Tour deLangkawi

Vo2

Thank God I'm not from SA! I'm just visiting! ;D

My niece (somewhere along the line from my mothers side) is dating Robert's brother. I believe they are trying to organise me an autographed jersey. Wish I could get my hands on one of those yellow jerseys he's racking up in Malaysia at the moment!

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Pain is inevitable...suffering is optional

Vo2

Taken from Cyclingnews.com

Those riders in the know, and in the hunt for overall honours, had different ideas, and the chasing peloton was put under extreme pressure. Early on in the climb a group of 15 went clear, and it seemed as though this was going to be the end of the sprinter Hunter's reign supreme in the race.  

No sooner had the group opened a decent gap than the race radio announced that the swift finishing South African, sporting the maillot jaune had attacked the peloton, and was closing in on the breakaway group, and this on a first category climb!

It didn't take long for Hunter to bridge the gap, which must have shocked many, and dashed the hopes of those who supposed that today was elimination day for the Mapei rider. Hunter, a renowned sprinter, who has already taken a crushing time trial victory and a bunch sprint on this race has now shown that he can climb too, and with just one beast of a climb left between Bentong and the KL finish, could he take the overall honours in a race previously dominated by climbers?

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Guest

Hunter is very impressive indeed, but I still don't see him as the overall winner. That climb to the finish of stage 9 seems to be a killer. Looks like Hernan Dario Munoz is in an excellent position to win this year.

Vo2

Ploner, don't you think that Hunter will have enough of a lead by the time they hit stage 9? All he will have to do stay in contact with the climbers and he can pull it off? Maybe the Mapei team can lead from the front and control the race?

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Vo2

Admin, you mention performance enhancers. It's a wonder an enquiry hasn't been launched because of his form at the TDL? :

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Guest

nah i doubt it......It very early in the season, wait till july  ;D

In the tdu lesser riders were handing out a kicking to alot of big names......comes down to who started training first i guess

Guest

It should be close. Hunter is about 2-4 min ahead of Munoz and Lanfranchi, which is roughly the time I would expect the strong climbers to gain on Hunter in the mountain stage.

Vo2

Hunter 2nd in Stage 6! How much more punishment can this guy take?

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Guest

I think stage 9 is the real tough one......he has almost one everything so far tho.

Could he be wining Hansie Cronje style? *;D

Vo2

oops, you touched a sore point there, admin. :-X

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Guest

I'm with you ploner.  Munoz has got Marin on his team.  Marin is a mountain goat. 8)

Guest

Kam Po Wong is another one to watch, he's a very under rated rider. His GC chance are pretty much shot but he is bound to make some big names look ordinary on stage 9, alot can happen in 25 km of climbing (make up 5 mins? maybe)

Guest

I don't know much about him. Is he really that strong? Anyway, he's on my fantasy team for the TdL so I sure keep my fingers crossed for him.

It should be an exciting stage, as there are a number of climbers who'll try to make an impression. Mapei will have a tough time to keep the race under control.

Guest

Shouldn't that be loosing Hansie Cronje style ???