2016 Eneco Tour (WT): Sept 19 - 25th

[El Pistolero]

Making this route tailor-made for sprinters was a terrible idea. Now they have a no-name sprinter as a winner, lol.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

There just wasn't enough room. Perhaps 4-5 guys were able to sprint 100%.

This exactly.

It actually makes watching the last 10 K fun. There's so much fighting for positions ect. Leadouts were impossible. Just to many people trying to be in front.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Making this route tailor-made for sprinters was a terrible idea. Now they have a no-name sprinter as a winner, lol.

He's not a no name. Regardless, this isn't the organizers fault. Kittel and Greipel are here. The only two popular sprinters that aren't here are Cav and Viviani. Everyone else is here...if they can't beat Groenewegen, that's their own problem.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Making this route tailor-made for sprinters was a terrible idea. Now they have a no-name sprinter as a winner, lol.

He's not a no name. Regardless, this isn't the organizers fault. Kittel and Greipel are here. The only two popular sprinters that aren't here are Cav and Viviani. Everyone else is here...if they can't beat Groenewegen, that's their own problem.

It's the organisation's problem as they want big names as winners for more exposure. Groeneweghe might become a big sprinter in the future, but he has only won very small races so far.

 

[Vroome.exe]

That was one of the best sprints i've seen. Sprinters really stepped up the last few years and now at least 10 of them can win worlds. Add Viviani + Cav + Gav and it's going to be fun.

 

[Billie]

Kittel nowhere when he isn't perfectly set-up like per

 

[Gloin22]

Re: Re:

Making this route tailor-made for sprinters was a terrible idea. Now they have a no-name sprinter as a winner, lol.

He's not a no name. Regardless, this isn't the organizers fault. Kittel and Greipel are here. The only two popular sprinters that aren't here are Cav and Viviani. Everyone else is here...if they can't beat Groenewegen, that's their own problem.

It's the organisation's problem as they want big names as winners for more exposure. Groeneweghe might become a big sprinter in the future, but he has only won very small races so far.

Sometimes riders have to break out in some race ehh

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

Making this route tailor-made for sprinters was a terrible idea. Now they have a no-name sprinter as a winner, lol.

Groenewegen a no one.. Really? Where have you been this year. Or is it because a Dutchman wins you got to be condescending again. You have such a minority complex it's sad really. Sad and predictable. If Roy Jans would have won we would only hear about how great he is.

 

[johnymax]

Re:

Making this route tailor-made for sprinters was a terrible idea.Now they have a no-name sprinter as a winner, lol.

What does that even mean? Is it a bad thing that an up-and-coming sprinter who rides for the home team wins ahead of almost all of the best sprinters in the World? I don't think so. Great win for Dylan. Considering the sprinting field, the best win of his career so far.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

Making this route tailor-made for sprinters was a terrible idea. Now they have a no-name sprinter as a winner, lol.

Groenewegen a no one.. Really? Where have you been this year. Or is it because a Dutchman wins you got to be condescending again. You have such a minority complex it's sad really. Sad and predictable. If Roy Jans would have won we would only hear about how great he is.

Lol, I would have said the same if it was any nationality. You're the one with the Calimero complex here.

I don't even know who Roy Jans is, another no-name I assume. Groenewhege never came close to a win at the Tour. He's on the level of Debusschere as a sprinter, for now. So yeah, he's a no-name for the moment.

Yes, I'm pissed that they turned the Eneco Tour into a sprinter fest. Has nothing to do with a Dutch guy winning.

 

[Miburo]

DT, if there's someone who shouldn't call someone out because he or she likes or dislikes a nationality then it's you mate

 

[El Pistolero]

Re:

DT, if there's someone who shouldn't call someone out because he or she likes or dislikes a nationality then it's you mate

Yeah, my two favorite cyclists at the moment are Contador and Nibali lol. Not sure why he keeps dragging nationality with it. I'd have rather seen Nibali win Olympic Gold than GVA, I must be sooo nationalistic.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

DT, if there's someone who shouldn't call someone out because he or she likes or dislikes a nationality then it's you mate

I might support Dutch riders but I'm not condescending to other riders just bij because they are from a neighbour country. With El Pistolero that's 100% the case I can asure you..

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Re:

DT, if there's someone who shouldn't call someone out because he or she likes or dislikes a nationality then it's you mate

Yeah, my two favorite cyclists at the moment are Contador and Nibali lol. Not sure why he keeps dragging nationality with it. I'd have rather seen Nibali win Olympic Gold than GVA, I must be sooo nationalistic.

Save your bs for someone else I know you much longer than today. Not buying it. Just stop with condescending comments. It's bloody annoying.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Gronewegen beat every single top sprinter in the world today bar Cav and Viviani. How about you give him some credit for that instead of dismissing him as a no-name

 

[Jagartrott]

Re:

Gronewegen beat every single top sprinter in the world today bar Cav and Viviani. How about you give him some credit for that instead of dismissing him as a no-name

Groenewegen is an up-and-coming name, but he didn't beat the top guys 1-on-1. Greipel and Kittel didn't sprint, really, which is why I was disappointed with the finish. We didn't really get to see a battle of the greats, but a disorganised sprint where it was nearly a miracle no-one crashed. (but perhaps this was to be expected)

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Making this route tailor-made for sprinters was a terrible idea. Now they have a no-name sprinter as a winner, lol.

Groenewegen a no one.. Really? Where have you been this year. Or is it because a Dutchman wins you got to be condescending again. You have such a minority complex it's sad really. Sad and predictable. If Roy Jans would have won we would only hear about how great he is.

Lol, I would have said the same if it was any nationality. You're the one with the Calimero complex here.

I don't even know who Roy Jans is, another no-name I assume. Groenewhege never came close to a win at the Tour. He's on the level of Debusschere as a sprinter, for now. So yeah, he's a no-name for the moment.

Yes, I'm pissed that they turned the Eneco Tour into a sprinter fest. Has nothing to do with a Dutch guy winning.

This doesn't tell us Roy Jans is a no name sprinter. It shows you aren't very knowledge about active cyclists.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Gronewegen beat every single top sprinter in the world today bar Cav and Viviani. How about you give him some credit for that instead of dismissing him as a no-name

Groenewegen is an up-and-coming name, but he didn't beat the top guys 1-on-1. Greipel and Kittel didn't sprint, really, which is why I was disappointed with the finish. We didn't really get to see a battle of the greats, but a disorganised sprint where it was nearly a miracle no-one crashed. (but perhaps this was to be expected)

He beat Kittel fair and square. If you're top 10 in a sprint then you're in the mix. Kittel has only himself to blame...it seems he has some difficulty in freewheeling. This is part of sprinting.

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

Gronewegen beat every single top sprinter in the world today bar Cav and Viviani. How about you give him some credit for that instead of dismissing him as a no-name

Groenewegen is an up-and-coming name, but he didn't beat the top guys 1-on-1. Greipel and Kittel didn't sprint, really, which is why I was disappointed with the finish. We didn't really get to see a battle of the greats, but a disorganised sprint where it was nearly a miracle no-one crashed. (but perhaps this was to be expected)

He beat Kittel fair and square. If you're top 10 in a sprint then you're in the mix. Kittel has only himself to blame...it seems he has some difficulty in freewheeling. This is part of sprinting.

indeed both Griepel and Kittel were up there. Their dominance has a lot to do with having the strongest leadouts. always nice to see sprints where leadouts play no role and it's all the sprinters 1v1

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

Gronewegen beat every single top sprinter in the world today bar Cav and Viviani. How about you give him some credit for that instead of dismissing him as a no-name

Groenewegen is an up-and-coming name, but he didn't beat the top guys 1-on-1. Greipel and Kittel didn't sprint, really, which is why I was disappointed with the finish. We didn't really get to see a battle of the greats, but a disorganised sprint where it was nearly a miracle no-one crashed. (but perhaps this was to be expected)

He beat Kittel fair and square. If you're top 10 in a sprint then you're in the mix. Kittel has only himself to blame...it seems he has some difficulty in freewheeling. This is part of sprinting.

Well put.

 

[Kwibus]

Also regarding ElPistoleros earlier comment, the best sprinters don't seem to have problems winning stages at the TdF.
Maybe Kittel and Greipel simply ain't that much better this year, since Cav dominated the TdF again.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

El Pisoleto is just mad that a dutchman won.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

I hope, I am wrong, but I am afraid that the TTT will have too much impact on GC (like in Tirreno - Adriatico without the queen stage).

Yeah, it's a bit silly to put over 20 kms TTT in races without at least two very selective stages. If one team has a poor TTT, their rider might not even make top10 overall despite achieving better cumulative time than any other rider in the remaining stages.

I always read that stage races never have enough TT kms - I also read that TT's sort out the most rounded stage rider - For me it's logical that every stage race has a TTT,seeing that it's the team that helps the GC rider achieve results - So if you want an al-round GC rider then you should expect similar from the team.

Don't get me wrong, I really like TTTs and I wouldn't mind a proper one in every GT. But every route should be balanced and if there is not much opportunity to gain big ammount of time elsewhere, longish TTTs make the route unbalanced as it is the case in this year's Eneco, which not only doesn't have any big mountain, but even the classic-like stages don't seem to be as hard as in the previous years.

I take your point with a one week stage race but a TTT should be fine in a three week GT.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBaYVo89mmY

:lol: And I opened the link expecting to relive a Wellens wonder win.

Anyway, back to this year. I too can't wait.

Battle between Ion Izagirre & GVA for me. Both very strong TTT, GVA shouldn't lose too much time on the short ITT. Might all come down to what bonifications GVA can nick when all said and done.

Two sprint scenarios I'm curious about:

Kittel has apparently been sick recently. Will Boonen end up being the man, as he was for the Belgium classic recently?

I wonder how Matthews will slot in in the pure bunch sprints with Ewan there? He's pretty tasty on short TT's and the reduced bunch sprints later will obviously suit him. They should go half decent in the TTT too, so that could leave Matthews with a real shot at GC.

I already posted that Matthews is a shot at GC - And he saved energy riding at the back of the peleton today - Think he can finish top 6 in the ITT.

 

[yaco]

Good win by Groenewegen who is steadily improving as a sprinter - Ewan at times is too timid as a sprinter which was again shown in today's stage - And if you want to win a messy sprint then follow Sagan - He seems to always find a position in the final.