Wasn't really Kruijswijk's best domestique in the Alps where it mattered most last year. Should probably get top 10 in the Giro.
If he really has gotten his side stitch issue sorted, he could do much more than just a top 10.
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Wasn't really Kruijswijk's best domestique in the Alps where it mattered most last year. Should probably get top 10 in the Giro.
Bennett crashed hard during the Galibier stage. Twice. Not sure what people expect from a guy that hits the deck as hard as he did.Wasn't really Kruijswijk's best domestique in the Alps where it mattered most last year. Should probably get top 10 in the Giro.
Whoops forgot about those crashes.Bennett crashed hard during the Galibier stage. Twice. Not sure what people expect from a guy that hits the deck as hard as he did.
You could also say that Jumbo were at least one mountain dom short. De Plus had to do all the work when Bennett wasn't fit enough to pull.
(Kruijswijk wasn't that great to begin with . He was lucky that most of the Galibier was soft pedalled, IMO, as he was not among the very best riders there. )
Whoops forgot about those crashes.
Fully agree on Kruijswijk. He's not GT winner material.
Does anybody know his plans for the rest of the season and if he's fine again?
Maybe he has some health problems? He didn't race at all after that Catalunya DNS.What is this guy doing at the giro, in 2018 and 2020 he looks like a killer on the bike but now he is flailing around like a confused neo pro. Disastrous performance here for sure diminishes his value with no contract for 2022. Very strange.
Why go to Giro if the cold bothers you and you are not Italian? Go to vuelta or something.Cold?
(I mean his tt was already worse than expected after his team-mates outdid themselves... but I think the weather might play a decent role with such a skinny guy?)
He said not racing was a deliberate decision to train in controlled environment and avoid crashes/illness in romandie.Maybe he has some health problems? He didn't race at all after that Catalunya DNS.
Bennett pretty much has to take the Giro or nothing, because Roglic and Kruiswijk are ahead of him in the pecking order for both the Tour and the Vuelta.Why go to Giro if the cold bothers you and you are not Italian? Go to vuelta or something.
He said not racing was a deliberate decision to train in controlled environment and avoid crashes/illness in romandie.
Like George but this is a big turning point in his career now, he won't have so much value.
So he fluked his previous top 10s in the Giro and Vuelta?Posted earlier that Bennett lacks the constitution to fight for GC in a three week tour - It is what it is!
Agreed, just look at the 2019 Tour. Kruiswijk only made the podium because Bennett (and a lesser extent de Plus) was easily the best mountain domestique in the race, he was an absolute beast.Bennett is a good rider, but he's not really good enough to fight for top 3, nor is he stable enough to hit the bottom half of the top 10 every Giro/Vuelta. Because of that, I don't think he shoudl be a GT leader for a team like Jumbo at all. That's not a knock on Bennett. I think it's more valuable for him to win a stage once or twice in his career than get 2 more top 10s.
If he gets to do the Vuelta, I don't think he should be forced to ride for Kruijswijk tho. Kruijwijk isn't worth bringing a solely dedicated train for either.
And because of the TTT, and because Froome, Dumoulin and Roglic weren't there, and because Pinot melted down spontaneouslyAgreed, just look at the 2019 Tour. Kruiswijk only made the podium because Bennett (and a lesser extent de Plus) was easily the best mountain domestique in the race, he was an absolute beast.
I'm happy Bennett got his chance in this Giro. He was promised last year's Giro leadership and then had to change his calendar because the team needed him to. But I agree with you. He is not good enough to do a top5 in a GT and a potential 9th or 11th place isn't worth enough for a team like Jumbo.Bennett is a good rider, but he's not really good enough to fight for top 3, nor is he stable enough to hit the bottom half of the top 10 every Giro/Vuelta. Because of that, I don't think he shoudl be a GT leader for a team like Jumbo at all. That's not a knock on Bennett. I think it's more valuable for him to win a stage once or twice in his career than get 2 more top 10s.
If he gets to do the Vuelta, I don't think he should be forced to ride for Kruijswijk tho. Kruijwijk isn't worth bringing a solely dedicated train for either.
Yes, I think something is definitely wrong with Bennett in this year's Giro. He normally would be much better than this. Maybe he got sick at the wrong time? He's been a great mountain dom for Jumbo in recent years. I hope he comes around in week 2 or 3 . . . maybe able to contend for a stage.I'm happy Bennett got his chance in this Giro. He was promised last year's Giro leadership and then had to change his calendar because the team needed him to. But I agree with you. He is not good enough to do a top5 in a GT and a potential 9th or 11th place isn't worth enough for a team like Jumbo.
But it has to be said, the Bennett we've seen this Giro so far is far from the best Bennett. He should be able to climb with the 10 best climbers normally, but now he is being dropped by 25 or more riders. Something is wrong. Let's see if he can bounce back in the second half of the Giro. Maybe he should forget going for GC in the future and try his luck in hilly one day races. Look how strong he was in Lombardia last year.