BMC in disarray?

[El Pistolero]

Moinard, Ballan and Evans are the only BMC riders that look good so far. Rest of them is quite mediocre for such a team.

Greg van Avermaet... Apologize to him, now

The only riders doing below their normal level are Gilbert and Hushovd. Hushovd only won his first race in Tour de Suisse last year...

 

[Panda Claws]

Greg van Avermaet... Apologize to him, now

The only riders doing below their normal level are Gilbert and Hushovd. Hushovd only won his first race in Tour de Suisse last year...

I don't know about the ardennes. Might be good there might be crap.

But, Gilbert will win Lombardia with 99% certainty.

 

[cineteq]

I answered to the post above mine. And who exactly am I a fanboy of if you'd be so nice to enlighten me? Andy? lol

Are you aware you have an avatar?

 

[spalco]

I do like Cav, but it's kind of difficult to adapt your avatar to the thread you're posting in every time, so I don't really see how it's relevant. (and btw. I've been wanting to change the avatar for some time, but I haven't found a picture from the current season I like yet)

 

[ooh_25mm]

Has anyone suggested that Phil shut it down to figure out what is wrong with him. It is starting to sound like something much more than poor form. If he shuts it down, gets well he may be one track for July, Olympics, GDL.

“With this tooth infection, Philippe has had to go into his reserves,” Ruffini said. “He hasn’t been able to eat properly. He’s lost weight, he lost another kilo in the last few days. We’re going to look to work on that in the next few days. I think he can only improve.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tooth-infection-the-root-of-gilbert-problems

 

[Angliru]

Yes. If he was ever going to beat Contador it was in 2010 and many people including Hinault reckon he blew it. I think he was much better in 2010 and also more aggressive.

His chance was in 2011. In 2010 there were no instances in the mountains other than his first stage win when he actually put time into Contador. I agree that both times Contador was vulnerable but of course definitely more so in 2011 than 2010. The major blown op was in 2011.

 

[Angliru]

I don't know about the ardennes. Might be good there might be crap.

But, Gilbert will win Lombardia with 99% certainty.

Nothing is that guaranteed especially in cycling and one day events.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Lombardia is nothing compared to Ardennes

 

[airstream]

If Gilbert had known what сredibility you give to him with your 99%, he would have turned red.

 

[virandociclista]

what is the biggest joke so far: Gilbert or BMC?

I was waiting a lot more of both... big cr@p so far.

 

[Karl Max]

Greg van Avermaet... Apologize to him, now

The only riders doing below their normal level are Gilbert and Hushovd. Hushovd only won his first race in Tour de Suisse last year...

I agree no one of them have delivered this spring. Gilbert had troubel with his theeths and Hushovd had trouble with his health during Paris-Nice and was sick the week before Milan-San Remo. I think Gilbert can be back to the Ardenne classics, but I have my doubts Hushovd will be at his best till Paris-Robuaix. Two weeks of illness is not perfect so close to his major goal of the season.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Lombardia is nothing compared to Ardennes

Lombardia > Amstel Gold
Lombardia > Flèche Wallonne
Lombardia = or < Liège-Bastogne-Liège depending on your point of view

 

[DominicDecoco]

Lombardia > Amstel Gold
Lombardia > Flèche Wallonne
Lombardia = or < Liège-Bastogne-Liège depending on your point of view

I strongly disagree.

 

[woodenswan]

I strongly disagree.

really? thats surprising
elaborate

 

[Panda Claws]

Lombardia = LBL = RVV = Paris-Roubaix = MSR

Then we get semi-classics like

AGR = FW = CSS = PT = GW = ...

Then below that

MSB = OHN = SV = ...

 

[Angliru]

Lombardia > Amstel Gold
Lombardia > Flèche Wallonne
Lombardia = or < Liège-Bastogne-Liège depending on your point of view

I'd have to disagree. Lombardia's placement in the calender means that by that time many of the elite riders that target the Ardennes have shut it down for the season. The number and quality of those competing at LBL has to dwarf that of Lombardia.

 

[Froome19]

I'd have to disagree. Lombardia's placement in the calender means that by that time many of the elite riders that target the Ardennes have shut it down for the season. The number and quality of those competing at LBL has to dwarf that of Lombardia.

Yes i agree, Lombardia has become the lowliest of the monuments yet it still higher than any other classic.

 

[Angliru]

Yes i agree, Lombardia has become the lowliest of the monuments yet it still higher than any other classic.

I wouldn't go so far as to use the word "lowliest". That sounds so derogatory. Just that the level of competition in this era of shortened seasons, specialization and decreased race days for so many of the top riders leaves Lombardia's startlist a bit of a disappointment compared to LBL.

 

[Panda Claws]

If Gilbert had known what сredibility you give to him with your 99%, he would have turned red.

Don't take everything so literal. I am just saying that the odds are overwhelmingly in Gilbert's favor.

 

[Angliru]

Don't take everything so literal. I am just saying that the odds are overwhelmingly in Gilbert's favor.

Well he did respond with a smiley face to imply he recognized that you weren't completely serious about the 99% claim. Better than my post, which really took you seriously.

 

[theyoungest]

Lombardia = LBL = RVV = Paris-Roubaix = MSR

Then we get semi-classics like

AGR = FW = CSS = PT = GW = ...

Then below that

MSB = OHN = SV = ...

Lombardia is probably my favourite Monument (although not so much on the new course) but really, all three Ardennes races have a stronger field in stronger condition.

As for Gent-Wevelgem being equal to Amstel Gold: to each his own, I guess.

 

[Panda Claws]

Lombardia is probably my favourite Monument (although not so much on the new course) but really, all three Ardennes races have a stronger field in stronger condition.

As for Gent-Wevelgem being equal to Amstel Gold: to each his own, I guess.

In my opinion it shouldn't be all about the field but about the tradition as well. If the Tour of Beijing somehow gets a lot of top-riders (who go there for the points.) will it have more prestige than a Tour de Suisse?

 

[woodenswan]

Lombardia = LBL = RVV = Paris-Roubaix = MSR

Then we get classics like

AGR = FW = CSS = PT = GW = ...

Then below that

MSB = OHN = SV = ...

10 Characters

 

[karlboss]

Greg van Avermaet... Apologize to him, now

The only riders doing below their normal level are Gilbert and Hushovd. Hushovd only won his first race in Tour de Suisse last year...

Will put everyone in their box this weekend

I don't see how BMC are not a good team, not my favourite for sure, but surely one of the best. They have 2 of the most reliable finishers going around at the moment in Evans and Gilbert, the cobbled team is really strong matched by very few, the cobbles stars double up working flatter stages in the tour, they have a few up and coming riders. There is one pretty huge hole at the team which was closed a little by Pinotti and Van Garderen, but still I'm sure Evans would love Szmyd or someone similar. Pinotti could well and truly step up IMHO.

 

[airstream]

TdF=Giro+Vuelta-2 LBL
WC=Lombardia+MSR
lol
on a serious note, its impossible to do such comparisons.