Gadret's flicking Roche = the real crime

[Digger]

Joe I am glad this has been brought up. Irish myself and was actually taken aback by the veracity of Roche's comments in his diary. I am glad though. It was a nonsensical thing to do by Gadret.
As for Roche being a coward, well he waited outside Bennati's bus last year and grabbed him by the throat, for what Bennati had said about him on Italian TV. So I think he can look after himself and is not afraid to.

 

[Bala Verde]

Why is this known as 'flicking'?

I always thought it was a dutch word (especially used in Belgium/South Netherland (?)

From the dutch dictionary:

flik·ken flikte, h geflikt lappen (3), leveren: dat zal hij mij niet weer ~

as in "een streek leveren"

In other words, to screw someone over.

 

[D Avoid]

If you listen To Nicolas on RTE Sport program, mutter wouldn't belt. He is wildly entertaining, I do know though that he gets up some noses, possibly because he is some what protected, by his connections. He may not even be aware of that. I know a kid whose Grandfather won very big in the fifties and was the hero of a 70s hero, totally connected and a good rider , but he never had to work a day, he can't fix a bike either


The 11nth podcast down is him.

http://www.rte.eu/radio1/podcast/podcast_sportat7.xml

 

[Escarabajo]

I guess this is what happens when you have a mediocre team leader. Roche is destined to become a super domestique once he realises he can't hang with the big boys.

Still a scumbag reaction by Gadret though. Question is what does AG2R do? Stick with the Frenchie or give Roche the flick? They cant ride in the same team after this.

He was doing great until he flatted. He had a slim chance to get into the top ten, so I don't understand your comment?

 

[forty four]

It was on an asphalt climb, with a sponsored bike, front tire? Just keep riding in stead of waiting by the road. He knew how far the team car was, and that Mavic isn't the best of help. How much time can you lose in the 3 minutes it takes the help to reach you, as you soldier on?
Even on an MTB, superlight 2.35" tire, one can keep riding at decent pace, let alone on an asphalt climb. A flat tire is not the end of the world. Sit back, shift down, pedal hard. A 23mm road tire, let alone a tubular, isn't that bad to ride on. It hurts your cycling heart to roll on the (probably carbon) rim, but HEY, you're in the TdF for crying out loud.

I am still of the opinion that punctures on a pro road bike are an untimed voluntary affair. MTB amateurs don't even flat anymore, and that's after they failed to even mount innertubes in non-tubeless specific tires. A little bit of liquid sealent goes such a long way against punctures. And everyone's bike is 6.8kg anyway. Flatting is a choice.

what the hell are you talking about?

 

[forty four]

godret is a douche bag i mean he has a barb wire tattoo around his leg that seals the deal for me what an idiot.

 

[131313]

It's all very well offering your wheel to alberto contador or Jurgen van den Broek but to be honest I wouldn't give my wheel to Roche in that situation (Although I admit he should have had it, by rights).

Then, if you're a professional bike racer, you should be looking for a new job.

I think the DS should have pulled him from the race.

 

[Oldman]

godret is a douche bag i mean he has a barb wire tattoo around his leg that seals the deal for me what an idiot.

Roche should punt him right in his Virginia.

 

[Ripper]

Wow, no pilot light on inside Gadret's head

I think Roche did something that should be quite useful given Gadret's behaviour ... he has made public what happened. Perhaps Gadret will stick more with Cx if he plans on not racing for the team leader.

PS - FWIW, obviously if there had been a stage win at hand, opinions would be different. But in the situation today ... What ... a ... tool!

 

[roundabout]

Gadret is a tool. There's not a lot to discuss here.

 

[Yossarian12]

Multiple mistakes

First off let me preface my comment with my opinion that Gadret was wrong for not following orders, both those given going into the stage and those that came from the director.

BUT, the real mistake was in the team not having clear goals. Gadret should have been given his freedom to pursue the top French finisher, and this should have been made clear to Roche heading into the stage. Despite Roche's half-French pedigree, one would assume that from a sponsorship POV top French rider is more beneficial to the team than Roche in 11-15.

PLUS, Roche is more valuable to the team as a stage winner than finishing 11-15 (or even bottom top-ten). Top 15 seems much more of a personal goal than team benefit.

FINALLY, one would have to agree the publicity hurts Gadret. His actions definitely take away from his value as a helper or team player. That coupled with his limited value as a team's primary GC threat (unless a team only wants to be "visible" in the GC) and his lack of stage winning ability (his best results come when he follows wheels, primarily those in the GC group) infers that Gadret best find a way of saving face.

 

[TRDean]

If you listen To Nicolas on RTE Sport program, mutter wouldn't belt. He is wildly entertaining, I do know though that he gets up some noses, possibly because he is some what protected, by his connections. He may not even be aware of that. I know a kid whose Grandfather won very big in the fifties and was the hero of a 70s hero, totally connected and a good rider , but he never had to work a day, he can't fix a bike either


The 11nth podcast down is him.

http://www.rte.eu/radio1/podcast/podcast_sportat7.xml

What? Protected? Him riding with the big boys this year has nothing to do with his father...well, the genes do. But it is not like Contador and Schleck et al. looked and said...here is young Roche, he is a protected guy!! Give me a break. He is a fantastic young rider who was screwed over by a ****ty teamate. I also like the way he stands up for himself...he shows he is a leader!

 

[TRDean]

First off let me preface my comment with my opinion that Gadret was wrong for not following orders, both those given going into the stage and those that came from the director.

BUT, the real mistake was in the team not having clear goals. Gadret should have been given his freedom to pursue the top French finisher, and this should have been made clear to Roche heading into the stage. Despite Roche's half-French pedigree, one would assume that from a sponsorship POV top French rider is more beneficial to the team than Roche in 11-15.

PLUS, Roche is more valuable to the team as a stage winner than finishing 11-15 (or even bottom top-ten). Top 15 seems much more of a personal goal than team benefit.

FINALLY, one would have to agree the publicity hurts Gadret. His actions definitely take away from his value as a helper or team player. That coupled with his limited value as a team's primary GC threat (unless a team only wants to be "visible" in the GC) and his lack of stage winning ability (his best results come when he follows wheels, primarily those in the GC group) infers that Gadret best find a way of saving face.

Were you on the bus...how do you know they didn't have clear team goals? By the sound of it the screaming DS on the radio says they did have clear goals...

 

[Yossarian12]

Okay, replace clear with better.

It is my opinion that having the top french finisher is a better goal than Roche finishing 11-15.

 

[shouldawouldacoulda]

Were you on the bus...how do you know they didn't have clear team goals? By the sound of it the screaming DS on the radio says they did have clear goals...

The goals at the outset may have been 'fuzzy'. But your comment is accurate. Once the DS comes on the radio and makes a clear call, goals aren't fuzzy anymore - they are concrete.

Gadret should have immediately done what he was told by his Director.

It also sounds like he continued to ignore direction... He was called back on the decent as well.

This kind of rider is so toxic to a team it isn't even funny. It will be very interesting to see how Lavenu and AG2R deal with it.

The funniest part is Gadret has essentially now gone all-in. Its unfortunate but in the world of pro biking a lot is forgiven if you are a proven winner. Gadret needs to ride wholeheartedly selfishly on the Tourmalet stage. If he wins that stage he may skate through this breach of protocol.

If not, I wouldn't be surprised if AG2R keeps him pretty much benched for two years while his contract expires, or find some way to fire him.

 

[shouldawouldacoulda]

Okay, replace clear with better.

It is my opinion that having the top french finisher is a better goal than Roche finishing 11-15.

Roche has a French mother, a French passport and his dad lives in France. Sure he has an Irish racing licence but I'm pretty sure the French feel he is very very French.

I maybe wrong about that, are their any French posters on the forum who can let us know how the French fans feel about Roche?

 

[ruamruam]

Roche has a French mother, a French passport and his dad lives in France. Sure he has an Irish racing licence but I'm pretty sure the French feel he is very very French.

I maybe wrong about that, are their any French posters on the forum who can let us know how the French fans feel about Roche?

He has also lived almost all of his life in France.

 

[BroDeal]

The goals at the outset may have been 'fuzzy'. But your comment is accurate. Once the DS comes on the radio and makes a clear call, goals aren't fuzzy anymore - they are concrete.

Gadret should have immediately done what he was told by his Director.

Sounds like Gadret should have broken his radio when no one was looking...

 

[shouldawouldacoulda]

Sounds like Gadret should have broken his radio when no one was looking...

ROTFLMAO... yeah, he could have done that too

 

[MacRoadie]

I am still of the opinion that punctures on a pro road bike are an untimed voluntary affair. MTB amateurs don't even flat anymore, and that's after they failed to even mount innertubes in non-tubeless specific tires. A little bit of liquid sealent goes such a long way against punctures. And everyone's bike is 6.8kg anyway. Flatting is a choice.

Polish? Is that you in there?

 

[ruamruam]

This thread should be amalgamated with the other Roche/Gadret thread.

 

[Yossarian12]

Weakness for the French language: Gadret can't use the excuse, "You were saying 'no, no, no?' I thought you were saying, "go, go, go!'"

 

[dgodave]

godret is a douche bag i mean he has a barb wire tattoo around his leg that seals the deal for me what an idiot.

Do they even have barbed wire in France?
.
Maybe Gadret should stop and sign an autograph for the dude with the indian feather headress.
.

 

[Marva32]

Reminds me of a line in Backdraft: You see that flash of light in the corner of your eye? That's your career dissipation light. It just went into high gear.

 

[hfer07]

At the end of the day- Roche has more market possibilities that Gadret. I don't know how much Roche is bonded with the team, but with sh!t like that happening, is a clear indication that isn't only Gadret sabotaging his chances, but the team management too, since they seemed to allow the Frenchman to do what he did.