Geraint Thomas, the next british hope

[gunara]

Gallopin saves this from becoming an all-Sky farce

 

[DirtyWorks]

Re:

We had the American waves of riders ( only 3 riders this year) now we have the British wave of riders and soon we will have the Australian wave of riders. When it`s all gone and over we can go back to the good old days and enjoy the TDF. Giro etc...

It seems the UCI's model is to "grow cycling" by permitting some semi-national team to abuse rules.

U.S. USA Cycling/USPS
U.K. BC/Sky

I'd argue Germany or France is likely next.

 

[Saint Unix]

Re: Re:

We had the American waves of riders ( only 3 riders this year) now we have the British wave of riders and soon we will have the Australian wave of riders. When it`s all gone and over we can go back to the good old days and enjoy the TDF. Giro etc...

It seems the UCI's model is to "grow cycling" by permitting some semi-national team to abuse rules.

U.S. USA Cycling/USPS
U.K. BC/Sky

I'd argue Germany or France is likely next.

I can't wait for the 2020 edition of "Watch This No-Mark Destroy Climbing Records" starring Christoph Früm and Christophe Fromage.

 

[carton]

Why? are Spanish, French and Italian dopers more likable?

Because they don`t act arrogant, they just try to act normal and humble.

Sarcasm? Or do you not speak French, Spanish or Italian

In other news the Thomas and Gallopin show has been superb so far.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

G is becoming a "freak"

Look at that insane work done in the Tourmalet, then pacing downhill, upwards again to Cauterets, so he can finish it off by leading the Alien to the 100 meters mark like nothing happened......

this is ridiculously unbelievable !

It was ridiculous that he was there at all but Porte did most of the things you mention, not Thomas.

 

[Jagartrott]

Re:

Gallopin saves this from becoming an all-Sky farce

What are you talking about? Gallopin was always a decent climber (he won San Sebastian 2 years ago I believe) and was never competitive in any cobbled classic.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

Gallopin saves this from becoming an all-Sky farce

What are you talking about? Gallopin was always a decent climber (he won San Sebastian 2 years ago I believe) and was never competitive in any cobbled classic.

This decent climber is still 7th in the GC after 2 days in the The Pyrenees All this while the last year podium is sinking as the race go on.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

during commentary

phil & paul both claiming that g will be an overall contender for the gc in coming years

cycling savants those two

what do they know that we don't

porte to bmc
g mr number two

bit of a theme developing here

 

[Gigs_98]

Seriously I find his performance this year just ridiculous. Sorry but how is it possible that someone seems to be one of the top 5 climbers of the *** tour de france, beating the likes of contador, nibali, TJVG, ... after he never was a climber before. This is the transformation of froome 2011 all over again.

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

Gallopin saves this from becoming an all-Sky farce

What are you talking about? Gallopin was always a decent climber (he won San Sebastian 2 years ago I believe) and was never competitive in any cobbled classic.

Gallopin would have blown into the north sea during Gent-Wevelgem.

 

[carton]

Re: Re:

Gallopin saves this from becoming an all-Sky farce

What are you talking about? Gallopin was always a decent climber (he won San Sebastian 2 years ago I believe) and was never competitive in any cobbled classic.

Gallopin would have blown into the north sea during Gent-Wevelgem.

LOL. You do know he's almost exactly the same build as ol' G (5'11"-6', 11st)?

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Gallopin saves this from becoming an all-Sky farce

What are you talking about? Gallopin was always a decent climber (he won San Sebastian 2 years ago I believe) and was never competitive in any cobbled classic.

Similar to Armstrong pre cancer. Still, he has to keep it up for a couple more days to really get me suspicious.

 

[IndianCyclist]

not a GT winner but top 5 if lucky

 

[Merckx index]

Thomas (not Geoff!) on the charity ride:

“I couldn’t care less what he’s doing,” the Welshman said as he warmed down on the rollers after helping Froome defend the yellow jersey during stage 11 to Cauterets.

“He’s done enough harm. We’re playing the price for the damage he’s done. Whatever. We’re just in our own little world having a laugh here at the Tour, doing what we’re doing. Lance and all them, they can do whatever they want.”

What a great typo: "playing the price".

 

[Dear Wiggo]

"having a laugh here at the Tour" - he certainly got that bit right.

 

[gunara]

Re: Re:

Gallopin saves this from becoming an all-Sky farce

What are you talking about? Gallopin was always a decent climber (he won San Sebastian 2 years ago I believe) and was never competitive in any cobbled classic.

Similar to Armstrong pre cancer. Still, he has to keep it up for a couple more days to really get me suspicious.

But still I didn't expect him to hang on that/this long, he can go all punchy on Jaizkibel all he wants but this is different Tony. And it's funny to imagine Sky defenders want him to hang on at least as long as G. in every mountain, just to make it more believable, while hoping more familiar climbers die behind them one by one.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

Gallopin saves this from becoming an all-Sky farce

What are you talking about? Gallopin was always a decent climber (he won San Sebastian 2 years ago I believe) and was never competitive in any cobbled classic.

Gallopin is an all-rounder, and he did pretty well on cobbled classics. He went on the Teide this season, however. This can - partially - explain his excellent climbing level.

Let's see what he can do on a real high montains stage - today.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Re:

Gallopin saves this from becoming an all-Sky farce

What are you talking about? Gallopin was always a decent climber (he won San Sebastian 2 years ago I believe) and was never competitive in any cobbled classic.

Gallopin is an all-rounder, and he did pretty well on cobbled classics. He went on the Teide this season, however. This can - partially - explain his excellent climbing level.

Let's see what he can do on a real high montains stage - today.

Saint-Martin HC,Tourmalet HC

 

[sniper]

Re:

Thomas (not Geoff!) on the charity ride:

“I couldn’t care less what he’s doing,” the Welshman said as he warmed down on the rollers after helping Froome defend the yellow jersey during stage 11 to Cauterets.

“He’s done enough harm. We’re playing the price for the damage he’s done. Whatever. We’re just in our own little world having a laugh here at the Tour, doing what we’re doing. Lance and all them, they can do whatever they want.”

the hypocricy here is insane.

 

[Tommy79]

A lot of clutching at straws from the tinfoil hat brigade. Thomas will lose a chunk of time today. Like he lost time on stage 10, yesterday wasn't that selective.

 

[hrotha]

Re:

A lot of clutching at straws from the tinfoil hat brigade. Thomas will lose a chunk of time today. Like he lost time on stage 10, yesterday wasn't that selective.

If he loses time "like he did on stage 10", he'll be top 5 in the final GC and very lolworthy indeed. Also, if you think a cyclist being a doper is tinfoil hat material, you need help.

 

[Singer01]

Seriously I find his performance this year just ridiculous. Sorry but how is it possible that someone seems to be one of the top 5 climbers of the **** tour de france, beating the likes of contador, nibali, TJVG, ... after he never was a climber before. This is the transformation of froome 2011 all over again.

to be fair to G he is beating a weak contador and dogsh!t nibali.

 

[Põhja Konn]

[quote="Singer01"

to be fair to G he is beating a weak contador and dogsh!t nibali.[/quote]


Rider, who beat Sagan and Stybar in cobbled classics, should still be easily dropped by "a weak contador and dog**** nibali" on a HC climb. No getting around it really.

Thomas' transformation though is more similar to what Wiggins had, rather than Froomes. At least he has had real talent as a cyclist from the beginning. He just should have no business whatsoever in GT GC-s.
As a classics rider, Thomas is as believable as anyone, but as GT GC-conteder - another bike-riding farce in Sky jersey.

 

[Tommy79]

[quote="Singer01"

Rider, who beat Sagan and Stybar in cobbled classics, should still be easily dropped by "a weak contador and dogsh!t nibali" on a HC climb. No getting around it really.

Why shouldn't someone with Thomas's build be able to compete at both?

 

[42x16ss]

[quote="Singer01"

Rider, who beat Sagan and Stybar in cobbled classics, should still be easily dropped by "a weak contador and dogsh!t nibali" on a HC climb. No getting around it really.

Why shouldn't someone with Thomas's build be able to compete at both?

Have a look at the best guys on the cobbles - Boonen, Cancellara, Vanmarcke, Boom, Degenkolb, Sagan. They're all tall and carrying 5-10 kgs more than climbers their height. Why? Cobbles are about raw power, not power to weight and a few extra kilos help you sit on the cobbles better.

This is why you don't see northern classics specialists climb like Thomas has been. If you ask me Thomas is in kind of a no man's land, thinner than classics guys but not a climbers build.