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

[hrotha]

What? winning three stages of the tour of Cali?

Hmm? How about contending ALL the major classics he started at 22? 4th in MSR, 5th in RvV, 3rd in AGR, and with the distinct impression that all of them suit him? And that, on top of his ability to win almost everywhere, which is why, at 22, he's currently 3rd in the friggin' CQ Ranking. None of those riders you mentioned did that until much later in their careers.

 

[Richeypen]

almost winning MSR, 5th RVV, almost winning amstel.

2 stages there, 3 here, 2 others in another place... etc.

at 21 or 22. awesome.

and it's tour time.

As I said before if yoir are talking about evey rider in the peleton then ages has nothing to do with it. If he keeps improving then yeah but none of us have a crystal ball. Are you really saying that Sagan has been more impressive this season than Boonen?

 

[hrotha]

Just because you peak early doesn't mean you're better than what the others did. We don't know Sagan's potential or future. But he's the one that hasn't done what they've done already. Not the other way around.

Of course, but the fascinating thing about Sagan is that he's still improving. He showed up being fantastic over 2 years ago, and he hasn't stopped getting better and better. That's not the pattern you usually see with riders who just stagnate early.

 

[Richeypen]

It does when you claim someone's the biggest talent, or the best young rider, in the peloton. Some people...

Most talented rider and best young rider are 2 completely different things

 

[El Pistolero]

Hmm? How about contending ALL the major classics he started at 22? 4th in MSR, 5th in RvV, 3rd in AGR, and with the distinct impression that all of them suit him? And that, on top of his ability to win almost everywhere, which is why, at 22, he's currently 3rd in the friggin' CQ Ranking. None of those riders you mentioned did that until much later in their careers.

A lot of riders didn't even turn pro at age 19, not the best way to look at it.

I prefer to look at it in terms of seasons.

Ps: Boonen was third in his first Roubaix.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Age has nothing to do with it.

Contador was more talented than Gilberto Simoni in 2003 when Simoni had just won the Giro and Contador had only ever won a stage of the Tour of Poland. He wasn't better than Simoni, but he had more talent.

 

[afpm90]

yes..

so if a stage is pan flat, it's boring. cav wins.
if it has a climb, it will become boring. sagan wins.

if is a GT or a stage race with mountains, boring. conti wins.
if it is a hilly classic, boring. gil wins.

if it has cobbles, boring. tom wins.

boring sport, isn't it?

It's not about who wins, but how the race is ridden. At least for me.

 

[plooton]

Sagan dug in a little bit late, but finally at the very last moment got the position.

 

[El Pistolero]

What did Gilbert do at Sagan`s age? He won a sharp steep climb at Chieti in Tirreno Adriatico against fellows like Nibali, Kreuziger, Di Luca, Rodriguez, Horner and Evans. The guy is top quality. Stop looking for faults and enjoy what he is doing.

I really doubt Sagan will improve dramatically when he's 26/27 years old though. Gilbert wasn't an early peaker.

 

[hrotha]

A lot of riders didn't even turn pro at age 19, not the best way to look at it.

I prefer to look at it in terms of seasons.

Ps: Boonen was third in his first Roubaix.

I know about Boonen. He didn't contend a truckload of other top level classics.

 

[whittashau]

Sagan must be one of the most talented riders. Top 5 at least

Why was Nibali doing so much work for Liquigas? Perhaps a sign that he doesn't feel he has any chance for the overall?

 

[xmoonx]

ouch

Man I feel bad for Haussler. He went to early and Boonen went to late. Sagan nailed it. Impressive victory!

 

[Der Effe]

Most talented rider and best young rider are 2 completely different things

Yes, you can't measure talent but you can measure results. The most talented rider, for all we know, could be someone who's never won a thing. The thing is, when you've won as much as Sagan on his age claiming he's the biggest talent in cycling isn't the strange thing you make it out to be.

 

[goggalor]

Just because you peak early doesn't mean you're better than what the others did. We don't know Sagan's potential or future.

This is true. Would anyone have thought Contador would win all those GTs back in 2006? It's very hard to predict, but if Sagan keep progressing like he has done the last two and a half seasons he'll be one of the best ever.

At the moment I'm just enjoying watching him ride a bicycle.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Jesus, we obviously have a different eye on what 'talented' means. Be that correct or not.

Okay, Peter Zlatan is what looks like the one rider in the peloton with the most potential or getting the most out of his skills at his age. The best in his age-range. Be him just an early bloomer or not we obviously don't know. But he's quite a cyclist, isn't he.

 

[El Pistolero]

I know about Boonen. He didn't contend a truckload of other top level classics.

In his third year as a pro Boonen already won the E3 Prijs and Gent-Wevelgem though. Knee injuries kept him out of most of the 2003 season.

It's not like Sagan contented for podium in his very first Paris-Roubaix. And he wasn't that much younger.

 

[will10]

What did Gilbert do at Sagan`s age? He won a sharp steep climb at Chieti in Tirreno Adriatico against fellows like Nibali, Kreuziger, Di Luca, Rodriguez, Horner and Evans. The guy is top quality. Stop looking for faults and enjoy what he is doing.

You are getting me wrong. I am enjoying what he is doing, but the most talented rider in the peloton argument because the guy is 22 is pointless. Boonen was 3rd in Roubaix at 21 but who cares, the fact that he's won four Roubaix and three Flanders is what actually matters, however old he was when he won them.

Contador was talked about as the next Indurain long before he actually got the results that he has now. Gilbert also was on the cusp of breaking through for years before he actually nailed his first big wins. Riders break through at different ages. Cadel and Sastre took their entire careers to finally win the Tour but it makes the achievement no less.

If Sagan never exceeded his achievements of this season, he wouldn't be the first, nor the last, to shine brightly and then fail to live up to the expectation.

 

[Richeypen]

Jesus, we obviously have a different eye on what 'talented' means. Be that correct or not.

Okay, Peter Zlatan is what looks like the one rider in the peloton with the most potential or getting the most out of his skills at his age. The best in his age-range. Be him just an early bloomer or not we obviously don't know.

totally agree

 

[The Hitch]

And fourth one tomorrow, looks like.

What? Man, the organizers are wasting California. It has such opportunities.

 

[The Hitch]

He only said yesterday he wants to win the green jersey in the Tour this year.

Sad to see such great riders going for such crappy aims.

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Boonen had his 3rd which was a great achievement when he was 22. This guy has 5th in Flanders, 4th MSR and 2nd in G-W. Plus he has wins in the Vuelta, P-N, Romandie the overall in Poland. You can`t question him.

And 3-rd in AGR

 

[will10]

Sad to see such great riders going for such crappy aims.

Samu seemed pretty happy with his minor jersey from the Tour.

 

[The Hitch]

Samu seemed pretty happy with his minor jersey from the Tour.

Good for him.

And thats Samu we are talking about. A guy who treats a stage in Catalunya, hell even Burgos as if he has just won the worlds.

Ironically, Sagan is someone who will find it hard to manage a smile even if he wins the whole Tour.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Sad to see such great riders going for such crappy aims.

It's just a 'bonus' on top of the 7-8 stage wins I'm sure

 

[hrotha]

In his third year as a pro Boonen already won the E3 Prijs and Gent-Wevelgem though. Knee injuries kept him out of most of the 2003 season.

It's not like Sagan contented for podium in his very first Paris-Roubaix. And he wasn't that much younger.

Is it so hard to accept someone might think Sagan's early achievements are better than Boonen's? Jesus Christ, you love arguing over nothing.