Carlos Betancur discussion thread

[Popchu]

Re: Re:

He went out hard on the prologue. I wonder (perhaps wistfully) if he's targeting GC at Romandie. Also, to be a bit more precise, he's saying that he's going to do "a month at altitude in order to go ... [this is the in and out thing I mentioned earlier] to finish being like at the right weight and then reach Dauphine or Suisse and then see what's next in the season". I wonder if he sees whichever of those two he rides as an audition for the Vuelta.

I don't think a GC is realistic in Romandie, although his shape is going in the right direction. He should go for a stage win, but you need a bit of luck for that.

The altitude training is interesting. Does it mean he goes back to Colombia, or just altitude training in Europe? Did he ever do such an altitude training in Europe?

 

[Valv.Piti]

There really is a sense of optimism going right now. He will do fine at Romandie, but thats not really that interesting, the interesting thing is how he will approach the month between Romandie and Suisse. If he shows up overweight again at Suisse its pretty much doneso at Movistar. If he doesn'tt he will do well and get selected for the Vuelta-squad (maybe even TdF?) and probably get an extension. He decides.

 

[BullsFan22]

I must say I haven't really paid as much attention to this thread as so many here clearly have, but Betancur's career is classic case of 'what could have been.' This guy makes look Ullrich look like Zabel. I am sure Ullrich is somewhere thinking 'man, this Betancur dude is some kind of lazy is too fat to ride a bike.' Of course Ullrich's career is LIGHT YEARS ahead of Betancur's, despite Ullrich's own battles against laziness and weight issues.

 

[Popchu]

In the shadow of the Giro d'Italia, it looks like Carlos Betancur is training hard. His last three photos on Instagram (it must be an unicum for him to post three training-related pictures in a row) are showing a lean Betancur, riding in the mountains of Andorra. Everything shaping up to see the old Betancur in the Vuelta?

His next race is normally that Hammer Serie Race, which I assume should be followed by the Tour de Suisse.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Training with Jesus Herrada I see. Nice. Now Imagine Betancur being in exceptional shape, but crashing in that *** Hammer race...

 

[Popchu]

Re:

Training with Jesus Herrada I see. Nice.

Jorge Arcas

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Training with Jesus Herrada I see. Nice.

Jorge Arcas

Looks suspiciously much like Jesus..

 

[mariposa]

Re: Re:

Training with Jesus Herrada I see. Nice.

Jorge Arcas

Looks suspiciously much like Jesus..

They do look a bit similar but is def Jorge. Carlos says it is him on the Instagram post. Jesus is in the Sierra Nevadas with Valverde and a few others.

 

[capuldemetal]

just saw a photo on his twitter account.he looks skinny .has unzue managed to put his mind in a place?

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Training with Jesus Herrada I see. Nice. Now Imagine Betancur being in exceptional shape, but crashing in that **** Hammer race...

Won't happen. If Carlos has continued to drop that weight from the last few off seasons, the only thing he's crashing into is the top step of some podiums

 

[Ruudz0r]

He is seriously looking fit: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUP4xohA4Ob/ I am excited about this!

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

He is seriously looking fit: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUP4xohA4Ob/ I am excited about this!

The second half of the season just got very interesting!

 

[BigMac]

here we go again

 

[lenric]

#CBbandwagon #CB2017TDFwinner #CBQuereresPoder

 

[DBotero]

Re:

He is seriously looking fit: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUP4xohA4Ob/ I am excited about this!

Wow! He means business.TDF glory coming up

 

[staubsauger]

Does he actually ride the Tour de Suisse!?

 

[Moviestar]

His family will join him in Europe, and he looks forward to the next races. The first being the Hammer series in June.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

No more Bananito. It's time to win some races.

 

[Gigs_98]

I hope he won't go to the tour but to the vuelta instead because, you know, it's an odd year

 

[Escarabajo]

Finally I can see some bones in his face.

Being in Europe as opposed to Colombia really helps this guy.

 

[Netserk]

Wow.

The Fat Cat is fat no more

All hail La Ronca! _O_

 

[Valv.Piti]

Carlito to win that weird race in NL and top-5 in Suisse.

 

[lenric]

Betancur to podium la Vuelta. The hype train is on its course.

 

[Popchu]

I was often (too) optimistic in this topic about Betancur, but maybe this time it's justified. It looks like he did some serious training during the last three weeks. It sounds weird to ask this question about a cyclist... but when was the last time he did proper training like this? In 2015, 2016 and 2017 (although in 2017 it was better than the previous years) he was clearly overweight at the start of the season, so he didn't do much in the winter, and during the season he only increased his condition through subsequent races with few training periods.

So next are those Hammer Series, for some race rhythm, followed by Suisse. In Suisse he should really get some results. He clearly has the talent, and if the form is there, he could be back at his best.

 

[GraftPunk]

Carlos, setting it up the heartbreak for fans everywhere. I'm not saying it will be cheeseburgers, but...