BMC in disarray?

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I really doubt Gilbert can repeat his quadriple this year though. Brabantse Pijl is only 2.5 weeks, AGR 3 weeks, FW 3.5 weeks and LBL 4 weeks. His form in this weekend was... well, horrible. Sorry.

 

[theyoungest]

In my opinion it shouldn't be all about the field but about the tradition as well. If the Tour of Beijing somehow gets a lot of top-riders (who go there for the points.) will it have more prestige than a Tour de Suisse?

For me there's a balance between tradition and the actual race. Gent-Wevelgem has more tradition than a lot of races, but that doesn't mean it's entertaining.

 

[Panda Claws]

I really doubt Gilbert can repeat his quadriple this year though. Brabantse Pijl is only 2.5 weeks, AGR 3 weeks, FW 3.5 weeks and LBL 4 weeks. His form in this weekend was... well, horrible. Sorry.

Yes. I would be happy already if he wins even of the latter 3.

 

[Lanark]

I really doubt Gilbert can repeat his quadriple this year though. Brabantse Pijl is only 2.5 weeks, AGR 3 weeks, FW 3.5 weeks and LBL 4 weeks. His form in this weekend was... well, horrible. Sorry.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I had the impression that Steegmans shed some light on the case. When asked about Gilbert, he said in a pretty certain tone 'If you make a mistake in the winter, it's hard to correct that during the season'. When asked what mistake Gilbert had made, he suddenly started stammering that he had no idea, could be tons of things. They do both live in Monaco however...

End of the video: http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sportnieuws/MG_wielrennen/1.1254984

 

[thehog]

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I had the impression that Steegmans shed some light on the case. When asked about Gilbert, he said in a pretty certain tone 'If you make a mistake in the winter, it's hard to correct that during the season'. When asked what mistake Gilbert had made, he suddenly started stammering that he had no idea, could be tons of things. They do both live in Monaco however...

End of the video: http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sportnieuws/MG_wielrennen/1.1254984

In the good old days a training camp at altitude with a bucket load of Edgar & this problem would be fixed. Can't do that like the old days. Winning begins in November. And on that note. Contador would be training harder right now for September than Andy Shleck is for July.

It's in the head my friend. Gilbert lost his ways in the nightclubs and soft roads....

 

[movingtarget]

Nope its very possible if cadel cracks on the mountains, or schleck suddenly becomes a super timetrialer.

Wasn't that supposed to happen last year !

 

[movingtarget]

I really doubt Gilbert can repeat his quadriple this year though. Brabantse Pijl is only 2.5 weeks, AGR 3 weeks, FW 3.5 weeks and LBL 4 weeks. His form in this weekend was... well, horrible. Sorry.

I don't see him winning any of them. It would not be a form turnaround it would be a huge form reversal. Talented though he is, to go from struggling to finish to dominate classics this Spring, I can't see it happening at this stage. Evans could possibly win one though. There will be plenty of races later in the season that Gilbert could win.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

This could open the way for Rodriguez.

Or maybe another Ivanov-like win like Amstel 2009. With people from 2nd row escaping and nobody able to bring them back

 

[Sylvester]

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I had the impression that Steegmans shed some light on the case. When asked about Gilbert, he said in a pretty certain tone 'If you make a mistake in the winter, it's hard to correct that during the season'. When asked what mistake Gilbert had made, he suddenly started stammering that he had no idea, could be tons of things. They do both live in Monaco however...

End of the video: http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_sportnieuws/MG_wielrennen/1.1254984

One should never read too much in interviews with Gert Steegmans (and the same goes for Leif Hoste, Stijn Devolder, Jelle Vanendert, Jurgen van den Broeck). Steegmans is actually quite intelligent, but extremely uneasy in interviews.

 

[hfer07]

This could open the way for Rodriguez.

Or maybe another Ivanov-like win like Amstel 2009. With people from 2nd row escaping and nobody able to bring them back

Strangely enough it was Purito himself who doubted Gilbert's ability to replicate his form and victories from the past year-which in fact is two years of unbelievable performances- J-Rod said he wouldnt be able to maintain such form for that long and after that a plunge/declain could follow....

 

[blaxland]

Strangely enough it was Purito himself who doubted Gilbert's ability to replicate his form and victories from the past year-which in fact is two years of unbelievable performances- J-Rod said he wouldnt be able to maintain such form for that long and after that a plunge/declain could follow....

Maybe Purito should be a future's trader

 

[movingtarget]

With every race Gilbert contests it is looking better and better for Gerrans, Rodriguez and possibly Sagan, Valverde and Evans re Ardenne classics.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I don't see him winning any of them. It would not be a form turnaround it would be a huge form reversal. Talented though he is, to go from struggling to finish to dominate classics this Spring, I can't see it happening at this stage. Evans could possibly win one though. There will be plenty of races later in the season that Gilbert could win.

I agree. I sadly think that Valverde will come back and dominate the classics. Evans says he is not coming with great form to the classics so in my opinion he will not feature like he has before. In saying that, he has said that he has never really gone to the Ardennes with top form before so you never know.

 

[Eric8-A]

Another Tweet I found interesting

Perhaps Gilbert shouldn't carry all of his BMC money in his jersey pockets.

 

[luckyboy]

Winning begins in November. And on that note. Contador would be training harder right now for September than Andy Shleck is for July.

Contador tweeted that he rode 222km just the other day in training

 

[theyoungest]

One should never read too much in interviews with Gert Steegmans (and the same goes for Leif Hoste, Stijn Devolder, Jelle Vanendert, Jurgen van den Broeck). Steegmans is actually quite intelligent, but extremely uneasy in interviews.

I wouldn't call it uneasy... he has a cynical kind of humor which doesn't resonate with everyone. If you took his words at face value, yes, he did say Gilbert didn't have a great winter.

I agree. I sadly think that Valverde will come back and dominate the classics. Evans says he is not coming with great form to the classics so in my opinion he will not feature like he has before. In saying that, he has said that he has never really gone to the Ardennes with top form before so you never know.

Well, his form seems better than Gilbert's (that doesn't take much, I know). But Evans in decent form is always a contender in these races, so BMC shouldn't be too worried.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Gilbert On Sporza
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/120326_gilbert_?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it

 

[greenedge]

Yeah Evans has good capability to go well at races, even with not so great form.

He has got experience at the Ardennes and just came of the Criterium International with a win so i am sure he shall be competitive there.

 

[hrotha]

Ik zit heel ver van mijn beste vorm

Personally, I don't think he should ride the Ronde if his only realistic goal is making it to the finish line. Doesn't sound like the best preparation for other races.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Personally, I don't think he should ride the Ronde if his only realistic goal is making it to the finish line. Doesn't sound like the best preparation for other races.

I don't know what that quote translates to but I do agree that he should pull out of De Ronde to prepare for the Ardennes. In saying that, he is Belgium's number 1 rider over the past couple of years so he can't really pull out of their biggest race.

 

[webbie146]

I don't know what that quote translates to but I do agree that he should pull out of De Ronde to prepare for the Ardennes. In saying that, he is Belgium's number 1 rider over the past couple of years so he can't really pull out of their biggest race.

'Ik zit heel ver van mijn beste vorm' means kinda like 'I am really far from my best shape'

 

[spalco]

I don't know if there's much he can do at this point about that. Not racing won't likely improve his form either, will it?

 

[dlwssonic]

I don't understand why you guys doubt him for the ardennes. He has improved already he was one of the front finishers in the second group and just got caught out on the kemmel descent. He still has time for AGR IMO.

 

[theyoungest]

I don't understand why you guys doubt him for the ardennes. He has improved already he was one of the front finishers in the second group and just got caught out on the kemmel descent. He still has time for AGR IMO.

Gilbert agrees with you:

"I have never been this bad. It can only improve from here."

 

[dlwssonic]

Gilbert agrees with you:

"I have never been this bad. It can only improve from here."

If you compare it with his E3 performance it was a great improvement over two days. E3 he was exceptionally bad. I believe he can top 20 in RVV and help out GVA or Ballan.