Garmin biggest cowards in today peloton

[cineteq]

Tough day for the haters of Garmin. Tactically they were perfect today, managing to beat Cancellara who clearly was by far the strongest rider in the peloton.

The tactics *ended up being perfect*, it does not mean they were perfect.
Luck was on their side, and Cancellara was the big favorite = every team will do anything not to let him win, even if that means that other teams' riders don't get a chance to win either.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

The tactics *ended up being perfect*, it does not mean they were perfect.
Luck was on their side, and Cancellara was the big favorite = every team will do anything not to let him win, even if that means that other teams' riders don't get a chance to win either.

Totally agree. I think the bolded is what is getting everyone's panties in a knot. Neutralized (or even negative) racing gets a bit frustrating...

Once again, great ride by JVS.

 

[ingsve]

Totally agree. I think the bolded is what is getting everyone's panties in a knot. Neutralized (or even negative) racing gets a bit frustrating...

Once again, great ride by JVS.

Yes, but frustrating and boring racing doesn't necessarily equal poor tactics.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

Yes, but frustrating and boring racing doesn't necessarily equal poor tactics.

True. But, winning doesn't equal perfect tactics... as has been explored ad-nauseum above.

 

[ingsve]

True. But, winning doesn't equal perfect tactics... as has been explored ad-nauseum above.

That I agree with as well. Tactics need to be explored on their own merits and not as afterthoughts.

 

[El Pistolero]

And Vansummeren just said he was annoyed last sunday by the tactics of Garmin because they were only talking about Hushovd on the radio. Vansummeren had to scream he was in front and had good legs before they finally allowed him to go at Carrefour de l'Arbre.

I think this proves how dumb Garmin really is and they just got lucky. Hushovd is a wheelsucker, end of story.

 

[red_flanders]

Lets see Garmin chased when JVS was in a group of 10 riders, was JVS attacking this group, driving the group, NO, he was covering the moves to ensure Garmin always had a presence at the front. JVS was riding a defensive role in the lead group as Hushovd was behind, i.e he was riding for his team leader. When JVS finally got away in a smaller group with a better chance of winning, did Garmin chase. NO.

The reason Hushovd didnt ride with Cancellara was clearly not to expend energy and instead force Cancellara to do the work when it was just 3 riders. Hushovsd still wanted to get up to the front group thus he used his team to do so, the front group was still quite large at that point so there was no gurantee JVS was the strongest. Only when JVS get away with a few riders did it become more obvious. At this point Garmin didnt chase and instead backed JVS.

As far as I am concerned Garmin, including JVS rode for Hushovd until it became obvious JVS could actually win himself and Cancellara was out of contention. JVS was the perfect joker. Everyone talks about how strong he was but how many people on here had backed him even as an outside bet beforehand.

People are claiming Garmin should have backed JVS but when did it become obvious he actually had a good chance of winning.

This. First post I've read that actually understood the tactics today.

I would only add RE: Hushovd, that wheel-sucking was his only option. He and everyone else were hanging on by the thinnest of threads when Cancellara would attack. Pulling a Boonen and leading Cancellara out might be honorable but it's sure not likely to win the race. The right tactic for Hushovd was to hang on for dear life and hope he got to the velodrome with the first group.

I'm not sure I agree with not working with Cancellara on the paved roads to close the break, but no way would I lead that guy into the cobbles or would I have attacked him on the cobbles. Suicide.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

And Vansummeren just said he was annoyed last sunday by the tactics of Garmin because they were only talking about Hushovd on the radio. Vansummeren had to scream he was in front and had good legs before they finally allowed him to go at Carrefour de l'Arbre.

I think this proves how dumb Garmin really is and they just got lucky. Hushovd is a wheelsucker, end of story.

....and the whole reason JVS was still in a winning position on Carrefour de l'Arbre was because of Garmins tactic to have Hushovd sit on Cancellara.

 

[Flamin]

And Vansummeren just said he was annoyed last sunday by the tactics of Garmin because they were only talking about Hushovd on the radio. Vansummeren had to scream he was in front and had good legs before they finally allowed him to go at Carrefour de l'Arbre.

I think this proves how dumb Garmin really is and they just got lucky. Hushovd is a wheelsucker, end of story.

Lool. Yeah, forget Van Petegem, that guy knows nothing about P-R. You're way smarter.

 

[El Pistolero]

....and the whole reason JVS was still in a winning position on Carrefour de l'Arbre was because of Garmins tactic to have Hushovd sit on Cancellara.

Hushovd's tactic you mean.

 

[md2020]

And Vansummeren just said he was annoyed last sunday by the tactics of Garmin because they were only talking about Hushovd on the radio. Vansummeren had to scream he was in front and had good legs before they finally allowed him to go at Carrefour de l'Arbre.

I think this proves how dumb Garmin really is and they just got lucky. Hushovd is a wheelsucker, end of story.

Calling anyone who finishes in the top 10 of P-R a wheelsucker is hilarious, never mind that Hushovd rode near the front at all the key moments and even led through a few of the critical sectors. Oh yea, AND his team mate won.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

when vansummeren was alone on carefour hushovd behimd him still attacked to try and get across, cancellara took over and then the motorbikes did the rest. explain that tactic then

 

[Anonymous]

And Vansummeren just said he was annoyed last sunday by the tactics of Garmin because they were only talking about Hushovd on the radio. Vansummeren had to scream he was in front and had good legs before they finally allowed him to go at Carrefour de l'Arbre.

I think this proves how dumb Garmin really is and they just got lucky. Hushovd is a wheelsucker, end of story.

 

[El Pistolero]

Calling anyone who finishes in the top 10 of P-R a wheelsucker is hilarious, never mind that Hushovd rode near the front at all the key moments and even led through a few of the critical sectors. Oh yea, AND his team mate won.

I think you can't even find a minute of footage where Hushovd was up front

What's hilarious about it? He did wheelsuck all the way and got eigth. Last year he got second with wheelsucking.

 

[Anonymous]

I think you can't even find a minute of footage where Hushovd was up front

What's hilarious about it? He did wheelsuck all the way and got eigth. Last year he got second with wheelsucking.

Okay, its official, you didn't watch the race...Thor attacked TWICE. You must have been watching Contador Pew Pew Pew highlights or something?

 

[Flamin]

when vansummeren was alone on carefour hushovd behimd him still attacked to try and get across, cancellara took over and then the motorbikes did the rest. explain that tactic then

Attack? Nah. What about controlling the pace at the front, because it's the best position to be in on such a hard, narrow and dusty secteur pavé like Carrefour?

And even if it was an attack. It would make sense too. Like ingsve said, Hushovd and Garmin probably wanted to keep the leading group within a 'striking distance', in case JVS would eventually not turn out to be the best rider there.

 

[cineteq]

And Vansummeren just said he was annoyed last sunday by the tactics of Garmin because they were only talking about Hushovd on the radio. Vansummeren had to scream he was in front and had good legs before they finally allowed him to go at Carrefour de l'Arbre.

Do you have a source for this?

 

[cineteq]

Like ingsve said, Hushovd and Garmin probably wanted to keep the leading group within a 'striking distance', in case JVS would eventually not turn out to be the best rider there.

This is funny, how did Garmin do this if Thor was wheelsucking all the time?
Puzzled

 

[Dr. Maserati]

when vansummeren was alone on carefour hushovd behimd him still attacked to try and get across, cancellara took over and then the motorbikes did the rest. explain that tactic then

I think you can't even find a minute of footage where Hushovd was up front

What's hilarious about it? He did wheelsuck all the way and got eigth. Last year he got second with wheelsucking.

So which is it? Did Hushovd suck wheels or attack?

Both of you guys need to watch the decisive part of the race.

Hushovd lead in to Carrefour de l'Arbre - which was smart to keep the pace hard and try and thwart the inevitable Cancellara attack.

 

[Mambo95]

This is funny, how did Garmin do this if Thor was wheelsucking all the time?
Puzzled

By using Vanmarcke and Rasch.

 

[ingsve]

This is funny, how did Garmin do this if Thor was wheelsucking all the time?
Puzzled

By having Vanmarcke and Rasch work for him, or did you miss that?

 

[AussieGoddess]

so talking about tactics (and remember I am a bit new to this, so be kind )

comparing Garmins tactics this week to QS last week
- QS sent Chavanel up the road and away .... but he had to ride for Boonen. He wasnt allowed to ride for himself (where he might have got the win) until it was basically too late.

- this week Garmin set it up so that they certainly had Thor in the wings marking Cance and the team were still riding for him ... but once JVS got away and was in a position to win, they allowed him to go and ride for himself and rode to protect him

so - bad tactics for QS ... or just dumb luck for Garmin?

 

[Tom T.]

so talking about tactics (and remember I am a bit new to this, so be kind )

comparing Garmins tactics this week to QS last week
- QS sent Chavanel up the road and away .... but he had to ride for Boonen. He wasnt allowed to ride for himself (where he might have got the win) until it was basically too late.

- this week Garmin set it up so that they certainly had Thor in the wings marking Cance and the team were still riding for him ... but once JVS got away and was in a position to win, they allowed him to go and ride for himself and rode to protect him

so - bad tactics for QS ... or just dumb luck for Garmin?

QS's biggest problem was that Boonen was not strong enough to go with Cancellara. He overestimated his strength, so attacking Cancellara with Chavanel up the road was a mistake. If Boonen had been strong enough to go with Cancellara then it would have been 2 to 1 for QS.

Sure, Garmin had some luck that Cancellara was stupid but overall their tactics were spot-on. It was what they had to do with such a superstrong foe as Cancellara.

 

[fatsprintking]

so talking about tactics (and remember I am a bit new to this, so be kind )

comparing Garmins tactics this week to QS last week
- QS sent Chavanel up the road and away .... but he had to ride for Boonen. He wasnt allowed to ride for himself (where he might have got the win) until it was basically too late.

- this week Garmin set it up so that they certainly had Thor in the wings marking Cance and the team were still riding for him ... but once JVS got away and was in a position to win, they allowed him to go and ride for himself and rode to protect him

so - bad tactics for QS ... or just dumb luck for Garmin?

Good tactics.

They wanted a guy in front that would make Canc work so hard to get back on terms that he would not be able to sprint if he did catch up. It was a case of JVS being given his chance and taking it. Essentially in the end the team said "if your good enough go" and he went.

Thor had every reason to sit on Canc's wheel and sohe did. I am sure if JVS looked like he was going to get caught earlier that they would have looked at him then riding for Thor, but they didnt need to worry as JVS was obviouvly in good form.

 

[Astana1]

Garmins tactics were Cycling tactics 101. Believing otherwise is just being argumentative. What they did was pretty textbook.