Geraint Thomas - What should he aim for?

[zigzag wanderer]

He will 100% definitely get his chances to ride for himself. He will not become a career super-domestique; Brailsford knows he's a potential winner of good races.

In 2013 he will lead Sky on the cobbles alongside Flecha. Whether he'll get his chance to ride for himself in the bigger stage races next year depends so much on how Wiggins does in the Tour this year.

Do you think he's shown enough in the mountains to be protected in bigger stage races?

He looked promising in the stage to Luz-Ardiden last year, but the day after he was dropped on an easy paced Aubisque, when around 100 riders made it over with the peloton. Even if Wiggins flops, Sky will still have Uran and Porte who have shown more in GT's.

The Classics look to me to be his best chance of fighting for major victories.

 

[hatcher]

Do you think he's shown enough in the mountains to be protected in bigger stage races?

He looked promising in the stage to Luz-Ardiden last year, but the day after he was dropped on an easy paced Aubisque, when around 100 riders made it over with the peloton. Even if Wiggins flops, Sky will still have Uran and Porte who have shown more in GT's.

The Classics look to me to be his best chance of fighting for major victories.

Not the grand tours, but this version of Romandie for example he'd have a good shot at. He can climb and he can TT, so the bigger week long stage races are well within his capabilities imo.

It's not really a surprise he was dropped the day after the Tourmalet/Luz-Ardiden break.

He should absolutely focus on the classics, not just the cobbles, but races like MSR, and even some of the hillier ones.

 

[zigzag wanderer]

If I had to say one race that was made for him, I would go for 3 daagse de Panne.

 

[Gloin22]

Do you think he's shown enough in the mountains to be protected in bigger stage races?

He looked promising in the stage to Luz-Ardiden last year, but the day after he was dropped on an easy paced Aubisque, when around 100 riders made it over with the peloton. Even if Wiggins flops, Sky will still have Uran and Porte who have shown more in GT's.

The Classics look to me to be his best chance of fighting for major victories.

Still finished 31st overall tough so he had to climb well enough He'll target classics for now, defo.

 

[simo1733]

Still finished 31st overall tough so he had to climb well enough He'll target classics for now, defo.

I see him becoming a Jens Voight type.

 

[karlboss]

Geraint Thomas is a major talent. ITT specialist and cobbled classics seem achievable, whilst his climbing talent seems more for one week races like Romandie, Suisse, Dauphine, Paris-Nice, if not too much climbing is included, like an on form Rogers. He needs to choose soon and probably will after the Olympics like many of the Track guys. G will move further and further from being a lead out guy which is a real waste of talent IMO.

 

[gustienordic]

Geraint Thomas is a major talent. ITT specialist and cobbled classics seem achievable, whilst his climbing talent seems more for one week races like Romandie, Suisse, Dauphine, Paris-Nice, if not too much climbing is included, like an on form Rogers. He needs to choose soon and probably will after the Olympics like many of the Track guys. G will move further and further from being a lead out guy which is a real waste of talent IMO.

Itt, classics & short climbs is most definitely his forte. Its a shame to waste him doing leadouts.

 

[Afrank]

The only reason Geraint Thomas won the prologue

http://inrng.com/2012/04/biocashflow-wristbands/

 

[Caruut]

The only reason Geraint Thomas won the prologue

http://inrng.com/2012/04/biocashflow-wristbands/

Well, he's just sunk a fair bit in my estimation. Can't imagine that with all the scientists and "straight-talking" at Sky, that no-one's pointed out that it's basically fraud, so I presume that he knows he's being paid to be part of this scam. Disgusting.

 

[richtea]

If Geriant Thomas can earn some additional income through exploiting the gullibility of idiots then more power to him.

 

[Machu Picchu]

If Geriant Thomas can earn some additional income through exploiting the gullibility of idiots then more power to him.

Yep, nothing wrong with ripping people off, if some idiot or child buys these things they obviously have too much money and are better off giving it to the needy like GT

 

[richtea]

If anyone buys this product because they think it will enhance their athletic performance it is their responsibility, not Geriant Thomas' (who is being paid by the manufacturer, not by the consumer, and doesn't make any false claims about the efficacy of the product). I really can't see any issue with this at all.

 

[Machu Picchu]

If anyone buys this product because they think it will enhance their athletic performance it is their responsibility, not Geriant Thomas' (who is being paid by the manufacturer, not by the consumer, and doesn't make any false claims about the efficacy of the product). I really can't see any issue with this at all.

Yeah, he does, unless he genuinely believes it works in which case he’s one of your idiots:

"Bioflow Sport not only looks great but it gives me confidence in my performance and helps me stay focused during a race"

and

“I'm delighted to be teaming up with Bioflow and joining their stable of elite athletes. I wore my Bioflow Sport wristband for the first time when I was out in Melbourne and we broke the World record and won gold! I’m looking forward to enjoying more success with them as well as the long-term benefits Bioflow‟s magnotherapy technology has to offer.”

 

[Caruut]

If anyone buys this product because they think it will enhance their athletic performance it is their responsibility, not Geriant Thomas' (who is being paid by the manufacturer, not by the consumer, and doesn't make any false claims about the efficacy of the product). I really can't see any issue with this at all.

Of course it's their responsibility, I didn't say otherwise. I just think that it's wrong to try and take advantage of people's stupidity like this. Personally, I think the people selling these things should be in prison, and while GT obviously isn't selling these things (apparently I need to make everything clear so you don't twist my words), I just think that it reflects very badly on him as a person. That's just my opinion, I don't think he's done anything illegal (again, spelling it out for you).

Also, this business of "being paid by the manufacturer, not the consumer" - what on earth are you talking about? Of course he's paid by the bloody manufacturer, did you think I was suggesting that each band had an optional £2 surcharge paid directly to Gareth Thomas or something? If anything, that's what makes it so wrong - that he's accepting money from crooks like this. I would think someone was morally wrong for accepting money to promote a company running, say, investment scams, I think athletes who promote these fraudulent "magnetic energy power bands" are little different.

 

[Afrank]

The way I see it, people love dumb things, dumb things like these bracelets. If someone is dumb enough do actually believe they do anything then they deserve to lose their money. Geraint Thomas is just being smart by advertising it, afterall cyclists don't make nearly as much as football or basketball players.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I'm certainly glad there are so many bright people out there to protect me from myself by banning things.

Society is always improved when our betters get together and decide what we should be able to do, buy or think.

 

[richtea]

Of course it's their responsibility, I didn't say otherwise. I just think that it's wrong to try and take advantage of people's stupidity like this. Personally, I think the people selling these things should be in prison, and while GT obviously isn't selling these things (apparently I need to make everything clear so you don't twist my words), I just think that it reflects very badly on him as a person. That's just my opinion, I don't think he's done anything illegal (again, spelling it out for you).

Also, this business of "being paid by the manufacturer, not the consumer" - what on earth are you talking about? Of course he's paid by the bloody manufacturer, did you think I was suggesting that each band had an optional £2 surcharge paid directly to Gareth Thomas or something? If anything, that's what makes it so wrong - that he's accepting money from crooks like this. I would think someone was morally wrong for accepting money to promote a company running, say, investment scams, I think athletes who promote these fraudulent "magnetic energy power bands" are little different.

Far from being crooks, they manufacture plastic pieces of tat with a magnet, and are using a marketing strategy that is as innocuous as McDonald's branding a burger 'Big Tasty' when it is quite clearly neither. I'd suggest you reserve your moral outrage for causes more worthy of your attention (and gloss over your mistaken assumption I was responding to you).

 

[El Pistolero]

You're the one who's calling GT an idiot. Which he is quite frankly.

 

[Caruut]

Far from being crooks, they manufacture plastic pieces of tat with a magnet, and are using a marketing strategy that is as innocuous as McDonald's branding a burger 'Big Tasty' when it is quite clearly neither. I'd suggest you reserve your moral outrage for causes more worthy of your attention (and gloss over your mistaken assumption I was responding to you).

My bad, thought it was responding to me. Apologies for being a ***, in that case.

In what way is putting a magnet in some plastic and saying it gives you magic powers not being a crook?

I find it quite amusing that people actually buy these things, but I just cannot respect someone as a person if they think that it's okay to promote them. I think it's a sad reflection on modern capitalism that because they are making money, people are praised for taking advantage of others.

Personally, I think that if you claim that a band essentially makes you a more "powerful" person, you are not far from implying it might be able to fight illnesses. Quacks trying to make money from pseudo-science BS should be treated like the charlatans they are.

 

[Catwhoorg]

G lost some respect from me for shilling this.

 

[Machu Picchu]

Far from being crooks, they manufacture plastic pieces of tat with a magnet, and are using a marketing strategy that is as innocuous as McDonald's branding a burger 'Big Tasty' when it is quite clearly neither. I'd suggest you reserve your moral outrage for causes more worthy of your attention (and gloss over your mistaken assumption I was responding to you).

'McDonald's 'Big Tasty' burger not only tastes great but it gives me confidence in my performance and helps me stay focused during a race'

and

'I'm looking forward to enjoying more success with them as well as the long-term health benefits that McDonald's has to offer'


Yeah I'm sure that you wouldn't think a sportsman was an idiot for making statements like that

 

[richtea]

How is it different to John Barnes' Lucozade advert (there are probably more contemporary examples)?

 

[Carlo Algatrensig]

How is it different to John Barnes' Lucozade advert (there are probably more contemporary examples)?

I would say the difference is that if i remember correctly Lucozade contains Glucose, Vitamins and Minerals that do actually help performance in sporting events where as this thing thing that GT is putting his name to is bit of plastic with some metal in it that promises to provide "magnotherapy" which from what i can see provides nothing but a placebo effect at best.

 

[Machu Picchu]

How is it different to John Barnes' Lucozade advert (there are probably more contemporary examples)?

I pressume we're moving away from your McDonald's line and back to GT and Bioflow.

The difference is that GT is 'earning some additional income through exploiting the gullibility of idiots' by endorsing 'plastic pieces of tat with a magnet' whilst John Barnes I presume was endorsing an isotonic drink used by many athletes around the world.

(your words not mine)

 

[richtea]

Its not as if drinking more caffeine, sugar, calories, and artificial sweeteners has any adverse health effects is it?