2012 Tour of California May 15 stage 3: San Jose - Livermore 185.5 km

[El Pistolero]

Whatever alien life form had possession of Eddy Merckx is now inside of Sagan, that's for damn sure. When was the last time such a good sprinter could climb so well? With a couple years maybe he will even be able to do a good time trial! I think people's brains like to categorize riders as either "strong but bad tactician," or "weak but cunning and smart," well this guy is the real deal, I think he's got the brains of a smart 22 year old, and will only get better. Look at how much adversity he has been facing, wheel changes, crashes, etc. The look on his face when beating Haussler says "is that the best they have?? this is way too easy why didn't they send me to the Giro."

Cannondale.

 

[Parrulo]

I think it would be more hilarious if bottle pulled... well, bottle, on everyone else and managed to wheelsuck his way to the overall victory.

Haussler ftw here, btw

if levi did it, it would be payback, if machado did it, it would be a taste of his ow medicine.

also i can't believe how after so many years, no1 has managed to figure out the very simple way of enhancing levi's performance to out of the world kind of levels.

p.s. paint ftw

 

[Froome19]

No, and if you seriously think the last then you clearly don't know me or understand my forum posts at all.

Also, I never 'bashed' Sagan. If you are referring to doubting his climbing abilities on a real climb, that cannot be called bashing. I'm a huge Sagan fan. However I am realistic about his abilities. He is simply not a real climber. And long ITT's don't suit him either.
So really, what ARE you talking about. I don't recognize myself in any of this.

So do you bash Rabobank riders?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

if levi did it, it would be payback, if machado did it, it would be a taste of his ow medicine.

also i can't believe how after so many years, no1 has managed to figure out the very simple way of enhancing levi's performance to out of the world kind of levels.

p.s. paint ftw

But really, Machado was unconvincing lately I hope he finds his early season form again.

 

[Fetisoff]

p.s. paint ftw

OK, dude, comeon. I know Levi's an ugly dude, but he's not THAT ugly.
Froome19 - when I "make fun of" (or question) Purito's TT performances and say that he should have been more active, and tried to put more time into opposition in the first week of the Giro is that me bashing him?

 

[Froome19]

But really, Machado was unconvincing lately I hope he finds his early season form again.

Building up for the tour? Or is he set to be a domestique for Monfort and Fuglsang at the Vuelta?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So do you bash Rabobank riders?

When they deserve it yes. For example leading out the sprinter and leading the pack all stage and then not placing someone in the top 10...
Falling out of nothing when it's not needed. Doing absolutely stupid things as tactics (remember omloop het volk with Langeveld/Haussler in front...)

I'm also not a rabo fan. I am however fan of promosing dutch riders as Slagter. So obviously I encourage them and am happy when they (DUTCH riders) do well.
couldnt'care less when LL sanchez wins and you won't see me encouraging him, or Matthews, or others.

I think this is the part you get confused. Bashing Rabo and then cheering when a dutch rider (from Rabo) does well. That doesn't compute with you.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

we are almost live..yesterdays stage recap now http://radioshacktourtracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

 

[Libertine Seguros]

if levi did it, it would be payback, if machado did it, it would be a taste of his ow medicine.

also i can't believe how after so many years, no1 has managed to figure out the very simple way of enhancing levi's performance to out of the world kind of levels.

p.s. paint ftw

Superb idea. I can see him going all Rettenbachferner 2005 on the péloton if they did that.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Hard to know if Sagan will be the next Eddy, more likely a Rik Van Looy, or DeVlaemink, Sagan has style.

"The next Kelly" seems like the most likely one to me. He has that really good at pretty much everything vibe about him.

 

[ElChingon]

if levi did it, it would be payback, if machado did it, it would be a taste of his ow medicine.

also i can't believe how after so many years, no1 has managed to figure out the very simple way of enhancing levi's performance to out of the world kind of levels.

p.s. paint ftw

This needs to be submitted into the cycling art thread

 

[Parrulo]

But really, Machado was unconvincing lately I hope he finds his early season form again.

indeed he has been terribly bad ever since malhão, i think he is having serious confidence issues based on some of his tweets, i bet he wasn't counting on being dropped like that by porte (even tho he started to eat into porte's advantage on the last k so maybe if the climb was long he could had closed the gap) and then failed miserably on the following day on the itt.

ever since he hasn't managed to pull a single decent itt and overall decent performance.

btw this is the tweets that makes me think this

Tiago Machado ‏ @Tiagomachado85

I really need do better, and i will keep fighting! I know wat can i do
Collapse
Reply Retweet Favorite

his posts on his site sometimes also go along similar lines

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Superb idea. I can see him going all Rettenbachferner 2005 on the péloton if they did that.

If Gesink is somewhat at his old level he can be the wheel Leipheimer searches I can see Gesink doing his typical 10km leadout for the only guy that can follow him like with Evans on Serein in 2008

 

[ElChingon]

Back to the race, is there even a chance Nibali will take a peek out of the peleton's creature comforts.

Feed is starting up!

 

[Havetts]

Superb idea. I can see him going all Rettenbachferner 2005 on the péloton if they did that.

Atleast it would be somewhat exciting, now we just need an Ullrich & Jaksche.. Although the Rettenbachferner is an insane, and insanely awesome, climb.

 

[jsem94]

"The next Kelly" seems like the most likely one to me. He has that really good at pretty much everything vibe about him.

Good point. I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of his career he has a palmares like Kelly. But can he win a GT?

 

[Parrulo]

Back to the race, is there even a chance Nibali will take a peek out of the peleton's creature comforts.

Feed is starting up!

not until mt. baldy i would say, he said he isn't in great shape so he prolly needs to racing k's to get into form.

 

[Parrulo]

Good point. I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of his career he has a palmares like Kelly. But can he win a GT?

the vuelta was a lot easier back then, so i don't think sagan can do it, nor could kelly with it's current parcours.

it still almost makes me cry everytime i remember kelly never managed to win the ronde which is the only monument he missed in his career didn't he finish 2nd like 4 times?

 

[Mellow Velo]

we are almost live..yesterdays stage recap now http://radioshacktourtracker.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

Sums up the AToC.
82kms to go and another long session ahead.
Way behind the tv schedule again.

 

[Froome19]

When they deserve it yes. For example leading out the sprinter and leading the pack all stage and then not placing someone in the top 10...
Falling out of nothing when it's not needed. Doing absolutely stupid things as tactics (remember omloop het volk with Langeveld/Haussler in front...)

I think this is the part you get confused. Bashing Rabo and then cheering when a dutch rider (from Rabo) does well. That doesn't compute with you.

No I understand and i was merely making an observation as it is quite a unique thing (and the youngest sometimes). As as far as i know most people on this forum support a rider and will never say a bad word against him. I think it is a bit narrow minded sometimes to do so. What you do is certainly unique and a bit disconcerting as one second it seems as if you are opposed to a rider and then next second you are supporting him. I know you are just being objective and it is in fact quite refreshing therefore if not a bit comical with the rabo riders.

I guess also that I have always considered you primarily a Rabo fan not because of youre bashing but because of the amount of posts you make concerning the subject. But that misconception has certainly been dispelled.

Froome19 - when I "make fun of" (or question) Purito's TT performances and say that he should have been more active, and tried to put more time into opposition in the first week of the Giro is that me bashing him?

Bashing: This label is applied to criticisms that are not particularly vehement nor even inappropriate. In these cases, the term can be seen to be applied purely for partisan benefit.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Good point. I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of his career he has a palmares like Kelly. But can he win a GT?

Probably not. He's an excellent climber for a sprinter, but I don't think he quite has the top tier climbing ability to win a GT.

Unless of course the way in which GT parcours are designed changes over the length of his career. They have before, they might again. Or unless he develops considerably as a climber - he is after all still pretty young.

 

[Havetts]

Phil & Paul commentary, let the humour, facepalming and laughing start!

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Tarmac shot right there. Good tarmac.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No I understand and i was merely making an observation as it is quite a unique thing (and the youngest sometimes). As as far as i know most people on this forum support a rider and will never say a bad word against him. I think it is a bit narrow minded sometimes to do so. What you do is certainly unique and a bit disconcerting as one second it seems as if you are opposed to a rider and then next second you are supporting him. I know you are just being objective and it is in fact quite refreshing therefore if not a bit comical with the rabo riders.

I guess also that I have always considered you primarily a Rabo fan not because of youre bashing but because of the amount of posts you make concerning the subject. But that misconception has certainly been dispelled.



Bashing: This label is applied to criticisms that are not particularly vehement nor even inappropriate. In these cases, the term can be seen to be applied purely for partisan benefit.

It's a typical Dutch thing to do. Very direct. Bashing is normal when they deserve it. Same with the dutch soccer team, everyone supports them but even when doing very well there is loads of bashing the players, the coach, the playing style etc..

As for more attention to Rabo, well that's the same as British people following Sky, they aren't all Sky fans, but they do follow the subject with more interest then other teams I reckon.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Phil & Paul commentary, let the humour, facepalming and laughing start!

Has Phyllis been gargling with marbles.

Tarmac shot right there. Good tarmac.

Fantastic tarmac.
Far better than that Giro crazy paving we had at today's finish.