Dauphine Libere - Prologue - 6th June

[hektoren]

good top 40 ride by young peter kennaugh.. kicked edvald's ****

You've got the rose-tinted shades on today, 'aven't you, Tim?
Problem for Edvald these days is the fear of provoking his Achilles tendon. He could've gone faster, and in fact he said as much to Norwegian journo's, but he won't very likely risk putting in an all-out effort for a short TT in the CD, waking up tomorrow with an active tendinitis again. (- "It was OK. I put in an effort, but not to the max. I put into it what I felt comfortable with. My goal now is completing the CD, I'm not more ambitious than that as of now.")

For those who believe he had to start from scratch after the tendinitis, form-wise, having lost two months of training; Think again! There're all sorts of alternative training, and Edvald's been going at it, hammer and nails.

Remember Edvald thrashing Cancellara in the TT in Tour of Oman? The very same Cancellara that flourished in the spring classics right after?
Oh, ye of little faith. You'll see the light, eventually......

 

[bobs nob]

You seem to care, as you've made two posts on the subject.

What's interesting is that we are expected to believe his 'salute' changes your (and others) opinion about someone. Google disingenuous.

Phoniness this transparent is laughable.

 

[afpm90]

You've got the rose-tinted shades on today, 'aven't you, Tim?
Problem for Edvald these days is the fear of provoking his Achilles tendon. He could've gone faster, and in fact he said as much to Norwegian journo's, but he won't very likely risk putting in an all-out effort for a short TT in the CD, waking up tomorrow with an active tendinitis again. (- "It was OK. I put in an effort, but not to the max. I put into it what I felt comfortable with. My goal now is completing the CD, I'm not more ambitious than that as of now.")

For those who believe he had to start from scratch after the tendinitis, form-wise, having lost two months of training; Think again! There're all sorts of alternative training, and Edvald's been going at it, hammer and nails.

Remember Edvald thrashing Cancellara in the TT in Tour of Oman? The very same Cancellara that flourished in the spring classics right after?
Oh, ye of little faith. You'll see the light, eventually......

The others win, because Hagen lets them win.

 

[Tom T.]

You all might as well stop complaining about the pistolero salute. The *****ing is going to get really old because he's going to win a bunch of stages between now and the end of July. Just shut up and deal with it.

 

[issoisso]

The others win, because Hagen lets them win.

Remember how Grabovskyy was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Popovych was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Scheunemann was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Cunego was going to be the next Eddy big thing?
Remember how Quaranta was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Kolesnikov was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how China was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Ignatiev was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Fothen was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Chicchi was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Vastaranta was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Pate was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Scheuneman was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Petrov was going to be the next big thing?

Fanboys are fanboys. They'll never learn that no matter how good someone is at a certain age, that's no guarantee they'll improve even a tiny little bit beyond what they already are. They'll always blast rational people for "being haters", just because said rational people don't immediately proclaim those people's idols "The new Merckx".

The perfect example: JJ Rojas. Hagen wishes he could've been as good at 19 as Rojas was. Now Rojas is 25 and hasn't improved a millimeter. But if, a few years ago, you dared even suggest that he wouldn't be a major superstar, the spanish fans would be on you like sh** on velcro.

EDIT: Or just tell them right now that Madrazo isn't going to be a star. They'll kill you

 

[cyclopeon]

Remember how Grabovskyy was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Popovych was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Scheunemann was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Cunego was going to be the next Eddy big thing?
Remember how Quaranta was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Kolesnikov was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how China was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Ignatiev was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Fothen was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Chicchi was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Vastaranta was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Pate was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Scheuneman was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Petrov was going to be the next big thing?

...

Ah yes. And on the other side of that theme, remember how Contador wasn't good enough to clean LA's shoes?

 

[maltiv]

The perfect example: JJ Rojas. Hagen wishes he could've been as good at 19 as Rojas was. Now Rojas is 25 and hasn't improved a millimeter. But if, a few years ago, you dared even suggest that he wouldn't be a major superstar, the spanish fans would be on you like sh** on velcro.

Boasson Hagen was the most winning cyclist in the world with 15 victories in 2007 though, when he was 19/20, although in small races obviously. As far as I can find, JJ Rojas had 2 victories when he was 19-20? (I might be wrong, but in that case I blame the interwebs).

 

[Libertine Seguros]

EDIT: Or just tell them right now that Madrazo isn't going to be a star. They'll kill you

¡¡¡MADRAZOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Actually, Caisse have a lot of youngsters who should be stars. Urán should, by all rights, but Rui Costa's results in the last year or so have been really promising. And he got out of the cul-de-sac that is the Portuguese national cycling scene early, which has to be a good thing.

 

[Angliru]

Caisse's leader is....Ruben Plaza.

Ay caramba.

I read somewhere that Christophe Moreau was their designated leader due to his experience and record in the Dauphine (2 overall wins with the most recent being 2007).

 

[issoisso]

Boasson Hagen was the most winning cyclist in the world with 15 victories in 2007 though, when he was 19/20, although in small races obviously. As far as I can find, JJ Rojas had 2 victories when he was 19-20? (I might be wrong, but in that case I blame the interwebs).

First of all, that has very little to do with anything. The quality or promise of a rider aren't measured by wins.

Secondly, quite a few of those facts are also wrong (most importantly, Hagen wasn't the rider with the most wins in 2007)

¡¡¡MADRAZOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Actually, Caisse have a lot of youngsters who should be stars. Urán should, by all rights, but Rui Costa's results in the last year or so have been really promising. And he got out of the cul-de-sac that is the Portuguese national cycling scene early, which has to be a good thing.

Jeanneson, Amador. Kwiatkowski's in the feeder team.

Costa needs to show something this year. He really should be stepping up from last year, and his first half of the season was anonymous, Dunkerque aside.

 

[Angliru]

I like Contador but I don't care for his gesture, or for that matter I don't like an signature gesture by any rider.

It's my guess that because he generally pounds his heart before making the gesture that its a sign of recognition to his little brother back home.

 

[Angliru]

Remember how Grabovskyy was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Popovych was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Scheunemann was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Cunego was going to be the next Eddy big thing?
Remember how Quaranta was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Kolesnikov was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how China was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Ignatiev was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Fothen was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Chicchi was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Vastaranta was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Pate was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Scheuneman was going to be the next big thing?
Remember how Petrov was going to be the next big thing?

Fanboys are fanboys. They'll never learn that no matter how good someone is at a certain age, that's no guarantee they'll improve even a tiny little bit beyond what they already are. They'll always blast rational people for "being haters", just because said rational people don't immediately proclaim those people's idols "The new Merckx".

The perfect example: JJ Rojas. Hagen wishes he could've been as good at 19 as Rojas was. Now Rojas is 25 and hasn't improved a millimeter. But if, a few years ago, you dared even suggest that he wouldn't be a major superstar, the spanish fans would be on you like sh** on velcro.

EDIT: Or just tell them right now that Madrazo isn't going to be a star. They'll kill you

I'm a Spanish fan. Who is Madrazo?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Ah Niels Scheuneman
Wel Scheuneman was just an idiot who didn't want to train.
I also think he lacked the skill to really become more than sub top anyway

 

[barn yard]

looking at the start list, contador just has to not crash to win this by default

 

[La Vie Claire]

Was never a fan of Contador -- was rooting for the Chicken in 2007 before he was disqualified -- but he does comes across as pretty humble from everything I've read. As mentioned earlier, the pistolero salute was a one-time message that perhaps he kept b/c it was mocked by the recipient of said message. It's not directed at any forums members, their family or dog so don't worry about.

 

[bobs nob]

Was never a fan of Contador -- was rooting for the Chicken in 2007 before he was disqualified -- but he does comes across as pretty humble from everything I've read. As mentioned earlier, the pistolero salute was a one-time message that perhaps he kept b/c it was mocked by the recipient of said message. It's not directed at any forums members, their family or dog so don't worry about.

It's just a straw man for those who would prefer to see someone else win to misplace their anger.

 

[liufang898186]

Thanks to share this information

 

[Ashtabula]

Grabsch or Gretsch?

Text of article and rankings say Gretsch, the picture is of Grabsch--says so on the car, German champion (TT) stripes at the sleeves, and I recognize his face. It's Grabsch on the start list, too.

 

[Anonymous]

You've got the rose-tinted shades on today, 'aven't you, Tim?

Im fully aware of Edvalds current problems, Im also fully aware that Peter with his track background is going to perform well over short prologues. Its actually a measure of how highly I rate EbH that even beating an unfit Eddie is something to be pleased about.

 

[jaylew]

You do? Oh.

Well I guess you don't have to, but I think it's nice to see a guy who wins GTs being a factor in just about every race he enters. It's a refreshing change from what we've had from most guys over the last several years - only care about one race in a year, rarely do much outside of said race, every race is a "training" race, including other GTs, etc... That said, obviously most don't have the ability to be a pull off the kind of stuff AC does.

 

[issoisso]

I'm a Spanish fan. Who is Madrazo?

Do you live in a cave?

He won a stage of the Circuito Montañés. That's it. Instantly labelled the Next Induráin by spanish fans.
I'm not joking. Tiny little pipsqueak with 1 result = "New Induráin". Fans can be quite insane sometimes.

 

[Jamsque]

Well I guess you don't have to, but I think it's nice to see a guy who wins GTs being a factor in just about every race he enters. It's a refreshing change from what we've had from most guys over the last several years - only care about one race in a year, rarely do much outside of said race, every race is a "training" race, including other GTs, etc... That said, obviously most don't have the ability to be a pull off the kind of stuff AC does.

I appreciate that it's nice to see a grand tour GC rider who goes all-out to win in every race he enters, but I don't think Contador is necessarily completely unique in that aspect, and frankly I got bored of seeing him win everything with ease about when he showed up to the Giro from vacation and slaughtered everyone.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Ángel Madrazo. He's a dork (he looks a little like Sébastien Bourdais, perhaps the dorkiest man to ever become a professional sportsman) but he does have talent. Perhaps not as much as the Spanish fans want/hope/expect, but the kid's good.

Good call on Jeannesson too, he was the last domestique with Arroyo on Zoncolán and had a couple of very good rides last year. I'd noticed Kwiatkowski had been compiling some good results this year but didn't realise that Caja Rural was a fully-blown feeder for Caisse.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

It's Mc Lovin'
(for those who know the movie Superbad)

 

[issoisso]

he looks a little like Sébastien Bourdais, perhaps the dorkiest man to ever become a professional sportsman

But luckily, without the "I'm awesome. Everyone should kiss the ground I step on. That wreck totally wasn't my fault" attitude.