BMC in disarray?

[Moose McKnuckles]

This year is a different year for Phil. He doesn't have anything to prove with regard to the Ardennes classics. And last year, Phil did not have the Olympics or WC to shoot for. Of course, given the later weighting of his race programme his training will be structured to peak later or at least to peak twice. Expecting him to deliver results in what amount to 3rd tier races is just naive.

Gilbert should not be firing here. No way. This is a training race for him. This is an Olympic year.

 

[AussieGoddess]

Indeed, nothing wrong with BMC, their top two were just in for the miles today. You cannot expect Ballan or GVA to be able to compete against Cancellara when he's fired up. Maybe people just think those two are something they aren't.

+1

Gilbert aims at LBL, Tour + Olympics and WC. So very long season, no need to be good at this point. Maybe he learned from last year, when he had nothing left at the end.

this exactly. He was shattered by the time it got to GdL. lessons learned and time for a new tactic with so many targets this year.

1 or 2 mistakes in hindsight, Ballan should have ridden for GVA, should have marked Cancellara. Lesson learned move on. Had a rider in the early break, took responsibility to chase Bennati, attacked late in the race. Solid signs early in the season I'd say. Rode for the win instead of riding for second.

yep - agree with this too.

I think BMC did ok. Got a guy in the early break, got their 2 leaders for the day into the main selection, and worked together all day to do what they had to. Losing to Cancellara isnt exactly something to be ashamed of. yep they should have both podiumed, but to me there isnt that much difference between your 2 riders being 2nd+3rd and them being 4th+5th really. You still didnt win.

 

[nevada]

It takes a leader to deal with Cancellara.

Canc attacked on a hill, not an area he should be to drop that lot on. Another massive fail for BMC.

 

[goggalor]

Canc attacked on a hill, not an area he should be to drop that lot on. Another massive fail for BMC.

 

[Panda Claws]

Boonen had cramps.

 

[movingtarget]

Canc attacked on a hill, not an area he should be to drop that lot on. Another massive fail for BMC.

Anyone who can win the Tour of Switzerland albeit not on a really difficult version of the TOS can climb a little. No one can beat Cancellara once he has a sizeable gap and goes into TT mode. If BMC have not won a few classics by the end of the spring then they have failed. Early days yet.

 

[El Pistolero]

Canc attacked on a hill, not an area he should be to drop that lot on. Another massive fail for BMC.

Actually, Cancellara once again said he didn't attack, but just rode on his limit and no one could follow. Same story for dropping Boonen on the Muur. His words by the way.

 

[BillytheKid]

I wonder if the premise of this thread is false. Cancellera, I think, was just that good.

BMC along with the others were just smashed. Totally demotivating in the moment of a race.

I am a one-race poster here and its easy for me to be one sided, but Gads!

TOTAL CANCELLATION

please excuse a fan's exuberance.

 

[El Pistolero]

It takes a leader to deal with Cancellara.

It just takes Nick Nuyens and Johan Vansummeren actually.

 

[thehog]

It just takes Nick Nuyens and Johan Vansummeren actually.

Very true.... Very true.

 

[Froome19]

It just takes Nick Nuyens and Johan Vansummeren actually.

No Cancellara was dealt with by Vanusmmeren's leader Hushovd in Roubaix and in Flanders by BMC and their leader Ballan.

 

[El Pistolero]

Do you believe your own BS? Ballan didn't do much in the Ronde, not against Cancellara at least. Cancellara got beaten by second tier riders in his races.

 

[Peyote]

Do you believe your own BS? Ballan didn't do much in the Ronde, not against Cancellara at least. Cancellara got beaten by second tier riders in his races.

In the Ronde Cancellara got beaten by himself. Not a mistake he will make this year.
He is the overwhelming favorite. If he goes on the kwaremont in the last lap, no one will follow.

 

[El Pistolero]

Of course, they'll try and follow the guy that will win the race. Duh.

 

[Peyote]

Of course, they'll try and follow the guy that will win the race. Duh.

Yes, they will try, and fail.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yeah, but Cancellara won't be the winner

 

[Peyote]

Yeah, but Cancellara won't be the winner

okay, who? I see nobody on his level. Maybe Gilbert but he probably won't be in top shape yet at that moment.

 

[Froome19]

Do you believe your own BS? Ballan didn't do much in the Ronde, not against Cancellara at least. Cancellara got beaten by second tier riders in his races.

1) So you agree Hushovd stopped Cancellara in Roubaix?
2) So who caught Cancellara then? Are you trying to say that it was Nuyens who caught him? I dont believe that if BMC hadn't been chasing that Cancellara wouldn't have stayed away, cramps or no cramps.

 

[El Pistolero]

If BMC hadn't chased, Chavanel would have won. Watch the race first then come back.

 

[The Hitch]

Do you believe your own BS? Ballan didn't do much in the Ronde, not against Cancellara at least. Cancellara got beaten by second tier riders in his races.

Werent you up in arms when Cancellara used similarly degrading names to describe Nuyens and Van Summeren?

Either way, there is a small correction.

Cancellara was beaten by those riders, backed by in the first instance the entire peloton and in the second instance the cobbles super team.

Either way whats past is past. Everyone is focused on a new RVV and a new PR now.

Though I suspect you are trying to make the most of this "Cancellara sucks, he got beaten by VS lolololol", before time runs out, in what I make it to be, about 4 weeks

 

[Froome19]

If BMC hadn't chased, Chavanel would have won. Watch the race first then come back.

Won what? I never knew there was a combatitivy award in Flanders

 

[El Pistolero]

Werent you up in arms when Cancellara used similarly degrading names to describe Nuyens and Van Summeren?

Either way, there is a small correction.

Cancellara was beaten by those riders, backed by in the first instance the entire peloton and in the second instance the cobbles super team.

Either way whats past is past. Everyone is focused on a new RVV and a new PR now.

Though I suspect you are trying to make the most of this "Cancellara sucks, he got beaten by VS lolololol", before time runs out, in what I make it to be, about 4 weeks

Cancellara said he doesn't consider Nick Nuyens to be a winner and that he wouldn't want to win that way. I'm saying Nick Nuyens is a second tier cyclist, something he is and something he himself has acknowledged. Big difference, Cancellara was just being a sore loser there.

If Cancellara has already won why bother holding the race? He hasn't won already and I'm providing the opposite on this forum to the people who seem to think it's over. Of course I'm still laughing at Cancellara's ridiculous and stupid tactics last year. And always will even if he wins every race he enters this year. It only takes Cancellara's own stupidity to beat him I'm afraid

You seem to forget that Chavanel was Cancellara's equal that day in the Ronde... Such a shame that people here have to ridicule Cancellara's competitors all the time.

 

[El Pistolero]

Won what? I never knew there was a combatitivy award in Flanders

Won the race. He had no problem following any of Cancellara's attacks and outsprinted him. Owh, and he had been in the attack for a lot longer already then Cancellara

 

[Froome19]

Won the race. He had no problem following any of Cancellara's attacks and outsprinted him. Owh, and he had been in the attack for a lot longer already then Cancellara

The only reason he outsprinted him was due to Cancellara opening up too early, that wouldn't have happened if one on one and anyway one on one I would place a lot of money on Cancellara dropping Chavanel no matter what form Chavanel was.
Or are you denying that Cancellara was the strongest rider in the race?

 

[El Pistolero]

The only reason he outsprinted him was due to Cancellara opening up too early, that wouldn't have happened if one on one and anyway one on one I would place a lot of money on Cancellara dropping Chavanel no matter what form Chavanel was.
Or are you denying that Cancellara was the strongest rider in the race?

Yes, because Chavanel was the strongest man of the race. How would he have dropped Chavanel? Chavanel said Cancellara was going slow all day.

Chavanel attacked 30km earlier than Cancellara and the latter still couldn't drop him. It took him ages to catch him in the first place and he wasn't even going all out at that time(looking back and waiting for Cancellara to catch him).

I don't know if Chavanel will have the same form this year, but if he has, Cancellara better watch out Because Quick Step won't be sacrificing him that early anymore. La Machine will kick some serious *** if he gets back to the same level.

And why did Cancellara open up so early?

A) He's not very smart
B) Scared of Tom Boonen

Cancellara will face the same problems as last year again. He has no team and Quick Step and BMC will again ride against him.