Luxury.JosephK said:Back in my day, we didn't get molly-coddling from our parents and teachers, we had a single pair of shoes to last us the year, we walked five miles to school and back each day, had no smart phones or Snapchat, had no computers to automate our lives, were lucky to get a plain baloney sandwich for lunch (no mustard, even), and thanked our directeur sportif for scheduling us to ride in all three grand tours. And if we didn't at least place in the top 10 in each event, we were put on bread and water rations for a month, confined to barracks, and we had to run wind-sprints up "The Hill" in the Libyan desert at high noon every day till the next grand tour started.
- Aug 6, 2010
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I agree with you entirely, but many people on this board do not rate one week races at all. Roglic could win T-A, Catalunya, Basque Country, Romandie and Swiss in a single season, but if he only podiums a GT, then many fans would still rate the winner of that GT as having had a better season. Personally I don't know why there isn't a one week race that has a status that is close to a monument, but that is hardly ever likely to change now. At least GT riders care more these days about one week races than they did back in the Armstrong era.
As for Roglic's double attempt, I don't think that he is really doing this. What he is doing is trying to win the Giro, which given his excellent form, and the ITT's, is possible. He will race the Tour for the team and sponsors. After he most likely loses minutes somewhere in the Pyrenees, he will ride for the guy who's name is hard to spell. Whether Roglic should have ridden the Vuelta instead will be answered by whether that guy makes the Tour podium (or perhaps Roglic winning a couple of stages).
Valv.Piti said:
I agree with you entirely, but many people on this board do not rate one week races at all. Roglic could win T-A, Catalunya, Basque Country, Romandie and Swiss in a single season, but if he only podiums a GT, then many fans would still rate the winner of that GT as having had a better season. Personally I don't know why there isn't a one week race that has a status that is close to a monument, but that is hardly ever likely to change now. At least GT riders care more these days about one week races than they did back in the Armstrong era.
As for Roglic's double attempt, I don't think that he is really doing this. What he is doing is trying to win the Giro, which given his excellent form, and the ITT's, is possible. He will race the Tour for the team and sponsors. After he most likely loses minutes somewhere in the Pyrenees, he will ride for the guy who's name is hard to spell. Whether Roglic should have ridden the Vuelta instead will be answered by whether that guy makes the Tour podium (or perhaps Roglic winning a couple of stages).
I think winning P-N, T-A, Catalunya, Basque, Dauphine and so on is still pretty great. A great stage racer should aspire to have won those races at least one time before they retire.
I rate someone higher that has won a lot of stages races including a couple of GTs, then someone only peaking for 3 weeks every year and winning 4-5 of the same GT with a superior team making the race easy to control or for reasons I will be banned for posting here.
Roglic having a great year. Him winning a GT would be the icing on the cake and of course the biggest win of his career so far.
Im sure most riders and people would probably hold winning a GT over winning one, two or even three other stages races during a year. That dont mean it is not a big deal to keep winning these one-week stage races though, that has history and often a lot of prestige in them too. They hold some weight too is just what I am saying and shouldnt be totally disregarded in the grand scheme of things.
I rate someone higher that has won a lot of stages races including a couple of GTs, then someone only peaking for 3 weeks every year and winning 4-5 of the same GT with a superior team making the race easy to control or for reasons I will be banned for posting here.
Roglic having a great year. Him winning a GT would be the icing on the cake and of course the biggest win of his career so far.
Im sure most riders and people would probably hold winning a GT over winning one, two or even three other stages races during a year. That dont mean it is not a big deal to keep winning these one-week stage races though, that has history and often a lot of prestige in them too. They hold some weight too is just what I am saying and shouldnt be totally disregarded in the grand scheme of things.
- May 8, 2014
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I think the team/sponsor wants him to do the Tour also because of the TTT. One more try at a Tour before targeting it next year without going to the Giro before is also a good thing. He has never done La Vuelta. He usually isn't that strong in that part of the season and he doesn't like the Vuelta heat, that should also be part of the reason.KZD said:
- Feb 21, 2019
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Didn't know about his difficulties under the heat. Makes more sense now but I still think the Alps will be too hard for him coming from the Giro.
Anyway another win sprinting from a reduced bunch in Romandie. He is looking very well before the Giro.
johnymax said:
Didn't know about his difficulties under the heat. Makes more sense now but I still think the Alps will be too hard for him coming from the Giro.
Anyway another win sprinting from a reduced bunch in Romandie. He is looking very well before the Giro.
- Mar 13, 2015
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And he is not even at his best yet !!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://twitter.com/inrng/status/1124704292286414849
https://twitter.com/inrng/status/1124704292286414849
- Feb 20, 2012
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In fact, I have no idea how good would be ideal.
But I don't think he's better than a bunch of Dauphine performances before a Tour peak recently, it's rather than he can also sprint a little bit.
It's closer to the Giro than you usually see people be in the Dauphine/Suisse or even Trentino.tobydawq said:
In fact, I have no idea how good would be ideal.
But I don't think he's better than a bunch of Dauphine performances before a Tour peak recently, it's rather than he can also sprint a little bit.
- May 8, 2014
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I know ITTs are usually boring for many cycling fans but I'm really looking forward to the hilly ITT on stage 9 of the Giro. It'll be one of the highlights for me. I want to see Roglič vs Dumoulin both in peak form going at it in a long hilly ITT. There's never been a situation like this before between those two. Last year's stage 20 of the Tour was the closest one, but regeneration played a big part there as it was the last stage of a GT. Also more importantly Roglic's arm injury (the stone in hand from the fall thing) played a big role in his poor performance. One can argue it was one of his worst performances on a TT bike of the last 3 years.
So hopefully both riders come into stage 9 healthy and without being involved in any crashes. I'm very curious to see how close can Rogla be to Dumoulin or if he can possibly beat him or if is Tom still untouchable in hilly ITTs.
So hopefully both riders come into stage 9 healthy and without being involved in any crashes. I'm very curious to see how close can Rogla be to Dumoulin or if he can possibly beat him or if is Tom still untouchable in hilly ITTs.
- Apr 15, 2014
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- Apr 16, 2009
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- Aug 3, 2015
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I don't know where the sentiment that "time trials are boring comes from". I for one love them, especially the longer one in the GTs. When Armstrong and Ullrich was at their peak I absolutely loved those monster time trials - I especially remember the one in scorching heat in 2003 where Ulle went full Miguel Indurain and smashed the field into pieces, including putting 1'30 into Armstrong or something like that. We won't see such time gaps, but still, when you have full blown specialists TT specialists in the GC field and its not just a game of limiting losses and watching an obscure TT expert win its hella fun IMO.johnymax said:
- Oct 14, 2017
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Add me to the list that enjoys watching TTs. I find time trials to be very enjoyable to watch and when you are watching a TT specialist they can be a thing of beauty. This is one reason I'm sad I didn't know about and watch the sport back in the 90's when Miguel Indurain was racing.
Definitely. One reason why the Tour has lost much of its luster for me recently is the lack of TT miles. Even though 2012 Tour was dull in some aspects watching Wiggins in full flight during the TTs was a thing of beauty, just like Big Mig, Erik Breukink and others back in early 90s.
- Apr 16, 2009
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The 2003 TT at the Tour was one of the best that I have seen in my life. It was simply spectacular. Watching how Ulrich put everyone and specially the Texan against the ropes.
Todays performance by Roglic was exceptional. But let's wait for the Giro TT's in order to make better assessment of his qualities.
Todays performance by Roglic was exceptional. But let's wait for the Giro TT's in order to make better assessment of his qualities.
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