#VCV2023 traditionally ends with a short flat stage from Paterna to Valencia but this year it contains a 2nd cat climb (Oronet) and a 1th cat climb (La Frontera). Only 94,5 km and 1199 altitude meters. Are we going to see some fireworks?⬇️
The first climb to Oronet is exactly the same as the first climb on Friday. Oronet is an easy climb but a good one for those who want to go into the break. Summit at 67 km from the finish.
Problem for attackers is that the climb crests with 44km to go and the road to Valencia is open and fairly straightforward with a headwind of 2 beaufort. We have one bonus sprint, 10km from the finish line.
With 14 riders within a minute we’ll definitely see some attacks and tactical games. Controlling this stage won’t be easy for Trek. Ciccone should beware of the bonuses too. 3-2-1 with 9.2km to go, 10-6-4 at the finish line.
A break without any GC danger has a chance to fight for the win but in a short stage like this you need some luck and the right names in the break. When teams like Movistar and Bahrain smells a chance for a sprint, they will chase anyway.
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Huge thank you to @Jasperstuyven, only one in the T10 to share his powerdata. Buckle up because the numbers are out of this world crazy. Lets dive right in!
Stuyven has a Quarq powermeter: trustworthy.
Weight: 75kg (strava).
#GlasgowScotland2023
#DomestiqueData by @LoosDieter
Easy start? Hell no! On Crow Road (with cold legs right after the neutralisation): 6.8W/kg for 7'43, that hurts (a lot). After that they did a descent to the local circuit and that's where the race started and never stopped.
#GlasgowScotland2023
#DomestiqueData by @LoosDieter
Go sit down to read this one. Last 4h: 423NP (!!!). Avg watts: 350. Genuinely f*cking insane this. Keep in mind that Stuyven finished 3'48 down on VDP, his powerfile is even crazier. 51 finishers, 24th place on 10', wtf.
🗣️ The goal is winning. Not one particular win, it’s winning. The Tour de France is what I’ve always set my career around. Another win at the Tour is everything to people but, for me, it’s not one win, it’s two or three, whatever I can do.
🇬🇧 Mark Cavendish
🗣️ For me it is quite simple. I can continue riding my bike, I can continue winning, so why not do it? I love it. I love racing. It’s changed. The racing is not as enjoyable but I still love it.
🇬🇧 Mark Cavendish on joining Astana
🗣️ Vino rang and said, ‘What do you think? I won’t be able to pay you what B&B would but come here, there’s no pressure.’
Question 1: Can he handle the kJs that will be burned during #MilanoSanremo?
In the Volta Limburg Classic 2022 he blasted out 1374W for 8 seconds in the sprint, after burning 5282 kJs. This is comparable with the amount that riders burn in MSR.
The Lotto Dstny riders who are currently in 🇪🇸 Spain did a 5' & 20' test. The Classics squad also did 3x 30" sprints afterwards. Here's a table of the 5' & 20' tests. In this thread we'll analyse the results. 👇
🇧🇪 Victor Campenaerts put out 528 watts for 5' and 424 watts for 20'. In all sprints afterwards he put out 1000 watts. Very promising for the classics, surely because he's very aero and only weighs +/- 69kg. Watch out for him during Omloop! 👀
Next up: 🇧🇪 Florian Vermeersch. He didn't share his watts, but all riders did tests on the same climb so we can still compare with VAM, climbing speed per hour. On the 5' test, Florian has a VAM of 2034 VM/h (Campenaerts 2000).
OPINION: 🇳🇱 Mathieu van der Poel should leave Alpecin-Deceuninck to become an even better rider.
Look into this thread to find our reasons behind this opinion.
Thoughts? 🧐
🇳🇱 Van der Poel is one of the best riders in the current pro peloton. His attacking racestyle and not being afraid to lose make him an attractive rider.
He's 27 years old right now, winning the Tour of Flanders twice and other great races are on his palmares.
1/
He wins way more than the average cyclist in the peloton, but does he win enough looking at talent? Does he and his team use his talent the best they can?
🇳🇱 Van der Poel seems to get a lot of freedom within Alpecin-Deceunick, as he is their main guy and loved by sponsors.
2/