-
Willing to volunteer time as a moderator? We'd love to hear from you!
Well trying is the whole point isn't it ? Don't forget that they would get the support from the "we got nothing to do but go on a breakaway" teams. If suddenly a guy from Lotto or OPQS comes with you, if you are a guy from Bretagne, Net App, Europcar, Cofidis or Iam, you think "hey we might have a chance this time, we are not facing 30/35 teammates from sprinting teams, but just the 4/6 guys from Giant !! We can do it".Eyeballs Out said:
Giant are not dumb, they don't want to do everybody's work to the point where they are too tired and then Lotto/FDJ/OPQS would take over their train in the final Ks + they have already won 3 stages...
In that scenario we would have and hour, maybe two at most, of battle between the Giant led bunch and the breakaway until the Giants eventually said "****** it, I don't care"....
But of course it won't happen, because Lotto would much rather have Greipel try to beat Kittel and the other sprinters, than sending Bak upfront in a breakaway, and OPQS would much rather have Renshaw try to beat Kittel than sending Bakelandts upfront... Although these two riders would have real strong chances.
Why change a losing strategy ?
- Jul 4, 2011
- 1,475
- 0
- 0
In the last two sprint stages Kittel has struggled to keep up with his own team.
If Giant go hard chasing everyone down they could do themselves more damage than good.
If Giant go hard chasing everyone down they could do themselves more damage than good.
- Jul 4, 2011
- 1,475
- 0
- 0
Fight.The.Power said:
And they know it. the difference between Giant and the other teams, is that they want a sprint, but only on their own terms, ie when they still have plenty of rested riders for the train. After 3 wins they would rather forfeit a chance to sprint than do it on the other teams' terms. This is why the key to know what happens today is not what will Giant do, but what will the Lottos and OPQSs do.
Eclipse said:Daniel Lloyd @daniellloyd1 50m
Big potential for cross winds after the sprint today. Here's the wind forecast, and how open the road is.
Probably our best hope for major action. I do think I might back Kristoff today to beat a tiring Kittel.
Hope he's right but i wouldn't have said 20km with 30km gusts is hugely windy... That would be a glorious still day in Scotland!
Anyone know what the wind speed was last year in the echelon stage.
- Jan 27, 2012
- 13,828
- 878
- 24,680
Fight.The.Power said:
During the break action Giant will sit back and wait. They won't spend half a gel chasing anybody. Instead they will hope the bright boys from Lotto and Steppers hangs out with them.
Astana will set a solid pace at a start and chase down any real danger. When a group of +10 minute riders are up the road, they will let it go immediately.
- May 22, 2014
- 3,967
- 3,681
- 19,180
Daniel Friebe
@friebos
Bloke in a pub just told me that it's all going to kick off today right after the feed. #echelons
Daniel Friebe @friebos 9m
@smeopnez Not my prediction. A directeur sportif with a plan. Can't reveal who.
---
Come on boys make it interesting
@friebos
Bloke in a pub just told me that it's all going to kick off today right after the feed. #echelons
Daniel Friebe @friebos 9m
@smeopnez Not my prediction. A directeur sportif with a plan. Can't reveal who.
---
Come on boys make it interesting
- Jul 25, 2012
- 12,967
- 1,966
- 25,680
After yesterday I'm going to say there is a possibility someone else takes it.
And I really hope every other sprint team sits back and makes Giant do all the work. They have the best sprinter now, even when Cav is racing, it should be up to them to bring the breaks back.
Are you listening Lotto?
And I really hope every other sprint team sits back and makes Giant do all the work. They have the best sprinter now, even when Cav is racing, it should be up to them to bring the breaks back.
Are you listening Lotto?
- Jul 5, 2011
- 3,348
- 1
- 13,480
Eclipse said:
If it hasn't already kicked off by then, the road between the intermediate sprint and the 2nd climb looks good for some action. Could be another great 'flat' stage today.
- Jan 27, 2012
- 13,828
- 878
- 24,680
King Boonen said:
I think other teams needs to get someone in the break to force Giant to chase, otherwise if Giant start bluffing about working the other teams may blink first.
Giant have already had a good tour with 3 stage wins, sure they'd like another but Lotto and OPQS don't really have anything to show for their efforts yet.
- Jul 25, 2012
- 12,967
- 1,966
- 25,680
BeagRigh said:
Yep, totally agree, although OPQS should really now be focusing on Kwiat and tell Renshaw and Pettachi to just go and hop other people's trains and work as a pair. They have Tony for the TT which is about as much of a certainty as Kittel is on a sprint stage.
Lotto are the issue, Greipel is fast become Farrar 2.0 when there is any challenge to him, but they will still work to bring it back.
- Jul 25, 2012
- 12,967
- 1,966
- 25,680
MartinGT said:This is why Griepel has been slow
Thanks for that, I now don't want any lunch. I'll look like Froome by the end of the week if you keep this up...
Quoted to make others feel queasy...
- Apr 19, 2014
- 2,517
- 229
- 11,880
King Boonen said:
Agreed but why would they if Lotto, OPQS and Cannondale do the work and are satisfied with placings from second to fourth.
Giant did nothing (except their train in the last 3 or 4 kilometers) and got three stages. As much as I dislike them, they did everything right.
- Jul 25, 2012
- 12,967
- 1,966
- 25,680
- Jul 25, 2012
- 12,967
- 1,966
- 25,680
Akuryo said:Agreed but why would they if Lotto, OPQS and Cannondale do the work and are satisfied with placings from second to fourth.
Giant did nothing (except their train in the last 3 or 4 kilometers) and got three stages. As much as I dislike them, they did everything right.
Giant have been doing it since they started, it's a great tactic purely because no-one else has changed theirs. Can't blame them for it but it has taken sprinting back to the days of HTC. I love to see the best sprinter win, but it's good when they are really pushed.
TRENDING THREADS
-
-
Paris-Roubaix 2025, one day monument, April 13 (men)- Started by Krzysztof_O
- Replies: 2K
-
-
Amstel Gold Race 2025, one day classic, April 20 (men's)- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 821
-
Ronde van Vlaanderen 2025, one day monument, April 6 (men's)- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 2K
-
Itzulia Basque Country 2025, April 7th-12th- Started by Samu Cuenca
- Replies: 1K
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram