2012 Tirreno -Adriatico, Stage 4:Amelia - Chieti: 252km

[Swede1]

Not having decent form now is not such a bad thing imo.

Yeah its not really a problem. He just might have to take some **** from the media after Wiggins kills it in paris nice and they are both compared.

I think he should get ready for the Ardennes, cause if phil aint ready at least he can go for them.

 

[greenedge]

Or do both

Yeah that's what i meant.

 

[Kwibus]

But when you say Gilbert smashed Mur de Huy he did that at 28. What Sagan did today he did when he was 22. There is a lot more room and time for him to develop over the years to see he can develop on and evolve in this area.

True, but keep in mind that everyone is different. Some riders are allready at their peak at the age of 22 and some reach their peak at 28.

Kreuziger for example won the Tour de Suisse when he was 20, but he doesn't seem to get any better. It's still possible, but...

Maybe Sagan allready is near the top of his abilities...maybe not.

 

[luckyboy]

Even if he is he will still win a load of GT stages and pick up quite a few week-long stage races.

Personally I can't see his progress stalling just yet. Tomorrow will be the first real big test of his mountain abilities (high position on GC to defend etc)

 

[madvoodoo]

Sagan will try to help Nibali today on the first big climb and the descend, then he will be dropped. As he told, his goal is not GC, but some stage success.

 

[Lanark]

True, but keep in mind that everyone is different. Some riders are allready at their peak at the age of 22 and some reach their peak at 28.

Kreuziger for example won the Tour de Suisse when he was 20, but he doesn't seem to get any better. It's still possible, but...

Maybe Sagan allready is near the top of his abilities...maybe not.

Agreed, especially if you see that Sagan has already shown tremendous talent in explosive hills and sprinting, and only somewhat below moderate talent in climbing. He can probably improve a bit in his climbing, but he has to improve a lot to become an actual GT contender, while to win a classic he only has to imrpove a little, if anything on that terrain.

I would compare him to Bettini. If Bettini really wanted, he could probably top-10 in a Giro. But there is little point, when you can pretty much win any classic there is. To be honest, I think it would almost be a shame if Sagan wouldn't focus on the classics.

 

[jens_attacks]

as expected some interesting reactions after yesterday's stage in gazzetta dello sport.
basically nibali full of rage,he hopes sagan's move will not cost him the overall.

sagan:it wasn't a mistake at all
sagan:me like gilbert?i can do even better(yep you read it well)
sagan:i don't know what my limits are(remembers me of phil)
kreuziger:i want to win it overall
di luca:i'm back at my usual level(2007-2009,i'd like that)

liquigas situation is pretty hilarious i gotta say and it's one to watch all this season.next in milano-san remo

 

[goggalor]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpd9a8_ta-12-4_sport

Check out 8.44.

 

[theyoungest]

Evans was very open about his form on his website

I don't have the legs to finish off their great work, not yet anyway....For me, I was ok but not at a level to be competitive with the best guys today. No stress, plenty more racing (and work) to come yet. Now, hopefully we'll be able more hours sleep tonight than we had hours on the bike today...


and the BMC website

"I rode the race I did and whether I got the best result out of myself as possible, today I can't say," Evans said. "But on two levels I have an idea where I am – not where I was last year – but in terms of the end results going toward the other races in the year, it's a really good indicator, particularly from the work of the team."

Not having decent form now is not such a bad thing imo.

Maybe the race wasn't hard enough for him. Last year you had Evans, Scarponi, even Basso in front, most real classic guys were dropped even before the climb began. This year the group was much bigger.

 

[auscyclefan94]

ya pretty honest and straight forward, i like it. i would like to see evans on form so he could put up some fight defending his win from last year but it's not the end of the world. could he be aiming at pais vasco for himself and then riding the ardennes for phill? pais vasco would a great addiction to his palmares imo.

Don't think he is doing Pais Vasco. I think it will be Criterium International, Ardennes, Romandie, Dauphine then TDF.

Correct.

After being on the front Evans seemed to drop fairly heavily, but he fought back and managed top10. He should still grind his way to a top10, which is ok as top3 would have required a super effort anyway, after their horrible TTT.

He should go close to winning Crit International, and peak for the Ardennes.

I could tell he wasn't looking good early on the climb because he was swinging on the bars a lot more than usual!

Maybe the race wasn't hard enough for him. Last year you had Evans, Scarponi, even Basso in front, most real classic guys were dropped even before the climb began. This year the group was much bigger.

Yes, you are right there. The finale was in general a lot tougher last year and ridden more aggresively where as this year the climb was ridden rather tamely as the aggression only really started until the final 100-200m of the climb.