Gesink Discussion Thread

[maxmartin]

I am starting to feel that he is cursed. He needs a result in a grand tour to get him back on track. He looked good in the Tour of California. He should dodge the Vuelta and start again next year. The route in next year's Tour should suit him but of course The Meateater and Schleck will be back along with the Sky riders. There is no reason that a healthy Gesink could not finish in the top 5 next year top 10 at worst. His TT is good but he needs more consistency with his climbing but it's hard when he is always injured or suffering from falls. Alternative would be to ride the Giro and aim for the podium. Ryder will do the Tour, Basso is not the rider he was, Nibali will probably do the Tour as well as Rodriguez. Maybe his biggest threats will be from possibly De Gendt, Scarponi and Kreuziger etc as the best climbers will want to target what is supposed to be a mountainous Tour next year. Evans should do the Giro as well before he retires possibly the following year. But he won't of course.

I made the same suggestions in Gesink VS JVDB thread but get heavily criticized by all the dutch fans here. I think dutch mentality is tour or nothing. They don't give a **** about Giro or Vuelta. Btw, Nibali's next year focus will be giro, he might ride tour. And I think De Gent might skip Giro as well to focus on Tour, his team(dutch) want best riders in the tour.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

I made the same suggestions in Gesink VS JVDB thread but get heavily criticized by all the dutch fans here. I think dutch mentality is tour or nothing. They don't give a **** about Giro or Vuelta. Btw, Nibali's next year focus will be giro, he might ride tour. And I think De Gent might skip Giro as well to focus on Tour, his team(dutch) want best riders in the tour.

It is the Dutch fans that would love to see Gesink ignore the Tour. It is the sponsors and the media that only see one event a year. Because Gesink isn't paid to win races nobody will see anyway (like Vuelta and Giro sadly are), they need him at the Tour.

 

[movingtarget]

It is the Dutch fans that would love to see Gesink ignore the Tour. It is the sponsors and the media that only see one event a year. Because Gesink isn't paid to win races nobody will see anyway (like Vuelta and Giro sadly are), they need him at the Tour.

Even though the Giro is a great race it does not get the hype and attention the Tour gets except maybe in Italy itself. Evans has won the Tour and I would like to see him have another crack at the Giro. Last time in 2010 he met a super Basso but Basso has now slipped like Menchov. All three of them are approaching retirement. Gesink will lose nothing by riding the Giro. If Hesjedal can win it, it opens the door to other riders as well. Gesink was impressive in the TOC but he needs to take the next step in a grand tour. He showed in the 2010 Tour that he has the talent. In Gesink's favour he won't be up against the best Sky team or BMC team probably. The Schlecks and Contador won't be there either although Nibali and Scarponi will probably be back and maybe Basso . Possibly Ryder again. The field won't be as strong as the Tour.

 

[cineteq]

I thought I copy/paste my own comment from stage 11 on his own thread to fuel the discussion. According to some posters the issue could me mechanical: gears, bikes setups?

“It went well today. This climb actually suited me well . We were dropped off nicely by the team. Great work, since half the peloton wanted to start up here too. It was simply a bunch sprint to the base of the final climb. At first, I just had to get into my own rhythm, but in the second half, things kept improving. By the final kilometre, I started moving up. It got better and better for me near the finish. I’m very pleased. I, of course, had been hoping for this, but hadn’t expected it. Because after yesterday’s time trial, my legs were feeling heavy. It was my first long time trial in a long while .

http://www.rabosport.com/news/item/20191

 

[SafeBet]

Good to hear. I'm really cheering for a podium spot here.

 

[l.Harm]

Surprised by his performance. Could gain some places in GC since the real mountain stages should suit him better than Rodriguez/Valverde and Froome is getting worse.

 

[Havetts]

I'll copy paste too:

In one of the videos on the rabosport site there was talk about the mechanics equipping smaller gears for the riders, but Gesink wasnt mentioned. So I assume he had the normal gearing he usually does and the rest of the top riders moved to that level too, so he finally rides a 'normal' gear and does this well. I hope he realizes too.

** video (Dutch)**
http://www.rabosport.nl/wielrennen/video/AQUt0TYcDjFhYPN7YG3MbmUH/'Nog_nooit_zo'n_zware_beklimming'

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

At first, I just had to get into my own rhythm, but in the second half, things kept improving. By the final kilometre, I started moving up. It got better and better for me near the finish

vintage gesink.

 

[El Pistolero]

I hope he podiums(third spot to be precise), after all the bad luck he's been having a podium here would do wonders.

 

[Parrulo]

I hope he podiums(third spot to be precise), after all the bad luck he's been having a podium here would do wonders.

same, this guy needs a boost of confidence.

 

[meat puppet]

same, this guy needs a boost of confidence.

and same here too, hope he keeps improving and podiums. would be awesome if he could snatch the second spot, but doubt it really. yet there are some serious molehills to come, and if he is on an upward form progression...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

and same here too, hope he keeps improving and podiums. would be awesome if he could snatch the second spot, but doubt it really. yet there are some serious molehills to come, and if he is on an upward form progression...

I actually think getting thru this race unscathed and in a top 5 position will be excellent for the guy. A podium would be amazing yes, but it seems unlikely imo.

But yeah him getting a top 5, problem free will be good; hopefully he can then build on this next year in a giro / vuelta quest

 

[Kwibus]

I hope he podiums(third spot to be precise), after all the bad luck he's been having a podium here would do wonders.

What's this? El Pistolero wishing good luck on Gesink.
I'm touched

 

[Kwibus]

I actually think getting thru this race unscathed and in a top 5 position will be excellent for the guy. A podium would be amazing yes, but it seems unlikely imo.

But yeah him getting a top 5, problem free will be good; hopefully he can then build on this next year in a giro / vuelta quest

If he finishes this Vuelta 5th not that far away from 3rd and 4th without any crashes it's allready a bit bonus. He could use a crash free GT.

 

[movingtarget]

If he finishes this Vuelta 5th not that far away from 3rd and 4th without any crashes it's allready a bit bonus. He could use a crash free GT.

I think he would be happy with fifth but a higher finish would do wonders for his confidence. I thought he did well yesterday. Good result.

 

[meat puppet]

call this wishful thinking, but I expect gesink will be the one who can follow contador the furthest if only they keep doing steady state climbing.

maybe I havent really grasped the transformation of JROD fully enough, but I have doubts about him climbing well when the efforts become longer. also, it's better to be safe than sorry, so froome should be eliminated before the second rest day. so i guess contador will attack come weekend.

as for valverde, no idea really. wouldn't be too surprised if the multiple climbs on the 3 days to come cooked him well and kosher.

so, imo gesink should try and attack earlier on so that he doesn't have to catch bertie when he goes - like rujano did on the etna. dunno if it will work, though. but if he has goals other than finishing top 5 (which is fine and dandy in and of itself of course), then that would be the way to go.

 

[l.Harm]

Problem is Gesink can't attack early, he'll kill himself then.

 

[Der Effe]

Gesink shouldn't focus on Contador. Just ride two good stages (tomorrow and sunday) and then look if a podium is still within the possibilities.

 

[cineteq]

Problem is Gesink can't attack early, he'll kill himself then.

Which brings me to ask, will Ten Dam and/or Mollema sacrifice for Gesink, or Rabo is happy to have 3 top ten riders and team classification?

If Gesink is feeling good, these two riders can really help him get to the podium.

 

[meat puppet]

Problem is Gesink can't attack early, he'll kill himself then.

2010 TdS begs to differ! But yeah, I get your point. Either way, I remain hopeful.

 

[l.Harm]

Which brings me to ask, will Ten Dam and/or Mollema sacrifice for Gesink, or Rabo is happy to have 3 top ten riders and team classification?

If Gesink is feeling good, these two riders can really help him get to the podium.

If he feels good, they should ride for Gesink. Question is: are they able to help him?

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Which brings me to ask, will Ten Dam and/or Mollema sacrifice for Gesink, or Rabo is happy to have 3 top ten riders and team classification?

If Gesink is feeling good, these two riders can really help him get to the podium.

This is what I've been wondering also. What will the team orders be over the weekend.

 

[movingtarget]

This is what I've been wondering also. What will the team orders be over the weekend.

Gesink is still their best chance but Ten Dam has been climbing very well. I could be wrong but I have a feeling Froome will struggle in the final week. He is a gutsy rider but since the first few days he has looked lethargic, Valverde may last a bit longer. I think Gesink has a chance for the podium.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Before we can even begin to speculate on sacrifising riders for Gesink, let's first wait how he does on the first major mountain finish. If he finishes 6th or something then it isn't worth it imho

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink is still their best chance but Ten Dam has been climbing very well. I could be wrong but I have a feeling Froome will struggle in the final week. He is a gutsy rider but since the first few days he has looked lethargic, Valverde may last a bit longer. I think Gesink has a chance for the podium.

Froome may be struggling a bit, but so far the struggling has led Gesink to take a full 4 seconds on him in the last uphill finish. He'll have to virtually collapse before Gesink has a chance of overtaking him.