BMC in disarray?

[cineteq]

It's just dawned on him that he'll never be Tom Boonen and if he'd stayed at Garmin he'd be outright team leader at Roubaix.

You're joking right? He was the outright leader of BMC at Roubaix. He just did not happen to be in his best form plus he crashed.
If he would've stayed at Garmin???? Did you see what happened last year? How JV made a fool of him and had him worked as domestique?

Medication. Does funny things to your head.

 

[hrotha]

You're joking right? He was the outright leader of BMC at Roubaix. He just did not happen to be in his best form plus he crashed.
If he would've stayed at Garmin???? Did you see what happened last year? How JV made a fool of him and had him worked as domestique?

That only happened in your imagination. And in Thor's.

 

[Parrulo]

Maybe Ballan could have gone with Boonen. Maybe he couldn't. As I read Ballan's interview today I couldn't help thinking what class he showed by not complaining, second-guessing, or otherwise detracting from Boonen's victory.

I was also thinking how exciting it would have been if the two had escaped. If Ballan's too gracious to say it, I will. BMC made a big mistake in choosing a team leader for Paris-Roubaix this year.

Imo ballan is a much better classics rider then hushovd even without the sprint. After all what good is the sprint for if you can't make it to the finishing line with the best?

 

[cineteq]

That only happened in your imagination. And in Thor's.

It's ok, it's not obvious to everyone.

 

[Wallace]

You're joking right? He was the outright leader of BMC at Roubaix. He just did not happen to be in his best form plus he crashed.
If he would've stayed at Garmin???? Did you see what happened last year? How JV made a fool of him and had him worked as domestique?

Medication. Does funny things to your head.

What? I don't know if you noticed, but JV's team won Paris-Roubaix. Vansummeren? Ever heard of him? Remember that whole "cycling is a team sport" thing? Tactics? Thor did his part and it worked. And Thor wasn't Vansummeren's "domestique"--he covered Cancellara. And you just can't say that someone who was on the winning team was "fooled." They took a gamble that FC would tow Thor to the finish, and lost. That's all.
Besides, there's no way in hell Thor will ever win Paris-Roubaix. He isn't good enough.

 

[mwbyrd]

It is a though spot for Phinney next year if he remains on BMC. I think he needs a team that will put him first. PR suits him well. What team will bid for him with his contract up this year? Is there one? A U23 former winner and 15th in his first PR and he's now the favourite to be the first American to win Paris Roubaix.

Are you sure Phinney's contract is up? I know he signed a multi-year contract but never saw it stated for how many years.

 

[thehog]

Are you sure Phinney's contract is up? I know he signed a multi-year contract but never saw it stated for how many years.

Gawk I wish someone would put a contract on the kids head. Has anyone ever recieved so much column inches for finishing an average 15th?

 

[BillytheKid]

Are you sure Phinney's contract is up? I know he signed a multi-year contract but never saw it stated for how many years.

I thought he signed for only two years. I could be wrong, and reading his comments, he seems happy to be where he's at. True, time is on his side.

 

[BillytheKid]

Gawk I wish someone would put a contract on the kids head. Has anyone ever recieved so much column inches for finishing an average 15th?

Such the happy fellow you are Hog. Twice U23 here and 15th the first time up is promising, but the original question posed was about BMC being best suited for him going forward as Flanders and Paris Roubiax do look bright for him. That's not out of line for the BMC dump thread.

I really don't think he has any options teamwise unless the ever revolving door opens an oportunity. He's among good mentors.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Why decry a team for the sake that OP Quickstep /Boonen has been the best team in the early classics. Paris Roubaix yesterday was just a dominate performance by the Belgian.

BMC put Ballan on the Podium Phinney at 15th while being a workhorse and maybe not wanting to top a Thor a few seconds ahead.

Just to address this bit of your opening post.
Sky had 4 men in the lead chase group, had Flecha finish right behind Ballan and Hayman at 8th.
Look at the stick they have received, post race and yet their team is not considered to have anywhere near the same classics status as the squad BMC put onto the cobbled roads.

Everybody knew Boonan was super strong and the man to beat, so what did they do?
The only time they showed coordination was when the whole team came to the front, to push the pace..................after a crash blocked the road and split the peloton: Nice.

After that, their only ploy was to send Michael Schär up the rode, in the ludicrous hope that other teams would see him as a major threat and give chase and burn themselves out while the "Dream Team" rested up, following wheels.
Post D'Arenberg and punctures, it was the same old story: Ballan alone.

All in all, a hopelessly inadequate performance.

As for Phinney, P-R will probably end up as his niche. It's flat and a power event, one could say it's taylor made for him!
However, I think he can safely serve out his contract, before he contemplates overall victory.
He is, in classics racing terms, very young.

 

[movingtarget]

Just to address this bit of your opening post.
Sky had 4 men in the lead chase group, had Flecha finish right behind Ballan and Hayman at 8th.
Look at the stick they have received, post race and yet their team is not considered to have anywhere near the same classics status as the squad BMC put onto the cobbled roads.

Everybody knew Boonan was super strong and the man to beat, so what did they do?
The only time they showed coordination was when the whole team came to the front, to push the pace..................after a crash blocked the road and split the peloton: Nice.

After that, their only ploy was to send Michael Schär up the rode, in the ludicrous hope that other teams would see him as a major threat and give chase and burn themselves out while the "Dream Team" rested up, following wheels.
Post D'Arenberg and punctures, it was the same old story: Ballan alone.

All in all, a hopelessly inadequate performance.

As for Phinney, P-R will probably end up as his niche. It's flat and a power event, one could say it's taylor made for him!
However, I think he can safely serve out his contract, before he contemplates overall victory.
He is, in classics racing terms, very young.

I wonder what is going through Ballan's mind ? Best Spring form for ages but in a non performing team with ****e tactics. He must be disappointed. I thought Phinney's ride was solid with the future in mind. But the hype does get out of hand. The obvious tactic would have been the same for everyone, follow Boonen just like last year except with Cancellara.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

ballan is like this every year. in 2010 he was just as strong

 

[dlwssonic]

ballan is like this every year. in 2010 he was just as strong

2010??? he was quite invisible in 2010 and got pulled out from the race just before PR. You mean 2011 right.

 

[dlwssonic]

Just to address this bit of your opening post.
Sky had 4 men in the lead chase group, had Flecha finish right behind Ballan and Hayman at 8th.
Look at the stick they have received, post race and yet their team is not considered to have anywhere near the same classics status as the squad BMC put onto the cobbled roads.

Everybody knew Boonan was super strong and the man to beat, so what did they do?
The only time they showed coordination was when the whole team came to the front, to push the pace..................after a crash blocked the road and split the peloton: Nice.

After that, their only ploy was to send Michael Schär up the rode, in the ludicrous hope that other teams would see him as a major threat and give chase and burn themselves out while the "Dream Team" rested up, following wheels.
Post D'Arenberg and punctures, it was the same old story: Ballan alone.

All in all, a hopelessly inadequate performance.

You know 2 of their strongest riders in PR were taken out by a puncture for Hincapie and a crash and puncture for Hushovd in crucial moments. They basically were immediately out of the race. It was pretty unlucky and was not their fault at all. They looked good before and after arenberg. But you can blame BMC for not being attentive , quite a few of their riders were caught out when chavanel started attacking and the crosswinds broke up the peloton. But they had ballan in the final group which was important. Hincapie and Hushovd should have been in that group too.
In RVV BMC had a strong performance other than Gilbert and Hushovd due to the illnesses.

 

[Ripper]

You know 2 of their strongest riders in PR were taken out by a puncture for Hincapie and a crash and puncture for Hushovd in crucial moments. They basically were immediately out of the race. It was pretty unlucky and was not their fault at all. They looked good before and after arenberg. But you can blame BMC for not being attentive , quite a few of their riders were caught out when chavanel started attacking and the crosswinds broke up the peloton. But they had ballan in the final group which was important. Hincapie and Hushovd should have been in that group too.
In RVV BMC had a strong performance other than Gilbert and Hushovd due to the illnesses.

You know, I like some of the riders at BMC. That said, their performance as a team was not good. Ballan's legs were good, his head less so (at least at the critical moment). Thor was not good and is over-rated/hyped, especially for PR.

 

[zamzonait]

You know, I like some of the riders at BMC. That said, their performance as a team was not good. Ballan's legs were good, his head less so (at least at the critical moment). Thor was not good and is over-rated/hyped, especially for PR.

2 podiums in P-R says that you`re not overrated.

 

[dlwssonic]

2 podiums in P-R says that you`re not overrated.

Maybe it is because a few think he can win but he is no way in the league of cancellara, Boonen for PR. Yeah he is a good rider to podium PR, but hard to see him win it.
He looked pretty good at arenberg and before the crash. even with the crash and puncture and he was way back in the chavanel group he managed to get a 14th. Which is ok. I think he could have at least top 5.

 

[Machu Picchu]

Thor can win Paris-Roubaix, he perhaps cannot win by his own making in a way that Boonen & Cancellara can, he needs the luck of the cobbles but he’s certainly one of the top riders and will be again next year.

 

[El Pistolero]

He's 2 years older than Boonen though.

 

[movingtarget]

Thor can win Paris-Roubaix, he perhaps cannot win by his own making in a way that Boonen & Cancellara can, he needs the luck of the cobbles but he’s certainly one of the top riders and will be again next year.

No doubt Hushovd is a good rider but I think his best chances to win Roubaix have come and gone, same goes for Flecha. Younger riders are starting to come through and he will still have to contend with the experts like Cancellara and Boonen for a few more years. Even though he rode a great race to win the Worlds in 2010 I see Hushovd as more a of stage poacher these days not a classics winner. On the right course he could also be dangerous again in the Worlds. I was actually surprised that BMC bought both Thor and Gilbert. One of them I can understand but not both of them.

 

[Machu Picchu]

He's 2 years older than Boonen though.

Certainly his time is running out, he’s older than the duo and each year brings further experience and fresh faces but I still think he has a chance.

 

[thehog]

What? I don't know if you noticed, but JV's team won Paris-Roubaix. Vansummeren? Ever heard of him? Remember that whole "cycling is a team sport" thing? Tactics? Thor did his part and it worked. And Thor wasn't Vansummeren's "domestique"--he covered Cancellara. And you just can't say that someone who was on the winning team was "fooled." They took a gamble that FC would tow Thor to the finish, and lost. That's all.
Besides, there's no way in hell Thor will ever win Paris-Roubaix. He isn't good enough.

Cineteq is a little thick. Just like BMCs tactics at Paris-Roubes.

 

[cineteq]

What? I don't know if you noticed, but JV's team ended up winning Paris-Roubaix. Vansummeren? Ever heard of him? Remember that whole "cycling is a team sport" thing? Tactics? Thor did his part and it worked. And Thor wasn't Vansummeren's "domestique"--he covered Cancellara. And you just can't say that someone who was on the winning team was "fooled." They took a gamble that FC would tow Thor to the finish, and lost.

I fixed it for you.

I love tactics, that IS why I love this sport. But not what happened last year at P-R where Garmin run into victory. It was more an experiment that worked, it wasn't really planned, so it cannot be called tactics. How many times JV's team has repeated this feat? If it was tactics he would have won more races this way.

Obviously Thor wasn't amused with JV's *tactics*.

 

[karlboss]

Cineteq is a little thick. Just like BMCs tactics at Paris-Roubes.

I don't think their tactics were bad. At the business end perhaps it was a mistake not to follow boonen, even if Ballan did he couldn't have beaten him, or are you referring to something else?

 

[offbyone]

Too many cooks in that kitchen.