BMC in disarray?

[El Pistolero]

Except you're using that to dismiss his chances this year. He was 2nd last year to a guy who isn't expected to feature this year (and who by your definition must be the greatest failure of the season).

Of course Gilbert has been failing this season. Do you even watch cycling?

Using past performances is usually the way to go and make predictions based on that.

 

[hrotha]

Of course Gilbert has been failing this season. Do you even watch cycling?

Using past performances is usually the way to go and make predictions based on that.

Point being you're not dismissive of Gilbert. Duh.

I'd say 2011 FW (2nd to a guy who isn't expected to contend) counts as a past performance to base a prediction on, but whatever.

 

[movingtarget]

Yea but this year he looks in better form than last years winner. I think Samu and Evans will be his main threats on the Mur.

Sure Evans looked good in the Criterium but it wasn't really a great field of riders he was up against. He might have trouble getting to the final climb at the front. Sanchez will have some chance. I think Rodriguez and Gerrans have to be the favourites. Maybe Freire not sure about Cunego, his one day race legs seem to have deserted him. Evans and GVA will probably ride their usual consistent races but not sure if they can win. I think Cadel is more suited to the Fleche. Valverde and Voeckler will probably do better in the Liege.

 

[Machu Picchu]

Of course Gilbert has been failing this season. Do you even watch cycling?

Using past performances is usually the way to go and make predictions based on that.

So why so dismissive of Rodriguez then?_?

 

[El Pistolero]

So why so dismissive of Rodriguez then?_?

Cause he always finds someone to get second to in the big races

 

[Mellow Velo]

Cause he always finds someone to get second to in the big races

In other words, the ideal future BMC signing.

 

[theyoungest]

In other words, the ideal future BMC signing.

No, BMC sign them when they still win stuff.

 

[El Pistolero]

In other words, the ideal future BMC signing.

GVA and Evans beg to differ.

 

[El Pistolero]

Point being you're not dismissive of Gilbert. Duh.

I'd say 2011 FW (2nd to a guy who isn't expected to contend) counts as a past performance to base a prediction on, but whatever.

I'm not predicting Gilbert to win any Ardennes classics if that's what you're talking about?

Evans will be back this year

 

[gustienordic]

Sure Evans looked good in the Criterium but it wasn't really a great field of riders he was up against. He might have trouble getting to the final climb at the front. Sanchez will have some chance. I think Rodriguez and Gerrans have to be the favourites. Maybe Freire not sure about Cunego, his one day race legs seem to have deserted him. Evans and GVA will probably ride their usual consistent races but not sure if they can win. I think Cadel is more suited to the Fleche. Valverde and Voeckler will probably do better in the Liege.

You have to have Valverde as one of the biggest favorites... and maybe a good darkhorse would be Devenyns: his form is looking good and he is a good explosive climber, same with Poels.

 

[greenedge]

He might have trouble getting to the final climb at the front. Sanchez will have some chance. I think Rodriguez and Gerrans have to be the favourites. Evans and GVA will probably ride their usual consistent races but not sure if they can win. I think Cadel is more suited to the Fleche. Valverde and Voeckler will probably do better in the Liege.

If you look at my quote i was just talking only about JROD in better form than Gilbert and then stating Samu and Evans as threats on the Mur- which is what you say by F-W ( which he has a better chance on )
Evans has good positioning in all races and is consistent ( i agree with you that he will probably not win AGR ) and he will have improved from the CI.

 

[movingtarget]

If you look at my quote i was just talking only about JROD in better form than Gilbert and then stating Samu and Evans as threats on the Mur- which is what you say by F-W ( which he has a better chance on )
Evans has good positioning in all races and is consistent ( i agree with you that he will probably not win AGR ) and he will have improved from the CI.

Will be good to see Cadel in the firing line again. Unlike Boonen's dominance in the flatter classics I think the upcoming races will be very open and hard to predict. If Rodriguez is ever going to win one, now would be the time.

 

[dlwssonic]

Yeah I would love to see how well cadel can ride in LBL and FW which suit him more. AGR might not have long enough hills for him, but as showed in TDF 2011 his uphill sprint is really good. Those hills were similiar to the cauberg.

 

[Gloin22]

I think GVA will be the leader at Amstel tbh. Evans at FW and Gilbert at LBL if he comes to form. Evans is the best bet for winning.

Who would have though at the start Gilbert would suck that bad so far, ehh

 

[dlwssonic]

I think GVA will be the leader at Amstel tbh. Evans at FW and Gilbert at LBL if he comes to form. Evans is the best bet for winning.

Who would have though at the start Gilbert would suck that bad so far, ehh

Its not his gilbert's fault he is still struggling to recover from the tooth infection and his multiple illnesses. I believe evans would be stronger than GVA in any of the 3 classics. Would like him to be the sole leader. But I think he will work for others instead.

 

[El Pistolero]

Phil training with his brother.

 

[Panda Claws]

Phil training with his brother.

Probably struggling to keep up as well.

 

[movingtarget]

Its not his gilbert's fault he is still struggling to recover from the tooth infection and his multiple illnesses. I believe evans would be stronger than GVA in any of the 3 classics. Would like him to be the sole leader. But I think he will work for others instead.

GVA used to have a decent sprint but seems to have lost that now. He is a stronger allrounder but never really looks like winning. I don't believe that Gilbert's problems are just from a tooth infection. There must be other problems as you said. Hushovd's problems were obvious. He had trouble with a virus. Half the battle with elite sportsmen is avoiding illness. I just hope it does not rain for Amstel.

 

[luckyboy]

After thinking back to the struggles Cav had with his tooth infection in 2010, I am slightly more inclined to believe Gilbert.
Cavendish had an operation in January and it took him quite a while to get up to speed. Gilbert only had treatment in mid-March.

 

[thehog]

After thinking back to the struggles Cav had with his tooth infection in 2010, I am slightly more inclined to believe Gilbert.
Cavendish had an operation in January and it took him quite a while to get up to speed. Gilbert only had treatment in mid-March.

Oh god. Why don't we apply the same rules as us mere mortals?

Last time I had tooth problems I took one hour off work got it fixed & job done.

Gilbert is making *** up.

Gilbert only had treatment mid March - gah!

Boonen at the Tour had his teeth done in the bus and fronted the next day. Man. Gilbert = girl.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Oh god. Why don't we apply the same rules as us mere mortals?

Last time I had tooth problems I took one hour off work got it fixed & job done.

Gilbert is making *** up.

Gilbert only had treatment mid March - gah!

Boonen at the Tour had his teeth done in the bus and fronted the next day. Man. Gilbert = girl.

Good post Hog!
thank you

 

[luckyboy]

If it's not the teeth it's Ibarguren leaving. Can't see what else could be going on.

 

[mewmewmew13]

Gosh I guess it could be complications from infection and a run-down immune system....
it does seem to just keep going on and on....

Phil get well dammit

 

[Gloin22]

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11617/More-bad-luck-for-Cummings-with-confirmation-of-second-fractures-this-season.aspx

Cummings suffers second fracture again. Very bad luck. No Amstel and possibly no FW and LBL too.

 

[Machu Picchu]

If it's not the teeth it's Ibarguren leaving. Can't see what else could be going on.

Yes, it's more likely to be one of those two things than something simple like a lack of proper preparation over the winter.