You're including Nieve's 7th place from 10 years ago, and discounting that Adam is 8 years younger than Nieve, and has 3 top 10s in Liege plus his San Sebastian win. Not saying Nieve won't do well, I just think Adam would have a better chance of actually winning the race, and would be more likely to animate it.
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Bonimenier
BANNED
Nothing wrong with being a MVDP fanboy. The guy is great and exciting to watch. Just a bit naïve to think that he can actually win this bike race.
Agree this is a bit too much climbing for him, especially with EVP is going like he is and VDP's form still coming. Just meant the "fanboyism" for EVP is every bit as high as it's ever been for VDP.
I'm actually enjoying watching MVDP fight a bit of an uphill battle. Even when/if he gets to top form, he clearly has a helluva fight on his hands against teams like JV and DQ. That's what I like about him, willing to take all the pressure on himself every race. Guessing that's why he likes MTB and Cross better than Road - balls out from the gun and every man for himself.
Bonimenier
BANNED
Maybe yes, but to be fair he is winning everywhere he starts. It's not like anyone claims that he's going to win a bunchsprint or so.
Yes, and to be clear, I completely understand VDP's limits on the road - especially since I hope he stays with 3 disciplines. He's not a TDF GC guy or even a hillier classic guy or a TT guy. All that stuff is boring and too specialized. I just love being able watch a guy win year-round in epic cross races this year like Namur, first lap at Koksidje, etc., the epic MTB races last fall. It's pretty clear right now though thatthe lack of racing and not being on a first rate road team has hurt him so far on the road in this weird year. Still, if he can to 100% he will win, and could dominate races like PR, Flanders and AG here pretty quick.
Maybe you should read what you wrote about MVDP again. I haven't read anybody here hype Evenepoel at the expense of other equally talented riders, like you have been doing. If you don't see the difference, then you truly are blinded by fanboyism. Never forget, Senna:
You asked me which races i've been watching. Well, lately i've been watching a lot of big races being won by van Aert. What races have you been watching lately? Too bad a guy who is nowhere on the same level as van der Poel has now extended his road palmares to be quite a bit more impressive.
Big races won by Mathieu since Amstel: nothing
Big races won by van Aert since Amstel: 3 stages in the Dauphiné, Stage in the Tour de France, Strade BIanche, Milan San Remo.
Fair enough Logic. I've been watching all the races so far this road "season" and no doubt WVA has been impressive - including today at DL, driving the pace for the "yellow train". He's clearly better than VDP right now, and definitely maximizing his potential by being on a professional team like JV. I'm strictly a fan though - and a fan of all 3 disciplines. So I disagree that VDP hasn't accomplished anything since AG. Establishing yourself as the best MTB in the world, and winning the WC in Cross are not "nothing". Throw in the winning the GC and a bunch of stages on the road in a high level bike race like Britain (guys prepping for the WC's) and that's better than nothing. I root for WVA in any race VDP is not in, so I wish him the best. We'll see what happens when they both line up later this Fall.
No issues with supporting any rider over others. I simply don't see the need to do so while trying to ridicule people who have a different opinion and by dismissing the talent of other riders. It might come back to bite you in the ass.
Admitted, i have somewhat of a softspot for van Aert. Perhaps because he's had to carry that stupid crux. Nothing but respect for Mathieu, probably the most versatile rider in the peloton since the 70s (i'll reserve judgement for Tom Pidcock, who might prove more versatile, but perhaps not equally good on all accounts).
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Big Doopie
BANNED
Simon was never riding Lombardia - For some reason, Chaves is not at Lombardia - Gotta say that Mitchelton has paid scant respect to the Italian races.
Mitchelton's selection for one day races has been puzzling to say the least - Haig was 6th last year and is not riding the TDF, but is at the Dauphine - Chaves is riding the TDF and has already done two-stage races and therefore not riding the Dauphine.
Adam is recovering from illness hence his disappointing performance in Dauphine - Adam is not ready for Lombardia.
I don't really follow the narrative of riders being off peak/exhausted when normally riding Lombardia. This is the top10 of last year:
Nibali is not in great shape just because he's fresh. Quite the opposite, he probably need some more racing in his legs.
Fuglsang doesn't really look as sharp as he looked last spring after riding a few stage races.
Carapaz won't be in top shape considering his biggest target of the year is a month and a half away.
This looks to me like the weakest Lombardia startlist in a long time. And if it wasn't for Evenepoel probably the weakest startlist in any Monument I've ever seen.
Which isn't a bad thing per se. It could lead to some very entertaining racing. Or it could lead to the wonder kid destroying the field on Sormano and getting his fair share of handshakes after the finish line.
- Mollema (looked to me in great shape, winning that way)
- Valverde (coming off his best Vuelta in years and some excellent results in the Italian semi classics)
- Bernal (just won on Oropa a few days before)
- Fuglsang (likely not in LBL shape but still good)
- Woods (just won Milano-Torino, in great shape as always at the end of the year)
- Haig
- Roglic (coming off a dominant Vuelta performance and win on San Luca)
- Buchmann
- Latour (probably in top shape considering the way his season went)
- Molard
Nibali is not in great shape just because he's fresh. Quite the opposite, he probably need some more racing in his legs.
Fuglsang doesn't really look as sharp as he looked last spring after riding a few stage races.
Carapaz won't be in top shape considering his biggest target of the year is a month and a half away.
This looks to me like the weakest Lombardia startlist in a long time. And if it wasn't for Evenepoel probably the weakest startlist in any Monument I've ever seen.
Which isn't a bad thing per se. It could lead to some very entertaining racing. Or it could lead to the wonder kid destroying the field on Sormano and getting his fair share of handshakes after the finish line.
A shame that the race wasn't postponed just one day, itbwould have been exactly one year after Gimondi's death and a great tribiute to him.
I seem to recall the Italian Monuments being on Sunday as well, but that was changed... for some reason...
They used to be Saturdays then were switched to Sundays for a few years, then were switched back again.
Was going to come on and comment that it's a pretty weak field for a Monument, but I see that's been done to death. Could have done without the Dauphine clash.
Obviously it'll be interesting to see how Evenepoel does, he could blow this apart, but maybe with the field watching Remco, it'll open up an opportunity for someone a bit more random. I've always been a fan of Sandro de Marchi and maybe someone like him could get away.
Obviously it'll be interesting to see how Evenepoel does, he could blow this apart, but maybe with the field watching Remco, it'll open up an opportunity for someone a bit more random. I've always been a fan of Sandro de Marchi and maybe someone like him could get away.
That would be something if the hitherto winless CCC were to win a monument.
Nice to give riders like Dion Smith a chance to shine though. He was pretty impressive in MSR and the way Gran Piemonte panned out, would likely have been well placed there too, had he not crashed.
I dunno. If Nibali is in shape, sure.
Astana's team doesn't look half bad, though
Fuglsang - Strade Bianche (5th), Poland (2nd)
Vlasov - Route du Sud (3rd), Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge (1st), Gran Piemonte (4th)
Aranburu - Milano-Sanremo (7th) Gran Piemonte (6th), Gran Trittico Lombardo (2nd)
Tejada - Mont Ventoux (6th)
Ion Izagirre not great, but in decent shape.
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