Eneco Tour - 8th to 14th August

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yes, but Rolland has been a Pro for 4 years and is almost 4 years older than Taylor.
Taylor is a neo-pro.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Rolland_(cyclist)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Phinney
.
.
.

that's neither here nor there in this discussion

 

[kurtinsc]

Well, I'm happy Phinney won something finally.

I'll say what I said at the beginning of the year. Right now Phinney is a great prologue rider, a very good time trialist at longer distances, and an okay sprint/cobbled rider.

At everything else... he's finishing with the bus.

Even in the best case/fanboy analysis of Phinney, I can't see him ever contending for a race like RVV, let alone anything hillier. He can advance to be a strong helper in a race like that, but I see almost nothing in his past performance to suggest he'll ever be able to survive hills like that, even if he becomes excellent at the Pave.

He needs to keep his ITT and work on the sprinting I think. Perhaps he can advance his climbing to the point he can survive some hills and limit losses in stage races like this... but he's not even close to that yet.

Though I dont' know how compatible becoming a pure sprinter is with maintaining ability on longer ITT's.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He's still very young, I wouldn't say no to RVV right now. Not even LBL etc. Even if he sucks right now at climbing you don't have a clue how he will evolve.

If you told me 5 years ago Wiggins would go on winning a race like the Dauphine and top 5 at the Tour I'd say you were a clown

 

[janraaskalt]

Even in the best case/fanboy analysis of Phinney, I can't see him ever contending for a race like RVV, let alone anything hillier. He can advance to be a strong helper in a race like that, but I see almost nothing in his past performance to suggest he'll ever be able to survive hills like that, even if he becomes excellent at the Pave.

Physically he looks a bit like Cancellara. I think he's got the talent to have a career similar to Fabian. Same kinds of races of course, not necessarily same kind of being unbeatable.

 

[Midnightfright]

Great win for Taylor. EBH looking on form. Has to be favourite for me , can't rule out Gilbert though I think there's only 1 stage he can take serious time out of Eddie. Is there time bonus' for stage wins if so what are they?

 

[Michielveedeebee]

does phinney only specialise in prologues? im sure he can do others as he develops his sprinting and his cobbled classics.

He got some top 10's last year in Qatar if I recall correctly. I think he can be a real good sprinter if he wants to tbh...

 

[Michielveedeebee]

That was some ride by Phinney. Good rides from EBH, Millar, Phil and Nuyens.

yeah Nuyens surprised me as well, I'd like to see how he goes. With good form he might actually be an overall podium candidate

 

[maltiv]

EBH actually says his form is not that good at all and he was very surprised to get 2nd today. Luckily Sky has decided to do the leadout for EBH tomorrow, and with that friggin insane sprint train consisting of Flecha-Hayman-G-Swift-Henderson-EBH, he will certainly get some much needed bonus seconds.

 

[Midnightfright]

EBH actually says his form is not that good at all and he was very surprised to get 2nd today. Luckily Sky has decided to do the leadout for EBH tomorrow, and with that friggin insane sprint train consisting of Flecha-Hayman-G-Swift-Henderson-EBH, he will certainly get some much needed bonus seconds.

EBH always seem to have a decent level of performance even when he isn't in form but a 2nd place of form would be a bit of a stretch wouldst it ?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Boom more or less said the same. Well he was not suprised about his performance but said he didn't feel super and hopes to win a stage, he doesn't seem to think he'll be able to win the GC.

Makes it easier for Gilbert, if Hagen says he is not good and Boom says the same

 

[El Pistolero]

yeah Nuyens surprised me as well, I'd like to see how he goes. With good form he might actually be an overall podium candidate

Well, he has to be good here, if he was crap he might not get selected for the Worlds despite his RVV win(no point in taking someone based on his April form)

Looking good for Nuyens though, he'll be up there in the hilly stage(s)

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Well, he has to be good here, if he was crap he might not get selected for the Worlds despite his RVV win(no point in taking someone based on his April form)

Looking good for Nuyens though, he'll be up there in the hilly stage(s)

Is he doing the Vuelta? Bomans doesn't really have the record of taking non-Vuelta guys...

 

[maltiv]

EBH always seem to have a decent level of performance even when he isn't in form but a 2nd place of form would be a bit of a stretch wouldst it ?

I guess a lot of guys are tired though, not just him. But I've rarely seen him so pessimistic about his own form. It's not like his form is as much up and down as someone like Andy Schleck though so he's always reasonably good.

 

[Midnightfright]

EBH always seem to have a decent level of performance even when he isn't in form but a 2nd place of form would be a bit of a stretch wouldst it ?

I guess a lot of guys are tired though, not just him. But I've rarely seen him so pessimistic about his own form. It's not like his form is as much up and down as someone like Andy Schleck though so he's always reasonably good.

Fair point. There isnt going to be many riders in peak form for Eneco.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Fair point. There isnt going to be many riders in peak form for Eneco.

it levels out the playing field though. But guys like Jan Ghyselinck should really do peak for stuff like this. His team folds next year and he doesn't have anywhere to go atm. He needs some good results

 

[Midnightfright]

it levels out the playing field though. But guys like Jan Ghyselinck should really do peak for stuff like this. His team folds next year and he doesn't have anywhere to go atm. He needs some good results

True it also makes it very hard to predict who is going to win. Riders like EBH and Gilbert always perform to a pretty high level so I would still have to go with one of those two for the win.

 

[Fetisoff]

I think a more important question is how many stages will the Awesome Denis Galimzyanov win

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I think a more important question is how many stages will the Awesome Denis Galimzyanov win

0
Farrar is there And EBH

 

[Fetisoff]

0
Farrar is there And EBH

I'm so pointing this out to you in a few days, when he wins three stages by 10 bike lengths each time

 

[Michielveedeebee]

I'm so pointing this out to you in a few days, when he wins three stages by 10 bike lengths each time

Let's settle this with a good old avatar bet
You lose, you take the Leo Belgicus for a month in celebration of Phille
I lose(Gali winning a stage), ?

 

[maltiv]

Funny, Phinney sent in so many "thank you" messages on twitter to those who congratulated him that he actually got a short ban from twitter. Surely he will be exhausted tomorrow after all that typing!

 

[Midnightfright]

I'm so pointing this out to you in a few days, when he wins three stages by 10 bike lengths each time

He may well take 6th place by 1 bike length. Thats something atleast.

 

[Fetisoff]

Let's settle this with a good old avatar bet
You lose, you take the Leo Belgicus for a month in celebration of Phille
I lose(Gali winning a stage), ?

Aaahhh. I was going to offer you an avatar bet, however given the significance of your current one i did not want to be come across as being a ***. But since you offer, I will give you a choice between this awesome Galimzyanov photo,
http://www.katushateam.com/2011/immagini/team/sc_galimzyanov.jpg

or this even more awesome Karpets photo

http://www.katushateam.com/2011/immagini/team/sc_karpets.jpg

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Aaahhh. I was going to offer you an avatar bet, however given the significance of your current one i did not want to be come across as being a ***. But since you offer, I will give you a choice between this awesome Galimzyanov photo,
http://www.katushateam.com/2011/immagini/team/sc_galimzyanov.jpg

or this even more awesome Karpets photo

http://www.katushateam.com/2011/immagini/team/sc_karpets.jpg

How very nice of you

I'll go for the Karpets one

Tribute to Wouter and Xavier is being payed on twitter so no biggie

 

[Sylvester]

Is he doing the Vuelta? Bomans doesn't really have the record of taking non-Vuelta guys...

Yes, Nuyens will be doing the Vuelta. I can see him winning a transition stage there.