Critérium du Dauphine Stage 5: Parc des Oiseaux - Les Gets

[Mellow Velo]

evans doing a great job of wheelsucking wiggans today, making absolutely sure not to waste any energy for his showdown tomorrow. BMC's support today was ok. but would have preferred to see them set a hard tempo but they are probably saving it for tomorrow.

Yellow to Evans is like a red rag to a bull.
Both charge after their respective colours, but very rarely make contact!

He needs plenty of sucking practice, as following Contador's wheel won't be quite as straight forward.

 

[Parrulo]

Don't overdo it. This is the 1st stage-race I can ever remember where Gesink didn't even try.
Ofcourse he had some stage-races that didn't went superb, but he never soft-pedalled on purpose before. That was 1 of the things i liked most, that he gave it a try in every race.

Now hopefully he won't become another AS/LA/typical TDF rider clown. Otherwise I'll jump on the JvdB bandwagon

i am just joking ofc

but i really hope gesink doesn't go down that road.

 

[cineteq]

he obviously had no interest in this stage as he was riding in the back and let go at the start of the climb

He at least should have tried to stay with Tony Martin.

 

[maltiv]

If Gesink does nothing tomorrow either then it's time to get worried, but so far it just looks as if he is conserving energy. If not, he's in truly terrible shape, but I doubt that.

 

[LukeSchmid]

Yellow to Evans is like a red rag to a bull.
Both charge after their respective colours, but very rarely make contact!

He needs plenty of sucking practice, as following Contador's wheel won't be quite as straight forward.

Harsh but even as an Evans fan probably true. I hope you are wrong but my head tells me you are right

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Now hopefully he won't become another AS/LA/typical TDF rider clown. Otherwise I'll jump on the JvdB bandwagon

agree. I liked his always ride your heart out attitude.
hopefully it doesn;t come to that.

Tho Jvdb isn't the greatest alternative, he is a tour clown + Dauphine

 

[BillytheKid]

On paper I would say JBraj is a real threat tomorrow, but Wiggins looks really good. Evans may be the real victim.

 

[El Pistolero]

agree. I liked his always ride your heart out attitude.
hopefully it doesn;t come to that.

Tho Jvdb isn't the greatest alternative, he is a tour clown + Dauphine

He could improve in the future and also do well in Paris-Nice and the Ardennes(no domestique work anymore if Phil leaves)

That would make him a much more attractive cyclist already.

 

[dlwssonic]

Yellow to Evans is like a red rag to a bull.
Both charge after their respective colours, but very rarely make contact!

He needs plenty of sucking practice, as following Contador's wheel won't be quite as straight forward.

at least he attacks nowadays.

 

[Anonymous]

On paper I would say JBraj is a real threat tomorrow, but Wiggins looks really good. Evans may be the real victim.

and JBraj have a good team to help him.

 

[boomcie]

He could improve in the future and also do well in Paris-Nice and the Ardennes(no domestique work anymore if Phil leaves)

That would make him a much more attractive cyclist already.

I could see him suck pony balls in the Ardennes. He's not explosive enough for those.

 

[El Pistolero]

I could see him suck pony balls in the Ardennes. He's not explosive enough for those.

He can make it to the final at AGR.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I could see him suck pony balls in the Ardennes. He's not explosive enough for those.

I really don't want to see Vandenbroeck suck the testicles of a pony somewhere in the Ardennes

 

[boomcie]

He can make it to the final at AGR.

Yes, elaborate on the relevance please.
We are at the foot of the Cauberg and the peloton is starting to explode. Jrod and Gilbert catch Ivanov who escaped a few kilometers earlier. Wait, who's that sucking pony balls in the middle of the pack? It's VDB2 polishing those motherf***ers like there's no tomorrow!

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, elaborate on the relevance please.
We are at the foot of the Cauberg and the peloton is starting to explode. Jrod and Gilbert catch Ivanov who escaped a few kilometers earlier. Wait, who's that sucking pony balls in the middle of the pack? It's VDB2 polishing those motherf***ers like there's no tomorrow!

He can attack like Gesink, AS,et have done before to anticipate and start Cauberg with some bonus time.

Let's be honest here, for the years to come there will only be one winner of AGR.

 

[dlwssonic]

He can attack like Gesink, AS,et have done before to anticipate and start Cauberg with some bonus time.

Let's be honest here, for the years to come there will only be one winner of AGR.

alejandro valverde.

























jk!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He can attack like Gesink, AS,et have done before to anticipate and start Cauberg with some bonus time.

Let's be honest here, for the years to come there will only be one winner of AGR.

mmmmm, I dunno if kelderman will win it next year, but the years following no doubt.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

alejandro valverde.


jk!

hell no

 

[boomcie]

mmmmm, I dunno if kelderman will win it next year, but the years following no doubt.

We were kind of talking AGR not the Hel van het Mergelland...
In AGR Gilbert will rename him Kruipkelderman.

 

[BillytheKid]

and JBraj have a good team to help him.

That would be question. Busche I think might have go late on the Cucheron.

 

[Spine Concept]

hell no

Would have been interesting to see them duke it out - in top form - though.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Don't overdo it. This is the 1st stage-race I can ever remember where Gesink didn't even try.
Ofcourse he had some stage-races that didn't went superb, but he never soft-pedalled on purpose before. That was 1 of the things i liked most, that he gave it a try in every race.

Now hopefully he won't become another AS/LA/typical TDF rider clown. Otherwise I'll jump on the JvdB bandwagon

The Belgians always are glad with new members
Gesink did let go really soon imo softpedalling or not... He'd better show himself tomorrow

Dang! I missed the friggin live coverage They need one test of strength before the Tour, no? So if softpedalling today, I'd expect them going balls to the wall tomorrow.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

Perhaps a stupid question, but if Gesink is only here to soft pedal his way through the race, couldn't he have done some training rides alone and open a spot to a Rabo rider that really cares? I would think that the idea behind doing a "preparation race" is to get kilometers in your legs as well as testing yourself in a competition environment. Gesink is obviously 100% uninterested in the competition.

 

[Frosty]

Roche finished 25.06 down with two team mates. Did he fall or get ill?

Degenkolb still holds the green jersey but not by much. Maybe J-Rod to take it tomorrow? He is 4 minutes down overall so the leaders may let him go and the steep finish should suit him.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I can understand Gesink in a way. Not wanting to go too deep, in light of the TDF. On the other hand, isn't he overdoing it? This is the final reference, the last test to see where you're at. Even if he wins tomorrow, it still isn't a point of reference, as the other "favorites" didn't softpedal the first 5 days and obviously he won't have this luxuary next month. Combine that with the fact that this is really the first time he is softpedalling during a preparation... i feel this is a big risk in order to interpret his current form and how to schedule his last training weeks before the TDF. I hope it works out for him.

Was Evans bad this climb (i couldn't see it, i was home too late)? Did he lose time? How was VDB and Basso?