BMC in disarray?

[jens_attacks]

still a big fan

 

[Panda Claws]

still a big fan

good one.

I do hope we'll get to see the first Phil again at the Worlds and Lombardy.

Also, 2011 Phil would still demolish 2012 Rodriguez

 

[Panda Claws]

 

[shalgo]

He must be the only man on earth with patchier facial hair than I have.

 

[movingtarget]

I had a feeling that Gilbert would be up there but not win. Hats off to Rodriguez, good to see him win one and another great ride by the unheralded Albasini. I have one for two. I picked Gerrans for Amstel and Rodriguez for Fleche but I have no idea about Liege. At this stage I like Voeckler and maybe Hejesdal. Once again Gilbert will probably be around the podium or top five, he is getting closer.

 

[Forunculo]

Kudos Phil for defending your honor when you aren't at 100%

 

[Zam_Olyas]

BMC team secures sponsorship until at least 2016.

 

[Mellow Velo]

BMC team secures sponsorship until at least 2016.

Or until their next win. Whichever comes first.

 

[Caruut]

BMC team secures sponsorship until at least 2016.

I thought that BMC the company owned the team.

ProCycling's interview with Rihs says that, or that he owns the team and he owns BMC, not sure which. Either way, Rihs is continuing to sponsor himself.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Or until their next win. Whichever comes first.

ACf will have a word with you when he wakes up

 

[Panda Claws]

This thread could really use some hype again

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sportnieuws/MG_wielrennen/1.1224930

 

[Arnout]

Lol Gilbert's saying how in Lotto he dropped everyone in training, in BMC it doesn't happen anymore, and that's a proof of the strength of the team. He might not have noticed it, but it doesn't happen in races anymore either, Mr Gilbert.

Edit, nevermind, it's a video from 19/2, not 19/2. Lol at the hype back then.

 

[Panda Claws]

Lol Gilbert's saying how in Lotto he dropped everyone in training, in BMC it doesn't happen anymore, and that's a proof of the strength of the team. He might not have noticed it, but it doesn't happen in races anymore either, Mr Gilbert.

Edit, nevermind, it's a video from 19/2, not 19/2. Lol at the hype back then.

Lol never looked at it that way.

According to BMC, Gilbert was 'flying' on training.

 

[Arnout]

Races aren't won there.

 

[roundabout]

Yep, I remember a fairytale how Gilbert was flying during the Flanders's recon this year.

 

[El Pistolero]

Lol Gilbert's saying how in Lotto he dropped everyone in training, in BMC it doesn't happen anymore, and that's a proof of the strength of the team. He might not have noticed it, but it doesn't happen in races anymore either, Mr Gilbert.

Edit, nevermind, it's a video from 19/2, not 19/2. Lol at the hype back then.

And what are you going to whine about when his old form returns again?

 

[Arnout]

And what are you going to whine about when his old form returns again?

So now stating that Gilbert doesn't drop riders like last year during races is whining?

 

[El Pistolero]

So now stating that Gilbert doesn't drop riders like last year during races is whining?

He dropped Bauke Mollema at Flèche Wallonne

 

[Arnout]

Yeah, so what? He dropped Anton, that was more annoying.

For some reason you seem to think I care about Dutchies? Well, I don't. I am not nationalistic at all actually, in the past WC football I rooted against the Netherlands as they played some of the most awful football I've ever seen and were annoyingly lucky. I couldn't care less about most Dutch riders are they have the "finish as high as possible" mentality, maybe inherited from my favorite team the Rabobank (remind me to switch to ABN Amro).

The only Dutch rider I am interested in is Thomas Dekker and that's not because he's Dutch. I mainly root for the Basques, as I used to be Iban Mayo fan, back in 2003. The current Euskaltel squad is nothing to write home about though, in racing style nor in charisma. I cheer for Anton on his good days, hopefully he will find his form. I cheer for Samu as he's awesome, but at the same time he's in danger of becoming to mainstream, at least on this forum. Luckily not in the media yet. But more in general I cheer for attacking riders, for the Southern European teams as they have a certain something that I find is lacking in the new corporate teams of BMC, Rabobank, Sky, you name them. A bit of yesteryear if you want. I also cheered for Gilbert last year as his performance was incredible and I saw him live in the rain in 2010, in what was the beginning of an increadible year (Lombardia). But forgive me for laughing a bit when I hear that he finds his new team so awesome and at such a high level, only to later discover that it was not his team, but his form.

 

[El Pistolero]

He got third in a classic, that's pretty good shape don't you think? That means he dropped everyone but 2 persons including all of Lotto. Lotto has been weak besides Vanendert and he was always isolated in the cobbled classics. He had a legit reason to complain. It's not like Lotto did any better than BMC during the classics. Far from it actually.

 

[Arnout]

Maybe third time will hammer it in: He isn't as good as last year, not nearly. Seeing that, and seeing him praise his current team compared to his team of last year is funny, at least for me. We might not share the same sense of humor, but there is no need to go in ultra defense mode either, ignoring most of what I say.

 

[Machu Picchu]

He got third in a classic, that's pretty good shape don't you think? That means he dropped everyone but 2 persons including all of Lotto. Lotto has been weak besides Vanendert and he was always isolated in the cobbled classics. He had a legit reason to complain. It's not like Lotto did any better than BMC during the classics. Far from it actually.

I'm surprised you think getting 'dropped' by Albasini is pretty good shape for Gilbert?_?

 

[El Pistolero]

I'm surprised you think getting 'dropped' by Albasini is pretty good shape for Gilbert?_?

Considering where he comes from that's pretty good yes. FW has always suited him the least. His form has been in the rise and he'll be stronger at LBL. Season is still long.

 

[Angliru]

And what are you going to whine about when his old form returns again?

His "off" form still nets him high placings that many a rider would covet. I think he's representing himself admirably. Sort of scarey that in his less-than-best state he's still better than most.

 

[Angliru]

Yeah, so what? He dropped Anton, that was more annoying.

For some reason you seem to think I care about Dutchies? Well, I don't. I am not nationalistic at all actually, in the past WC football I rooted against the Netherlands as they played some of the most awful football I've ever seen and were annoyingly lucky. I couldn't care less about most Dutch riders are they have the "finish as high as possible" mentality, maybe inherited from my favorite team the Rabobank (remind me to switch to ABN Amro).

The only Dutch rider I am interested in is Thomas Dekker and that's not because he's Dutch. I mainly root for the Basques, as I used to be Iban Mayo fan, back in 2003. The current Euskaltel squad is nothing to write home about though, in racing style nor in charisma. I cheer for Anton on his good days, hopefully he will find his form. I cheer for Samu as he's awesome, but at the same time he's in danger of becoming to mainstream, at least on this forum. Luckily not in the media yet. But more in general I cheer for attacking riders, for the Southern European teams as they have a certain something that I find is lacking in the new corporate teams of BMC, Rabobank, Sky, you name them. A bit of yesteryear if you want. I also cheered for Gilbert last year as his performance was incredible and I saw him live in the rain in 2010, in what was the beginning of an increadible year (Lombardia). But forgive me for laughing a bit when I hear that he finds his new team so awesome and at such a high level, only to later discover that it was not his team, but his form.

Could Samu's increased recognition in the forum and the media be more a sign of folks finally appreciating a rider that has long deserved it? I figure all these late comers to the Samu party are just not as sharp as you and I.

Edit: I'm a huge Mayo fan too!