Critérium du Dauphiné 2014: Stage 5, Sisteron - La Mure 184 km

[Jagartrott]

Do you seriously fail to comprehend those places in the GC are exactly the reason of Yates his attack? Impey jeopardizes the effort of a team mate. Also, Yates is 21 and van den Broeck is 31. They're in completely different stages of their career. If you need me to spell out your name for you, call me.

Sorry mate, you criticize someone for trying to take back a second or two by pulling the group (VDB), but you support Yates in attacking to gain some seconds. You cannot have it both ways: either you think fighting for a few seconds is dumb, or you don't.

No need to get personal by the way. It doesn't really show class.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

So someone who races and gains a few seconds can be a hero (Yates, Kelderman) or a moron (VDB) depending on, er, what? The effort VDB did was to reduce the gap to Kelderman, so also done for time gain.

Double standards galore.

The heroes are those who attack to win places in the GC (Yates, Kelderman). The morons are those who use their power defending their 4th place instead of using it to attack and win places in the GC (not gonna mention any names...).

 

[Der Effe]

Sorry mate, you criticize someone for trying to take back a second or two by pulling the group (VDB), but you support Yates in attacking to gain some seconds. You cannot have it both ways: either you think fighting for a few seconds is dumb, or you don't.

No need to get personal by the way. It doesn't really show class.

Personal? It just really amazes me how someone can fail to understand a 21-year old cyclist does have totally different goals than a 31-year old cyclist.

 

[DenisMenchov]

The only ones who are defending JVDB's master tactics are the Belgians

Come on, if this were Rabo/Belkin riding behind whomever the Belgians would have a field day.

I've always defended Jurgen, and I have always stated that he is one of my favourite cyclists. I'm not Belgian, I just like him ever since 2009 Tour.

 

[Flamin]

The only ones who are defending JVDB's master tactics are the Belgians

Come on, if this were Rabo/Belkin riding behind whomever the Belgians would have a field day.

Well, he doesn't have many fans so no one bothers to do so anyway

Wuyts maybe, not me. He pulled for a few frickin seconds and then stopped, that's it. Actually, he did Kelderman kind of a favour, since the pace dropped a lot for a while

 

[Jagartrott]

The heroes are those who attack to win places in the GC (Yates, Kelderman). The morons are those who use their power defending their 4th place instead of using it to attack and win places in the GC (not gonna mention any names...).

Neither of those is sitting in the wheel - both show willingness to take responsability. Calling someone a 'moron' for doing that - I think it's very rude.

 

[hrotha]

I like Van den Broeck, but seriously, he always does this. He'll be the first to respond to or pull back an attack (so it's not that he doesn't feel strong), but he will almost never give it a go himself. He's nearly always defensive. Only the blind can't see this.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Yeah, but also TS didn't bring their A-Team to the Dauphiné.

A-Team: that would include A Sir

 

[DenisMenchov]

I like Van den Broeck, but seriously, he always does this. He'll be the first to respond to or pull back an attack (so it's not that he doesn't feel strong), but he will almost never give it a go himself. He's nearly always defensive. Only the blind can't see this.

He's got no explosiveness to attack. He can stand for like 2 seconds before he gets back to his saddle. It's not that he's a wheelsucker, he just can't attack, kinda like Basso.

 

[hrotha]

He's got no explosiveness to attack. He can stand for like 2 seconds before he gets back to his saddle. It's not that he's a wheelsucker, he just can't attack, kinda like Basso.

How come he has no trouble responding to attacks then?

 

[l.Harm]

It's about Contador doing an amazing attack to isolate Froome. Froome finally isolated, VDB doing his job while he doesn't need to

 

[johnymax]

Contador once again showed what a classy rider he is and Spilak showing how strong he can be. Destroying the strong breakaway group and taking his first win in the summer heat. Great sign before the Tour. Katusha will sure be fun to watch in the mountains and now with Purito the team looks very strong.

 

[Akuryo]

Contador once again showed what a classy rider he is and Spilak showing how strong he can be. Destroying the strong breakaway group and taking his first win in the summer heat. Great sign before the Tour. Katusha will sure be fun to watch in the mountains and now with Purito the team looks very strong.

Indeed, Spilak has a very strong year so far. Hope he can keep up his form. Such a great rider.

 

[Der Effe]

Yeah, in all my 'anger' I forgot to congratulate Spilak. Really strong ride and great rider indeed.

 

[Flamin]

I like Van den Broeck, but seriously, he always does this. He'll be the first to respond to or pull back an attack (so it's not that he doesn't feel strong), but he will almost never give it a go himself. He's nearly always defensive. Only the blind can't see this.

When he feels strong, he often does give it a go himself actually. It's just that he doesn't really have the nose for a well-timed attack nor is he going to get much leeway.

 

[Tom T.]

Oh

La petite pique de Chris Froome : "Si Contador est très fort, il attaquera en montée. Pas en descente." #dauphine #etbim

Someone is salty

Wow, Contador and Nibali are so going to be able to screw with Froome mentally in the Tour. He's a baby.

 

[Jagartrott]

I like Van den Broeck, but seriously, he always does this. He'll be the first to respond to or pull back an attack (so it's not that he doesn't feel strong), but he will almost never give it a go himself. He's nearly always defensive. Only the blind can't see this.

I'm not a VDB fan. I just don't see where all the hate is coming from for doing something that made sense (you don't give your adversaries a free lunch).

 

[Arnout]

The only ones who are defending JVDB's master tactics are the Belgians

Come on, if this were Rabo/Belkin riding behind whomever the Belgians would have a field day.

It's always funny when theyoungest starts talking about the fallacy of defending riders for patriotic reasons...

 

[DenisMenchov]

How come he has no trouble responding to attacks then?

He responds with tempo riding rather then an instant acceleration.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Boy these race threads get unstickied very quickly, these days.

Turning out to be a very good Dauphine.
GC action on a transition stage.
Great to see Contador try and rattle the mighty Sky train, with
a daring attack off the penultimate climb.
A pity his panache backfired somewhat, getting isolated in the lead group.
Ultimately meant that Kelderman was able to take the bonus seconds, which brought him level with Bertie in the GC.

Had a feeling Porte was taking his return to racing gently, rather than being still out of form.
He'll be fine, come Le Tour.

 

[hrotha]

He responds with tempo riding rather then an instant acceleration.

I disagree.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I disagree.

OK, but show me a video where VDB is sprinting up the mounting after someone.
Something like Contador - Rasmussen, Froome - Cobo, heck even Nibali - Horner kind of duel.

 

[Roude Leiw]

This from the same person that was blasting a rider from caring about a 'precious 5th place'. Priceless

Well it is a difference in my opinion if you attack and try to gain time where by definition you do not know how much time you will gain until its over, than start woking to preserve a 5th place in GC

 

[Pricey_sky]

So happy to see Yates shine again today, the boy is such a talent and proving it amongst the best this week. Keep it up!

Elsewhere it was quite an interesting day. I've enjoyed this Dauphine so far with good stages still to come!

A final note I was happy to see Porte finally show something again and he looked impressive today, he should be in good form come July.

 

[Tom T.]

OK, but show me a video where VDB is sprinting up the mounting after someone.
Something like Contador - Rasmussen, Froome - Cobo, heck even Nibali - Horner kind of duel.

Probably more a reflection of VDB's training "methods" as compared to those guys.