14/09 - 18/09 European Championships

[F e r o x]

Alaphilippe is the only ones who realistically could challenge Sagan in a sprint (not really, still, on this climb which is absolutely perfect for Sagan). Belgium really is a joke - I could understand it if it was GVA, who seems to be the only one able to get the better of Sagan on a consistent basis, but Phil Gil 2016? Seriously?

What is it with you people? If GVA doesn't work as much as Sagan to then beat him in a sprint he's called a wheelsucker... If a rider does work with Sagan he's called dumb... It's one or the other... Pick one.

I don't think anyone is accusing GVA of riding stupidly - quite the contrary. So there's no need to "pick one" as it's not "one or the other"

GvA can only beat Sagan when he's done much less work than him.

Nothing stupid about that though. You race to win.

Correction, Sagan often can't finish a race when he has to work a lot. Even when he only works as much as the competition.

 

[El Pistolero]

Alaphilippe is the only ones who realistically could challenge Sagan in a sprint (not really, still, on this climb which is absolutely perfect for Sagan). Belgium really is a joke - I could understand it if it was GVA, who seems to be the only one able to get the better of Sagan on a consistent basis, but Phil Gil 2016? Seriously?

What is it with you people? If GVA doesn't work as much as Sagan to then beat him in a sprint he's called a wheelsucker... If a rider does work with Sagan he's called dumb... It's one or the other... Pick one.

I don't think anyone is accusing GVA of riding stupidly - quite the contrary. So there's no need to "pick one" as it's not "one or the other"

GvA can only beat Sagan when he's done much less work than him.

Nothing stupid about that though. You race to win.

Did you see his stage win in the Tour last year? Or the Ronde van Vlaanderen last year?

 

[El Pistolero]

Alaphilippe is the only ones who realistically could challenge Sagan in a sprint (not really, still, on this climb which is absolutely perfect for Sagan). Belgium really is a joke - I could understand it if it was GVA, who seems to be the only one able to get the better of Sagan on a consistent basis, but Phil Gil 2016? Seriously?

What is it with you people? If GVA doesn't work as much as Sagan to then beat him in a sprint he's called a wheelsucker... If a rider does work with Sagan he's called dumb... It's one or the other... Pick one.

I don't think anyone is accusing GVA of riding stupidly - quite the contrary. So there's no need to "pick one" as it's not "one or the other"

You can't call a rider "dumb" for working with someone and then call the same rider a wheelsucker if he doesn't work with him. You can't get mad at both these race scenarios unfolding yet some people are.

If someone is "dumb" for working together with Sagan then he surely must be "smart" for not working with him and beating him in the sprint.

 

[KGB]

Alaphilippe is the only ones who realistically could challenge Sagan in a sprint (not really, still, on this climb which is absolutely perfect for Sagan). Belgium really is a joke - I could understand it if it was GVA, who seems to be the only one able to get the better of Sagan on a consistent basis, but Phil Gil 2016? Seriously?

What is it with you people? If GVA doesn't work as much as Sagan to then beat him in a sprint he's called a wheelsucker... If a rider does work with Sagan he's called dumb... It's one or the other... Pick one.

I don't think anyone is accusing GVA of riding stupidly - quite the contrary. So there's no need to "pick one" as it's not "one or the other"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztVMib1T4T4

GvA can only beat Sagan when he's done much less work than him.

Nothing stupid about that though. You race to win.

Correction, Sagan often can't finish a race when he has to work a lot. Even when he only works as much as the competition.

 

[BigMac]

Alaphilippe is the only ones who realistically could challenge Sagan in a sprint (not really, still, on this climb which is absolutely perfect for Sagan). Belgium really is a joke - I could understand it if it was GVA, who seems to be the only one able to get the better of Sagan on a consistent basis, but Phil Gil 2016? Seriously?

What is it with you people? If GVA doesn't work as much as Sagan to then beat him in a sprint he's called a wheelsucker... If a rider does work with Sagan he's called dumb... It's one or the other... Pick one.

I don't think anyone is accusing GVA of riding stupidly - quite the contrary. So there's no need to "pick one" as it's not "one or the other"

GvA can only beat Sagan when he's done much less work than him.

Nothing stupid about that though. You race to win.

Correction, Sagan often can't finish a race when he has to work a lot. Even when he only works as much as the competition.

That's not true at all. Not only often does he work a lot and finishes at the top, there is never really a time when the opposition works as much as him. To suggest Sagan can't finish a race if he has to work a lot when that's what happens most of the times he's there to contest the win is... I don't know.

Today he worked little by his standards, but he still worked more than the other contenders whom he beat in the end, considering he even attacked on the flat to incite the chase after Moser.

If there is one rider who can still be competitive after various pulls and attacks it's him.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gilbert.. he should never be leader again.

Too bad GVA didn't race

 

[johnymax]

Re:

What is it with you people? If GVA doesn't work as much as Sagan to then beat him in a sprint he's called a wheelsucker... If a rider does work with Sagan he's called dumb... It's one or the other... Pick one.

I don't think anyone is accusing GVA of riding stupidly - quite the contrary. So there's no need to "pick one" as it's not "one or the other"

GvA can only beat Sagan when he's done much less work than him.

Nothing stupid about that though. You race to win.

Correction, Sagan often can't finish a race when he has to work a lot. Even when he only works as much as the competition.

That's not true at all. Not only often does he work a lot and finishes at the top, there is never really a time when the opposition works as much as him. To suggest Sagan can't finish a race if he has to work a lot when that's what happens most of the times he's there to contest the win is... I don't know.

Today he worked little by his standards, but he still worked more than the other contenders whom he beat in the end, considering he even attacked on the flat to incite the chase after Moser.

If there is one rider who can still be competitive after various pulls and attacks it's him.

This.

Also nice race. Was hoping for Moser's attack to survive though. Good racing and tactics by Italians.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re:

Gilbert.. he should never be leader again.

Too bad GVA didn't race

Eneco Tour is more important I suppose, not everyone can afford a private jet.

 

[SKSemtex]

Alaphilippe is the only ones who realistically could challenge Sagan in a sprint (not really, still, on this climb which is absolutely perfect for Sagan). Belgium really is a joke - I could understand it if it was GVA, who seems to be the only one able to get the better of Sagan on a consistent basis, but Phil Gil 2016? Seriously?

What is it with you people? If GVA doesn't work as much as Sagan to then beat him in a sprint he's called a wheelsucker... If a rider does work with Sagan he's called dumb... It's one or the other... Pick one.

I don't think anyone is accusing GVA of riding stupidly - quite the contrary. So there's no need to "pick one" as it's not "one or the other"

GvA can only beat Sagan when he's done much less work than him.

Nothing stupid about that though. You race to win.

Correction, Sagan often can't finish a race when he has to work a lot. Even when he only works as much as the competition.

Yes.Yes. Bla bla. Give me the name of one sngle race or stage where he work as much as competition and could not sprint.
Ok. Bar MSR 2014,15 RVv and PR 2014,15

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

Gilbert.. he should never be leader again.

Too bad GVA didn't race

Eneco Tour is more important I suppose, not everyone can afford a private jet.

lel Eneco Tour pays for the jet. IF gva wanted to race here he would have and would have made it tomorrow

 

[Billie]

What's the name of the French NT coach? Guy should've been fired in Rio already and again today.

 

[Flamin]

I only saw the last 2 laps. Some embarrassing racing really, especially France. Fair enough if you miss an important break (well, Gautier was there but against 3 Belgians, 3 Italians,...) because of a crash (I think), and try to bring it back. But ffs, then do something on the penultimate Cadoudal. Nope, let's save 3 guys for the sprint

From what I understood Belgium made some stupid calls earlier in the race too? About Gilbert.. i've seen it 2 years ago already, so can't say i'm surprised. Too big of an ego.

 

[SKSemtex]

Nice racing from Italy. Once again they prooved they are the only team who can prepare some strategy.
I am glad that Moser showed some good form again. It is pity Moscon was not there for last climb, he was the only guy here who could beat "fresh" Sagan here from those riders.

 

[Brullnux]

Nice racing from Italy. Once again they prooved they are the only team who can prepare some strategy.
I am glad that Moser showed some good form again. It is pity Moscon was not there for last climb, he was the only guy here who could beat "fresh" Sagan here from those riders.

I feel bad for Cassani. Twice this year he has prepared a fantastic strategy, and both times he's come out of it with nothing. Admittedly in 2014 and 2015 he failed, but he has been having a very good year in 2016. I don't know what happened to Colbrelli, he seemed to be there and then just disappeared. Maybe he dropped his chain or just blew up. It was strange.

 

[Bolder]

Re:

What's the name of the French NT coach? Guy should've been fired in Rio already and again today.

Rio not good.

But today...Sagan wasn't going to be denied. I thought France was caught out by having to chase down the last group break, so les bleues expended more energy than they wanted. Still, to come away with a (narrow!) 2nd and 4th isn't bad. Are you suggesting that Alaphilippe and Dumoulin could have worked together to neutralize Sagan in the last 500 meters? I wondered about that too but when I saw Sagan waltz away from Moreno I don't think that was going to happen.

Anyway, terrific race. Being an American I LIKE circuit races and wish the UCI would use the format more. Certainly looked like the crowd was having a great time.

 

[Mr.White]

Not much team work in France and Spain at the end. Gallopin and Luisle should have worked for Moreno and Alaphilippe on the last hill. There was one Spanish guy, I think De la Cruz, who pulled from the bottom and Luis Leon should have continued, injecting even harder pace, to try to tire Sagan. Gallopin should have done the same thing, or even try to attack and bridge to Vilella, forcing Sagan to chase. Sagan was fresh as a daisy in the last 300m, and when it's like that, well we all saw how it ends.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

What's the name of the French NT coach? Guy should've been fired in Rio already and again today.

Rio not good.

But today...Sagan wasn't going to be denied. I thought France was caught out by having to chase down the last group break, so les bleues expended more energy than they wanted. Still, to come away with a (narrow!) 2nd and 4th isn't bad. Are you suggesting that Alaphilippe and Dumoulin could have worked together to neutralize Sagan in the last 500 meters? I wondered about that too but when I saw Sagan waltz away from Moreno I don't think that was going to happen.

Anyway, terrific race. Being an American I LIKE circuit races and wish the UCI would use the format more. Certainly looked like the crowd was having a great time.

They should have attacked. If Sagan followed, then force him to work. They had many cards to play and decided to play one of them: Alaphilippe in the sprint against Sagan.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

What's the name of the French NT coach? Guy should've been fired in Rio already and again today.

He's happy with the performance.

 

[Pippo_San]

Nice racing from Italy. Once again they prooved they are the only team who can prepare some strategy.
I am glad that Moser showed some good form again. It is pity Moscon was not there for last climb, he was the only guy here who could beat "fresh" Sagan here from those riders.

I feel bad for Cassani. Twice this year he has prepared a fantastic strategy, and both times he's come out of it with nothing. Admittedly in 2014 and 2015 he failed, but he has been having a very good year in 2016. I don't know what happened to Colbrelli, he seemed to be there and then just disappeared. Maybe he dropped his chain or just blew up. It was strange.

On twitter Colbrelli said he just didn't have the legs in the end. He said it was like "at 500m to go my legs almost split in two, no excuses".

Anyway I was thinking they quite wasted Aru today, cause he seemed to be in good form. Looks good for Il Lombardia.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Alaphilippe is the only ones who realistically could challenge Sagan in a sprint (not really, still, on this climb which is absolutely perfect for Sagan). Belgium really is a joke - I could understand it if it was GVA, who seems to be the only one able to get the better of Sagan on a consistent basis, but Phil Gil 2016? Seriously?

What is it with you people? If GVA doesn't work as much as Sagan to then beat him in a sprint he's called a wheelsucker... If a rider does work with Sagan he's called dumb... It's one or the other... Pick one.

1. Thats not the point... at all
2. I've never said that

The point is the Belgians had 2 man out in front, yet decided it was better to chase that down in order for Gilbert to sprint against Sagan.. and he didn''t' even get to do that since he was dropped in the end. He is far from being the Gilbert we knew from 2009-2011, yet it seems they still very much believed in him today. They made it too easy for Sagan. thats all.

 

[deneb]

Nice racing from Italy. Once again they prooved they are the only team who can prepare some strategy.
I am glad that Moser showed some good form again. It is pity Moscon was not there for last climb, he was the only guy here who could beat "fresh" Sagan here from those riders.

I feel bad for Cassani. Twice this year he has prepared a fantastic strategy, and both times he's come out of it with nothing. Admittedly in 2014 and 2015 he failed, but he has been having a very good year in 2016. I don't know what happened to Colbrelli, he seemed to be there and then just disappeared. Maybe he dropped his chain or just blew up. It was strange.

And we still have to see the train in Doha: Oss, Bennati, Trentin and Guarnieri... working for a top10 with Nizzolo :redface:

 

[May0maniac]

Nice racing from Italy. Once again they prooved they are the only team who can prepare some strategy.
I am glad that Moser showed some good form again. It is pity Moscon was not there for last climb, he was the only guy here who could beat "fresh" Sagan here from those riders.

I feel bad for Cassani. Twice this year he has prepared a fantastic strategy, and both times he's come out of it with nothing. Admittedly in 2014 and 2015 he failed, but he has been having a very good year in 2016. I don't know what happened to Colbrelli, he seemed to be there and then just disappeared. Maybe he dropped his chain or just blew up. It was strange.

And we still have to see the train in Doha: Oss, Bennati, Trentin and Guarnieri... working for a top10 with Nizzolo :redface:

The scary thing is that Italy has even more guys to create a great sprint train (Sabatini and Ferrari), but lacks the real top sprinter that is able to fightt for the win.

 

[Brullnux]

Italy is the home of second and third tier sprinters. Even more so than Belgium and France.

 

[Pippo_San]

Re:

Italy is the home of second and third tier sprinters. Even more so than Belgium and France.

Well that's debatable. I don't consider Elia Viviani a second tier sprinter. He's got the speed to match the best. Not great in positioning but the speed is there.
Of course a top form Kittel and Cav are in a league of their own.

 

[Durden93]

It was going to be hard for anyone to beat Sagan. 8% isn't hard enough to shake him and the final few hundred meters were flat enough for Sagan's raw power to shine through. Maybe France should have followed the move when Italy counterattacked after Moser was caught but that may have just drawn an instant reaction from the group.