2016 Omloop het Nieuwsblad, Feb 27th, 200.8km, 1.HC

[Kwibus]

Re:

It's like BMC doesn't understand how the classics work. Quickstep has shown time and time again that the probability of winning is higher if you have 3/4 riders in the final like Stybar, Boonen, Terpstra and even guys like Chavanel or Vandenbergh in other years. Terpstra has won Roubaix and he doesn't demand leadership, he knows that his chance of winning is bigger with Boonen and Stybar at his side. It's ridiculous that BMC goes with this crap and pulls Gilbert out of the races, specially Flanders that he should be able to win in the new, harder course which he hasn't even experienced yet!
Besides it's not like GvA has the status to call the shots on who makes the team, he has never won anything big. Obviously he's a great rider but I don't get the need to be sole team leader.

While I agree with you they actually did listen to GVA. I think GVA and Gilbert class too much as personalities and personal ambition. They shouldn't be on the same team since they don't really work well together. Still I did see Gilbert work for GVA in Ponferrada for the WC.

 

[Bushman]

Re: Re:

It's like BMC doesn't understand how the classics work. Quickstep has shown time and time again that the probability of winning is higher if you have 3/4 riders in the final like Stybar, Boonen, Terpstra and even guys like Chavanel or Vandenbergh in other years. Terpstra has won Roubaix and he doesn't demand leadership, he knows that his chance of winning is bigger with Boonen and Stybar at his side. It's ridiculous that BMC goes with this crap and pulls Gilbert out of the races, specially Flanders that he should be able to win in the new, harder course which he hasn't even experienced yet!
Besides it's not like GvA has the status to call the shots on who makes the team, he has never won anything big. Obviously he's a great rider but I don't get the need to be sole team leader.

While I agree with you they actually did listen to GVA. I think GVA and Gilbert class too much as personalities and personal ambition. They shouldn't be on the same team since they don't really work well together. Still I did see Gilbert work for GVA in Ponferrada for the WC.

Eneco Tour last year was a total disaster because of their joint leadership/free roles.

 

[staubsauger]

They should just dumb GVA. Gilbert is a winner. GVA ain't none at all.

 

[hfer07]

Kristoff got this

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

They should just dumb GVA. Gilbert is a winner. GVA ain't none at all.

+1

 

[Flamin]

Re:

It's like BMC doesn't understand how the classics work. Quickstep has shown time and time again that the probability of winning is higher if you have 3/4 riders in the final like Stybar, Boonen, Terpstra and even guys like Chavanel or Vandenbergh in other years. Terpstra has won Roubaix and he doesn't demand leadership, he knows that his chance of winning is bigger with Boonen and Stybar at his side. It's ridiculous that BMC goes with this crap and pulls Gilbert out of the races, specially Flanders that he should be able to win in the new, harder course which he hasn't even experienced yet!
Besides it's not like GvA has the status to call the shots on who makes the team, he has never won anything big. Obviously he's a great rider but I don't get the need to be sole team leader.

Gilbert only rides to win, he doesn't care about the team, it's as simple as that. With Phil and Greg, you have 2 leaders, unlike at Etixx, where Boonen is the leader and guys like Terpstra are one step below. That's the big difference.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

They should just dumb GVA. Gilbert is a winner. GVA ain't none at all.

+1

GVA brings in dem points tho

 

[Bushman]

Re:

They should just dumb GVA. Gilbert is a winner. GVA ain't none at all.

How many times have Gilbert won a meaningful race the last two seasons? He won Amstel in 2014 and won two stages in the Giro this year which was fine but he has failed time and time again in the classics since his wonder season in 2011. He doesn't seem to have the edge to come out victorious in the biggest races anymore.

 

[roundabout]

Re:

It's ridiculous that BMC goes with this crap and pulls Gilbert out of the races, specially Flanders that he should be able to win in the new, harder course which he hasn't even experienced yet!

He raced Flanders in 2012, but it's understandable to forget that. I'm sure Gilbert would like to pretend that he didn't race as well.

 

[Cannibal72]

They should just dumb GVA. Gilbert is a winner. GVA ain't none at all.

+1

It's like BMC doesn't understand how the classics work. Quickstep has shown time and time again that the probability of winning is higher if you have 3/4 riders in the final like Stybar, Boonen, Terpstra and even guys like Chavanel or Vandenbergh in other years. Terpstra has won Roubaix and he doesn't demand leadership, he knows that his chance of winning is bigger with Boonen and Stybar at his side. It's ridiculous that BMC goes with this crap and pulls Gilbert out of the races, specially Flanders that he should be able to win in the new, harder course which he hasn't even experienced yet!
Besides it's not like GvA has the status to call the shots on who makes the team, he has never won anything big. Obviously he's a great rider but I don't get the need to be sole team leader.

Gilbert only rides to win, he doesn't care about the team, it's as simple as that. With Phil and Greg, you have 2 leaders, unlike at Etixx, where Boonen is the leader and guys like Terpstra are one step below. That's the big difference.

I disagree with you about Gilbert, but it's true that BMC can't simply do a Quick Step, as everyone seems to suggest. You need very specific types of rider: the one of the best sprinters in the race with a fearsome reputation (Boonen, Sagan in 2013 Strade Bianche), and a strong but indisputably second-tier Flandrien-type rouleur (Terpstra, Stijn Devolder). That way, the latter is allowed to escape, and the pack all looks at the former, not wanting to drag him to the finish, and lets the escape take hold. As far as I'm aware, Cancellara's team never did an EQS, because the other contenders would chase the break down, fancying their chances in a sprint, but Boonen's practically unbeatable if he ends up in the lead group. Gilbert's too good to be allowed to get in a crucial break, and GVA's not good enough to intimidate the others into sitting up.

 

[johnymax]

Gilbert sure is a winner. But GVA is an entertainer. He is competitive all year long and just tries in every possible way to win a race. Very often he commits tactical suicides but that's one of the reasons why he is so fun to watch. It's not that Gilbert doesn't entertain. I like him very much, too. But you always know what you get from him. He'll wait for the right hill near the finish to make his (usually) decisive attack. With GVA you never know what is he going to do next. He can try a long range attack, an attack going up the hill, multiple attacks one after another, attack solo on a flat road, wait for a sprint... you name it. It's not like Gilbert doesn't ride in that way sometimes but GVA is just a more aggressive rider. I think he'll fly this year and expect him to have the best season of his career. I don't know if this will transform in a lot of wins, but he'll again be fun to watch, you can bet on it.

 

[trevim]

Re: Re:

It's ridiculous that BMC goes with this crap and pulls Gilbert out of the races, specially Flanders that he should be able to win in the new, harder course which he hasn't even experienced yet!

He raced Flanders in 2012, but it's understandable to forget that. I'm sure Gilbert would like to pretend that he didn't race as well.

Ah I'm sorry, my mistake.
He was horrible there, isn't that the race with that famous photo of Gilbert suffering and Cancellara staring at him looking like on a sunday ride?

 

[Eagle]

Re: Re:

It's ridiculous that BMC goes with this crap and pulls Gilbert out of the races, specially Flanders that he should be able to win in the new, harder course which he hasn't even experienced yet!

He raced Flanders in 2012, but it's understandable to forget that. I'm sure Gilbert would like to pretend that he didn't race as well.

Ah I'm sorry, my mistake.
He was horrible there, isn't that the race with that famous photo of Gilbert suffering and Cancellara staring at him looking like on a sunday ride?

 

[burning]

I am pretty sure that is from Strade Bianche

Edit: Apparently I was wrong, it is from Ronde

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

I am pretty sure that is from Strade Bianche

Edit: Apparently I was wrong, it is from Ronde

A reminder of what could have been . Painful to watch in hindsight

 

[robin440]

Hopefully gilbert will change teams next year and go for the cobbled classics!

 

[wansteadimp]

Re: Re:

It's ridiculous that BMC goes with this crap and pulls Gilbert out of the races, specially Flanders that he should be able to win in the new, harder course which he hasn't even experienced yet!

He raced Flanders in 2012, but it's understandable to forget that. I'm sure Gilbert would like to pretend that he didn't race as well.

Ah I'm sorry, my mistake.
He was horrible there, isn't that the race with that famous photo of Gilbert suffering and Cancellara staring at him looking like on a sunday ride?

Wot no motor?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Didn't Gilbert race De Muur in a record time in 2011 (and thus catching Cancellara)

 

[Stingray34]

Why no Stannard for a three-peat? It's great to wear dossard No.1. I've worn it in extremely minor, no-big-deal-interclubs-and-regional races - everyone wants your wheel and makes you ride out of your skin.


If he wants to try something different, well OK, but it is strange being double defending champ and all.

He wants to save himself for Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix. A pity because he won't win those races realistically. His biggest hope will be to pull a Van Summeren.

Although it is ofc always possible that a rider gets better you are probably right. Besides the last two editions of omloop het nieuwsblad he hasn't won that much so hoping for a monument win seems rather optimistic. Moreover he also only won last years edition because of Etixxs stupidity so you can't really count that one

Ah, OK...but he is riding KBK on Sunday, right? Why not the race on Saturday he's won twice in succession?

I agree, he almost certainly won't win a monument unless he gets into a breakaway that outlasts the elite group.

 

[Miburo]

Re: Re:

It's ridiculous that BMC goes with this crap and pulls Gilbert out of the races, specially Flanders that he should be able to win in the new, harder course which he hasn't even experienced yet!

He raced Flanders in 2012, but it's understandable to forget that. I'm sure Gilbert would like to pretend that he didn't race as well.

I bet Gilbert wish he didn't race in 2012 until august.

And yea Godmode Gilbert 2011 broke the record on the muur

 

[MartinGT]

No Stannard for this year?

 

[Jspear]

No Stannard for this year?

Nope. If I remember correctly, it had something to with being more prepared for the bigger classics.

 

[TMP402]

No Stannard for this year?

Nope. If I remember correctly, it had something to with being more prepared for the bigger classics.

Yet he's riding KBK. But all this has been covered several times above.

 

[Trinculo]

No Stannard for this year?

Nope. If I remember correctly, it had something to with being more prepared for the bigger classics.

Yet he's riding KBK. But all this has been covered several times above.

He is Not on the start list for KBK

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Even if he would start, it would not be to lead the team.