Future GC contenders

[Kazistuta]

seriously why keep posting random names that have some talent. in the begin posts most future gc contenders are already named and guys like seeldrayers, hermans or guys that aren't even climbinfspecialists like kennaugh and felline definetely do not belong on that list. they will be 1 race guys

right now in european peloton future top 5 gc contenders:

gesink, schleck, thomas dekker, when he returns, jurgen vdb, perhaps kreuziger, uran, duarte, henao (when they come to europe), soler, anton, nibali, some obvious ones I might me missing

seriously why complain when you yourself name guys like VDB2 & Anton(who's not "future" GC contender, they're current - and aged 27), Dekker (who's been away for two years) and Henao (who haven't had any results vs. decent competition)??

Your guess is as good as anyone else, but don't disrespect the other opinions.

BUT:
I concur with your statement that Felline isn't a future GC candidate, he's more like a hill sprinter.

 

[SoLogy]

Tiago Machado

Tiago has shown that he can climb and TT. Hopefully next year he will ride in a few more races.

 

[roundabout]

Geniez, Pinot, Eijssen although they're all probably more climbers than actual GC contenders

Of the older ones Intxausti and Uran

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

seriously why complain when you yourself name guys like VDB2 & Anton(who's not "future" GC contender, they're current - and aged 27), Dekker (who's been away for two years) and Henao (who haven't had any results vs. decent competition)??

Your guess is as good as anyone else, but don't disrespect the other opinions.

BUT:
I concur with your statement that Felline isn't a future GC candidate, he's more like a hill sprinter.

being 27 you still have a big and long future these days and I see here people calling porte who is also 25.

 

[taiwan]

How about Pierre Rolland?

How I wish I had not mentioned Fabio Felline:{

under 25 riders who could make the Tour podium- it's tricky. In my stubbornness, I'm keeping Taaramae, and Spilak for his Romandie result.

 

[El Pistolero]

being 27 you still have a big and long future these days and I see here people calling porte who is also 25.

He's not saying VdB doesn't have a future anymore, but he's already an established GC contender. I can see him beat Menchov en Samu Sanchez in the mountains next year. And if he can do that he has a -small- chance of winning a Giro or Vuelta. Small chance because his time trial sucks.

 

[theyoungest]

He's not saying VdB doesn't have a future anymore, but he's already an established GC contender. I can see him beat Menchov en Samu Sanchez in the mountains next year. And if he can do that he has a -small- chance of winning a Giro or Vuelta. Small chance because his time trial sucks.

He'll have to make quite a leap for that to happen, TBH. Maybe on a slightly off-form Sanchez or Menchov he can take time in the mountains, yes.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

He's not saying VdB doesn't have a future anymore, but he's already an established GC contender. I can see him beat Menchov en Samu Sanchez in the mountains next year. And if he can do that he has a -small- chance of winning a Giro or Vuelta. Small chance because his time trial sucks.

the topic was about future gc contenders. none of the guys I named yet except andy have come close to winning a gc so I see them as future gc ontenders since they have lots of progression still left.

 

[BullsFan22]

Ullrich, Armstrong, Basso, Leipheimer, Kloden, Vino. Some young up and comers to look out for.

 

[Arnout]

What do you think of Intxausti?

 

[tgsgirl]

the topic was about future gc contenders. none of the guys I named yet except andy have come close to winning a gc so I see them as future gc ontenders since they have lots of progression still left.

... but they're already contending the gc, which makes them current gc contenders.

 

[El Pistolero]

He'll have to make quite a leap for that to happen, TBH. Maybe on a slightly off-form Sanchez or Menchov he can take time in the mountains, yes.

VdB has shown a lot of progression in recent years, that's why I think it's possible(I never said I'm 100% sure it's going to happen though) and the guy really works hard. He now goes on a lot more height stages then few years ago so his climbing can only improve. He also started focusing on working on his time trial skills again. He'll never be a star in time trials, but there's plenty of room for improving there as well(his own words, although he didn't refer to him self in the third person if you're wondering). And he's younger.

No offence to Menchov, but I hardly noticed he was there this Tour. He's a boring rider(so was Conti this Tour), but that's unrelated to this topic I suppose.

 

[gingerwallaceafro]

Menchov isn't the most exciting of riders but I can't help admiring the way he quietly goes about his work... To me he is the benchmark of a top GC rider, he's a wily cat, to beat him you have to be gifted.

I think Brajkovic could mature in to a top GC rider and a potential Tour winner. That said, Contador and Schleck I think will dominate for a very long time now.

Richie Porte looks the business I must say, I hope he challenges.

 

[theyoungest]

VdB has shown a lot of progression in recent years, that's why I think it's possible(I never said I'm 100% sure it's going to happen though) and the guy really works hard. He now goes on a lot more height stages then few years ago so his climbing can only improve. He also started focusing on working on his time trial skills again. He'll never be a star in time trials, but there's plenty of room for improving there as well(his own words, although he didn't refer to him self in the third person if you're wondering). And he's younger.

No offence to Menchov, but I hardly noticed he was there this Tour. He's a boring rider(so was Conti this Tour), but that's unrelated to this topic I suppose.

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.

 

[tgsgirl]

He'll never be a star in time trials, but there's plenty of room for improving there as well(his own words, although he didn't refer to him self in the third person if you're wondering). And he's younger.

Oddly enough, VDB is a former junior world TT champ.
2001 - Lisbon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_UCI_Road_World_Championships

 

[theyoungest]

Oddly enough, VDB is a former junior world TT champ.
2001 - Lisbon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_UCI_Road_World_Championships

That kind of result is meaningless. I mean, Dimitri Kozontchuk won Paris-Roubaix as an espoir. VDB has had no top-10 finishes in a TT as a pro... or has he?

 

[El Pistolero]

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.

I'm talking about the Tour de France here, not the Tour of Austria. You must've seen a different Tour if you really think Menchov was more visible. Obviously Menchov was a better climber this Tour, still doesn't change the fact that he's a completely boring cyclist(OK, besides time trial).

I do remember a stage at Mende by the way where a certain Andy Schleck was stuggling to hold on to VdB's wheel with Menchov following VdB along with a couple of other GC contenders. He also attacked at Avoriaz, but Contador countered him.

And they didn't show any footage of Menchov/Gesink during the last part of Ax-Trois-Domaines, so I don't know if he attacked there. He(vdB) had a bad day there tho, this was the stage before the rest day if I remember correctly. Some cyclists don't ride well after a rest day. Some do.

But the bottom line is, I don't see Menchov growing that much anymore.

 

[tgsgirl]

That kind of result is meaningless. I mean, Dimitri Kozontchuk won Paris-Roubaix as an espoir. VDB has had no top-10 finishes in a TT as a pro... or has he?

Hence why I said, oddly enough

And, he does. A few short unimportant ones.
- Eneco Tour of Benelux, Stage 7 : Amersfoort I.T.T. (13.1 km) - 5th
- Ronde van België / Tour de Belgique, Stage 3a : Buggenhout I.T.T. (15.9 km) - 3rd
- Tour de Romandie, Prologue : Freiburg I.T.T. (3.5 km) - 10th
- Tour de Romandie, Stage 5 : Lausanne I.T.T. (20.4 km) - 9th
- Vuelta a Murcia - Costa Calida, Stage 3 : Jumilla I.T.T. (21.6 km) - 8th
- Circuit de la Sarthe - Pays de la Loire, Stage 2b : Angers I.T.T. (8.8 km) - 5th
- Setmana Catalana, Stage 5 : Palau de Plegamans I.T.T. (16.4 km) - 10th

(yeah, I like stats)

 

[taiwan]

What do you think of Intxausti?

Has been brilliant this year, 2nd in the Pais Vasco isn't to be sniffed at.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Has been brilliant this year, 2nd in the Pais Vasco isn't to be sniffed at.

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.

 

[Frosty]

And they didn't show any footage of Menchov/Gesink during the last part of Ax-Trois-Domaines, so I don't know if he attacked there. He(vdB) had a bad day there tho, this was the stage before the rest day if I remember correctly. Some cyclists don't ride well after a rest day. Some do.

Do you mean a different stage? That was the one where Menchov put in an attack while conty and schleck were practising track stands. Sanchez caught him but the end result was a time gain for those two

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-14/results

It wasnt close to a rest day either Were you talking about stage 9?

 

[El Pistolero]

Do you mean a different stage? That was the one where Menchov put in an attack while conty and schleck were practising track stands. Sanchez caught him but the end result was a time gain for those two

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-14/results

It wasnt close to a rest day either Were you talking about stage 9?

Hmm, yeah I'm wrong there. It was a stage with Andy Schleck/Contador in the lead(of the GC contenders). Menchov/Gesink/etc in a group behind Andy Schleck/Contador. And another group behind Menchov/Gesink which contained Armstrong/VdB/etc.

I think it was the col de la madeleine, but could be wrong. Short time memory when it comes to certain things =/ But I do know they didn't show any footage during that stage on the group that contained Gesink and Menchov. All eyes on Armstrong as always(and Andy and Berti) -,-"

 

[taiwan]

Blah!

Blah!

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

 

[roundabout]

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.

Peraud is 33, maybe he'll do a Horner but i don't really see him ever being a contender

 

[theyoungest]

I'm talking about the Tour de France here, not the Tour of Austria. You must've seen a different Tour if you really think Menchov was more visible. Obviously Menchov was a better climber this Tour, still doesn't change the fact that he's a completely boring cyclist(OK, besides time trial).

I do remember a stage at Mende by the way where a certain Andy Schleck was stuggling to hold on to VdB's wheel with Menchov following VdB along with a couple of other GC contenders. He also attacked at Avoriaz, but Contador countered him.

And they didn't show any footage of Menchov/Gesink during the last part of Ax-Trois-Domaines, so I don't know if he attacked there. He(vdB) had a bad day there tho, this was the stage before the rest day if I remember correctly. Some cyclists don't ride well after a rest day. Some do.

But the bottom line is, I don't see Menchov growing that much anymore.

I guess I have. Sorry, no point in arguing when there's clearly such a national bias involved. I don't care much for Menchov, but come on, he's been more aggressive than VDB in this Tour.