BMC in disarray?

[theyoungest]

This isn't very convincing when CN posted something on his form coming up.

His form is undeniably coming up... first he was suffering like a dog at the back, now he was suffering like a dog in a "breakaway". It was clear from the tv images as well, a painful grimace which I've never seen on Gilbert's face.

 

[ilrumne]

His form is going up but it's still a completely different view than last year. However, I believe it can go fast with Gilbert. 1,5 week without competition, some rest, regaining focus in Monaco, before you know it he will be playing with Leukemans again at the Brabantse Pijl.

 

[greenedge]

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.

They probably just got the wrong man into the group of 3 that formed ( just like last year in M-SR ). Ballan at least showed he was strong- he just can't sprint. Rabo were non-existent at RvV as well.

 

[greenedge]

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.

Good post. I still think Gilbert will do SOMETHING in the Classics ( though that does not mean winning them )- he will probably be in better form at the later part of the season. That would be nice for GVA to ride Amstel- he could podium.

 

[greenedge]

He still has jrod to deal with though. after seeing some of his good uphill sprints. If he is serious about it he has somewhat of a chance for AGR.

Evans wil want to ride AGR this year because of the WC RR. Also JROD has not done so well this year in hill sprints ( Green Mountain is suited to him- but he did not go well there again ) though of course he will fine-tune at Pais Vasco.

 

[dlwssonic]

Good post. I still think Gilbert will do SOMETHING in the Classics ( though that does not mean winning them )- he will probably be in better form at the later part of the season. That would be nice for GVA to ride Amstel- he could podium.

Lol. If Evans had came to the Ardennes classics with top form then he certainly could win LBL. The fact is that he said the closest he was to best form in the classics was in 2005 and 2010. In Amstel that year he had to ride for Karsten Kroon which is kind of stupid so he couldn't ride for himself and in LBL, Astana and Katusha played a very smart tatics which ultimately caught him out.

For AGR you need to be explosive but less so in Liege. The climbs are longer and sharper in Liege and it is more about strength and endurance than explosiveness.

Doubt it. He won't be going to the classics with top form and to win Liege you need to have very good form. I am not sure he'll have that. In saying that, he could win Fleche.

Well his form looked good at Criterium international, I hope it goes even better in the ardennes. Evans form might not be at TDF level but I think he will be feeling good. Has a good chance for fleche though. Some of the uphill sprints in the TDF were like the cauberg, he could certainly go well there. Maybe a top 5. LBL too.

For amstel gold he will be working for GVA I think. If gilbert is still not feeling good he will be the leader for LBL. Yeah I really hope Gilbert can go well in the ardennes. If he does not he might peak very late in the season.

 

[dlwssonic]

Evans wil want to ride AGR this year because of the WC RR. Also JROD has not done so well this year in hill sprints ( Green Mountain is suited to him- but he did not go well there again ) though of course he will fine-tune at Pais Vasco.

I think evans will have to work for GVA at AGR. But im not sure if GVA has the power for the cauberg.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think evans will have to work for GVA at AGR. But im not sure if GVA has the power for the cauberg.

oh lord not the gva agr hype again.

 

[dlwssonic]

oh lord not the gva agr hype again.

I want to see how he does in the cauberg. His form is great now and he has been improving every year. Now that Gilbert is not going great, GVA can at least try hard and maybe get a top 5.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I want to see how he does in the cauberg. His form is great now and he has been improving every year. Now that Gilbert is not going great, GVA can at least try hard and maybe get a top 5.

GVA is doing better every year apparently.
I find his hype unjustified. A good outsider in races (But there are many of these), not a guy I'll look to these races as a favorite.

 

[auscyclefan94]

oh lord not the gva agr hype again.

What is so wrong with that Timmy? Can you not comprehend that GVA is very much suited to AGR? Hopefully you will open your eyes.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

What is so wrong with that Timmy? Can you not comprehend that GVA is very much suited to AGR? Hopefully you will open your eyes.

Repeating this over and over and over again doesn't make him a genuine favorite

keeping riders abilities in perspective =/= eyes closed.

 

[dlwssonic]

GVA is doing better every year apparently.
I find his hype unjustified. A good outsider in races (But there are many of these), not a guy I'll look to these races as a favorite.

Well he is not a favorite but a good dark horse. The hills in paris tours are quite similiar to AGR and he did well there. Of coursr though PT is much easier and less
competed. He looked good in LBL last year and on the hills in RVV this year.

 

[Lanark]

Well he is not a favorite but a good dark horse. The hills in paris tours are quite similiar to AGR and he did well there. Of coursr though PT is much easier and less
competed. He looked good in LBL last year and on the hills in RVV this year.

Paris-Tours is not like the Gold Race at all. Neither is the Ronde. Liège may be comparable, but based on that he's barely an outside favorite in de Gold Race either way.

 

[dlwssonic]

Paris-Tours is not like the Gold Race at all. Neither is the Ronde. Liège may be comparable, but based on that he's barely an outside favorite in de Gold Race either way.

He has a good uphill sprint, but I am not very sure if he has the power. Evans may not be bad at AGR.

 

[Lanark]

A sprint doesn't really matter that much. Don't forget that the Cauberg is a hill were guys like Boogerd and Fränk Schleck can drop the likes of Bettini and Valverde. With the old Maastricht finish I would have given GVA a decent chance, I don't think he has ever really impressed enough on a Cauberg-like finish.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Repeating this over and over and over again doesn't make him a genuine favorite

keeping riders abilities in perspective =/= eyes closed.

I think he is in the 2nd tier of favourites but nevertheless a favourite. His results and the way he has raced in past years show he is a threat.

 

[dlwssonic]

A sprint doesn't really matter that much. Don't forget that the Cauberg is a hill were guys like Boogerd and Fränk Schleck can drop the likes of Bettini and Valverde. With the old Maastricht finish I would have given GVA a decent chance, I don't think he has ever really impressed enough on a Cauberg-like finish.

Because GVA has not have the opportunity to be at the bottom of the cauberg and not having to work for anyone else. Its quite important isn't to be explosive. Frank schleck soloed btw if im not wrong.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He has a good uphill sprint, but I am not very sure if he has the power. Evans may not be bad at AGR.

I think he is in the 2nd tier of favourites but nevertheless a favourite. His results and the way he has raced in past years show he is a threat.

lol what do you base this on? do you understand AGR as a race?

It is up and down all day, very little rest, being a good finisher uphill is not just what this race is about. The legs are like jelly at the end. You need to open up your eyes and realize AGR is harder then it looks. If any race is undulating, it is this.

GVA's POB of what 25th place?? But hey, he is pretty good uphill, so he must be a favorite here duh.

 

[Lanark]

Because GVA has not have the opportunity to be at the bottom of the cauberg and not having to work for anyone else. Its quite important isn't to be explosive. Frank schleck soloed btw if im not wrong.

Who did he have to work for last year? Well, doesn't even matter really, he was dropped before the Cauberg. But I just haven't been that impressed with GVA on races that finish on hills, not just the AGR. It appears to me he is more comparable to Freire in that regard: great in a sprint after a hill, but not that brilliant in a sprint on a hill (the opposite of a Rodriguez for example).

The Schleck example I was talking about was in 2008.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

And lol @ ACFs contradiction.

AGR is a perfect race for GVA (i assume he bases this on a uphill finish), and flanders is bad for him because he doesn't like placing himself in positions. I hate to break it to you but often in AGR placement in the bunch is everything also

 

[El Pistolero]

GVA will be fifth at AGR this year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

lol what do you base this on? do you understand AGR as a race?

It is up and down all day, very little rest, being a good finisher uphill is not just what this race is about. The legs are like jelly at the end. You need to open up your eyes and realize AGR is harder then it looks. If any race is undulating, it is this.

GVA's POB of what 25th place?? But hey, he is pretty good uphill, so he must be a favorite here duh.

So you are going to be unsurprisingly narrow minded and base it on a few editions of Amstel Gold?

And lol @ ACFs contradiction.

AGR is a perfect race for GVA (i assume he bases this on a uphill finish), and flanders is bad for him because he doesn't like placing himself in positions. I hate to break it to you but often in AGR placement in the bunch is everything also

I was simply paraphrasing what he said. Amstel Gold was a big target for him last year and is this year.

 

[dlwssonic]

lol what do you base this on? do you understand AGR as a race?

It is up and down all day, very little rest, being a good finisher uphill is not just what this race is about. The legs are like jelly at the end. You need to open up your eyes and realize AGR is harder then it looks. If any race is undulating, it is this.

GVA's POB of what 25th place?? But hey, he is pretty good uphill, so he must be a favorite here duh.

GVA was great in last years LBL. And LBL is much harder than AGR. He was from an early break and managed to stay with the favorites for a long time till the saint nicholas

 

[auscyclefan94]

GVA was great in last years LBL. And LBL is much harder than AGR. He was from an early break and managed to stay with the favorites for a long time till the saint nicholas

Hitting Timmy with a logical argument rarely works.