Teams & Riders Geraint Thomas

[King Boonen]

Geraint has the ability to be a good classics rider and, with a little bit of luck, you never know. He needs to focus on it though.

GC rider? Possibly in a one week race. Grand Tour? No.

 

[JRanton]

Geraint has the ability to be a good classics rider and, with a little bit of luck, you never know. He needs to focus on it though.

GC rider? Possibly in a one week race. Grand Tour? No.

He's already focussed on the classics, without success, which is why he's apparently now giving stage races a go.

He is hyped beyond belief in the UK just because he's often seen near the front on TV doing domestique duties. It's absolutely ludicrous.

 

[Pricey_sky]

He's already focussed on the classics, without success, which is why he's apparently now giving stage races a go.

He is hyped beyond belief in the UK just because he's often seen near the front on TV doing domestique duties. It's absolutely ludicrous.

He's a strong rider who is good at lot's of things (classics, TT, shorter climbs) without specialising in one area. Another reason he is well loved in GB is because of his Olympic exploits. As we know in this country if you win a gold medal you can pretty much dine out on that forever.

Hoping to see G in a couple of breaks between now and next weekend.

 

[JRanton]

He's a strong rider who is good at lot's of things (classics, TT, shorter climbs) without specialising in one area. Another reason he is well loved in GB is because of his Olympic exploits. As we know in this country if you win a gold medal you can pretty much dine out on that forever.

Hoping to see G in a couple of breaks between now and next weekend.

The reason he doesn't specialise in one area is because he's doesn't excel at a particular area! There's no reason to!

Even Brailsford was getting carried away about Thomas a week ago saying he might ride for GC... It's scary stuff. Delusion.

 

[Pricey_sky]

The reason he doesn't specialise in one area is because he's doesn't excel at a particular area! There's no reason to!

Even Brailsford was getting carried away about Thomas a week ago saying he might ride for GC... It's scary stuff. Delusion.

Yes I agree, he has been given chances at most now and fell just short. Although I do believe his one-day results from this year were a big step up and that is the way forward.

No way should he be given a GC chance, Sky have got someone better for that future role in Kennaugh.

 

[Frosty]

Yes I agree, he has been given chances at most now and fell just short. Although I do believe his one-day results from this year were a big step up and that is the way forward.

No way should he be given a GC chance, Sky have got someone better for that future role in Kennaugh.

Do you really think that Pete Kennaugh has shown enough potential to be a really good GC hope in a grand tour? He is a very good rider but he is 25 now. Hope he does well at the Vuelta.

 

[JRanton]

Yes I agree, he has been given chances at most now and fell just short. Although I do believe his one-day results from this year were a big step up and that is the way forward.

No way should he be given a GC chance, Sky have got someone better for that future role in Kennaugh.

Ah Kennaugh...

Here's another one. He's had as many bad days as Porte this season. Quite a few good ones too, albeit in 2.1 and 2.HC races against weak competition. His TT is very average and I've yet to see anything that suggests he's going to be an elite climber. He needs to at least show something at world tour level before any hype starts.

 

[JRanton]

Do you really think that Pete Kennaugh has shown enough potential to be a really good GC hope in a grand tour? He is a very good rider but he is 25 now. Hope he does well at the Vuelta.

Eaxctly. There are numerous younger riders who have shown much more potential than Kennaugh to suggest that they might become future grand tour winners.

I guess this is the problem when Wiggins and Froome both came from nowhere to win the Tour. It makes people think any Brit can!

 

[Pricey_sky]

Do you really think that Pete Kennaugh has shown enough potential to be a really good GC hope in a grand tour? He is a very good rider but he is 25 now. Hope he does well at the Vuelta.

Ah Kennaugh...

Here's another one. He's had as many bad days as Porte this season. Quite a few good ones too, albeit in 2.1 and 2.HC races against weak competition. His TT is very average and I've yet to see anything that suggests he's going to be an elite climber. He needs to at least show something at world tour level before any hype starts.

Of course the best chance from WT level would be Adam Yates and he has shown already this season he can climb at a high level. I was merely talking about the Sky team. I agree that Kennaugh deserves a chance at the Vuelta to see what he can show.

 

[Frosty]

Of course the best chance from WT level would be Adam Yates and he has shown already this season he can climb at a high level. I was merely talking about the Sky team. I agree that Kennaugh deserves a chance at the Vuelta to see what he can show.

Here's hoping he gets that chance after being overlooked for the Tour team

 

[JRanton]

Of course the best chance from WT level would be Adam Yates and he has shown already this season he can climb at a high level. I was merely talking about the Sky team. I agree that Kennaugh deserves a chance at the Vuelta to see what he can show.

He deserves a chance to help Froome in the mountains at the Vuelta. That's it.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Would like to see G team up with Wiggo, EBH and Bernard Eisel and have a good go at the classics.

 

[Pricey_sky]

He deserves a chance to help Froome in the mountains at the Vuelta. That's it.

Yes, obviously if Froome turns up that's it.

 

[Gloin22]

Would like to see G team up with Wiggo, EBH and Bernard Eisel and have a good go at the classics.

Didn't they did year?

EBH is done, Sky is getting rid of him. Eisel is past his best too.

Stannard / Boom / Wiggo / Thomas(?) is likely the leader cobbled line up for Sky next year.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Impressive ride today.
Love riders who can perform broadly.
Too bad Nieve, the climber couldn't climb much today.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Impressive ride today.
Love riders who can perform broadly.
Too bad Nieve, the climber couldn't climb much today.

Very good ride, without Thomas there is no way Majka would have won that stage today. A shame that Thomas has spent the race riding for teammates who aren't as good as him.

 

[JRanton]

Very good ride, without Thomas there is no way Majka would have won that stage today. A shame that Thomas has spent the race riding for teammates who aren't as good as him.

Porte and Nieve are both much better climbers and GC options than Thomas.

 

[Gloin22]

Not so far in this Tour.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

Didn't they did year?

EBH is done, Sky is getting rid of him. Eisel is past his best too.

Stannard / Boom / Wiggo / Thomas(?) is likely the leader cobbled line up for Sky next year.

Well I like the sound of that

 

[CycloAndy]

Porte and Nieve are both much better climbers and GC options than Thomas.

I think Thomas should be given his chance next year to show what he has got. Don't think he'll be competing for wins but would give him a better chance of moderate success than Richie. Nieve should be given leadership if there are any GT's with minimal TT's in.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Now confirmed Thomas signs with sky for another 2 years.

 

[JRanton]

Not so far in this Tour.

He struggled big time in the third week. Ok, he worked hard for others in the first two weeks but as a GC rider you don't have time to rest either.

He seems to be realistic about his goals. Pick up some results in one week races and classics and then be a domestique at the Tour. Just don't expect him to win often.

 

[JRanton]

]I think Thomas should be given his chance next year to show what he has got[/B]. Don't think he'll be competing for wins but would give him a better chance of moderate success than Richie. Nieve should be given leadership if there are any GT's with minimal TT's in.

In a grand tour? Why? Have people gone completely mad?

 

[CycloAndy]

In a grand tour? Why? Have people gone completely mad?

Not in grand tours necessarily but give him more practice in the week long stage races and see what level he has got. He's better than Richie anyway, unless Richie regains his form!

 

[JRanton]

Not in grand tours necessarily but give him more practice in the week long stage races and see what level he has got. He's better than Richie anyway, unless Richie regains his form!

He's not better than Richie. Even on the day that Porte cracked terribly in the Alps, Thomas was dropped before him.

It's a moot point though anyway. Froome will have outright Tour leadership and any Sky plan B won't be anywhere near good enough to match Nibali, Quintana or Contador anyway.

As for the Giro, it sounds like Sky are trying to nick Aru from Astana for that gig.