Esteban Chaves Discussion Thread

[dirkprovin]

The little guy clearly has some excellent late season form; wouldn't surprise if he's prominent again at Lombardie.

One does have to say that he'll be quite happy picking up Howson's bar tab for some time to come after that ride. For that matter, this Vuelta has been a eye opener as regards the growth of OBE as a GT team.

We saw the genesis of such moves at the Giro with the springboard on the Agnello but its one thing to plan such moves as the St14 Yates move and this one but another entirely to have the strength and belief in your leader(s) to bring them off.

 

[Cookster15]

Great to see him get a podium. Picked him for the win after the first week but he lacked that extra few % against Froome and Quintana mano a mano on the big MTFs and of course the TT. He is still young has a great career ahead of him. Great for OBE to have such a rider.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

3rd rider to make 2 GT podiums in 2016. He's not in bad company

Chapeau to Chavez, great achievement and a class act on and off the bike. Hope he'll win at least a GT in the future.

 

[fantomas]

Bravo! He learned from the best, and he beat him.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

I've definitely become his supporter.
OBE has a lot to do with it.

The support and leadership Orica has shown Chaves - especially from Stephens is amazing. He seems so happy there and looks to be very close to Sam Bewley in particular. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if Chaves extends again, he may well spend the rest of his career with the team.

Also, Chaves seems to be good friends with George Bennett from Lotto NL, is his contract up any time soon? Could be a future transfer there...

 

[movingtarget]

Orica and Chaves had a great race. His ride was full of merit as was the team's.

 

[KGB]

Great ride by Chavez and send Contador to 4th is just bonus.

 

[dastott]

Re:

Great ride by Chavez and send Contador to 4th is just bonus.

Well Contador lit up the race again but, yes, I suspect most neutrals would agree with that.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Great ride by Chavez and send Contador to 4th is just bonus.

Well Contador lit up the race again but, yes, I suspect most neutrals would agree with that.

Lol, seriously? Why would most "neutrals" dislike Contador? Doesn't seem very neutral to me.

 

[dastott]

Re: Re:

Great ride by Chavez and send Contador to 4th is just bonus.

Well Contador lit up the race again but, yes, I suspect most neutrals would agree with that.

Lol, seriously? Why would most "neutrals" dislike Contador? Doesn't seem very neutral to me.

Really? Oh come on, Contador doesn't exactly have Chaves' wholesome and squeaky clean image, does he?

 

[Fergoose]

Pretty huge for the lads development that he has:

i) found a way to peak in the second and third weeks rather than the first
ii) gained the confidence that comes from launching major attacks and measuring your effort from far out.

Inspired tactics by OBE to repeatedly eliminate rival domestiques before launching attacks as that means that no effort is wasted. The future of aggressive / smart GT riding appears to be in safe hands although major selection headaches for OBE. GT contendors are like buses, you wait ages for one then three come along at the same time.

 

[Jolene]

Re: Re:

Great ride by Chavez and send Contador to 4th is just bonus.

Well Contador lit up the race again but, yes, I suspect most neutrals would agree with that.

Lol, seriously? Why would most "neutrals" dislike Contador? Doesn't seem very neutral to me.

Really? Oh come on, Contador doesn't exactly have Chaves' wholesome and squeaky clean image, does he?

Yep, pretty impossible not to love Chaves!!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Really? Oh come on, Contador doesn't exactly have Chaves' wholesome and squeaky clean image, does he?

Perfectly fine to prefer Chaves on the podium instead, but if you admit it is extra enjoyable for you because it's Contador who was pushed off the podium, I don't think you can claim to be neutral.

 

[dastott]

TBH, they both deserved a place on the podium for lighting up the race. Not a fan of either but, for quite a number of reasons, I imagine most neutrals would prefer Chaves to get the 3rd place. It's not like Contador needs it for his collection...

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Great ride by Chavez and send Contador to 4th is just bonus.

Well Contador lit up the race again but, yes, I suspect most neutrals would agree with that.

Lol, seriously? Why would most "neutrals" dislike Contador? Doesn't seem very neutral to me.

Really? Oh come on, Contador doesn't exactly have Chaves' wholesome and squeaky clean image, does he?

Yep, pretty impossible not to love Chaves!!

Quintana looks like Chaves' father ! Hard to believe they are a similar age.

 

[IndianCyclist]

With Chaves' example i hope the other contenders learn that wheelsucking and getting dropped isn't the only option.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

I've definitely become his supporter.
OBE has a lot to do with it.

The support and leadership Orica has shown Chaves - especially from Stephens is amazing. He seems so happy there and looks to be very close to Sam Bewley in particular. I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if Chaves extends again, he may well spend the rest of his career with the team.

Also, Chaves seems to be good friends with George Bennett from Lotto NL, is his contract up any time soon? Could be a future transfer there...

Chaves is clearly loved within the team and that's a term that I don't use lightly when it comes to professional sport. Statements from team mates are one thing but we've seen the real testimony out there on the road in both the Giro and this Vuelta.

Stay at OBE long term ?? Certainly not out of the question given his success at the team, his personal chemistry with the team vibe and his genuine appreciation for the opportunities they have given him. IF their budget can potentially raise sufficiently so as to make their next offer "competitive in the market"; one would have to think he may stay, especially if he can snag a GT with the team and/or a major one dayer over the next 2 seasons.

Having said that, one would have to think that Movistar WILL come knocking on his door and with a significant $$$ inducement. On the plus side, they will clearly remain one of the super-power teams and he and Quintana are good mates. How they would be able to "finesse" both their aspirations would be interesting and how he may adapt to his new surounds may be question-marks.

 

[lenric]

Perhaps when Valverde retires, Chaves will go to Movi*

 

[Thepirateisgood]

Chaves, Atapuma should go to DD. Make it a right south against north, just to shake it up a little.

Comedy aside, what a great rider!

With a team standing by him (how couldn't you?) - wow. Orica was exceptional in this Vuelta as always since it's inception.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Perhaps when Valverde retires, Chaves will go to Movi*

Yeah, Unzue has said many times that Betancur hopefully will be the replacement and the 'new' Valverde, but thats obviously not going to happen. Would absolutely love Chaves on Movi. Him and Quintana....

 

[yaco]

Re:

Pretty huge for the lads development that he has:

i) found a way to peak in the second and third weeks rather than the first
ii) gained the confidence that comes from launching major attacks and measuring your effort from far out.

Inspired tactics by OBE to repeatedly eliminate rival domestiques before launching attacks as that means that no effort is wasted. The future of aggressive / smart GT riding appears to be in safe hands although major selection headaches for OBE. GT contendors are like buses, you wait ages for one then three come along at the same time.

Your last paragraph is the template in how to attack the Sky Train at upcoming TDFs - Weakening the domestiques in the early part of mountain stages - You must also be brave with your team selections.

 

[yaco]

Chavez is contracted for 2017 and 2018 - He does get a bonus for each podium in a GT - It's more likely that one of the Yates boys will leave in the future.

 

[pink_jersey]

Re:

Chavez is contracted for 2017 and 2018 - He does get a bonus for each podium in a GT - It's more likely that one of the Yates boys will leave in the future.

Yates are also contracted till 2018 now.
But, yeah, he's more consistent than the twins now. Even if he's a very emotional person(I think this from his interviews), on the road he's very clever. He knows exactly when to attack and when to sit on the other wheels. Very smart rider.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

Chavez is contracted for 2017 and 2018 - He does get a bonus for each podium in a GT - It's more likely that one of the Yates boys will leave in the future.

Yates are also contracted till 2018 now.
But, yeah, he's more consistent than the twins now. Even if he's a very emotional person(I think this from his interviews), on the road he's very clever. He knows exactly when to attack and when to sit on the other wheels. Very smart rider.

I am aware that the yates boys are contracted till 2018 - Think it's hard to have 3 good GC riders in your team for a long period of time so something eventually must give - Also Power will be groomed as a GC rider in the long term.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Perhaps when Valverde retires, Chaves will go to Movi*

Yeah, Unzue has said many times that Betancur hopefully will be the replacement and the 'new' Valverde, but thats obviously not going to happen. Would absolutely love Chaves on Movi. Him and Quintana....

Betancur seems to be doing about as well as Matt Goss pre retirement.