Esteban Chaves Discussion Thread

[Kwibus]

Re: Re:

1 week racer

So far, he's proven himself a 2-week racer

New territory for Chaves, but it's good to see him still up there.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Should have worked with Domoulin since his GC was also at stake. Not nice to attack the leader at the end when he wheel sucked the entire climb and refused to work

You are reading way too much out of the way they rode yesterday. No need to create drama where is not.

Dumoulin asks him a number of times to work with him. Every time he refuses. He is entirely focused on Dumoulin. When Aru, Majka, Purito etc are forging ahead. Hope he has not learned the Gerrans' way of wheelsucking. Just see the way Kruijswijk worked on Motirolo with Contador when it was not required. Even Rolland, Hesjedal worked with Quintana in the Giro 14.

Different races, different circumstances ..... you can only ride to what you are capable at the time. He DID make an attempt to bridge up the road earlier on that climb but failed to make it stick. He then showed enough nous to find the best means of getting to the top without "blowing up" ..... which other (whom you would undoubtedly classify as "noble and heroic") DID.

Each stage delivers different challenges & different tactical approaches. He LEARNED from his mistake of "going heroic" on an earlier stages & has raced far smarter ever since by waiting when necessary & attacking when a chance presents AND he is capable of taking it.

The Gerrans shot is just plain cheap ..... I don't always agree with his tactics but the guy has smarts as well as strength and that's why he wins ..... and many with less 'race smarts' do so less often.

 

[dirkprovin]

He has re-signed for 3 years with OGE (until end of 2018)
http://www.greenedgecycling.com/news/chaves-and-orica-greenedge-extend-commitment-to-2018.phps

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

He has re-signed for 3 years with OGE (until end of 2018)
http://www.greenedgecycling.com/news/chaves-and-orica-greenedge-extend-commitment-to-2018.phps

Great news, I hope he keeps improving and Orica starts to focus more on support in the mountains.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

He has re-signed for 3 years with OGE (until end of 2018)
http://www.greenedgecycling.com/news/chaves-and-orica-greenedge-extend-commitment-to-2018.phps

Great news, I hope he keeps improving and Orica starts to focus more on support in the mountains.

Two of the three Australian neo-pros starting next season are climbers; Jack Haig & Robert Power. It may be a season or so before they are significant assets in this field at big races but this is a clear pointer of their change in focus.

Amets Txurukka from Caja Rural (ex Euskaltel) has also been signed. I'm a little sceptical of this move. Whilst he has experience & some climbing pedigree; he is more the opportunist than someone likely to be a reliable domestique. Still, if he can impart some worthwhile knowledge to Chaves then that may be a positive outcome.

 

[SergeDeM]

Three more years is great. He certainly looks happy at OGE.

 

[SergeDeM]

So what's the expected result today for the ITT?
Looks to me like his only target is to not drop out of the top 10 in GC.

 

[dirkprovin]

Well, he certainly managed that by finishing 20th on the stage. He dropped 2 places but mainly due to Valverde (esp) & Quintana putting in superb rides. Valverde is only 15sec up on GC so he could sneak up one spot with some good rides. He would need to lose around 3min20 to slip out of Top 10.

 

[damian13ster]

Really decent TT from him. Improving.

 

[dirkprovin]

Actually, he has more leeway atm re Top 10 with 11th place well over 4min behind. Certainly an excellent TT, hopefully a sign of growing competence in this disciple and not just a career "outlier"/anomaly.

 

[yaco]

Doubt that Chavez will ride the Giro in 2016 - He'll lose too much time in the three time trials - He did a decent TT today.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Doubt that Chavez will ride the Giro in 2016 - He'll lose too much time in the three time trials - He did a decent TT today.

At the moment I would send one or both of the Yates to the Giro with Chaves at the Tour. The Yates may not like it but they have a good chance at a result going by their performances on hilly stages and 1 day races.

Having said that, all 3 doing the Ardennes and then TdF with the main goal of causing Europcar style disruption and mayhem is justifiable as well.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Doubt that Chavez will ride the Giro in 2016 - He'll lose too much time in the three time trials - He did a decent TT today.

At the moment I would send one or both of the Yates to the Giro with Chaves at the Tour. The Yates may not like it but they have a good chance at a result going by their performances on hilly stages and 1 day races.

Having said that, all 3 doing the Ardennes and then TdF with the main goal of causing Europcar style disruption and mayhem is justifiable as well.

DS Matt White said on one the final Backstage Passes of the Tour that the twins will be back at next years Tour, I doubt Orica will send Chavez there as well. Maybe Chavez can stage hunt at the Giro then aim for a good GC in the Vuelta again.

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Doubt that Chavez will ride the Giro in 2016 - He'll lose too much time in the three time trials - He did a decent TT today.

At the moment I would send one or both of the Yates to the Giro with Chaves at the Tour. The Yates may not like it but they have a good chance at a result going by their performances on hilly stages and 1 day races.

Having said that, all 3 doing the Ardennes and then TdF with the main goal of causing Europcar style disruption and mayhem is justifiable as well.

DS Matt White said on one the final Backstage Passes of the Tour that the twins will be back at next years Tour, I doubt Orica will send Chavez there as well. Maybe Chavez can stage hunt at the Giro then aim for a good GC in the Vuelta again.

Yeah, but that was before Chaves' Vuelta performance. While they have other climbers on the roster and more coming in, this is the first time in it's history that Greenedge has had a GT rider. They should definitely re-evaluate and send their one proven GC rider to whichever race(s) they think will suit him once the parcours are released. That said, I do like that Giro-stages, Vuelta-gc plan they followed this year.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

Yeah, but that was before Chaves' Vuelta performance. While they have other climbers on the roster and more coming in, this is the first time in it's history that Greenedge has had a GT rider. They should definitely re-evaluate and send their one proven GC rider to whichever race(s) they think will suit him once the parcours are released. That said, I do like that Giro-stages, Vuelta-gc plan they followed this year.

That is true, although with the Yates brothers contracts up next year i think the last thing Orica will want is to start messing them about and going back on their word. They are obviously 2 riders they will want to keep. They have been told to target stage races next year and that would fit perfectly with a Tour schedule (Paris-Nice, Basque, Romandie, Dauphine, Tour).

I like the idea of Chavez peaking for the Vuelta when others are tired, he is also much more likely to suit the parcours too, although of course you never quite know what to expect until the route is released.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

Yeah, but that was before Chaves' Vuelta performance. While they have other climbers on the roster and more coming in, this is the first time in it's history that Greenedge has had a GT rider. They should definitely re-evaluate and send their one proven GC rider to whichever race(s) they think will suit him once the parcours are released. That said, I do like that Giro-stages, Vuelta-gc plan they followed this year.

That is true, although with the Yates brothers contracts up next year i think the last thing Orica will want is to start messing them about and going back on their word. They are obviously 2 riders they will want to keep. They have been told to target stage races next year and that would fit perfectly with a Tour schedule (Paris-Nice, Basque, Romandie, Dauphine, Tour).

I like the idea of Chavez peaking for the Vuelta when others are tired, he is also much more likely to suit the parcours too, although of course you never quite know what to expect until the route is released.

OGE would, undoubtedly, be very keen to keep the Yates brothers and they may even do so but it may be a tougher ask with UK Postal likely to throw everything (including the kitchen sink + $$$$) at them. May all boil down to whether they see better prospects for themselves with regards to development & opportunities at OGE or Postal .... and what part $$$ plays in such a decision.

OGE still has 8 riders on their books currently "unconfirmed" with regards to their futures.
Most are big engine domestiques/lead-out men (Bewley, Hepburn, Docker, Hayman, Lancaster) & Meier is a domestique with some climbing ability.
Albasini has continued to bring in good results including WT wins every year; he has been happy at this team but will $$$ be an issue/will he continue to get opportunities for himself (FW/Swiss races)/will IAM be interested ?
Keukeleire has had a breakout year in the cobbled classics with top 10s at Harelbeke & P-R, & has utility as a lead-out man. Will he field offers from other teams ?

Both Impey & Matthews will go "off contract" as well at end 2016; Matthews in particular would most likely be in line for a significant rise in contract. OGE has proven a great "home"/development environment for him but will he also field some significant offers from elsewhere ?

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

Doubt that Chavez will ride the Giro in 2016 - He'll lose too much time in the three time trials - He did a decent TT today.

At the moment I would send one or both of the Yates to the Giro with Chaves at the Tour. The Yates may not like it but they have a good chance at a result going by their performances on hilly stages and 1 day races.

Having said that, all 3 doing the Ardennes and then TdF with the main goal of causing Europcar style disruption and mayhem is justifiable as well.

I agree with this post - Yates boys are still 2 years away from worrying about GC - TDF is the jewel in the crown for Aussie interests so it would make perfect sense to set Chavez for the TDF.

Who is the better TT ? Adam or Simon ?

Reckon tomorrow is a good stage for Keukeliere.

 

[movingtarget]

I think he has held up in pretty well. Well enough to say that he can podium a future GT. His performance and Dumoulin's have been the story of the race. Aru had to be the favourite before the race started as he did not do the Tour and I think Froome would have hard a hard time holding his form over three weeks.

 

[Arredondo]

He even recovered in the last mountain stages comparing Ermita stage where he lost 1 minute on Purito/Aru.

Really strong showing, breakthrough as a GT-contender for sure. He's not a Tour-rider imo, but he should be a podium contender for Giro/Vuelta for many years.

 

[SergeDeM]

5th is an excellent result. OGE must be elated with having taken a chance on him.

I agree. The Tour is not ideal for him but he should be in the mix at the Giro/Vuelta, although it's hard to see him win one. Hope he proves me wrong again

 

[Cycletube]

He made such a good improvements,
and now has a great palmares:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEeJrGQkgSQ

 

[jaylew]

i wonder if Greenedge will shift their focus a bit now that they finally have a GT contender? Still, they're really good at stage hunting so perhaps not.

 

[Bushman]

What a character he is as well. Great guy off the bike.

Breakthrough performance by him.

 

[dirkprovin]

OGE's investment in the development of young riders has certainly paid some excellent dividends this year in differing fields with Matthews & Adam Y in one day races; Simon Y in one weekers and Chaves in GTs. Keeping the Yates twins will most likely prove difficult, but not impossible, but Matthews is unlikely to leave given how he has prospered under this regime and Chaves re-signing for an extended period augurs well.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

i wonder if Greenedge will shift their focus a bit now that they finally have a GT contender? Still, they're really good at stage hunting so perhaps not.

I suspect that they will probably continue to focus on GC for at least one of the three (probably Vuelta) and stage hunt the others, especially if Haig and Power work out and one or both Yates stay on. Don't forget about Ewan, he'll probably end up riding which ever GTs they go stage hunting at as well.