Benoît Cosnefroy - the next Alaphilippe?

[Samu Cuenca]

His sprint is declining, so maybe he really is the next Alaphilippe

He should perhaps have been a bit cooler at the end, but still a great ride by him. I certainly still believe he can win Flèche Wallonne this year.

 

[RedheadDane]

His sprint is declining, so maybe he really is the next Alaphilippe

Naah, if he was the next Alaphilippe, he'd launched his sprint, celebrated, and then Kwiatkowski would have pipped him on the line.

 

[Bonimenier]

Naah, if he was the next Alaphilippe, he'd launched his sprint, celebrated, and then Kwiatkowski would have pipped him on the line.

If celebrating too early is the requirement to be the next Alaphilippe, I think Cosnefroy qualifies.

 

[RedheadDane]

If celebrating too early is the requirement to be the next Alaphilippe, I think Cosnefroy qualifies.

Obviously, he celebrated when the official race radio said he'd won.

 

[limak_]

If celebrating too early is the requirement to be the next Alaphilippe, I think Cosnefroy qualifies.

I mean, just after the finish he angrily hit his handlebar (like he knew he lost), didn't he?

 

[Bonimenier]

Obviously, he celebrated when the official race radio said he'd won.

I agree that there is still some work to do to become the next Alaphilippe, but it's a step in the right direction.

 

[Ripper]

If celebrating too early is the requirement to be the next Alaphilippe, I think Cosnefroy qualifies.

That's a bit unfair, I don't think he celebrated "too early". Good race by both he an Kwiat

 

[Bonimenier]

That's a bit unfair, I don't think he celebrated "too early". Good race by both he an Kwiat

I was only half serious. Obviously the organization f'ed up once again.

 

[Sciatic]

I mean, just after the finish he angrily hit his handlebar (like he knew he lost), didn't he?

I think he knew he screwed up his bike throw.

 

[ice&fire]

I mean, just after the finish he angrily hit his handlebar (like he knew he lost), didn't he?

 

[Netserk]

Takes a special tw@t to race with an ugly watch like that.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Horrible thing to happen to any rider. Great performance though

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Benoit in disguise as his 14 year old self to get a selfie with EBH

https://imgur.com/nOyBNVn

View: https://imgur.com/nOyBNVn

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Fabian Cancellara is part of a new Suisse cycling projet called Tudor Pro Cycling Team, and it seems they've signed a secret Cosnefroy twin.

 

[tobydawq]

Why is he not doing the Tour? He has had an excellent season and is in good form. His own choice?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Why is he not doing the Tour? He has had an excellent season and is in good form. His own choice?

It sounds like he wants to fully focus on the Olympics, and since he hasn't had much luck/success in the race, apart from wearing polka dots four years ago, he wanted to try a different approach.

 

[tobydawq]

It sounds like he wants to fully focus on the Olympics, and since he hasn't had much luck/success in the race, apart from wearing polka dots four years ago, he wanted to try a different approach.

Makes sense. There doesn't really seem to be any stages that would suit him, either. Curious how his skillset is that incompatible with Grand Tour racing.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Makes sense. There doesn't really seem to be any stages that would suit him, either. Curious how his skillset is that incompatible with Grand Tour racing.

It's not incompatible. There are simply better riders present.

 

[tobydawq]

It's not incompatible. There are simply better riders present.

You can say that, but that doesn't really explain his Amstel and Canadian performances...

 

[Samu Cuenca]

You can say that, but that doesn't really explain his Amstel and Canadian performances...

Yeah, there are definitely worse (French) riders who've done better in the Tour over the years.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

You can say that, but that doesn't really explain his Amstel and Canadian performances...

Yes i can say that. He is 28 and has won 2 WT races out of 20 total wins in his entire career. For a guy with a kick and decent sprint that has never really been forced in a domestique role, that should be evident enough, that he is not a match for Pogacar, Evenepoel, Roglic, Van der Poel, Van Aert... on courses that suit his skillset perfectly when those riders are at their peak. Simply because those riders are better. Canadian races, end of season, the big hitters are often absent or burnt out. Not the best comparison. He is a candidate for stages that 6 years ago people would have writting down Alaphilippe's name before the race. But nowdays, those stages aren't won by such riders anymore, but by riders like Pog.

Ok, after looking up his results in the TDF the past years, it doesn't look like he's ever come anywhere close to a good result. His results are even worse than i expected. Two top 10's on the first day of Dauphiné. So i don't think it's his skillset, just a matter of quality and i fear his recovery is not of the elite level (unless you count that as part of a skillset).

 

[tobydawq]

.

Ok, after looking up his results in the TDF the past years, it doesn't look like he's ever come anywhere close to a good result. His results are even worse than i expected. Two top 10's on the first day of Dauphiné. So i don't think it's his skillset, just a matter of quality and i fear his recovery is not of the elite level (unless you count that as part of a skillset).

I obviously do.

And dismissing his Canadian performances with "all the others are burnt out" when they're just about to peak for the world championships is not really that logical...

Also, this year he won Brabantse Pijl, was fourth in Amstel, sixth in Strade and has just been crushing the French scene, so he has one of his best seasons of his career if not the best. He may not be as good as Pogacar or Wout but they're not winning every stage im the Tour, yet Cosnefroy has never even been close to anything because as soon as the road goes upwards for more than two kilometers in a Grand Tour, his climbing ability is similar to Marcel Kittel's.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I obviously do.

And dismissing his Canadian performances with "all the others are burnt out" when they're just about to peak for the world championships is not really that logical...

Also, this year he won Brabantse Pijl, was fourth in Amstel, sixth in Strade and has just been crushing the French scene, so he has one of his best seasons of his career if not the best. He may not be as good as Pogacar or Wout but they're not winning every stage im the Tour, yet Cosnefroy has never even been close to anything because as soon as the road goes upwards for more than two kilometers in a Grand Tour, his climbing ability is similar to Marcel Kittel's.

I would not count that as a skill, but a quality. He has also never performed even in the first week of any of his TDF participations, and i can't belief non of those dozens of stages suited him. So there is definitely more to it, and the fact that someone with his actual skillset has only 2WT wins, while usually riding as a leader, says enough.