BMC in disarray?

[jens_attacks]

man i'm a fan but i have also to take into account that there is a strong possibility the omega phil will never come back so all we gonna get will be FdJ phil.

still my favourite for amstel gold race it will be him though even if i will cheer for other guys this year.

 

[spalco]

BMC did well today, Gilbert didn't. He was alright, but alright isn't close to enough to repeat last year for him.

 

[dlwssonic]

So you mean RvV didnt suit him ? Because it did.

I never said that Just that AGR suits him much more, its an almost ideal race for him.

 

[dlwssonic]

By brabanste pijl, you guys will see a good Gilbert.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

let's just lay down the facts for poor dwlssonic

2012
75 Philippe GILBERT BEL BMC 30 +4:43

2011
9. [BEL] GILBERT Philippe OLO 08" 74

2010
3. [BEL] GILBERT Philippe OLO 02'11" 145

2009
3. [BEL] GILBERT Philippe SIL 59" 145

2008
15. [BEL] GILBERT Philippe FDJ 21" 34

2007
25. [BEL] GILBERT Philippe FDJ 01'32" 11

So not even in his FDJ years was Gilbert EVER this bad in the Tour of Flanders.


also with his 15th place in 08 he was in the big group that battled for top 10 placings, same goes for 2010 for 4th place

 

[maltiv]

Kristoff (who ended up 15th) dropped Gilbert on the hills today. I'm sure that wasn't what BMC expected when they didn't renew Kristoff's contract and signed Gilbert

Kristoff has so far this season had much better results than Gilbert+Hushovd combined...I'm sure he would've been cheaper too!

 

[roundabout]

By brabanste pijl, you guys will see a good Gilbert.

Probably not. 10 days will not be enough, I would think.

I don't know what is wrong with me, but I actually felt a bit bad watching him struggle today.

 

[dlwssonic]

Probably not. 10 days

I don't know what is wrong with me, but I actually felt a bit bad watching him struggle today.

yea maybe till AGR. Brabanste should be more of a training. But I think the AGR suits him so well he doesn't have to be in great form to do well. LBL and FW is a total different matter,

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

let me put it even more simple. At this moment, Gilbert has a lower level than hayden roulston... you seriously expect Gilbert to top every top puncheur+classification riders that gear up for the classics in 2 weeks?

 

[cineteq]

So not even in his FDJ years was Gilbert EVER this bad in the Tour of Flanders.

The joke's on you, pay attention to the race. Gilbert clearly sat up after the the big 3 took off. So your comment is really irrelevant.

 

[theyoungest]

Gilbert had a suffer face like Gesink's when he was off the front for a while. This is not the Gilbert we know, in two weeks he still won't be.

But BMC certainly aren't in disarray anymore. More specifically, Ballan isn't. And a lucky 4th for Van Avermaet.

 

[Forunculo]

A winter full of drink, food and complacency for Gilbert?

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert had a suffer face like Gesink's when he was off the front for a while. This is not the Gilbert we know, in two weeks he still won't be.

But BMC certainly aren't in disarray anymore. More specifically, Ballan isn't. And a lucky 4th for Van Avermaet.

Nothing lucky about it if you consider the injuries he has. He deserves that fourth place.

 

[Shardi]

Don't bother with dlwsonic. He is loyal and therefore he cant abandon his new bandwagon-rider that happened to come along in the off-season. Endure until may, then he'll be on about Evans and the tour instead, which will be a fresh wind of change..

 

[Zam_Olyas]

They signed the wrong guy should have gone for J.I.

 

[Angliru]

Well at least BMC will have a chance of winning if we go by Pozzato's interpretation of BMC's tatics. Pozzato will be too busy sucking wheel the whole time.

Riders change (well not Leipheimer). Evans was an infamous wheel sucker and became a great champion. Pozzato seems to have improved his training and dedication based on the posted interview and his recent performances.

 

[Angliru]

I never said that Just that AGR suits him much more, its an almost ideal race for him.

Well by saying that AGR is a race that suits him in the context that you did you imply that RVV does not and/or that that is the reason for his less than stellar performance. You have to accept that he is not on form which is pretty much what even he has been saying to the media in the buildup. When you saw him 15+ riders back at a pivotal point on a climb with a gap between his and the lead group having been created you had to have known that he was not going to be a factor.

 

[Angliru]

The joke's on you, pay attention to the race. Gilbert clearly sat up after the the big 3 took off. So your comment is really irrelevant.

I doubt he sat up. He needs the race intensity to continue to improve so what would he gain from shutting it down early, especially since it wasn't a given that the 3 would stay away when they initially got away. If he had the form to finish higher than he did he would've. Arguably, he would've been in better position to either follow Boonen and Pip or at minimum, go with Sagan when he made his failed attempt to bridge.

 

[Angliru]

Nothing lucky about it if you consider the injuries he has. He deserves that fourth place.

I agree. I don't think there's much luck involved finishing 4th at RVV.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Gilbert did extremely well to have that little go at the front end of the race, on the opening lap, because he was already in difficulty on the first ascent of the Oude.

Another classic with BMC all over the front of the race for long periods, but with only minor places to show for it.
The US's answer to Rabobus.
Same Sh*t Different Year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

By brabanste pijl, you guys will see a good Gilbert.

yea maybe till AGR. Brabanste should be more of a training. But I think the AGR suits him so well he doesn't have to be in great form to do well. LBL and FW is a total different matter,

dlwssonic, we have to face the facts. Gilbert has no chance at Amstel Gold Race and most likely the same for the other Ardennes classics. He has very average form and even after one attack up the Kruisberg he was ******ed. Finished way behind and was struggling on many of the other climbs. I think they should ride for GVA at Amstel Gold who is showing some good form with a great 4th place at De Ronde and then ride for Evans at Fleche and Liege keeping the Gilbert door open if he does find some form.

 

[blaxland]

Totally agree Aus and as we know Cadel wont let BMC down in the Ardennes.Van Avermaet is starting to find his form of late last year.

 

[Ripper]

Totally agree Aus and as we know Cadel wont let BMC down in the Ardennes.Van Avermaet is starting to find his form of late last year.

GVA's form has surpassed that of last year. 4th in an extremely difficult monument. I'd say he has made another progression.

FWIW, I don't think most of BMC rode poorly today at all. The exceptions just happen to be the 2 who are high on the payroll ... PG and TH. They rode sh!t.

 

[Parera]

 

[Eric8-A]

Up to now, we've seen who BMC's best riders are. And that's Ballan and GVA. Roubaix is just a week away and who knows what Hushovd will show then.