BMC in disarray?

[Panda Claws]

Really? Gilbert won a stage in Algarve and Tirreno, and the Montepaschi Strade Bianche. Apart from that, he finished top-10 in the Tirreno GC, and third in Sanremo. This season he hasn't shown a single above-mediocre performance.

Hushovd was pretty crap at this stage last year as well. But then again, the only good race he had that spring was Paris-Roubaix, so being in the same position as last year is hardly comforting.

You can't count MSR because he fell this year.

 

[hrotha]

Hushovd was pretty crap at this stage last year as well. But then again, the only good race he had that spring was Paris-Roubaix, so being in the same position as last year is hardly comforting.

Hushovd didn't have much in the way of results, but he definitely impressed in Tirreno, so I'd say he's worse off.

 

[movingtarget]

We know that Gilbert has good form because he was in that front group of 70 guys?

I also think he would have got back off the ground a lot quicker and chased instead of freewheeling down the hill if he though his form was that good even if he might not have made it back to the front group. At least he was not injured with other classics not far away.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

You can't count MSR because he fell this year.

You can count MSR because he fell because his form wasn't good. A good Gilbert would have never been in that position in the group.

 

[El Pistolero]

You can count MSR because he fell because his form wasn't good. A good Gilbert would have never been in that position in the group.

Lol, what an idiotic statement.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Lol, what an idiotic statement.

Only in the sense that you can't tell where a fall will occur.
However, chances are Gilbert would not have fallen, had he remained at the position he started the Poggio ascent, rather than where he had fallen back to, further up the climb.
He wasn't there by choice, given where he started.
Ergo, his form still isn't great at all.

 

[El Pistolero]

Only in the sense that you can't tell where a fall will occur.
However, chances are Gilbert would not have fallen, had he remained at the position he started the Poggio ascent, rather than where he had fallen back to, further up the climb.
He wasn't there by choice, given where he started.
Ergo, his form still isn't great at all.

So Boonen's form is crap as well because he got stuck behind a crash on the descent of the Poggio? Gilbert crashed on the Cipressa by the way, where he was seen at the front freewheeling before he decided to drop a little bit more to the back. We don't know what reason, but apparently smurfin does

Gilbert said they were riding SLOW on the Cipressa. Do you really believe he was at the back because he couldn't follow the pace? Please...

Ergo, it's an idiotic statement. Funny statement coming from a Gesink supporter though. Does he never have good form lol?

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Gilbert has appeared to be in (very) bad form all spring so far.

He then rides near the front 50km from the finish, BMC supporters get excited, and suddenly believe he was actually in great form, but just very unlucky to crash at the back of the peloton.

Of course, he was at the back of the peloton at a crucial moment out of choice, being a cunning tactician.

Now as long as no one comes along with a common sense application of Ockam's Razor, we'll just all agree he definately wasn't simply in bad form and slipping back, because he said he's in good form, and cyclists never lie.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert has appeared to be in (very) bad form all spring so far.

He then rides near the front 50km from the finish, BMC supporters get excited, and suddenly believe he was actually in great form, but just very unlucky to crash at the back of the peloton.

Of course, he was at the back of the peloton at a crucial moment out of choice, being a cunning tactician.

Now as long as no one comes along with a common sense application of Ockam's Razor, we'll just all agree he definately wasn't simply in bad form and slipping back, because he said he's in good form, and cyclists never lie.

What Cavendish had was bad form, what Phil had was bad luck

I see you have never actually ridden with a lot of people together. Milan-San Remo is a very very nervous race and it's easy to get drummed to the back of the peloton. When has the Cipressa ever been a crucial point of the race by the way?

 

[hrotha]

Gilbert's form is assumed to be bad (for his standards) not because he crashed in MSR, but because he's done nothing all season, contrary to what was expected of him. If he was sick and had a toothache leading to MSR, it's a stretch to believe he was suddenly in form there. He didn't have time to do anything at MSR to suggest he's left his problems behind, so it's a leap of faith to say he has. You're just lucky he crashed and gave you an excuse.

 

[El Pistolero]

Of course I'm not lucky. He will be ready to win some races next week If he's still in crap shape there then I was wrong obviously. But he won't you know... Because I wasn't wrong

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No how could you ever be wrong? Even if you're wrong you try to bluff yourself out of it

 

[El Pistolero]

No how could you ever be wrong? Even if you're wrong you try to bluff yourself out of it

Because you and I know who will win the Amstel Gold Race already?

 

[Panda Claws]

Still it is weird that Gilbert fell.

First of all he has always been very good at avoiding this.

Second he is Gilbert and he is wearing a unique yersey, that alone gives you a little more space in the peleton.

 

[El Pistolero]

Still it is weird that Gilbert fell.

First of all he has always been very good at avoiding this.

Second he is Gilbert and he is wearing a unique yersey, that alone gives you a little more space in the peleton.

He also fell in Quebec while sitting at the back of the peloton. It's not that weird, sometimes it just happens...

 

[Mellow Velo]

Gilbert's form is assumed to be bad (for his standards) not because he crashed in MSR, but because he's done nothing all season, contrary to what was expected of him. If he was sick and had a toothache leading to MSR, it's a stretch to believe he was suddenly in form there. He didn't have time to do anything at MSR to suggest he's left his problems behind, so it's a leap of faith to say he has. You're just lucky he crashed and gave you an excuse.

This.
Using a crash for positive spin with regard of Gilbert's form, is certainly a stretch, given both lack of recorded results and sickness.

No doubt, when he finally achieves his first illusive win of the season, El P will proclaim it's all been about luck and he has been right all along!

 

[Panda Claws]

Still it remains so that there are only 2 riders that could possibly hope to beat Gilbert in a Cauberg sprint.

And with Evans + GVA to keep the bunch together...

BTW the fact that GVA did a bit of work for Gilbert in MSR pretty much proves that the latter was feeling well.

 

[Lanark]

Still it is weird that Gilbert fell.

First of all he has always been very good at avoiding this.

Second he is Gilbert and he is wearing a unique yersey, that alone gives you a little more space in the peleton.

It's not that weird. Armstrong barely had a single problem in his Tour-reign (outside of 2003), in 2010 he tasted more tarmac than in his whole previous carreer. Contador never had much of any trouble during his GT-wins, in last year's Tour he fell more than Gesink does during an entire season.

If, like Gilbert, you start the season with not that great a shape, you get sick in the Tirreno, just at the moment you should be improving, of course you won't be relaxed, concentrated and calm during MSR. So you make mistakes. Roger de Vlaeminck said he never had a flat tire in the years he was great in Paris-Roubaix. Now De Vlaeminck is somewhat of a joke, but there is an element of truth in that.

 

[El Pistolero]

It's not that weird. Armstrong barely had a single problem in his Tour-reign (outside of 2003), in 2010 he tasted more tarmac than in his whole previous carreer. Contador never had much of any trouble during his GT-wins, in last year's Tour he fell more than Gesink does during an entire season.

If, like Gilbert, you start the season with not that great a shape, you get sick in the Tirreno, just at the moment you should be improving, of course you won't be relaxed, concentrated and calm during MSR. So you make mistakes. Roger de Vlaeminck said he never had a flat tire in the years he was great in Paris-Roubaix. Now De Vlaeminck is somewhat of a joke, but there is an element of truth in that.

So if you're in good form you never get flat tires?

Good post, but as you said, Roger de Vlaeminck is somewhat of a joke.

 

[Panda Claws]

So if you're in good form you never get flat tires?

Good post, but as you said, Roger de Vlaeminck is somewhat of a joke.

I hope Boonen wins PR 5 times so he can ****-off with his record.

 

[Ripper]

Oh lordy lord!

BMC is not doing well thus far. All their A Team are looking at different and later races, so that might partly explain. But putting all your eggs in one basket can backfire ... we will find out soon.

This said, all this chatter about Gilbert is actually funny. No one really knows if his form is really bad right now. He did have bad luck, and whether his position was due to chance or poor form, we will never know. We do know that the rider who might have caused the crash has caused Gilbert to crash before (at least if we believe Gilbert - "Rollin is my bête noire for crashes…").

Anyhoo, as such a 'superteam', they have not impressed yet, at all. But it is mid-March and it is a long season and an Olympic year, so a bit early to toss in the towel.

Who knows, perhaps they drew too much blood in the recent training camp

 

[woodenswan]

Roger de Vlaeminck is somewhat of a joke.

why? (not necessarily arguing, more like curious)

 

[DominicDecoco]

It's not that weird. Armstrong barely had a single problem in his Tour-reign (outside of 2003), in 2010 he tasted more tarmac than in his whole previous carreer. Contador never had much of any trouble during his GT-wins, in last year's Tour he fell more than Gesink does during an entire season.

If, like Gilbert, you start the season with not that great a shape, you get sick in the Tirreno, just at the moment you should be improving, of course you won't be relaxed, concentrated and calm during MSR. So you make mistakes. Roger de Vlaeminck said he never had a flat tire in the years he was great in Paris-Roubaix. Now De Vlaeminck is somewhat of a joke, but there is an element of truth in that.

I think this is very true. I just don't know the connection. Perhaps you're just more focused and concentrated on the minor details during a race like constantly staying in front, avoiding poor parts of the road and the technique on the bike gets better. Not sure though.

 

[Benotti69]

RDV slagging off todays pros does not go down well with fanboys.

 

[c&cfan]

why? (not necessarily arguing, more like curious)

he thinks that today's professionals are farmers (still).