2013 Ronde van België/Tour de Belgique (2.HC) 22nd - 26th May

[Netserk]

LOL @ the responses from the two Gilbert fanboys

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

LOL @ the responses from the two Gilbert fanboys

Predictable yet sad

 

[maltiv]

Gilbert openly hates Terpstra on twitter on more than one occasion.

He obviously had no such orders as they wouldn't even make sense from a tactical point of view. And why would he listen to such orders anyway. Much easier to ignore it and say your radio didn't work.

They don't even have radios in 2.HC races do they?

 

[El Pistolero]

LOL @ the responses from the two Gilbert fanboys

Eh, it's well known Gilbert hates Terpstra.

But ok, one of the better time trial specialists in this race decides to wheelsuck so Boonen can lose a sprint to a 19 year old. Makes sense.

 

[Roderick]

LOL @ the responses from the two Gilbert fanboys

So a third place by Boonen is better than a guaranteed top-3 + time gain by Terpstra?

 

[Netserk]

They don't even have radios in 2.HC races do they?

Nope, only World Tour.

 

[El Pistolero]

They don't even have radios in 2.HC races do they?

Indeed, it slipped my mind. Makes it even much worse considering he couldn't have gotten such orders, it was all his own initiative.

 

[Netserk]

So a third place by Boonen is better than a guaranteed top-3 + time gain by Terpstra?

No I don't think it's better. Have I said or implied so?

 

[Roderick]

Indeed, it slipped my mind. Makes it even much worse considering he couldn't have gotten such orders, it was all his own initiative.

There could have been team orders at the start of the race that it would be always everything for Tommeke. Even if someone had a good spot in the breakaway. Don't ride along and wait for Tommeke's sprint

 

[Roderick]

No I don't think it's better. Have I said or implied so?

No, but your reaction indicates that you think the thing that Terpstra did isn't stupid

 

[El Pistolero]

There could have been team orders at the start of the race that it would be always everything for Tommeke. Even if someone had a good spot in the breakaway. Don't ride along and wait for Tommeke's sprint

Who would listen to orders like that? Surely QS must realize Greipel is faster than Boonen.

Boonen should just ride like he rides during the classics. Don't wait for a sprint, you always lose then(like in the Olympics). He should've attacked together with Gilbert and Terpstra. I think he had the legs for that.

 

[Roderick]

Who would listen to orders like that? Surely QS must realize Greipel is faster than Boonen.

I think every guy at OPQS listens to that. At OPQS it is all about Tommeke. The last guy who didn't listen to the team orders was Stijn Devolder, and look how they treated him at QS

 

[El Pistolero]

I think every guy at OPQS listens to that. At OPQS it is all about Tommeke. The last guy who didn't listen to the team orders was Stijn Devolder, and look how they treated him at QS

2 victories in the Ronde van Vlaanderen, numerous Belgian national titles, Volta ao Algarve, leader's jersey in the Vuelta, Tour of Belgium twice, etc

How many races has Terpstra won?

Boonen has proven on many occasions that it is not all about him. Numerous team-mates of him have already won semi-classics. Steven de Jongh, Stijn Devolder, Kevin van Impe, Nick Nuyens, Filippo Pozzato, Luca Paolini(domestique of Bettini, but won Brabantse Pijl), etc

 

[Roderick]

2 victories in the Ronde van Vlaanderen.

How many races has Terpstra won?

That's not what I said. After Devolder's second win in 2009, the team was actually pretty ****ed off at him. They yelled at him when he attacked on the Eikenmolen. Lefevere doesn't mind for another guy to win, it is all about Tommeke. After Devolder's second win in the Ronde they completely dropped him

They won semi-classics yes, but that's just because he didn't bothered. When Tommeke wants to win, he doesn't care about his team mates. Tommeke is not a team player. That's not a problem, most of the top gus are pretty selfish in the race

 

[El Pistolero]

That's not what I said. After Devolder's second win in 2009, the team was actually pretty ****ed off at him. They yelled at him when he attacked on the Eikenmolen. Lefevere doesn't mind for another guy to win, it is all about Tommeke. After Devolder's second win in the Ronde they completely dropped him

Chavanel ignored team orders in 2011 Ronde when he worked together with Cancellara in the final kms. He actually lost because of that yet he's still being treated well in the team.

The reasons why nobody liked Devolder in QS is because he's not a very like-able character in the first place. And he was horrible all season except for a couple of days.

 

[l.Harm]

Take also Tony Martin into account. He's their main man for the GC and probably they don't want to see Gilbert gaining time on him.

 

[El Pistolero]

Take also Tony Martin into account. He's their main man for the GC and probably they don't want to see Gilbert gaining time on him.

If Tony Martin can't get 10-20 seconds back on Gilbert in the time trial, he isn't going to win anyway.

 

[Panda Claws]

LOL @ the responses from the two Gilbert fanboys

Mine was actually a sarcastic remark as in 'no **** Sherlock'

 

[jens_attacks]

great racing so far
but yes terpstra situation was embarrasing to watch...

really nice to see again bosberg

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

When Tommeke wants to win, he doesn't care about his team mates. Tommeke is not a team player.

The good old days.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

That's not what I said. After Devolder's second win in 2009, the team was actually pretty ****ed off at him. They yelled at him when he attacked on the Eikenmolen. Lefevere doesn't mind for another guy to win, it is all about Tommeke. After Devolder's second win in the Ronde they completely dropped him

They won semi-classics yes, but that's just because he didn't bothered. When Tommeke wants to win, he doesn't care about his team mates. Tommeke is not a team player. That's not a problem, most of the top gus are pretty selfish in the race

If OPQS are trying to run a tight ship they're not very good at it. Chav spent the entire sprint nearly but not quite winning, usually at the expense of Cav.

 

[postmanhat]

Really enjoyed this race so far. Hope the TT isn't too decisive. Gilbert and Boonen look back on form, so should be a great battle between the big three on the last two days.

As much as I like Griepel, would Boonen or Van Poppel have been anywhere near Cavendish in that sprint?

 

[Roderick]

The good old days.

That is just putting your hands in the air so it doesn't look so obvious that you got your *** handed back to you by Ale-jet

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

As much as I like Griepel, would Boonen or Van Poppel have been anywhere near Cavendish in that sprint?

No. Since Greipel had gear problems, he couldn't use his 11", so he had to sprint on the 12". With the right gear, he would have crushed the other guys.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Hoping for a strong ride from Klodi tonight to put him in contention for the overall victory