Francois the Postman said:
It was more the Merckx comment within all the gushing that raised my eye brow.
Given the right circumstances EBH could win plenty, but today was one of those "right circumstances" days that he failed to take. Not the first one either. I don't expect a clean sweep from anyone, but EBH is now failing to brush up the sort of I events and opportunities I expect to be bagged, if people are indeed heading towards this very very bright future.
For what it is worth, instead of the names of proven high-fliers that are held up as mirrors around him, I think that his more recent track record sets him on a firmer course for the (still quality) riders just below the big names. Those that do very well, but too infrequently to strike fear in their opponents by simply showing up. Needing good legs on the day to win, rather than bad legs on the day to lose.
Pretty much what I said about Boom too. He came in and filled plenty of folk with great hopes, based on young shoots that blossomed early. But there is a point at which the occasional miss is more starting to look like a more sustained pattern of undershooting. EBH ought to land a bit higher, but I no longer see him jump the multitude of hurdles that are set as the bench marks by our greats.
He will get some great wins, no doubt, but I really haven't got him down as a potential triple wc winner, or a triple msr winner (over a 7 year time span). To name but one rider who by many is even't seen as one of greats. Yet some folk here talk as if it is only a matter of time before he will overshadow the palmares of the likes of Freire et al. He'll have to grab the vast majority of his opportunities. And make some more. He's starting not to do that.
Also not sure what winning an Eneco proves. Stage race caliber? Not in my book. But that's just me. I'm the type of sceptic who still is not sure what this race through the Lowlands actually is. A sponsored group day out with event-banners in the oddest of places, mostly, I guess.
It just happens to be through regions I know well, but if it wasn't for that, I'm not too sure what the real attraction is here.
For many, including myself, a sprint victory is less prestigious than a hilly, mountain or even tt victory.
If ebh can improve with age on his tt (by that i mean no drastic improvements, just the improvements i expect with age) then he will be a force in those, competing for leaders jerseys at the begining of gts. Cancellara was seen as having just as good a tdf with his 2 tts and a yellow jersey for a week, as Cav with his 5 sprints.
If he can mature with age on the cobbles (by that i mean no drastic improvements, just the improvements i expect with age) then he can win Paris Roubaix maybe, even if just the once it still counts. Rvv is probably more suited to him still.
He was already touted as a favourite for Milan San Remo this year, and if he peaks for it next year i think he can do it.
Now its true that he might not achieve any of those. Some riders do better in their early 20s then later (eg Cunego). Perhaps this is as good as Eddie will get.
But if he does mature with age then the 4 above listed goals - MSR, PR, RVV and leaders jerseys at the begining of grand tours, are pretty realistic.
And perhaps, though i doubt it. he can even outdo that, and become more of a force in gts with bonus seconds available, and lbl, gl etc.
The comparison with Mercx was not my own, but one which others have placed on him. Of course he will never win all 5 monuments and all 3 gts. He wont come close. But people used to say he could be the next Mercx, now they say his career is over, im saying, hold your horses, he could be the next mercx yet, by which i mean the early enthusiasm others had for him could yet fullfill itself.
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