Recent content by Flamin

Exactly. If beneficial for both parties, I don't see the problem. Everybody happy. That's an answer we will never know. If you think he wouldn't have, that's pure speculation, even though perception is not on his side.

Sure, but this happened after a mutual agreement.

Interesting though sensible move from Cian. Went to Visma to grow in the shadow and learn from the best. Plagued by injuries, he fell down in Visma's pecking order, leaving him with less and less opportunities, yet he does not want to give up on his own ambitions. And rightfully so, as a 22y...

What can you expect, in terms of results, from a cx coach though? It's a 100% individualistic discipline. Simply put, you select the 8 best riders, and each of them goes full gas from the start, every man for himself.

He'll become a manager, not a trainer. His job is to build a structure, manage riders and staff (including big personalities), keep everyone happy, get results etc. And he has been very successful at it at Belgian Cycling. No, he hasn't done it at a high level WT team, but a first time for...

That's a silly statement. In NL, there is 1 outspoken leader, head and shoulders above anyone else. In Belgium, you actually need good people skills to create a team, which is exactly what Vanthourenhout has received unanimous credit for.

They won 3 more stages. I don't think the team *needed* a semi-fit Remco to have a succesful Tour. Not that he has to do it, but since you mention it, when did he help Merlier?

So Remco admits he started the hardest race in the world, at 50% fitness level. Then quits halfway. Nice. His team mates must be incredibly motivated to work for him in the future. The downside of having a big ego.

I should perhaps re-phrase. Maybe he did *some* before, but he took it to a completely different level this year, as he said after the Nationals. Edit: can you fully blame him though? He wasn't going to win the Tour or whatever big race anyway. If you then race with a team that pays pretty...

That Wellens is so much better now, says more about his time at Lotto than about UAE's trainers. It was super obvious imo that he was just living an 'easy' life at Lotto, making money and not challenging himself (enough) anymore. Why didn't he do heat training for example before? It's not like...

What's going on with Bini? Ok, last year's Tour had a better course for him, but nevertheless he's been really underwhelming. Survived the echelons in the first stage and finished second, that's it. He's not even in contention for the green jersey, despite participating in the intermediate...

I invite you to re-watch. Vauquelin attacked, yes. And everyone was about to jump to his wheel. To say attacks were flying off the front, or that there was little control, is stretching it big time. There was Narvaez and Jorgenson to reel in any potential danger.

Attacks were flying off the front? After the climb, there was literally 1 'attack' from Narvaez, then the 2nd was Vauqelin, where Pog crashed. That's it. Nothing was happening at all.

You're kidding, right? P.S.: I don't think they were morally obliged to wait, but yes, it was the most reasonable thing to do. It really is about circumstances. If there still was a stage win up for grabs, and potential gaps could have been made, I'm quite sure we would have seen a different...

Well yes, of course it's about who he is as well. I think that's quite obvious, no? Why would the peloton wait for a rider that is not involved for the gc?