Fabian vs. Alex Rasmussen(HTC)

[theyoungest]

Ha ha . Quaade was actually doing better than taylor phinney in the U 23 TT WC last year, before crashing out.

Everyone and their mother was doing better than Phinney at that first intermediate point. I think he had only the 9th or 10th time there.

 

[Bike Boy]

Everyone and their mother was doing better than Phinney at that first intermediate point. I think he had only the 9th or 10th time there.

He he, thanks for pointing that out . If memory serves me well i think Quaade was 3rd og 4th. And he was expected to improve from there on.

 

[theyoungest]

He he, thanks for pointing that out . If memory serves me well i think Quaade was 3rd og 4th. And he was expected to improve from there on.

Yep, you're right.

1. Luke Durbridge 9:33:32
2. Matteo Mammini +12.42
3. Rasmus Christian Quaade +15.78
4. Nélson Oliveira +21.93
5. Rohan Dennis +27.30
6. Alex Dowsett +29.93
7. Tom Dumoulin +30.55
8. Andrei Krasilnikau +31.75
9. Taylor Phinney +32.29

 

[ergmonkey]

presumably, this was referring to Fuglsang.

Ah. That makes more sense.

Although, referring to Fuglsang as a "climber" in this context is misleading. Yes, he climbs very well; but, he's not a climber like Schleck or Cunego or Sastre who can't seem to ride a TT except under the rarest of circumstances. Fuglsang went into the national champs as the defending champion. He has consistently won the Tour of Denmark on the strength of his ITTs. He's not a Cancellara or a Tony Martin, sure, but he rides a very good ITT.

As for Rasmussen himself, I don't think yesterday's ride proves much one way or the other. He has always been an inconsistent rider, so having a relative off-day doesn't mean he lacks the potential that Riis and Brian Holm have been trumpeting. Still, world champ in only a couple of months does seem a stretch.

 

[JPM London]

I wouldn't underestimate AR at all - he was bloody fast in the Suisse TT and would have taken that if not for the puncture.

If HTC remains next year I'd bet we'll see more of top TT performances from him.
I wouldn't say he can definitely reach FC's class - who can? - but he'll definitely at least be a regular contender for seconds along with Tony Martin and the rest of the also-rans...