Esteban Chaves Discussion Thread

[42x16ss]

I don't know where else to say this, but how good has Hayman been! For a big guy that can't climb he's been immense this Vuelta, looking after Chaves and guiding Ewan to his win. One of the best doms in the race after Landa.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: 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.

I think, with Ewan, that it will need to be a case of take it gradual with regards to GTs .... and WT one week races for that matter. For all that he won a stage at this Vuelta (which in itself is laudable; that was the only stage he rode that he WASN'T tailed off well before the finish. One suspects they may be a few "missed time cuts" along the way amongst the wins (primarily at 2nd level events).

With Haig & Power, one suspects it will be another gradual approach with a "see how they go" view with regards to WT events. Edmondson's year will be primarily concerned with track & the Teams Pursuit in Rio, so he amy not be seen much on the road next year.

 

[SergeDeM]

Abu Dabi Tour stage and GC win and nobody bumps this up?
I guess the fanbase has a lot of room for improvement

 

[Jspear]

Re:

Abu Dabi Tour stage and GC win and nobody bumps this up?
I guess the fanbase has a lot of room for improvement

First thing that came to my mind was "oh cool he won, go check the backstage pass," so...still a fan.

 

[Squirbos_19]

Really hoping he can step it up another level next season, he's shown he has a winners instinct, that he can handle 3 weeks and a monument as well as limit his losses in a time trial. He might not get a GT podium next season but I expect another top 5. I do hope he is a bit more consistent next year, this season he was only good in the Vuelta and following races. Hopefully he can show a strong level over more races.

Still had some great wins this year with 2 Vuelta stages and 5th overall, stage and GC in Abu Dhabi and a top ten in Lombardia.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I think that Orica should really let Chaves do the Giro + Vuelta + classics campaign next season and then let the Yateses focus on the Tour and the important one week races.

 

[Jspear]

Re:

I think that Orica should really let Chaves do the Giro + Vuelta + classics campaign next season and then let the Yateses focus on the Tour and the important one week races.

I think White told the Yates brothers that they'd be returning to the Tour. Perhaps from that we can assume Chaves will be doing the Giro and Vuelta again?...

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

I think that Orica should really let Chaves do the Giro + Vuelta + classics campaign next season and then let the Yateses focus on the Tour and the important one week races.

I think White told the Yates brothers that they'd be returning to the Tour. Perhaps from that we can assume Chaves will be doing the Giro and Vuelta again?...

That would be great. And very logical as well.

 

[SergeDeM]

Makes the most sense. Chaves is a podium contender for Giro-Vuelta but not for the Tour.
If he improves his endurance, which appears to be the case, I think he's looking likely to step into a Rodriguez-like future.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Makes the most sense. Chaves is a podium contender for Giro-Vuelta but not for the Tour.
If he improves his endurance, which appears to be the case, I think he's looking likely to step into a Rodriguez-like future.

I don't know if he's as explosive as Rodriguez. I doin't think so. He seems to be very good on shorter climbs though.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Makes the most sense. Chaves is a podium contender for Giro-Vuelta but not for the Tour.
If he improves his endurance, which appears to be the case, I think he's looking likely to step into a Rodriguez-like future.

I don't know if he's as explosive as Rodriguez. I doin't think so. He seems to be very good on shorter climbs though.

He can definitely be the Rodriguez-type of rider of his generation, the relatively short and extremely steep stuff seems to be his forte, but I dont think he will come close to his classics results.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

I think that Orica should really let Chaves do the Giro + Vuelta + classics campaign next season and then let the Yateses focus on the Tour and the important one week races.

I think White told the Yates brothers that they'd be returning to the Tour. Perhaps from that we can assume Chaves will be doing the Giro and Vuelta again?...

Makes no sense at all - With OGE concentrating more on GC that means TDF is the number one priority - The TDF is big in Australia while the Giro and the Vuelta are less important.

Yates boys are two to three years from contending for GC so can stage hunt at the Giro and Vuelta.

There is a reason why OGE signed more climbers with maybe one more to come.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

I think that Orica should really let Chaves do the Giro + Vuelta + classics campaign next season and then let the Yateses focus on the Tour and the important one week races.

I think White told the Yates brothers that they'd be returning to the Tour. Perhaps from that we can assume Chaves will be doing the Giro and Vuelta again?...

Makes no sense at all - With OGE concentrating more on GC that means TDF is the number one priority - The TDF is big in Australia while the Giro and the Vuelta are less important.

Yates boys are two to three years from contending for GC so can stage hunt at the Giro and Vuelta.

There is a reason why OGE signed more climbers with maybe one more to come.

Actually, its much less the case than it was a few years back. SBS (on free to air TV) has televised ALL stages of the Giro for the last two years; and the second half of the Vuelta. One suspects that may change to all stages in 2016.

Eurosport has been showing all WT races plus the likes of Cali & Turkey on pay TV in AUS since 2010 but over the past few years SBS has stepped up from just TdF, Paris-Roubaix & Worlds RR to now take in the other GTs; MSR; Flanders; Amstel, Liege-Bastogne-Liege & Lombardie. They wouldn't have extended to these races without having the "feedback" that the interest is now extending well beyond the TdF.

OGE is likely to make their "calls" regarding their leading rider's race calendars around what races/race routes best suit their characteristics as well as their wishes and tailor their off seasons/preparations accordingly. It worked well for Matthews NOT to go back to AUS in the last off season so his early season 2016 is likely to mirror his 2015. Gerrans will target the early season in AUS (Nationals, TdU).

AUS fans would love to see Chaves come out for TdU but that's not likely to happen if it's counter-productive for his season's goals which would probably be the case. It's quite clear that OGE hierarchy now look at a far wider picture than just "cleaning up in OZ". This was seen this year when Gerrans was ruled out of TdU and they DIDN
'T compromise the plans for either Matthews or the Yates twins by calling them in.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

I think that Orica should really let Chaves do the Giro + Vuelta + classics campaign next season and then let the Yateses focus on the Tour and the important one week races.

I think White told the Yates brothers that they'd be returning to the Tour. Perhaps from that we can assume Chaves will be doing the Giro and Vuelta again?...

Makes no sense at all - With OGE concentrating more on GC that means TDF is the number one priority - The TDF is big in Australia while the Giro and the Vuelta are less important.

Yates boys are two to three years from contending for GC so can stage hunt at the Giro and Vuelta.

There is a reason why OGE signed more climbers with maybe one more to come.

OGE, imo, is very good at getting results with the talents they have. They know Chaves is more likely to perform well at the Giro and Vuelta and I think they'll have no problems doing that even though it's "less popular." They've had plenty of success in the Giro....it's a race they like. Not everything has to revolve around the TdF.

 

[greenedge]

I think in an Olympic year White can convince one of the Yates' to go to the Giro for GC experience, or stage-hunting role. This way they can not be so tired for the Olympics, where both of them could have a chance.
Sending Chaves to the TDF would be good because he'll gain experience there against the best GC riders. His main goal is to eventually win the TDF, so now is as good a time as any to send him there for experience on how to race it. For another rider who has done the same (on WT teams) look at Barguil who rode the Vuelta two years in a row, then the TDF this year.
That would result in a good climbing portion of the squad for the TDF of Chaves, one of the Yates, Plaza and Amets.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re:

I think in an Olympic year White can convince one of the Yates' to go to the Giro for GC experience, or stage-hunting role. This way they can not be so tired for the Olympics, where both of them could have a chance.
Sending Chaves to the TDF would be good because he'll gain experience there against the best GC riders. His main goal is to eventually win the TDF, so now is as good a time as any to send him there for experience on how to race it. For another rider who has done the same (on WT teams) look at Barguil who rode the Vuelta two years in a row, then the TDF this year.
That would result in a good climbing portion of the squad for the TDF of Chaves, one of the Yates, Plaza and Amets.

A plausible enough scenario. However, just as one of both Yates may make the 5-man GBR RR team; Chaves is now probably an even more likely Olympic selection for Colombia who will also field a 5 man team.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

I think that Orica should really let Chaves do the Giro + Vuelta + classics campaign next season and then let the Yateses focus on the Tour and the important one week races.

I think White told the Yates brothers that they'd be returning to the Tour. Perhaps from that we can assume Chaves will be doing the Giro and Vuelta again?...

Makes no sense at all - With OGE concentrating more on GC that means TDF is the number one priority - The TDF is big in Australia while the Giro and the Vuelta are less important.

Yates boys are two to three years from contending for GC so can stage hunt at the Giro and Vuelta.

There is a reason why OGE signed more climbers with maybe one more to come.

OGE, imo, is very good at getting results with the talents they have. They know Chaves is more likely to perform well at the Giro and Vuelta and I think they'll have no problems doing that even though it's "less popular." They've had plenty of success in the Giro....it's a race they like. Not everything has to revolve around the TdF.

OGE's focus is increasingly on GC - Chavez is not suited to the Giro with 3 TT's, albeit one is a MTT - Let the Yates boys focus on stage hunting at the Giro or Vuelta.

 

[yaco]

Re:

I think in an Olympic year White can convince one of the Yates' to go to the Giro for GC experience, or stage-hunting role. This way they can not be so tired for the Olympics, where both of them could have a chance.
Sending Chaves to the TDF would be good because he'll gain experience there against the best GC riders. His main goal is to eventually win the TDF, so now is as good a time as any to send him there for experience on how to race it. For another rider who has done the same (on WT teams) look at Barguil who rode the Vuelta two years in a row, then the TDF this year.
That would result in a good climbing portion of the squad for the TDF of Chaves, one of the Yates, Plaza and Amets.

That's the way I see it Yates, Plaza and Amets will do two GC's in 2016 - Still reckon OGE need a another climber - Maybe they can sign one of the Colombian's.

 

[dirkprovin]

Re: Re:

I think that Orica should really let Chaves do the Giro + Vuelta + classics campaign next season and then let the Yateses focus on the Tour and the important one week races.

I think White told the Yates brothers that they'd be returning to the Tour. Perhaps from that we can assume Chaves will be doing the Giro and Vuelta again?...

Makes no sense at all - With OGE concentrating more on GC that means TDF is the number one priority - The TDF is big in Australia while the Giro and the Vuelta are less important.

Yates boys are two to three years from contending for GC so can stage hunt at the Giro and Vuelta.

There is a reason why OGE signed more climbers with maybe one more to come.

OGE, imo, is very good at getting results with the talents they have. They know Chaves is more likely to perform well at the Giro and Vuelta and I think they'll have no problems doing that even though it's "less popular." They've had plenty of success in the Giro....it's a race they like. Not everything has to revolve around the TdF.

OGE's focus is increasingly on GC - Chavez is not suited to the Giro with 3 TT's, albeit one is a MTT - Let the Yates boys focus on stage hunting at the Giro or Vuelta.

I think that Orica should really let Chaves do the Giro + Vuelta + classics campaign next season and then let the Yateses focus on the Tour and the important one week races.

I think White told the Yates brothers that they'd be returning to the Tour. Perhaps from that we can assume Chaves will be doing the Giro and Vuelta again?...

Makes no sense at all - With OGE concentrating more on GC that means TDF is the number one priority - The TDF is big in Australia while the Giro and the Vuelta are less important.

Yates boys are two to three years from contending for GC so can stage hunt at the Giro and Vuelta.

There is a reason why OGE signed more climbers with maybe one more to come.

OGE, imo, is very good at getting results with the talents they have. They know Chaves is more likely to perform well at the Giro and Vuelta and I think they'll have no problems doing that even though it's "less popular." They've had plenty of success in the Giro....it's a race they like. Not everything has to revolve around the TdF.

OGE's focus is increasingly on GC - Chavez is not suited to the Giro with 3 TT's, albeit one is a MTT - Let the Yates boys focus on stage hunting at the Giro or Vuelta.

They're certainly unlikely to be going "all out" GC at all tours in the foreseeable future with the likes of Matthews on their squad. Most likely they may pick one per year that looks the best fit for whomever (Chaves or whichever Yates - if they don't go to UK Postal post 2016) and then stack that team with specific support. For the others, they will obviously provide some support riders for whichever climber but may also provide some support for Matthews.

With regards to picking up another Colombian, their "room to accommodate more" could be limited. They currently have 23 riders under contract (16 under existing contracts or who have been re-signed and 7 new signings) and 3 existing riders who's futures as yet remain unannounced. I'm thinking that at least two of these are likely to be re-signed which would bring them up to 25. I can't really see them going past 26 so I can only see 1 more new signing at most.

 

[yaco]

could it be the mythical marquee signing.

 

[SergeDeM]

There are no current Team Colombians worth signing without it being more of a gamble than a safe choice.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

There are no current Team Colombians worth signing without it being more of a gamble than a safe choice.

Torres and Dani Martinez are both great riders to have in your team.

 

[roundabout]

Re:

There are no current Team Colombians worth signing without it being more of a gamble than a safe choice.

Eh? I thought it was that idiot Corti who was responsible for their failure?

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

There are no current Team Colombians worth signing without it being more of a gamble than a safe choice.

Torres and Dani Martinez are both great riders to have in your team.

+1.
Beat me to it very late. Especially Martinez.

 

[movingtarget]

It's obvious that GE wanted to develop a GT rider who could compete with the top 10 eventually. That s why they signed the Yates brothers and Chaves instead of a proven GT rider. Their strength as a team has always been their versatility. Could win classics, stage wins, TTTs and the only thing missing was a good GT rider. I hope it works for them as I prefer to see riders developed over time with the same team than simply buying a proven rider and they probably never had the money to do that anyway while still keeping riders like Matthews,Gerrans, and Albasini. Not sure if they wanted Porte or were just outbid by BMC but from looking at the younger riders they have bought I think they passed on Porte and time will tell whether it was the right thing to do. Maybe they could not afford him anyway. And so far Chaves has better GT results than Porte.Shame they did not get Dennis as well. Another rider who could develop into more than just a TDU, USA Pro Cycling Challenge winner and TT rider. BMC already knew that.