BMC in disarray?

[movingtarget]

nothing has changed for bmc at all. ballan was already great a month ago in strade bianche. van avermaet was great too then but is now injured. he won't be a factor for the classics and gilbert is just as far as he was. no improvement at all and hushovd is out too. in fact it's looking worse

I did not know that GVA was injured but yes only a true optimist could see Hushovd and Gilbert achieving much in the next few weeks. Ballan is riding consistently well but lacks that little bit extra to grab the elusive win. Maybe another podium for him ? Looks like it's all up to Cadel again to get a result !

 

[theyoungest]

I did not know that GVA was injured but yes only a true optimist could see Hushovd and Gilbert achieving much in the next few weeks. Ballan is riding consistently well but lacks that little bit extra to grab the elusive win. Maybe another podium for him ? Looks like it's all up to Cadel again to get a result !

Van Avermaet has a heel injury, but he already had it in Flanders and it didn't seem to bother him much there.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Van Avermaet has a heel injury, but he already had it in Flanders and it didn't seem to bother him much there.

he wasn't very good in flanders. nor was he in msr or tirreno where he had that injury

 

[Flamin]

he wasn't very good in flanders. nor was he in msr or tirreno where he had that injury

It hindered him in Tirreno, but he has cut off the part of his shoe where his heel hurts since MSR, where he was top 10 on Poggio and only the Trentin crash impeded him from sprinting for 4th place. Also top 5 on last ascent of Paterberg and won the bunch sprint in Flanders.

Nah, Greg is fine.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

ok then. agr though doesn;t suit him.

 

[El Pistolero]

That's true, but Flanders doesn't really suit him as well, so a good placing is still very much possible. It's just that he has more experience with Flanders than with AGR.

 

[greenedge]

Ballan is riding consistently well but lacks that little bit extra to grab the elusive win. Maybe another podium for him ?

He just needs races to be harder so he can solo as he cannot sprint. He will never win races against Boonen/ Pozzato if he comes to the line with them.

You are right though, MAYBE his form is not good enough for that to happen but he is still strong and P-R is a different race to RvV.

 

[karlboss]

nothing has changed for bmc at all. ballan was already great a month ago in strade bianche. van avermaet was great too then but is now injured. he won't be a factor for the classics and gilbert is just as far as he was. no improvement at all and hushovd is out too. in fact it's looking worse

disagree, things have changed
disagree, he's better now (a little)
disagree, he's "injured" but rode his best flanders ever, he'll still feature.
agree, Gilbert can start looking at goals other than the ardennes
Hushovd is out? out of form but surely not out.
Not worse, marginally better, but it's ever so slight.

 

[Ripper]

nothing has changed for bmc at all. ballan was already great a month ago in strade bianche. van avermaet was great too then but is now injured. he won't be a factor for the classics and gilbert is just as far as he was. no improvement at all and hushovd is out too. in fact it's looking worse

These comments suggest you are deluding yourself as much as those who think Gilbert will kick a$$ in 1-2 weeks time. BMC is definitely not super right now, but they are obviously getting incrementally better than they were.

Ballan and GVA have improved, even if you don't want to accept it. Thor is an unknown right now, but my bet is he'll still suck

 

[Gloin22]

These comments suggest you are deluding yourself as much as those who think Gilbert will kick a$$ in 1-2 weeks time. BMC is definitely not super right now, but they are obviously getting incrementally better than they were.

Ballan and GVA have improved, even if you don't want to accept it. Thor is an unknown right now, but my bet is he'll still suck

Right, lol Pais Vasco shows that to us

 

[Ripper]

Right, lol Pais Vasco shows that to us

Who had objectives at Pi$s Pi$sco?

 

[Frosty]

Right, lol Pais Vasco shows that to us

Pinotti's won the sprint competition. They're building up steam

 

[Mellow Velo]

Pinotti's won the sprint competition. They're building up steam

Isn't that made from hot air?

 

[Frosty]

Isn't that made from hot air?

By sprints it was the sprints within a stage rather than at the end.

 

[movingtarget]

Who had objectives at Pi$s Pi$sco?

Their objective was to probably finish the race to prepare for more important races on the way. BMC had no one that could have achieved much at Pais. Hushovd says he's ready for Roubaix but I think Ballan will finish ahead of him. I give GVA and Evans some hope in the Ardenne classics.

 

[Forunculo]

If Thor and Gilbert fail this month...

...can we talk of disaster transfer window?

 

[movingtarget]

If Thor and Gilbert fail this month...

...can we talk of disaster transfer window?

What do you mean if ? It would be a miracle if they turned it around in such a short period. BMC still has other races to look forward to later in the year.

 

[Forunculo]

What do you mean if ? It would be a miracle if they turned it around in such a short period. BMC still has other races to look forward to later in the year.

I don't think BMC spend the money for the currents performances of Thor and Gilbert. And their TdF team is as weak as was the last year, without Contador, BMC "has" to work by default. And it's heavily expected to be put under pressure at mountain stages at least by one team.

 

[dlwssonic]

I don't think BMC spend the money for the currents performances of Thor and Gilbert. And their TdF team is as weak as was the last year, without Contador, BMC "has" to work by default. And it's heavily expected to be put under pressure at mountain stages at least by one team.

No lol RSNT will have to work more.

 

[DominicDecoco]

What do you mean if ? It would be a miracle if they turned it around in such a short period. BMC still has other races to look forward to later in the year.

Hushovd is not really a man for the future is he?...

 

[movingtarget]

Hushovd is not really a man for the future is he?...

Looks like possible stage wins now for Thor. He was ill at the wrong time.

 

[thehog]

Looks like possible stage wins now for Thor. He was ill at the wrong time.

Leaving Evans to fend for himself?

He stuck the knife into Vaughters and look what he got from that. Loser.

 

[goggalor]

Leaving Evans to fend for himself?

He stuck the knife into Vaughters and look what he got from that. Loser.

Staying at Garmin would hardly have done him much better, judging by their classics campaign.

BMC can't be very pleased either though. Podiums in RVV and PR is good, but no classic wins so far is not. Of course it's difficult when Boonen wins every race.

 

[movingtarget]

Leaving Evans to fend for himself?

He stuck the knife into Vaughters and look what he got from that. Loser.

I thought he might start the Giro and just ride part of the race because of lost time in the early season. Not sure what BMC were up to today. Ballan should have sat up and waited instead of banging away for a 15 second gap and then he waves goodbye to Terpstra and Boonen. Thor's crash was unfortunate. Not sure if he was hurt but he did not seem too interested in chasing. Ballan must be wondering what he has to do to win a race. Chavanel out of luck again.

 

[Froome19]

If Thor and Gilbert fail this month...

...can we talk of disaster transfer window?

Thor failed last year as well, and was always over rated, he may get a stage win somewhere but classics and tour stage wins were always out of the question considering his relatively dismal season (apart from tour) last year

I don't think BMC spend the money for the currents performances of Thor and Gilbert. And their TdF team is as weak as was the last year, without Contador, BMC "has" to work by default. And it's heavily expected to be put under pressure at mountain stages at least by one team.

Gilbert and Hushovd + TJVG+ cummings... I would say that is no bad for improvement and it is superior compared to other teams asides for RSNT and SKy

I thought he might start the Giro and just ride part of the race because of lost time in the early season. Not sure what BMC were up to today. Ballan should have sat up and waited instead of banging away for a 15 second gap and then he waves goodbye to Terpstra and Boonen. Thor's crash was unfortunate. Not sure if he was hurt but he did not seem too interested in chasing. Ballan must be wondering what he has to do to win a race. Chavanel out of luck again.

Ballan said he was trying to co-operate with Pozzato but Pippo refused and he was dead and Hushovd was behind so his team told him not to chase by himself