Esteban Chaves Discussion Thread

[Hugo Koblet]

He's looking really, really good. Consistently at the front and looks like one of the best uphill and downhill.

 

[Jspear]

Aye Aye. And he keeps on saying he can't wait for the mountains. Of course I know the other climbers can't wait as well, but I think he'll be pretty aggressive.

 

[AlexNYC]

I really have no idea how Chavito will do in the high mountains, but no matter what, he'll probably do better than most of the riders that are in front of him in the GC. A top 3 looks like a real possibility right now, although another top 5 would be good too.

 

[DNP-Old]

Te amo.

 

[Guybrush]

Grande Chavito! big heart, big cojones, big talent

 

[AlexNYC]

Awesome!

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

He takes a step up every year. I wonder what level he'd be at now without his crash.

 

[Arredondo]

He can win a GT in the future for sure.

 

[Brullnux]

Amazing win. He has the podium nailed. He will go for the win I'm sure. Can't wait for the rest now.

 

[jmdirt]

He's looking good for a Giro top three!

 

[PremierAndrew]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Chaves has been very good at the start and very poor at the end of GTs in the past. Seems to have poor recovery. Let's wait for his performances in the 3rd week before touting him as a future GT winner

 

[AlexNYC]

Re:

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Chaves has been very good at the start and very poor at the end of GTs in the past. Seems to have poor recovery. Let's wait for his performances in the 3rd week before touting him as a future GT winner

I agree, but this is still a huge step forward. He had never been this strong in a true high mountain stage (let alone one like this!).

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

He can win a GT in the future for sure.

Kruiswijk has this in the bag, I assume?

 

[hrotha]

I think people exaggerate the extent to which he faded at the Vuelta last year. Other than in Andorra (mid-race), he was up there.

 

[hfer07]

My man Chavito will podium at minimum.

now, if he keeps climbing that well in the last week, then he can aspire to the title

 

[dirkprovin]

Re:

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Chaves has been very good at the start and very poor at the end of GTs in the past. Seems to have poor recovery. Let's wait for his performances in the 3rd week before touting him as a future GT winner

He was at 2014 Vuelta & last year's Giro where he was never conceivably a GC contender but I wouldn't have described his last week of last year's Vuelta as being weak. The one area where he did lose time was the ITT.

Yes, he most certainly could most certainly fall apart in the final week but I think the 2015 Vuelta indicated that he COULD go three weeks. Tomorrow will probably tell us whether a podium finish is possible or not.

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

I think people exaggerate the extent to which he faded at the Vuelta last year. Other than in Andorra (mid-race), he was up there.

He was bad at Ermita del Alba though.

 

[May0maniac]

He looked super strong today, this was his first really impressive performance in a really hard stage in the high mountains (in an European race), super impressive.
Chaves winning the whole thing would be awesome.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

Chavez looked good today, of course he will have to limit losses in Sundays TT but he will surely be strong in the high mountains. Still 28/1 with some bookies, worth a little each-way bet.

This bet just looked a whole lot better after today, Go Chavito!!!!

 

[Jspear]

I agree with those who say he can podium. Realistically that's all we can ask for right now, but I'd be ecstatic if he managed to win.

 

[Kwibus]

I didn't expect him to do so well in such long attrition race as today, but this bodes well for him!

 

[Forever The Best]

He was amazing today.Wonder if he can keep up this level and fight for the win but I think he will fight for the win.I see him coming 3rd though.He should have the podium without any terrible day though.

 

[ice&fire]

Queen stage win and podium would be a step up since last Vuelta.

 

[DNP-Old]

I really wonder where he would have been without the severe nerve damage. The talent has always been there.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

I didn't expect him to do so well in such long attrition race as today, but this bodes well for him!

Exactly, until today his best results have come on easier stages, that was a pleasant surprise.
He's becoming a well rounded gc contender, great on the short, steep climbs, great in a war of attrition, a good puncher, a great descender, has a great team for TTTs and is getting better and better in ITTs (he did really well in the opening ITT and should be able to limit his losses in a longer one, he was already decent in the 2015 Vuelta ITT), one hell of a rider.
He could be the main favourite at the Vuelta.