Eneco Tour - 8th to 14th August

[Fetisoff]

those are very typical Flemish roads man ^^ They do the narrow roads in RvV

Well, in RvV I don't usually get to see such a large field going through these tight narrow turns...

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Well, in RvV I don't usually get to see such a large field going through these tight narrow turns...

True that. But the day before, when the tourists ride it. I swear it's carnage especially on the hills where everyone is in everyone's way

 

[El Pistolero]

I'm really looking forward to the hilly stage. These hilly stages in small one week races can be more fun to me than a big stage at the Tour. The hilly stage in the Tour of Belgium this year was pretty amazing.

 

[Fetisoff]

True that. But the day before, when the tourists ride it. I swear it's carnage especially on the hills where everyone is in everyone's way

Oh I can only imagine... Do you have lots of these people fall off on the cobbled hills, because they're too stubborn to walk and not powerful enough to actually pedal up it?

 

[El Pistolero]

Oh I can only imagine... Do you have lots of these people fall off on the cobbled hills, because they're too stubborn to walk and not powerful enough to actually pedal up it?

Some even fall when walking.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Oh I can only imagine... Do you have lots of these people fall off on the cobbled hills, because they're too stubborn to walk and not powerful enough to actually pedal up it?

yep, and most of them don't even have the decency to get out of the way of those that are capable of climbing the hills (Like me )

Some even fall when walking.

saw that happening on the Pater, Koppenberg, Taaienberg and the Oude Kwaremont this year ^^

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Playing catch up again.
Guess who was dumb enough to pick RaboBos, today?
Utterly useless. Even the Carrots got a man over the line before
Rabo.
Which prompts the question, if orange equals "The Carrots", what does blue and orange equal?
After today, I think I'll start to call Rabo "The Frozen Carrots".

It doesn't matter what you call them.

Fact is they reached a whole new level of fail today

 

[Tank Engine]

Greipel hit the front pretty early this time and held out very strongly against Tyler. Gali had to pull up on the other side after being pretty much alongside and I think EBH was probably happy to have found the right wheel to follow at the end.

 

[kurtinsc]

Meaningless I think, unless he wants to be a lead out man. Probably a similar sprinting level to Thomas. Phinney has numerous other potential areas to develop which would do him better than focusing on being the 12th best buncher in the world. If he gets as strong as Sagan or EBH then maybe afterwards he can try and match their speed in a reduced sprint.

The thing is, so far outside espoirs races, all he's shown is abilities in the time trial and sprint. As much as I'd like to see him be a great climber, he's never really shown any climbing ability (even in u-23 races).

While obviously the TT is his strength, he should be able to hone another area too. And with his complete lack of climbing legs... sprinting seems like it might be a better fit then focusing on classics. There really aren't that many classics that are devoid of meaningful hills. Unless his climbing just takes off from what he's shown previously, I can't imagine him surviving on a RVV type course, or even suffer through the ending hills of MSR.

I hope I'm wrong... I'd really like to see him do better on the hills. But I haven't ever seen evidence that might happen.

 

[theyoungest]

Playing catch up again.
Guess who was dumb enough to pick RaboBos, today?
Utterly useless. Even the Carrots got a man over the line before
Rabo.
Which prompts the question, if orange equals "The Carrots", what does blue and orange equal?
After today, I think I'll start to call Rabo "The Frozen Carrots".

The Dead Carrot Scene?

 

[hrotha]

Meh, that Carrot was Koldo Fernández, who is pretty good (not today though).

 

[El Pistolero]

Too bad OPL don't have time trial specialists or they could have had a shot at winning every stage this Eneco Tour

 

[Michielveedeebee]

they desperatly need martin

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Too bad OPL don't have time trial specialists or they could have had a shot at winning every stage this Eneco Tour

But how many would they have won without Vansevenant

 

[Midnightfright]

But how many would they have won without Vansevenant

Excellent.

 

[Spine Concept]

But how many would they have won without Vansevenant

Auch. Well played.

 

[El Pistolero]

But how many would they have won without Vansevenant

We all know how many Rabo would have won with Vansevenant

Still nothing

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

We all know how many Rabo would have won with Vansevenant

Still nothing

You have had better comebacks. Out of shape after the Tour?

 

[El Pistolero]

You have had better comebacks. Out of shape after the Tour?

I'll be up and running again at the Vuelta

 

[Midnightfright]

You have had better comebacks. Out of shape after the Tour?

Give the man a break not even a Belgian peaks for Eneco.

 

[Ferminal]

The thing is, so far outside espoirs races, all he's shown is abilities in the time trial and sprint. As much as I'd like to see him be a great climber, he's never really shown any climbing ability (even in u-23 races).

While obviously the TT is his strength, he should be able to hone another area too. And with his complete lack of climbing legs... sprinting seems like it might be a better fit then focusing on classics. There really aren't that many classics that are devoid of meaningful hills. Unless his climbing just takes off from what he's shown previously, I can't imagine him surviving on a RVV type course, or even suffer through the ending hills of MSR.

I hope I'm wrong... I'd really like to see him do better on the hills. But I haven't ever seen evidence that might happen.

Give him time!

If it came down to a choice between TT'ing and Sprinting I'd go with the former. He could be up there with Cancellara and Martin, but I doubt he's ever going to be as quick as Cav, Goss, Greipel, Farrar, Kittel, Guardini etc.

 

[Swede1]

Give him time!

If it came down to a choice between TT'ing and Sprinting I'd go with the former. He could be up there with Cancellara and Martin, but I doubt he's ever going to be as quick as Cav, Goss, Greipel, Farrar, Kittel, Guardini etc.

Yeah I agree. He doesnt seem to have the quickness of the true bunch sprinters. I think he can develop into a classics guy that can do RVV. He can just power his way over the shorter climbs.

 

[greenedge]

Congrats again to Greipel. He sure knows how to time a sprint and we shall see whether Phinney can hold on in the hills against an inspired Gilbert.

 

[auscyclefan94]

lets hope Gilbert continues to show kindness to taylor and not go nuts today. I think taylor will do well though as he has some really strong form.

 

[AussieGoddess]

lets hope Gilbert continues to show kindness to taylor and not go nuts today. I think taylor will do well though as he has some really strong form.

yeah I dont think he is that generous

Phil wants to win this Tour, and he needs to win it in these stages .... so today wont be a little old lady ride like yesterday

If he wins Eneco, he will be No 1, so is a big incentive.