Don’t call it an Unofficial Andrea Tafi Comeback Thread

[Leinster]

Wants to ride Roubaix at age 52.

More power to him if he can persuade Wanty or Willems or whoever to take a punt on it for the publicity.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tafi-hoping-to-return-to-paris-roubaix-at-52/

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

he'll win

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

he'll win

His win will be devalued if Museeuw is not racing

 

[kingjr]

What's Andrei Tchmil up to these days?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Museeuw, Van Petegem and some others should come back as well to teach those youngsters how to ride a bike.

 

[lartiste]

Re:

What's Andrei Tchmil up to these days?

He has bike company https://andreitchmil.com/about-us-2/.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I was a fan when i was a kid, but this seems a bit silly.

 

[Robert5091]

52? There's hope for Horner yet!

 

[lartiste]

Re:

52? There's hope for Horner yet!

Only if his bike company will be Honda or Yamaha :lol: .

 

[Tonton]

Marc Madiot should race that one.

 

[Jancouver]

Actually, some "masters" version of 45+, 50+ etc would be pretty entertaining and I would definitely watch it. And not only Roubaix, but all monuments should offer that. Bring it on!

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Actually, some "masters" version of 45+, 50+ etc would be pretty entertaining and I would definitely watch it. And not only Roubaix, but all monuments should offer that. Bring it on!

Me too. Let all the crazy science experiments from the 90's just cut loose like the old days.

The only downside is guys like VDB, Pantani, and Jimenez can't make it

 

[Velolover2]

Him finishing inside top 50 would be an amazing performance.

I don't even know if that is possible at 50+? In more explosive races, I don't think so. But in Roubaix, it might be.

 

[Jagartrott]

Re:

Him finishing inside top 50 would be an amazing performance.

I don't even know if that is possible at 50+? In more explosive races, I don't think so. But in Roubaix, it might be.

I think it is possible to still do reasonably well, but I'm wondering about his preparation.
He'll have to do other races as well. You cannot come into Roubaix with just training, that's never going to work.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Him finishing inside top 50 would be an amazing performance.

I don't even know if that is possible at 50+? In more explosive races, I don't think so. But in Roubaix, it might be.

I think it is possible to still do reasonably well, but I'm wondering about his preparation.
He'll have to do other races as well. You cannot come into Roubaix with just training, that's never going to work.

Mat Hayman says hello.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Him finishing inside top 50 would be an amazing performance.

I don't even know if that is possible at 50+? In more explosive races, I don't think so. But in Roubaix, it might be.

I think it is possible to still do reasonably well, but I'm wondering about his preparation.
He'll have to do other races as well. You cannot come into Roubaix with just training, that's never going to work.

If he gets invited, Gent-Wevelgem would be the ideal prep race. Unlike the mini-Rondes (Omloop, E3, Dwars), it's somewhat gentle and less explosive.

And a Flanders-Roubaix combination would be too much, I think.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

A 52 year old with that past...come on. This thread should suffer the same consequences like VaP. Move it to The Clinic, Mods. Or move Tafi to W52. :lol:

 

[Echoes]

As a kid I liked him too because of these arms shaping a right angle like Roger De Vlaeminck.

But then happened what happened, clinic related, and I cannot approve of this at all ...

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

Him finishing inside top 50 would be an amazing performance.

I don't even know if that is possible at 50+? In more explosive races, I don't think so. But in Roubaix, it might be.

I think it is possible to still do reasonably well, but I'm wondering about his preparation.
He'll have to do other races as well. You cannot come into Roubaix with just training, that's never going to work.

If he gets invited, Gent-Wevelgem would be the ideal prep race. Unlike the mini-Rondes (Omloop, E3, Dwars), it's somewhat gentle and less explosive.

And a Flanders-Roubaix combination would be too much, I think.

IF (very big if, still) he can find a team to take a shot on him, they'll presumably involve him in some of the minor cobbled races (the above, Le Samyn, De Panne, some other local Belgian races that nobody's heard of) just to test him out before giving him a race number in Compiegne.

 

[markene2]

I love this, hope he finds a team

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Tafi, aged 50 or whatever? Welcome to the circus.

 

[Akuryo]

Back to Lefevere and we'll go 1-2-3 in Roubaix once again. Tafi obviously wins again, only 20 years later

 

[Cance > TheRest]

For sure it will be interesting. Based on the race he rode in Hungary, where a decimated peloton finished with about 48km/h average, he's in more than great shape for a 52 year old. Not that the said effort required was big if all he did was sit in the back of the group. But it's difficult to know.

 

[King Boonen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFTdTf1rM8s

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

For sure it will be interesting. Based on the race he rode in Hungary, where a decimated peloton finished with about 48km/h average, he's in more than great shape for a 52 year old. Not that the said effort required was big if all he did was sit in the back of the group. But it's difficult to know.

What was the length of the race? Also, how hilly?

Still being at the pointy end after 150kms+ at 48km/h suggests Tafi could still race at Div 3 level as a domestique.

With the proper focus he could help the team lead of a Pro Conti team get to the Arenberg in a good position at the least.