BMC in disarray?

[Captain Kirk]

BMC Statement...

11. March 2012
Prati di Tivo, Italy
A crash on the descent leading to the final climb Sunday at Tirreno-Adriatico separated Cadel Evans and several others on the BMC Racing Team from the leading group, leaving them with a gap they could not close.

Evans Seeks Better Form
Afterwards, Evans said even with the mishap, he likely would not have been a factor on the six-kilometer climb at the end of the 196 km stage. "My legs are not as good as they were last year as this time," Evans said. "I'm sure they're getting better and there will be better days. But the race is much harder then last year, so that is amplifying the difference between the ones who are in shape and the rest of us."

Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) soloed to win the stage while Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan) kept the overall lead. BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Fabio Baldato said another disappointment on the day was a miscommunication that kept George Hincapie from taking his own chance on the final climb.

"This was like one of the hardest stages of the Tour de France or the Giro d'Italia," Baldato said. "George and Greg Van Avermaet and Michael Schär were in the front group of 30 after the crash but stopped and waited for Cadel. It was good of them to wait, but George was having a really good day and could have finished in the top 20 for sure." Evans crossed the line in 45th place, finishing in a small group containing teammates Marco Pinotti and Hincapie, 10:36 behind Nibali.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Then again.............
Another less than stellar performance.
I felt sure he could take Spilak, maybe even Valverde.
Mediocrity par excellence.

As for BMC at Tirreno: OK, now I'm fairly convinced that Evans the TDF champ, has lost a bit of his hunger.(or else he's got Andy Schleck writing his training program)

I find that hard to believe, one bad race race and you are making sensationalist comments like that. A bit harsh imo.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Ballan seems to be doing fine and slowly getting into form.

 

[Captain Kirk]

Cadel's Diary

No excuses made and no pretence of form, but the tone suggests a large element of surprise of the level his peers ?

So is all the pro peleton on form early this year? Sounds like BMC should have been upfront, rather than going thru the motions of "defending" the T-A title?


.........Half of the selection seemed to be made on downhill before things got serious on the final climb. I didn't see much, seeing how far I am off the best guys here this year, I 'gruppetto'd' to the finish, but I am happy to see old team mate Chris Horner hold the lead for another day.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Greg van Avermaet is also looking very good. I expect a strong showing from him in MSR.

 

[Eric8-A]

If Greg or Ballan stop a certain Brit from winning MSR, I'll more than welcome it.

 

[Panda Claws]

GVA could not hold his advantage even with a free 30 seconds so no, he won't win MSR.

 

[maltiv]

Greg van Avermaet is also looking very good. I expect a strong showing from him in MSR.

Definitely, but I doubt he will win. Not strong enough solo to make an attack stick and not fast enough to win from a sprint. I hope I'm wrong though.

At the start of the season I was expecting BMC to make M-SR into a really hard race to get rid of Cavendish, but now it seems like BMC's captains (Hushovd and Gilbert) will have more than enough just holding Cav's wheel up Poggio. Instead they'll just have to send GVA and Ballan on the attack and hope for the best, just like last year.

 

[Eric8-A]

If the main contenders race hard enough, it's highly unlikely that Cavendish will not be there to contest the finish as he won't have the entirety of his team by then. That's what I think.

 

[auscyclefan94]

GVA could not hold his advantage even with a free 30 seconds so no, he won't win MSR.

Err, he attacked on the Poggio and then Cancellara, Gilbert and Nibali brought him back. No shame in that and I don't see how all those 3 guys chasing him down means he can't get a top 10 or possibly a podium spot.

 

[movingtarget]

No excuses made and no pretence of form, but the tone suggests a large element of surprise of the level his peers ?

So is all the pro peleton on form early this year? Sounds like BMC should have been upfront, rather than going thru the motions of "defending" the T-A title?


.........Half of the selection seemed to be made on downhill before things got serious on the final climb. I didn't see much, seeing how far I am off the best guys here this year, I 'gruppetto'd' to the finish, but I am happy to see old team mate Chris Horner hold the lead for another day.

I think Evans has been honest. He's right it is a much harder race this year with longer and hillier stages and his fitness is not as advanced as last year. He will try and do something in the TT and not lose too much sleep over this race. I'm sure he will be ready for the Ardennes classics to help Gilbert or himself if Gilbert has a bad day. If Evans has lost the hunger I would be suprised but maybe this year the season only really kicks in for him at the TDF.

 

[dlwssonic]

nah evans will never lose his hunger, he wants the tdf this year. He has the race to lose.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gilbert out with a fever...BMC in disarray!

 

[Machu Picchu]

Gilbert out with a fever...BMC in disarray!

doesn't sound too bad though:

BMC Racing Team ‏ @BMCProTeam
Dr. Testa: "I can tell you if today was the start of Milan-San Remo, he (Gilbert)would have started."

but obviously combine that with his current form

 

[Panda Claws]

No worries Gilbert will be there at MSR.

Why?

1. The fact that he is feverish partially explains his lesser performances during the last few days.

2. BMC still seems to have endless trust in him. "We don't want to take risks with MSR coming up." "Lelangue: Gilbert will be there at Milan-Sanremo."

3. Gilbert: " I'm better than people think."

4. Interviewer: "Aren't you worried about Gilbert's lesser performances."
Andy Rihs: "Let's just wait and see."


To those who follow cross as well.
Sven Nys might have won nearly everything in the smaller races, but who became world champ? Niels Albert.

Let the others have the preparation races, Gilbert will be there when it really counts.

 

[dlwssonic]

No worries Gilbert will be there at MSR.

Why?

1. The fact that he is feverish partially explains his lesser performances during the last few days.

2. BMC still seems to have endless trust in him. "We don't want to take risks with MSR coming up." "Lelangue: Gilbert will be there at Milan-Sanremo."

3. Gilbert: " I'm better than people think."

4. Interviewer: "Aren't you worried about Gilbert's lesser performances."
Andy Rihs: "Let's just wait and see."


To those who follow cross as well.
Sven Nys might have won nearly everything in the smaller races, but who became world champ? Niels Albert.

Let the others have the preparation races, Gilbert will be there when it really counts.

wow did they all really say that? wow Gilbert might be very dangerous at MSR, but I still don't think he is the main man for BMC.

 

[Angliru]

No worries Gilbert will be there at MSR.

Why?

1. The fact that he is feverish partially explains his lesser performances during the last few days.

2. BMC still seems to have endless trust in him. "We don't want to take risks with MSR coming up." "Lelangue: Gilbert will be there at Milan-Sanremo."

3. Gilbert: " I'm better than people think."

4. Interviewer: "Aren't you worried about Gilbert's lesser performances."
Andy Rihs: "Let's just wait and see."


To those who follow cross as well.
Sven Nys might have won nearly everything in the smaller races, but who became world champ? Niels Albert.

Let the others have the preparation races, Gilbert will be there when it really counts.

Is that really a valid comparison? Nys had a wc under his belt and countless other titles. Gilbert hasn't shown any form at all, while Albert was present and competitive with Nys prior to the wc. I think they're expecting too much if they think Gilbert is going to be a contender in one of the longest classics there is especially if one week prior he's suffering from what will likely be an energy sapping fever. It brings to mind the year Cavendish's lead-up to MSR was less than promising due to some dental issue and they still put all their eggs in his basket in hopes that he'd make a Lazarus like rise. I wouldn't put any money on Gilbert if I were a betting man, which I'm not.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

If the main contenders race hard enough, it's highly unlikely that Cavendish will not be there to contest the finish as he won't have the entirety of his team by then. That's what I think.

Too busy hating to count how many negatives you used?

 

[El Pistolero]

Saying Cavendish won't survive a hard Primavera is not hating. It's a fact.

 

[richtea]

'If the main contenders race hard enough, it's highly unlikely that Cavendish will not be there'

which is probably not what he meant.

 

[dlwssonic]

their performance today was quite depressing...
Please at least a top 5 in MSR, OR I will go mad!!!!

 

[El Pistolero]

It's just Milan-San Remo lol. If you don't have an elite sprinter in your team you shouldn't give a **** really.

 

[killswitch]

If you don't have an elite sprinter in your team you shouldn't give a **** really.

Like Liqui with Nibali, Lampre - Scarponi and Cancellara the last couple of years

 

[dlwssonic]

It's just Milan-San Remo lol. If you don't have an elite sprinter in your team you shouldn't give a **** really.

lol no matter what its a monument and extremely important for BMC.

 

[Panda Claws]

Just you wait, the Poggio shall burn.