the mix.

Fabian Cancellara counts three E3 titles on his palmares. It’s hard to say whether he’s all that interested in this year’s edition of the event (his eyes may be firmly fixed on the upcoming Tour of Flanders), but he’s one of the best solo artists in the sport on this sort of parcours.

Etixx-Quick-Step is loaded with options. Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra are probably the best bets, though Tom Boonen has won this race a whopping five times. Stijn Vandenbergh is yet another card to play.

Alexander Kristoff is one of the few sprinter types who might have a shot at holding on given the profile. This will be a nice test of form ahead of his Tour of Flanders defense.

Sep Vanmarcke should love this parcours, and like Van Avermaet, he’s sprinting better than ever before these days should this come down to a small group. Vanmarcke was garnering plenty of pre-race attention this time last year, but things have quieted down in 2016 after his disappointing 2015 campaign. That could give him a chance to focus more on his goals and less on media appearances.

Outsiders include Lotto-Soudal’s Tiesj Benoot and Jurgen Roelandts, Sky’s Luke Rowe and Ian Stannard, Lars Boom, Bryan Coquard, and Arnaud Démare, fresh off a Milano-Sanremo victory.

VeloHuman Top 10 Race Favorites

Winner: Greg Van Avermaet
Podium: Zdenek Stybar, Peter Sagan
Other Top Contenders: Fabian Cancellara, Sep Vanmarcke, Niki Terpstra, Alexander Kristoff, Tiesj Benoot, Jurgen Roelandts, Ian Stannard

Photo: Cindy Trossaert (CC).

March 25, 2016
The Recon Ride Podcast: E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem 2016

Episode 36: E3 Harelbeke + Gent-Wevelgem 2016 Pre-race Show

The Recon Ride gets ready for a big weekend of Classics racing with a double-header preview of E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem.

[powerpress]

Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano talk route, favorites, and major storylines ahead of two WorldTour Classics: Friday’s E3 Harelbeke and Sunday’s Gent-Wevelgem.

Photo by Dane Cash.

March 23, 2016
Volta a Catalunya 2016 Preview

An overabundance of big GC stars will battle it out in Spain this week at the Volta a Catalunya, which boasts one of the most impressive startlists of any race in recent memory. All of the big favorites for the upcoming Tour de France (and several outsiders too) will hope to put their skills on display in Catalunya, where a mountainous parcours should provide plenty of opportunities for excitement.

The Route

The Volta a Catalunya doesn’t waste time getting to the good stuff—there are several categorized climbs on the very first stage which could make for some GC action right from the get-go.

Stage 2 will give the stagehunters something to look forward to, thanks to its flatter finish, but heavier speedsters won’t like what comes next. Stage 3 takes the Catalunya peloton up four Cat. 1 climbs, culminating in a double ascent of La Molina. The ski resort at the top of the climb will inevitably be a major GC battleground in this race.

Things won’t really get easy in Stage 4. After a less challenging first 80 kilometers, the road angles upward for the special-category Port de Cantó, and things don’t end there. Up next is the Cat. 1 Alt de Enviny, and then a short decent, and then one last special-category climb, this time to Port Ainé. This stage will likely be the most decisive day in the race.

A late climb on Stage 5 may spur a few aggressors into action but the flat finish will likely hamper anyone with GC aspirations. Stage 6 is the flattest stage in the race, and the one day where a sprint seems almost certain.

The race concludes in Barcelona on a tough circuit that will pit the peloton against eight Montjuic climbs, certainly enough wear down anyone not in strong shape.

The General Classification Contenders

Richie Porte is the defending champion, and with 2015 stage winner Tejay van Garderen in the mix as well, BMC will have quite the impressive squad in Catalunya. But that doesn’t mean the red and black outfit won’t have a huge challenge on their hands.

Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas give Sky a formidable lead duo. This race may lack time trials, but many of the important climbs have the longer, lower-gradient characteristics that make them a prime target for Froome’s skillset.

Alberto Contador will take the start looking to make up last week’s narrow loss to Geraint Thomas at Paris-Nice. Given his current form, he won’t be easy to beat on these climbs.

Nairo Quintana is making his first racing appearance since the Colombian national championships, but keep in mind all the times he’s managed to pull off a big result in a big race without doing much in the way of tune-up racing. The mountainous route plays right into his strengths.

Likewise, Fabio Aru has yet to race a WorldTour event this year, but that doesn’t mean he can be counted out in the overall battle. Sans time trial mileage, this course suits him very well. It should also suit his up-and-coming Astana teammate Miguel Ángel López.

Former winners Joaquím Rodríguez (of Katusha) and Dan Martin (of Etixx-QuickStep) will hope to be in the GC conversation as well. Rodríguez has Ilnur Zakarin for backup.

Romain Bardet, Domenico Pozzovivo, Rafael Valls, Warren Barguil, Tom Dumoulin, Ryder Hesjedal, Julián Arredondo, Esteban Chaves, Mathias Frank, Rigoberto Urán, Daniel Moreno, Wilco Kelderman, and Robert Gesink are others on the very strong list of potential GC protagonists.

The Stagehunters

Nacer Bouhanni headlines a thin crop of sprinters, with Ben Swift among the few other names in attendance capable of winning a true sprint. Despite the short list of sprinting contenders, however, the list of punchy, aggressive types with stage win potential is long.

Simon Gerrans, Gianni Meersman, Julian Alaphilippe, and Jarlinson Pantano all fit that bill nicely. They could be in the conversation on Stages 2 and 5, and possibly in the final stage as well. Gerrans’s Orica-GreenEdge teammate Amets Txurruka could also be one to watch in the stagehunting game. As a breakaway specialist, he’ll have plenty of chances to get up the road in this race.

VeloHuman Top 10 Overall Favorites

Winner: Nairo Quintana
Podium: Alberto Contador, Fabio Aru
Other Top Contenders: Chris Froome, Richie Porte, Tejay van Garderen, Joauquím Rodríguez, Dan Martin, Romain Bardet, Geraint Thomas

Photo by cdamian (CC).

March 21, 2016
Milano-Sanremo 2016 Preview

The 107th edition of Milano-Sanremo gets underway Saturday. 291 kilometers of racing through north-western Italy, the event is a classic in every sense of the word, but unique among the classics in its appeal to sprinters and hardmen alike.

The Route

This year’s Milano-Sanremo route sticks to the recent formula: the first 235km feature only one climb, the Passo del Turchino, and then comes a succession of small ascents sure to launch attacks. The two key climbs are the Cipressa, 5.6km with a 4.1% gradient (summitted just over 21km from the finish) and the subsequent Poggio, a little under 4km at a little under 4% (summitted a little over 5km from the finish).

The race concludes on the iconic Via Roma, with a long finishing straight that usually treats fans to a high-speed showdown.

The Contenders

The Poggio and Cipressa spring attacks every year, but neither climb is hard enough to really favor the escapees. It’s certainly a possibility that someone aggressive can jump clear here, but the bunch kick specialists seem more likely to thrive—in particular, those bunch kick specialists with the endurance to ride for six hours while keeping a sprint in the tank.

2015 winner John Degenkolb fits that bill, but injury has forced him to miss out on the race; he won’t be defending his crown Saturday, leaving the title open for the taking.

2014 winner Alexander Kristoff will be in attendance. He narrowly missed out on the win last year when he opened his sprint far too early, but still managed to come in second. A proven performer at this distance who has looked sharped so far in 2016, Kristoff will have the eyes of the whole peloton on him when the riders roll into Sanremo.

Peter Sagan has come close here in years past and seems like a lock to do so again this year, but he might not have the top-end speed to compete on this parcours. Plus, the distance may get to him—he still has yet to take a victory in a Monument Classic. For Sagan, it will be important to drop or get clear of the likes of Alexander Kristoff.

Michael Matthews of Orica-GreenEdge found himself on the podium in 2015 and should have only gotten better since then. The 26-year-old has yet to take that big one-day win and he is probably just a tad behind Kristoff in the speed department, but he has looked very strong so far in 2016. Former winner Simon Gerrans should be a strong ally.

That trio looks to be a cut above the rest if this come downs to a sprint, but there are quite a few others who could be in the mix.

Fernando Gaviria is a hot name right now given his strong results so far this year and his great top-end speed, but it’s really, really hard to win Sanremo without having ever raced a big classic. If he’s not up for this, Etixx does have Tom Boonen on the squad. Nacer Bouhanni is another sprinter who can never been ignored, though this is a very difficult race that might be too much for the Frenchman who has never been a huge classics star.

Ben Swift, Elia Viviani, Arnaud Demare, Niccolo Bonifazio, and Giacomo Nizzolo are others who should be to hold their own in a sprint.

Fabian Cancellara will be among those hoping to deny the sprinters their shot at the win. He has won Milano-Sanremo in the past and proved his form in the Tirreno-Adriatico time trial. It won’t be easy for him to escape the bunch, but he’ll probably try.

Greg Van Avermaet is another rider who will probably need to break free from the peloton to make something happen here, but if his early season results are any indication, he has all the form in the world right now. He’s also got a lot of speed for a reduced sprint.

Edvald Boasson Hagen is yet another versatile guy who has looked strong this season, and he brings the complete package with his ability to both solo and sprint. Dimension Data teammate Mark Cavendish, a former winner here, has said that Boasson Hagen will be the one to watch.

Vincenzo Nibali will almost certainly make some kind of late attack in this race. His defending skills will give him an edge if he can escape the peloton on the Cipressa or the Poggio.

Tony Gallopin, Tim Wellens, Geraint Thomas, Zdenek Stybar, and Sep Vanmarcke are others who could try to take advantage of the late climbs to make something happen.

VeloHuman Top 10 Race Favorites

Winner: Alexander Kristoff
Podium: Peter Sagan, Michael Matthews
Other Top Contenders: Fabian Cancellara, Greg Van Avermaet, Vincenzo Nibali, Fernando Gaviria, Nacer Bouhanni, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Mark Cavendish

Photo by Sergio (CC).

March 19, 2016
The Recon Ride Podcast: Milano-Sanremo 2016

Episode 34: Milano-Sanremo 2016 Pre-race Show

The Recon Ride takes a look at what’s to come in Milano-Sanremo, the first Monument Classic of the year.

[powerpress]

Dane Cash and Cosmo Catalano talk route, favorites, and big storylines ahead of “La Classicissima,” Milano-Sanremo—with an assist from Gregor Brown, expert on all things Italian cycling.

Photo by Daniel70mi Falciola (CC).

March 17, 2016
Tirreno-Adriatico 2016 Preview

Quite a collection talented riders is headed to Tirreno-Adriatico this week to hunt for results – and the race’s famed golden trident trophy – along the road from one side of Italy to the other. A balanced parcours offers something for everyone in the country’s first big stage race of the year.

The Route

Tirreno-Adriatico opens with a 22.7-kilometer team time trial. It’s long enough to make a difference, giving an advantage to the GC hopefuls with high-octane backing squads, but it’s not so long that it’s going to flat-out win someone the race on day one.

Stage 2 throws a few challenges at the riders at the end of a 207km day. There is a small categorized climb just before the finish that may open up a few gaps.

Stage 3 is a day for the sprinters. Stage 4 concludes with a flat stretch but a string of late climbs could inspire attacks, either from stagehunters or from aggressive GC types.

Stage 5 is the definitive queen stage, with five categorized climbs including a tough uphill finish of 13km at 6.6%.

Stage 6, the longest stage in the race, has some uncategorized ascents late on in the profile that could favor the more versatile riders in the peloton, but it’s hard to see it having any GC impact.

The race closes out with a 10km individual time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto. It’s a completely flat out-and-back run that should see some pretty high speeds.

The General Classification Contenders

Nairo Quintana won the 2015 edition of the race, but he won’t be defending his crown in 2016. However, with Alejandro Valverde leading the way, Movistar still has a great chance of coming away with a win. The Spaniard can do it all, and that’s a big plus on this varied parcours. Movistar’s great TTT will help.

Vincenzo Nibali makes the start in pursuit of a third career Tirreno title, and he too should appreciate the parcours. The queen stage involves plenty of descendning, which should allow the Italian to put his downhill abilities on display. Jakob Fuglsang gives Astana a strong Plan B.

Tejay van Garderen would probably have a hard time drawing up a more favorable parcours. BMC’s world-class TTT squad should set him up well from the get go, and the long queen stage finishing climb and stage 7 time trial will both give him a chance to put his own big engine on display. He looked strong in Andalucía last month and should be among the top favorites in Italy.

Rigoberto Urán will also like the style of climbs in this race and the closing TT, though the opening team time trial may hurt him given Cannondale’s struggle in the discipline. If he can limit his losses there, he’ll have a shot at the overall.

Joaquím Rodríguez should appreciate the plethora of opportunities to punch clear of the pack even if the chrono mileage doesn’t suit him. He has yet to deliver much this season but it’s not unusual for him to show up stronger than expected after a few quiet weeks riding tune-up races. Jurgen Van Den Broeck could be a nice alternative.

Bauke Mollema was runner-up in Tirreno in 2015 and looks to be in good form at the moment. He could be among the GC favorites trying to snipe a few seconds here and there on the intermediate stages.

Thibaut Pinot won’t be a fan of the opening TTT but he’s improved dramatically as a descender and so should be able to hold his own on the queen stag. He’s also capable of putting in a decent ITT, making him a real contender for the overall title.

Ag2r’s one-two punch of Domenico Pozzovivo and Jean-Christophe Peraud should be in the mix, as should Orica-GreenEdge’s duo of Adam Yates and Esteban Chaves. Sky brings a powerhouse trio of Michal Kwiatkowski, Vasil Kiryienka, and Wout Poels.

Diego Ulissi, Roman Kreuziger, Rafael Valls, and Rodolfo Torres are other potential protagonists in the General Classification.

The Stagehunters

Mark Cavendish looks like the fastest of the pure sprinters in attendance, although there are several big names that could challenge him in the bunch kicks. Caleb Ewan, Fernando Gaviria, Elia Viviani, Giacomo Nizzolo, and Sacha Modolo are the headliners there.

Peter Sagan should have a few opportunities of his own as well, as there are some lumpier days. Greg Van Avermaet could be in the mix as well—he actually beat Sagan in a sprint to take a stage here in 2015. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Ramunas Navardauskas, and Jens Debusschere are others worth keeping an eye on in the stagehunting game.

VeloHuman Top 10 Overall Favorites

Winner: Vincenzo Nibali
Podium: Alejandro Valverde, Tejay van Garderen
Other Top Contenders: Rigoberto Urán, Joaquím Rodríguez, Domenico Pozzovivo, Thibaut Pinot, Bauke Mollema, Michal Kwiatkowski, Wout Poels

Photo: ANSA / PERI – ZENNARO.

March 9, 2016