Teams & Riders Brandon McNulty is the Next Great American Hope Thread

[Hugh Januss]

He was still going full throttle through the ITT for no reason at all, instead of conserving his energy and helping his team win the race, while he was always one of the first to be dropped in the other stages.

Alaphilippe should have conserved his energy yesterday so he could do a better leadout for Merlier today.

 

[jmdirt]

Many times.

The question was HOW many times!

 

[jmdirt]

'Magic legs' comment was sarcastic. Considering how easily he had been dropped on an easy cat 2 climb the day before, he was surely saving himself for ITT. Which shows what kind of teammate he is. There's a reason why he hasn't raced with Pog since the 2022 Tour.

Yes, because he was making those decisions not the DS, right.

 

[Red Rick]

The question was HOW many times!

Me when Roglic destroys Pogacar in Emilia only to wash up in Lombardia

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Me when Roglic destroys Pogacar in Emilia only to wash up in Lombardia

Jerzy Janowicz, the Polish legend. With a bit stronger mentality and less fragile body the dominant #1.

 

[Potomac]

What thread is this?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

What thread is this?

Uh, don‘t know actually
Maybe the Tom Boonen thread? Or Van Aert‘s?

 

[Offline]

What a season he having!

 

[Netserk]

The cap'n bagged it!

 

[Juan Pelota]

What happened to Brandon today? He lost 32 minutes...

 

[Peyroteo94]

What happened to Brandon today? He lost 32 minutes...

Not GT material

 

[hayneplane]

Not GT material

We know he is too prone to a jour sans to be relied on as a leader in stage races but surely he has to be ill to lose so much time today.

 

[Juan Pelota]

still a mystery to the sudden drop off. Haven't seen any news of illness or injury.

 

[Hugh Januss]

What happened to Brandon today? He lost 32 minutes...

UAE has diddly for GC now, big time stage hunting in 5-4-3-2-1

 

[Oldermanish]

Brandon McNulty just finished one of the most dramatic rides I've seen. Sliding out, under a guardrail at speed, then going through the brushcutter tumble down the bank and surviving it was very lucky.
Getting on his bike and riding with his heart to the finish was nothing short of character defining.
Total hardman stuff.

 

[jmdirt]

BMc with the win...and GC lead!
Congrats!

 

[Juan Pelota]

I assume if he's racing this, he's not on the roster for Lombardy.

 

[Potomac]

He is clearly inspired by Hirschi this season.

 

[Juan Pelota]

I guess no GC McNulty for this Giro as next in line to set the pace after Majka. Wish he would take a great crack at it, but it might also just lead to disappointment.

 

[Tim Cahill]

He was still going full throttle through the ITT for no reason at all, instead of conserving his energy and helping his team win the race, while he was always one of the first to be dropped in the other stages.

Plus ça change

 

[Juan Pelota]

In terms of GC, this Giro is actually very well suited to his characteristics. Only two MTF, while having 2, albiet short TTs. But he's too far down the pecking order at UAE. Otherwise I'd like to see him go far a top 10, maybe even 5.

 

[Juan Pelota]

I wonder if he was affected by his crash yesterday, or if he wasn't going all out, or if his shape just isn't great, but that was a mediocre TT by his standards.

 

[Links2003]

I wonder if he was affected by his crash yesterday, or if he wasn't going all out, or if his shape just isn't great, but that was a mediocre TT by his standards.

Perhaps he simply didn't have permission to take the full risk. UAE has 3 other riders who certainly have a better chance in the overall standings. Therefore he is needed as a helper. Maybe he was allowed to try, but he shouldn't take any risks with the somewhat wet roads.

 

[Juan Pelota]

Perhaps he simply didn't have permission to take the full risk. UAE has 3 other riders who certainly have a better chance in the overall standings. Therefore he is needed as a helper. Maybe he was allowed to try, but he shouldn't take any risks with the somewhat wet roads.

Could be.

If I was UAE DS, I'd keep him high up in GC to send in breakaways (quite a few stages suit his capabilities) and make other teams chase him down.

 

[Links2003]

Could be.

If I was UAE DS, I'd keep him high up in GC to send in breakaways (quite a few stages suit his capabilities) and make other teams chase him down

I agree with you. I also think it's good that the team seems to have let most of the riders ride, but not with so much risk. You have to train TT, maybe you'll need it at some point. RBH, on the other hand, didn't let anyone ride except Roglic. I think it's better for the team and morale if everyone who wants to can ride if the risk is calculated.