Bretagne Classic (GP Plouay) - 1.WT2

[tobydawq]

I was pretty surprised too when I seen his win list . Allways there never wins. Glad for him.

He did win Omloop, though, but before it was elevated to the WorldTour.

 

[tobydawq]

Ohh, the new forum doesn't require a minute between posts.

 

[Anderis]

Yup, agreed. I think Kelderman takes the cake now (at least as the most surprising non-winner) but maybe Coquard should also be in contention. Or Mads Pedersen, Sosa, Geoghegan Hart.

Pedersen and Sosa are just 23 and 22 so nothing unusual that they don't have a WT win, yet. And Hart doesn't even have any results in big races, yet. Neither does Sosa actually.

 

[tobydawq]

Pedersen and Sosa are just 23 and 22 so nothing unusual that they don't have a WT win, yet. And Hart doesn't even have any results in big races, yet. Neither does Sosa actually.

True, my criteria seemed to be a little double standardy there.

 

[RedheadDane]

Pedersen and Sosa are just 23 and 22 so nothing unusual that they don't have a WT win, yet. And Hart doesn't even have any results in big races, yet. Neither does Sosa actually.

Actually, Sosa is 21!
But I'd consider that in itself rather impressive. I mean... it's not, because they were born in December 1995, and October 1997, so... math, but the fact that they've been at it for so long people can forget how young they are.

 

[tobydawq]

Yeah, and with people beginning to win WT classics at 19 years of age, they sure seem to be late to the party.

 

[RedheadDane]

Well… Evenepoel is a category all on his own.

 

[del1962]

True, my criteria seemed to be a little double standardy there.

Coquard probably most surprising

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Coquard probably most surprising

To get his number of wins without getting a WT win is a pretty remarkable accomplishment for a guy who has been riding in Western Europe on pro level teams his whole career. It’s the sort of thing you see from some guy who has been beating up Asian or small Eastern Europe Conti races, the kind of rider where you wonder why he never got a pro contract.

He’s the archetypal “flat track bully” as the cricket fans say. He’s a beast in little French or Belgian races with no top drawer sprinters but a pussycat when the big boys are around. I don’t think Demare is much faster than him, but he’s a much smarter, more versatile rider who has found a way to win against guys who just have a better top speed. Coquard has not. On the other hand, he’s not past it yet and might still do it.

Congratulations to Vanmarcke. The guy deserves a better palmares and this is a nice step forward.

 

[Velolover2]

Coquard's problem is that he is not a great bunch sprinter. He is simply too light. Long drag sprints isn't his speciality. He doesn't have the top speed and muscle of the big guys.

It's his acceleration that is impressive and he can kick more than once in a technical sprint. There has to be some uphill lumps, cobbles or sharp corners in the final k for him to win it.