Teams & Riders Geraint Thomas

[Froome19]

I guess Thomas watched Wiggins and Froome in the Tour and wanted to copy them. It did not work this time around for him though.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Well, the reason why Thomas cracked in the final km of Wilunga was because when EBH finished his long consistent turn of pace, Thomas simply cracked. The attacks that made a real difference came after that, as a result of Thomas not being able to keep the pace.

"The reason why Thomas cracked...is that Thomas cracked"

Stunning analysis.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I somehow still think Thomas would do better on a long climb than on a climb such as today. He's a diesel, who easily loses 25 seconds on a few hundred meters if things get explosive.

But it's hard to ever see him become real good at climbs, or a GT contender like Wiggins. Probably the top 30 he did before is around the best he can do. Maybe a top 15 in the vuelta one (heck, Peter Velits even got 3rd there )

Ehh, but he seems petty punchy? Doing well at prologue's, decent sprint, Corkscrew stage, which was punchier than Willunga.

Heck, if I didn't know better, I'd say he cracked because Willunga was too long for him and he couldn't handle EBH's constant pace

 

[hmsgenoa]

Interesting to see Geraint described as a 'diesel' when you think that the 4k Team pursuit is run off at sprint speed, I think you can describe someone like Jens Voigt as a 'diesel' but not someone capable of riding over sixty kilometers an hour for 4 minutes (sorry 3.53). - surely some mistake! Attacks explosively on a climb and then crushes breakaway companions in a sprint in TDU. Maybe he has a big engine but its not a diesel, that guy has speed in his legs.

 

[hmsgenoa]

Give him some time to lose the track fat and then make that call.

Some common sense here! Mind you, you could've described Indurain as being a bit of a 'diesel'.....what will Geraint be doing in 10 years time?

 

[gruppeto993]

"The reason why Thomas cracked...is that Thomas cracked"

Stunning analysis.

I am not liking EBH's role at Sky. I think he could have pulled off a decent result himself instead of work for Thomas. At stage races, EBH becomes a super domestique when he can go for stage wins himself. Stage hunting is what he does best.

 

[Gloin22]

I am not liking EBH's role at Sky. I think he could have pulled off a decent result himself instead of work for Thomas. At stage races, EBH becomes a super domestique when he can go for stage wins himself. Stage hunting is what he does best.

EBH used TdU as pure preparation for Classics. He didn't come here specifically for results.

Considering he started his season last year here and finished in Bejing ( longest possible season ) you couldn't expect great results here. And he didnt have it on stage 2. He was given lead in sprints as you are always at similar level there.

 

[b.broadhurst]

What will Team Sky's squad be for Giro?

 

[Gloin22]

What will Team Sky's squad be for Giro?

Wiggins
Henao
Kireynka
Cataldo
Lopez
Pate
Kennaugh
Dombrowski
Porte ( ? )
Siutsou / Knees ( ? )

 

[b.broadhurst]

Wiggins
Henao
Kireynka
Cataldo
Lopez
Pate
Kennaugh
Dombrowski
Porte ( ? )
Siutsou / Knees ( ? )

No way will they take that many climbers, they need some diesels/tt'ers

 

[Gloin22]

No way will they take that many climbers, they need some diesels/tt'ers

Well most of those riders already confirmed this in interviews and few were training TTT with other riders involved at Giro confirmed, so it makes sense for all riders to train together.

Wiggins
Kireynka
Pate
Kennaugh
Porte ( ? )
Siutsou / Knees ( ? )

All those are good TT'ers with few big exceptions ie Wiggo. Kennaugh possibly less so but he's a great starter for TTT team due to his track.

There's lots of disels there. Pate, Kiryenka, Porte... What more do you want ? It's not like you need flat riders looking at the Giro.

 

[Winterfold]

Interesting to see Geraint described as a 'diesel' when you think that the 4k Team pursuit is run off at sprint speed, I think you can describe someone like Jens Voigt as a 'diesel' but not someone capable of riding over sixty kilometers an hour for 4 minutes (sorry 3.53). - surely some mistake! Attacks explosively on a climb and then crushes breakaway companions in a sprint in TDU. Maybe he has a big engine but its not a diesel, that guy has speed in his legs.

This. team pursuit is not for diesels, its a huge acceleration followed by 4 minutes (or 3'53" ) of mega sprint intervals at 65kmh - not by my understanding of what 'diesel' means ie Basso

 

[maltiv]

This. team pursuit is not for diesels, its a huge acceleration followed by 4 minutes (or 3'53" ) of mega sprint intervals at 65kmh - not by my understanding of what 'diesel' means ie Basso

You can be great over 4 minutes and still lack the ability to accelerate several times uphill. Wiggins was also great in IP, but he's still what one can call a "diesel" climber, i.e he prefers a steady pace uphill. Being able to sprint or lead-out on the flat doesn't mean you're not a diesel climber

 

[Winterfold]

I'm not saying that Wiggins does not prefer to climb at a steady state as in a TT. But to conflate that type of climbing, a TT or even an IP, with a team pursuit, is to not understand one of the most basic principles of road and track racing ie through and off. this is what hmsgenoa was criticising, correctly, IMO.

the team pursuit is the most extreme form and through and off, but it is a constant cycle of accelerations*, not a steady state.

And we werent talking about Wiggo, we were talking about GT and his prep was exclusively aimed at team pursuit in 2012.

*Sure these are not the trackstanding accelerations of Contador has he tries to fool opponents into going deep into the red, which is a fool's game as he clearly has outstanding recovery from a supermaximal effort. But they are pretty savage accelerations - even trying to hang in a fast amateur group at 45kmh is far from a TT kind of effort.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Top 10 in RVV and PR and 3rd in E3. Pretty decent.
Seems very strong but perhaps works too hard. A podium in a monument seems possible next year. If he can stay on the bike of course.

 

[BYOP88]

Top 10 in RVV and PR and 3rd in E3. Pretty decent.
Seems very strong but perhaps works too hard. A podium in a monument seems possible next year. If he can stay on the bike of course.

Or doesn't have to work for someone else.

 

[Matdum94]

Yea, he seems to be always working for someone else, the same for Ian Stannard, which really diminishes their hope of winning. (except for Stannard in Omloop)

 

[Netserk]

Should be Sky's captain in these races (or at least not having to work for anyone).

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Unfortunately, I think he's already decided to focus on stage races from next year onwards.

Before Paris-Nice;

"It's kind of coming to that point now in my career where I want to sort of specialise a bit now rather than be good at a lot of things. I want to try and be really good at the one thing. And so I think this is the last sort of year where I'll target both with the same sort of focus."

After Paris-Nice;

"This season is a big one for me to decide my direction as a rider and the Paris-Nice race has definitely given me that incentive to really press on and focus on being the man going for the general classification wins in major stage races."

 

[The Hitch]

Unfortunately, I think he's already decided to focus on stage races from next year onwards.

Before Paris-Nice;

After Paris-Nice;

And there was that article from one of the Sky staff saying Thomas is going to go for the Tour de France win in a couple of years.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Well, I personally would like to see him continue in the classics.

 

[postmanhat]

And there was that article from one of the Sky staff saying Thomas is going to go for the Tour de France win in a couple of years.

No, no, noooo!

Now Thomas seems to be off his stabilsers, he's developing into one of the best classics riders out there.

Him and Hushovd were pretty much the only ones doing turns with Boonen in the break. Then hauls himself back up to Cancellara and Vanmarcke when they went. Fantastic ride

Once he gets a little bit more tactical nous, he'll be one of the best.

It's hard to see him being anything other a very good GT rider/super dom. And Kennaugh's arguably ahead of him anyway?

 

[arvc40]

Had a go today. Bravo for that.

 

[Klubban]

Never seen G so strong before. Thought he would fade in the end after all the work he had done in the break, but no, he just continued to push.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Hopefully he gets the nod for the number 1 guy in the classics now after his performances this year he deserves it, at least a joint role with Stan could work well in some races too. G could always then focus afterwards on the Tour and helping Froome for a couple of seasons.