Minor Races Thread 2015 - [SPOILERS]

[The Couch]

It's hard to admit... but it does seem that the most consistent rider of last year (Valvpiti) has started this season in a very similar way and might again be a mighty adversary the whole year through

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

That was a great finish by Degenkolb - his training over the last year has clearly moved even further away from being a pure sprinter (not that he ever was), to being a puncheur, and I think we will see him right in the mix for some of the classics and semi-classics this year. And always great to see Valverde being beaten.

Yep, great bit of riding by Degenkolb and even more satisfying that he beat Valverde on a stage made for him and which most thought he'd take (if you count "a couple of pundits I saw on twitter" and me as "most".)

 

[raindog]

yeah, I was waiting for Degenkolb to come good - I like that lad.
And Cav still up front after a 17% climb - excellent! Apparently he's targeting M/SR - wouldn't it be great if he could pull that off again?

With the passage of time, am I the only one who worries about Gilbert's "amazing season"?

 

[raindog]

bloody hell - Cav even had time to look over his shoulder before crossing the line today

 

[Berk on a Bike]

bloody hell - Cav even had time to look over his shoulder before crossing the line today

It wasn't the finish I expected. Cavendish had some biting comments about "other teams" in his post-race interview.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Great stuff from Etixx Quick Step
Now for Qatar, Boonen and Terpstra, starts tomorrow. We don't seem to be getting it on Eurosport though

 

[raindog]

plenty of little vids here of this year's Bessèges - nice ambiance - enjoy, I doubt this race will carry on much longer
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Etoile+de+Bessèges+2015

I suppose you all know about Tour Med being cancelled this year?
http://www.letourmed.fr/

 

[The Couch]

Gallopin took yesterdays stage in Besseges, current leader before today's TT: Theuns
(...I warned you guys )

 

[carling]

It wasn't the finish I expected. Cavendish had some biting comments about "other teams" in his post-race interview.

Do you have a link to this interview?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

Bob Jungels wins the TT, not sure if he gets the overall tho at the Etoile des Besseges

edit: Jungels takes the overall, with Tony Gallopin 2nd and Kris Boeckmans 3rd

 

[rich p]

Rojas - (heavily linked to Ferrari) wins the opener in Qatar.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Do you have a link to this interview?

It was live on British Eurosport via the host broadcaster, straight after the finish. Might be on Youtube.

 

[thom]

Bob Jungels wins the TT, not sure if he gets the overall tho at the Etoile des Besseges

edit: Jungels takes the overall, with Tony Gallopin 2nd and Kris Boeckmans 3rd

Some reading material:
http://rouleur.cc/journal/riders/bob-jungels-“i-want-be-legend”

 

[The Couch]

The UCI would disagree with putting the Tour of Qatar here... but we know better

Rojas took the win in a selected bunch sprint yesterday (against some pretty big names: Demare, Sagan, Boonen, Guardini, Kristoff and Bouhanni)
EBH andd Pozzato got missed out on the 1st peloton because of the cross winds, showing potentially a hint that a huge improve in their form isn't to be expected
Kittel also missed the sprint because of this, but that's less of a surprise or worry

Some extra comments:
Van Avermaet got some extra training in (since he couldn't contain himself) ... he is really desperately awaiting the upcoming classics to (try to) grab a big win
"Lesser names" but with some nice Classic results in the past: Breschel, Bozic and Vandenbergh also showed willingness to get some extra mileage in them
Jasper Stuyven has a nice 6th place, I am telling you know, he is going to get multiple top 20 placings in the "Classics" races and Cancellara will have an excellent teammate in him

 

[The Couch]

2nd stage of Qatar was much more windy (causing a much more shattered peloton)

Kristoff takes it in a sprint before with Guardini, Van Avermaet, Sagan and Boonen.
Other names that were in the bunch: Rowe, Stannard, Blythe, Stuyven and Terpstra