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Re:
It's not all about GT's, nothing wrong with being a top shelf 1 week stage racer
jsem94 said:
It's not all about GT's, nothing wrong with being a top shelf 1 week stage racer
- May 8, 2014
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About Rui Costa. I've been impressed with him many times in the past. When I think about him, I think of a winner. Sure, he doesn't win as much as some other riders, but he also doesn't have some extraordinary physical quality that puts him above the rest. But when the opportunity arises he takes it. It happened in Firenze, it happened in TdS three times, it happened when he was in a break in the Tour...I'm curious to see if he can win a classic in his career. He was close a couple of times. A win there would really look nice in his palmares.
- Aug 6, 2010
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Re: Re:
He rides some one day races and tried some classics too but he is in the team where are better riders for that.
That's a bit misleading. He said he's completetly exhausted in third week. To perform in third week is most important to do good result in GT. So why to you ask why he hasn't even tried when we know the answer already? And actually he tried GT quite few times, five times, so he probably knows his limits by now and is smart enough to focuse on his strengths. Probably he realizes that even in top shape he's at best on par with riders who aren't in top shape at those races so he couldn't stand a chance in GT where they are.johnymax said:Spilak is a strange case. It's very frustrating to be his fan. He doesn't ride GTs, he doesn't ride classics, he doesn't ride NCs, he doesn't ride WCs, he always does the same schedule with a peak in late April, May and June. His races are P-N, PV, Romandie and Suisse. Some will say it's a smart thing to only focus on one week races and stick to it, but I don't like it. And that's because I have a feeling he is capable of more.Poursuivant said:
I don't remember in recent years a rider that's as complete as he is (meaning good climbing and TT skills) and has no decent result at all in a GT. And I'm not talking about GC, but also individual stages. He has no top ten result in a single GT stage!? Is there any similar rider? I can't think of any. I'd be happy if someone can name that rider. He is not that kind of one week GC rider that does good only because there are not major climbs in the race. On the contrary, he likes steep long climbs and long ITTs. That's why he does well in TdS and TdR. It's not because he likes Switzerland (although he does), but because those are the races with proper climbing in the mountains.
When he was asked why he doesn't ride GTs he said that his body is completely exhausted in the third week and he decided to focus on one week races where he thinks he can achieve very good results. And that's fine. My problem with him is that he doesn't even try. He did the Tour 2 years ago because the team asked him to. Last time he did the Giro was in 2011. He rode the Giro when he was a 21yo neopro and was 27th in the third week in MTT on Kronplatz. That's a pretty good result for a neopro. Ok, I get it. No Tour, no Vuelta because of the heat. But come on, try the Giro just once now while you are in your best age.
Look at Porte and Costa. They are similar riders. But they have tried several times. They have some great results and showings in GTs. They are both inconsistent yes, but Costa has what 3 or 4 Tour stage wins, Porte has some great performances helping Froome. Porte also changed team because he wants more freedom in GTs. And they'll try again this year (GC or stage hunt), next year and so on. What about Spilak? Same old story. No GT and no Ardennes classics this year. At least there are the Olympics but with the heat in Rio I don't know if he'll be able to fight with the best.
One reason he doesn't ride GTs could be also because those races get a lot of media attention. He is very shy, he doesn't speak foreign languages well and has difficulties talking to reporters. But that's part of the sport and he should have been used to it by now.
Ah, I could go on and on but what's the point. Next year I'll be hoping again to see him on the Giro roster, but I know there's very little chance. I hope he changes team and the new team forces him to do the GiroHopefully at least Rogla won't be this frustrating to cheer for.
He rides some one day races and tried some classics too but he is in the team where are better riders for that.
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Live tracker here, first rider off at 14:37, finish at around 17:40, video from 15:50 CEST. Weather in Baar. Startlist.
- Jun 30, 2014
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Re: Re:
I'm a bit torn, I'd like to see him riding the Giro for gc once, but on the other hand it's great to have riders who really focus on one week races. I'd rather be a rider like Spilak than someone who's able to hand on for dear life and someone finishes in the top 10 in a gt.
Back to TdS, I don't think that someone like TJ is ready to go all out, he'll probably try to ride tempo on the steep MTF and go all out in the ITT, even if it's too short.
From what I've heard the weather will be rather bad, so heat shouldn't be a problem. I'd love to see another Spilak win, Superman Lopez seems to dislike bad weather.
His climbing performances when he went toe to toe with Froome in Romandie would be enough to get a top 5 in the Giro, IMO.Kokoso said:That's a bit misleading. He said he's completetly exhausted in third week. To perform in third week is most important to do good result in GT. So why to you ask why he hasn't even tried when we know the answer already? And actually he tried GT quite few times, five times, so he probably knows his limits by now and is smart enough to focuse on his strengths. Probably he realizes that even in top shape he's at best on par with riders who aren't in top shape at those races so he couldn't stand a chance in GT where they are.johnymax said:Spilak is a strange case. It's very frustrating to be his fan. He doesn't ride GTs, he doesn't ride classics, he doesn't ride NCs, he doesn't ride WCs, he always does the same schedule with a peak in late April, May and June. His races are P-N, PV, Romandie and Suisse. Some will say it's a smart thing to only focus on one week races and stick to it, but I don't like it. And that's because I have a feeling he is capable of more.Poursuivant said:
I don't remember in recent years a rider that's as complete as he is (meaning good climbing and TT skills) and has no decent result at all in a GT. And I'm not talking about GC, but also individual stages. He has no top ten result in a single GT stage!? Is there any similar rider? I can't think of any. I'd be happy if someone can name that rider. He is not that kind of one week GC rider that does good only because there are not major climbs in the race. On the contrary, he likes steep long climbs and long ITTs. That's why he does well in TdS and TdR. It's not because he likes Switzerland (although he does), but because those are the races with proper climbing in the mountains.
When he was asked why he doesn't ride GTs he said that his body is completely exhausted in the third week and he decided to focus on one week races where he thinks he can achieve very good results. And that's fine. My problem with him is that he doesn't even try. He did the Tour 2 years ago because the team asked him to. Last time he did the Giro was in 2011. He rode the Giro when he was a 21yo neopro and was 27th in the third week in MTT on Kronplatz. That's a pretty good result for a neopro. Ok, I get it. No Tour, no Vuelta because of the heat. But come on, try the Giro just once now while you are in your best age.
Look at Porte and Costa. They are similar riders. But they have tried several times. They have some great results and showings in GTs. They are both inconsistent yes, but Costa has what 3 or 4 Tour stage wins, Porte has some great performances helping Froome. Porte also changed team because he wants more freedom in GTs. And they'll try again this year (GC or stage hunt), next year and so on. What about Spilak? Same old story. No GT and no Ardennes classics this year. At least there are the Olympics but with the heat in Rio I don't know if he'll be able to fight with the best.
One reason he doesn't ride GTs could be also because those races get a lot of media attention. He is very shy, he doesn't speak foreign languages well and has difficulties talking to reporters. But that's part of the sport and he should have been used to it by now.
Ah, I could go on and on but what's the point. Next year I'll be hoping again to see him on the Giro roster, but I know there's very little chance. I hope he changes team and the new team forces him to do the Giro
He rides some one day races and tried some classics too but he is in the team where are better riders for that.
I'm a bit torn, I'd like to see him riding the Giro for gc once, but on the other hand it's great to have riders who really focus on one week races. I'd rather be a rider like Spilak than someone who's able to hand on for dear life and someone finishes in the top 10 in a gt.
Back to TdS, I don't think that someone like TJ is ready to go all out, he'll probably try to ride tempo on the steep MTF and go all out in the ITT, even if it's too short.
From what I've heard the weather will be rather bad, so heat shouldn't be a problem. I'd love to see another Spilak win, Superman Lopez seems to dislike bad weather.
- Feb 16, 2010
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- Mar 31, 2010
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- May 8, 2014
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Re: Re:
Reply to this part: Probably he realizes that even in top shape he's at best on par with riders who aren't in top shape at those races so he couldn't stand a chance in GT where they are.
I think riding away on the climbs from everybody else with Froome, who has a first peak of form there and is maybe not at 100% but let's say 90%, in Romandie twice, is a pretty good form to have in May to start the Giro. And once again. He doesn't need to go for GC. That form would be more then good enough to go for a stage or two in the first two weeks.
About the classics. Yes you are right Katusha has riders that are better suited for one day races. But I think it's a waste to not send Spilak to do those races. You don't do a top10 in the Ronde in your first year, win GP Miguel Indurain and win GP Frankfurt while being a climber, by accident. He could be of good support for Purito or play the 2nd or 3rd line attacker role.
In my opinion good climbers should ride GTs and the Ardennes classics. I don't have a problem with skipping them one year. But to do one GT in 5 years and do exactly one Liege (2008), one FW (2008) and no Lombardia at all, while showing promise in some other one day races, is not the right way to go IMO.
How is that misleading? If he is exhausted in the third week then go home after two weeks if you really can't finish the race. But he is not the only one who's exhausted I think and there are plenty of riders exhausted in the third week but ride a GT anyway. It's not a must to go for GC like I said. Go stage hunt the first two weeks, go as a strong domestique. I'm sure there are plenty of opportunities. And yes, he tried riding a GT 5 times, but it was pretty early in his career when he was riding with Lampre and was half the rider he is now.. In Katusha colours he only tried the Tour once and ok, it was the confirmation that the Tour is not for him.Kokoso said:That's a bit misleading. He said he's completetly exhausted in third week. To perform in third week is most important to do good result in GT. So why to you ask why he hasn't even tried when we know the answer already? And actually he tried GT quite few times, five times, so he probably knows his limits by now and is smart enough to focuse on his strengths. Probably he realizes that even in top shape he's at best on par with riders who aren't in top shape at those races so he couldn't stand a chance in GT where they are.johnymax said:Spilak is a strange case. It's very frustrating to be his fan. He doesn't ride GTs, he doesn't ride classics, he doesn't ride NCs, he doesn't ride WCs, he always does the same schedule with a peak in late April, May and June. His races are P-N, PV, Romandie and Suisse. Some will say it's a smart thing to only focus on one week races and stick to it, but I don't like it. And that's because I have a feeling he is capable of more.Poursuivant said:
I don't remember in recent years a rider that's as complete as he is (meaning good climbing and TT skills) and has no decent result at all in a GT. And I'm not talking about GC, but also individual stages. He has no top ten result in a single GT stage!? Is there any similar rider? I can't think of any. I'd be happy if someone can name that rider. He is not that kind of one week GC rider that does good only because there are not major climbs in the race. On the contrary, he likes steep long climbs and long ITTs. That's why he does well in TdS and TdR. It's not because he likes Switzerland (although he does), but because those are the races with proper climbing in the mountains.
When he was asked why he doesn't ride GTs he said that his body is completely exhausted in the third week and he decided to focus on one week races where he thinks he can achieve very good results. And that's fine. My problem with him is that he doesn't even try. He did the Tour 2 years ago because the team asked him to. Last time he did the Giro was in 2011. He rode the Giro when he was a 21yo neopro and was 27th in the third week in MTT on Kronplatz. That's a pretty good result for a neopro. Ok, I get it. No Tour, no Vuelta because of the heat. But come on, try the Giro just once now while you are in your best age.
Look at Porte and Costa. They are similar riders. But they have tried several times. They have some great results and showings in GTs. They are both inconsistent yes, but Costa has what 3 or 4 Tour stage wins, Porte has some great performances helping Froome. Porte also changed team because he wants more freedom in GTs. And they'll try again this year (GC or stage hunt), next year and so on. What about Spilak? Same old story. No GT and no Ardennes classics this year. At least there are the Olympics but with the heat in Rio I don't know if he'll be able to fight with the best.
One reason he doesn't ride GTs could be also because those races get a lot of media attention. He is very shy, he doesn't speak foreign languages well and has difficulties talking to reporters. But that's part of the sport and he should have been used to it by now.
Ah, I could go on and on but what's the point. Next year I'll be hoping again to see him on the Giro roster, but I know there's very little chance. I hope he changes team and the new team forces him to do the Giro
He rides some one day races and tried some classics too but he is in the team where are better riders for that.
Reply to this part: Probably he realizes that even in top shape he's at best on par with riders who aren't in top shape at those races so he couldn't stand a chance in GT where they are.
I think riding away on the climbs from everybody else with Froome, who has a first peak of form there and is maybe not at 100% but let's say 90%, in Romandie twice, is a pretty good form to have in May to start the Giro. And once again. He doesn't need to go for GC. That form would be more then good enough to go for a stage or two in the first two weeks.
About the classics. Yes you are right Katusha has riders that are better suited for one day races. But I think it's a waste to not send Spilak to do those races. You don't do a top10 in the Ronde in your first year, win GP Miguel Indurain and win GP Frankfurt while being a climber, by accident. He could be of good support for Purito or play the 2nd or 3rd line attacker role.
In my opinion good climbers should ride GTs and the Ardennes classics. I don't have a problem with skipping them one year. But to do one GT in 5 years and do exactly one Liege (2008), one FW (2008) and no Lombardia at all, while showing promise in some other one day races, is not the right way to go IMO.
- May 5, 2010
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Coverage for France on L'Equipe 21 FTA with Patrick Chassé who used to comment for Eurosport but got fired when he didn't keep his mouth shut when Dopestrong returned in 2009 and had this shameful daily special on Eurosport.
- Aug 31, 2012
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Poor Tejay. He knows that no matter what he does, he cannot surpass the exploits of the mighty lil Richie over at the Dauphine. I think he will slip into a support role quite naturally at the Tour, though.
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