Boonen vs. Petacchi

Andrija said:

[font=Georgia]It seems their first encounter will be on Ruta del Sol. There's Freire too.[/font]
[font=Georgia]Looking at the stages I think it's slightly in favor of Boonen (maybe more than slightly). Important thing is that this race will, maybe, set the stage for the coming spring (in terms of team work too).[/font]

I'm not sure maybe they try to hide for each other and don't show their cards.... We will know after Milano-San remo

Andrija said:

[font=Georgia]It seems their first encounter will be on Ruta del Sol. There's Freire too.[/font]
[font=Georgia]Looking at the stages I think it's slightly in favor of Boonen (maybe more than slightly). Important thing is that this race will, maybe, set the stage for the coming spring (in terms of team work too).[/font]

It's an interesting question.

One variable though - in a direct match between Boonens team and Petacchi's team working for the sprint, Petacchi could use Zabel as a decoy.

limerickman said:

It's an interesting question.

One variable though - in a direct match between Boonens team and Petacchi's team working for the sprint, Petacchi could use Zabel as a decoy.

Zabel is not selected.
And about hiding cards, yes, MSR is the race. But Ruta del Sol is place to start psychologic war, to take first advantage...

Should be fun! I'm interested to see how their lead out teams work against each other.

tcklyde said:

Should be fun! I'm interested to see how their lead out teams work against each other.

Yeah, that's the thing to watch.
Boonen has train too now (with some Petacchi's "insiders"😉...

Andrija said:

Yeah, that's the thing to watch.
Boonen has train too now (with some Petacchi's "insiders"😉...

And the trains where lookin at eachother during today's first stage of the Vuelta Andalucia so the breakaway came through....

The peloton was over 30 minutes behind!!!!

Results:

1.Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Andalucia)
2.Carlos Garcia Quesada (Unibet.com)

limerickman said:

It's an interesting question.

One variable though - in a direct match between Boonens team and Petacchi's team working for the sprint, Petacchi could use Zabel as a decoy.

Either a decoy or just a monster lead out. Zabel isn't on the start list for Ruta del Sol, but it is going to be interesting to see those two racing together at some point.

artmichalek said:

Either a decoy or just a monster lead out. Zabel isn't on the start list for Ruta del Sol, but it is going to be interesting to see those two racing together at some point.

They will race together at Milano - Sain Remo

this was anticlimactic. 30 minute breakaway and I guess no points left for them to fight over. Even on stage 2, it looks like they just rolled in.

barnstorm said:

this was anticlimactic. 30 minute breakaway and I guess no points left for them to fight over. Even on stage 2, it looks like they just rolled in.

Well, wouldn't surprise me if Boonen/Petacchi did actually agree not to chase down any breakaways full of Spaniards :P.

I am tired of messy sprinters. I am wondering whether Tour of Qatar should be named Tour of [censored] or not because all of the stages were flat. I don't respect guys which are dropped during the first climb of Grand tour.

lapsa said:

I don't respect guys which are dropped during the first climb of Grand tour.

Have you ever tried riding with one? Even up a hill they would kick your a$$.
Try sprinting against them and see if you can finish within 20 bike lengths.

cyclingheroes said:

And the trains where lookin at eachother during today's first stage of the Vuelta Andalucia so the breakaway came through....

The peloton was over 30 minutes behind!!!!

Results:

1.Adolfo Garcia Quesada (Andalucia)
2.Carlos Garcia Quesada (Unibet.com)

Yes! A little preview of this year's "exciting" TdF!
Recall how everyone's been saying how open and exciting racing in the TdF will be without a big team controlling it all. Look what happens when Disco doesnt dominate!

The two sprinter teams let the break go and watched each other while none of the teams that COULD HAVE helped--to save their chances for GC-- did, namely Discovery.
So lets all take a deep breath and realize this is the beginning of some payback from Discovery for all the non-help they received from QuickStep and others and also some less than clean tactics as certain races.
This is gonna be a fun year folks. Johan is gonna play this underdog card till people puke.
A bunch of no name non ProTour teams handed it to the bigboys and will go away with the GC for this race.
Too funny!!!!!

bobke said:

Yes! A little preview of this year's "exciting" TdF!
Recall how everyone's been saying how open and exciting racing in the TdF will be without a big team controlling it all. Look what happens when Disco doesnt dominate!

The two sprinter teams let the break go and watched each other while none of the teams that COULD HAVE helped--to save their chances for GC-- did, namely Discovery.
So lets all take a deep breath and realize this is the beginning of some payback from Discovery for all the non-help they received from QuickStep and others and also some less than clean tactics as certain races.
This is gonna be a fun year folks. Johan is gonna play this underdog card till people puke.
A bunch of no name non ProTour teams handed it to the bigboys and will go away with the GC for this race.
Too funny!!!!!

Umm, by not chasing, Disco ruined any hope they had for GC and for Van Heeswijk winning the stage. So how is that payback?

tcklyde said:

Umm, by not chasing, Disco ruined any hope they had for GC and for Van Heeswijk winning the stage. So how is that payback?

Yes, and we are talking about the Ruta del Sol here. Hardly something to get excited about.

bobke said:

Yes! A little preview of this year's "exciting" TdF!
Recall how everyone's been saying how open and exciting racing in the TdF will be without a big team controlling it all. Look what happens when Disco doesnt dominate!

The two sprinter teams let the break go and watched each other while none of the teams that COULD HAVE helped--to save their chances for GC-- did, namely Discovery.
So lets all take a deep breath and realize this is the beginning of some payback from Discovery for all the non-help they received from QuickStep and others and also some less than clean tactics as certain races.
This is gonna be a fun year folks. Johan is gonna play this underdog card till people puke.
A bunch of no name non ProTour teams handed it to the bigboys and will go away with the GC for this race.
Too funny!!!!!

NO the Ruta Del Sol (or Vuelta Andalucia) is not a Grand Tour, it's one of the typical races where riders are preparing themselves for the season. In the past it was also often won by spanish riders.... Nothing new really...

Finally...
http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/9488.0.html

tcklyde said:

Umm, by not chasing, Disco ruined any hope they had for GC and for Van Heeswijk winning the stage. So how is that payback?

I think they donr care about GC, since Bruyneel already said that going into the race.
Also, other teams have grown too dependent on Disco picking up the slack and I think its a message to the other teams in a race that isnt so important that they need to get their sh#t together. If Boonen and Petacchi are going to dominate or even win, THEY need to take control, the way the Saeco train did with Cipo. Thats all I'm saying.

Do you think Dirk Demol forgets all he did for Boonen and then Tom up and left, yeah right Disco is gonna chase all day for Quick STep and Milram, not.

More importantly I thought the initial press release said it was close.

Petacchi beat Boonen by 2, count em, bike lengths!!
Hammond tucked in for 5th, not bad.