Future GC contenders

[El Pistolero]

Of course, this is all wa-hay-hay of topic, and not even interesting.

^

And this post isn't? ;-)

ot:

Richie Porte is also a likely candidate. We'll see how he'll progress. I also hope Kevin Seeldraeyers will develop into a good GC contender, but that's just because it's been a long time since Belgium has had any decent GC contenders.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Agreed, with him and Sicard, Euskaltel, of all people, have two of cycling's premier climbing talents. And to throw a few of my own in-(these are very speculative) Sergio Luis Henao, if he ever comes to Europe, Daniel Ricardo Diaz, Erros Cappechi, and speaking of strong Pais Vasco performances-Jean-Christophe Peraud. I'm a little weary of Taaramae after some of his recent performances, but maybe Pierre Rolland.

daniel ricardo diaz is a huge talent, but not really a climber although he is a great high altitude racer he's especially a fast racer for one day races I think, type of rider like boasson hagen. not saying he's anywhere as good but her's that kind of rider.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

daniel ricardo diaz is a huge talent, but not really a climber although he is a great high altitude racer he's especially a fast racer for one day races I think, type of rider like boasson hagen. not saying he's anywhere as good but her's that kind of rider.

Oh, I'd heard that he was a great talent, but I wasn't really sure what type of rider he was.

 

[tgsgirl]

I also hope Kevin Seeldraeyers will develop into a good GC contender, but that's just because it's been a long time since Belgium has had any decent GC contenders.

Two weeks?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Seeldraeyers engine is way too small.

 

[The Hitch]

Two weeks?

isnt that an eternity for belgium?

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Jerome Coppel is a good all rounder who was up there with the best on Alpe D'Huez this year. I could see him around the same sort of level as VDB

However when you consider that Andy Schleck is only 25 the rest have got a lot of catching up to do

 

[El Pistolero]

Two weeks?

You know what I mean

One good contender is not enough! We need moar!

 

[simo1733]

Sky

Isn't the whole Sky 5 year plan based on Peter Kennaugh becoming a GC contender? No pressure then!

 

[hrotha]

Menchov has been more visible than VDB, I don't really know what you're talking about TBH. His time trial was just absolutely spectacular, far from boring. He even attacked to gain some valuable time, something VDB wasn't capable of doing.

Just to be clear here, was this attack the one where Andy and Contador were doing track stands?

 

[karlboss]

noone mention tony martin? Obviously has the engine, same obstacles as cancellara though, could be built for TT and one day greatness. But I'd put him above many others mentioned here. If he no longer has to worry about being in a sprint train and with a course learning more to TTs than to climbing.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

noone mention tony martin? Obviously has the engine, same obstacles as cancellara though, could be built for TT and one day greatness. But I'd put him above many others mentioned here. If he no longer has to worry about being in a sprint train and with a course learning more to TTs than to climbing.

I think this year shows he's really not a GT prospect, and he's not as young as you might think. (25)

 

[Parrulo]

i was really disappointed with tony martin this last tour. and was hoping for a bit more from VdB tbh, even tho #5 isn't that bad at all.

what do you guys think about rui costa and tiago machado's chances of becoming GC contenders?

p.s. i think people are hyping porte a bit too much.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

i was really disappointed with tony martin this last tour. and was hoping for a bit more from VdB tbh, even tho #5 isn't that bad at all.

what do you guys think about rui costa and tiago machado's chances of becoming GC contenders?

p.s. i think people are hyping porte a bit too much.

You really expected more from VDB? Almost no one on this forum thought he would do well pre-race. He lost to possibly the four best GT riders in the world, maybe with the exception of Sammy Sanchez. I agree about Porte, and I think Costa and Machado both have a good shot at being GT contenders. They both had some promising one-week tour results this year. Looking forward to them making an impact on the GT scene next year.

 

[saganftw]

where is ivan rovny,he was hyped couple of years ago as next big thing but kinda dissapeared

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

noone mention tony martin? Obviously has the engine, same obstacles as cancellara though, could be built for TT and one day greatness. But I'd put him above many others mentioned here. If he no longer has to worry about being in a sprint train and with a course learning more to TTs than to climbing.

i laugh when i see martin touted as a GT prospect. He has never shown the climbing abilities it takes to win a GT. Sorry, the likes of Gesink, Nibali and of course schleck are much better GT riders in that age group.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

where is ivan rovny,he was hyped couple of years ago as next big thing but kinda dissapeared

I see him as more of an ardennes guy, but he hasn't had a decent result since 2007. Still he's young, 22, he's got time.

 

[Duncan]

I have to agree I think the hype around Porte is slightly premature.

I think Kevin Seeldraeyers is a good shout, had some good results in stage races last year including the young riders in the Giro and still only 23

 

[Parrulo]

You really expected more from VDB? Almost no one on this forum thought he would do well pre-race. He lost to possibly the four best GT riders in the world, maybe with the exception of Sammy Sanchez. I agree about Porte, and I think Costa and Machado both have a good shot at being GT contenders. They both had some promising one-week tour results this year. Looking forward to them making an impact on the GT scene next year.

i really expected more from him, is just one of those things i guess. he still has a lot to learn tho. he is always btw the first five guys in the group in the mountain stages and thats a mistake, he should stay in the middle protected like all the GC contenders do.

i rly have been hoping for costa and machado for the past 5 to 6 years. i am just afraid that it happens to them what happened to some of the most talented riders from portugal in the past few years. turned into just another domestic like for example azevedo and paulinho. azevedo could have been a podium contender if he wasn't working for lance, and paulinho finished a vuelta in 16th a few years ago. but then he was turned into a third line domestic,at least azevedo was a first line one =/


anyway, i really want to see TVG this vuelta. but he is still too young so i can't see him go past the top 20 15ish. he will prolly brake down hardcore in the last week cus thats what most young guys do. brajkovic really really needs to show himself or he will become just another domestic.

 

[Fowsto Cope-E]

What about Sagan? will he become a GC guy or a sprinter?

 

[Parrulo]

What about Sagan? will he become a GC guy or a sprinter?

i would say that its still to soon to know. at this stage he could prolly develop into anything. but i am no sagan specialist so i can be embarrassingly wrong

 

[karlboss]

i laugh when i see martin touted as a GT prospect. He has never shown the climbing abilities it takes to win a GT. Sorry, the likes of Gesink, Nibali and of course schleck are much better GT riders in that age group.

I wouldn't rank him above any of those guys, but if folk can mention Porte, I can mention Martin. Consider the engine, last year he was about level with Nibali until stage 16 (then collapsed). This while Nibali could nurse himself as a GC ride,r Martin was taking turns for Cavendish. In this light a different team nuturing him as a GC contender I have little doubt he would be. Then there is the risk of being another rogers...sorry mick.
Having said I would prefer to see him as a super dom who can rip the field apart on the flat and small climbs, win time trials and classics. Another Cancellara I guess

 

[ericthesportsman6]

i would say that its still to soon to know. at this stage he could prolly develop into anything. but i am no sagan specialist so i can be embarrassingly wrong

Your right, he could still develop multiple different ways. Personally, I think one-day races and stage hunting at GT's would work well for him.

 

[kurtinsc]

i would say that its still to soon to know. at this stage he could prolly develop into anything. but i am no sagan specialist so i can be embarrassingly wrong

I'm hoping he's the next Cricket. I don't feel like we really have a guy like that right now.

 

[theyoungest]

I have to agree I think the hype around Porte is slightly premature.

It is, although unlike Tony Martin he doesn't seem such a long shot, because the kid can climb. I was actually more impressed by what he did amongst people with Tour form in San Sebastian than by anything he did during the Giro, and I find myself jumping the bandwagon. Richie Porte is a future GT contender.