Gesink Discussion Thread

[pablohidalgo7]

Good to see gesink fighting with the best, i think he can finish the race between 7-8 spot in gc, it will be hard for him to win a stage but no impossible.

 

[SafeBet]

Bravo Bobby, I'm extremely happy to see him back!

 

[Walkman]

Really nice to see him back in good form! Would be awesome to have Gesink back in beast form for next years Giro or Tour!

 

[RedheadDane]

Nice attack today.
So, it didn't actually work out in the end but, hey! You gotta try!

 

[Afrank]

I'm actually glad to see him "trying", well knowing of his recent heart issue. I must confess that at some point I wanted him to win the stage, but noticed he attacked too soon & was gasping for air before he got caught...


good for him

Yep, agree with this. Good to see him getting some results and riding well. Stage win would be cool to see, and hope to see him finish it off in a good GC. Glad to hear he plans to attack more as well.

 

[jens_attacks]

it will be nice if he can get a stage

 

[cineteq]

Bold Prediction
Gesink will finish ahead of Froome.

 

[theyoungest]

And on another note, Kelderman says 12th/13th is his place in this race and he sounds like he's gonna settle with that. Please Wilco quit the race so you don't get overraced or forget the GC and target stage wins. Who cares about 13th?!

No one cares about 13th, but if he's just racing the Vuelta to get stronger (which I think he is) there's no point in letting go when the going gets tough. As long as he doesn't destroy himself.

Very promising.
All ahead of him in the GC are stronger though except for Anacona. But Martin and Navarro seem (slightly) stronger too. Could finish anywhere between 8th and 10th. But I hope he keeps attacking when he can. It'll give him more morale and belief

Navarro and Martin don't seem stronger. I'd be surprised if either of them finishes ahead of him on GC.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

No one cares about 13th, but if he's just racing the Vuelta to get stronger (which I think he is) there's no point in letting go when the going gets tough. As long as he doesn't destroy himself.

snipped..

This idea belongs to the past imo.

A rider doesn't get stronger by wheelsucking for hours and then getting dropped on all MTFs in the 2nd GT of the year. Could even hurt morale.

Instead get stronger and better by selecting a couple of stages, go in a break, drive hard in the wind and learn from being part of a finale involving a small group.

Makes the race more entertaining to watch too. Good for the sponsor as well.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Gesink trying to make a winning move on the last climb on stage 11.

But all the wheelsuckers and watt readers came back unfortunately.

 

[theyoungest]

This idea belongs to the past imo.

A rider doesn't get stronger by wheelsucking for hours and then getting dropped on all MTFs in the 2nd GT of the year. Could even hurt morale.

Instead get stronger and better by selecting a couple of stages, go in a break, drive hard in the wind and learn from being part of a finale involving a small group.

Makes the race more entertaining to watch too. Good for the sponsor as well.

It was Kelderman's idea all along to ride two GTs this year. His aim for this race was to finish in the top-15, he's still firmly in there.

Whether this makes him stronger or not, no idea, but it's part of the plan, I guess.

 

[hrotha]

Who the hell targets a top 15 at the Vuelta of all races.

 

[theyoungest]

Who the hell targets a top 15 at the Vuelta of all races.

Maxime Monfort

And Wilco Kelderman. He's not a superstar of cycling, why shouldn't he target a top-15?

 

[classicomano]

Who the hell targets a top 15 at the Vuelta of all races.

Young riders who want to test themselves for a GC, like Barguill.

 

[hrotha]

But Kelderman has already been 7th and 17th at the Giro. What value could possibly a 15th at the Vuelta have for someone like him?

 

[l.Harm]

Gaining experience

 

[movingtarget]

Who the hell targets a top 15 at the Vuelta of all races.

The riders that can't make the top 14 ? 15 is a nothing position, it's like saying I am targeting fourth place in the Green jersey or the Mountains jersey. It makes little sense. I can imagine a bunch of sprinters saying " that's it next year I am going for top 15 on GC" already knowing that they will only make top 50.

15 is usually the position for GC riders who don't perform, not a happy place for anyone. It saddens me just thinking about it !

 

[hrotha]

Gaining experience

Gaining experience at following wheels? No one needs more of that, particularly not someone who already has that kind of result elsewhere.

Why isn't he gaining experience in the arts of breakaways and long range attacks instead? That would be a lot more valuable. Actual tactical experience.

 

[theyoungest]

Gaining experience at following wheels? No one needs more of that, particularly not someone who already has that kind of result elsewhere.

Why isn't he gaining experience in the arts of breakaways and long range attacks instead? That would be a lot more valuable. Actual tactical experience.

Send him an email

He's trying to grow as a rider by riding 2 GTs in a year, and proving he can do them both at a decent level... but that's my guess. He's not an Aru or Quintana who can contend for the podium in both.

 

[l.Harm]

Yeah I'd prefer him going for stage wins and forget about GC as well. But maybe he wants to mature as a rider by going full day in day out in a GT. Even not on his top level, he says he was also suffering from a jet lag after flying back from Utah. Maybe he feels he can improve next weeks and maybe enter the top 10. Don't forget this field is really strong, normally he would have been top 10.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

But Kelderman has already been 7th and 17th at the Giro. What value could possibly a 15th at the Vuelta have for someone like him?

2nd GT, uncertainty about form. Just wants to see where his 'average level' is at in a GC..
Certianly not in top form, he keeps saying every day he doesn't feel great, but normal

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink did extremely well in the hardest stage of the Vuelta. He was actually not far off Valverde/Purito today. Looks good for next year and now 7th in GC

 

[SafeBet]

All hail Bobby G!
True grit today.

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Gesink did so well today, during a moment he was very close to valverde group, the only problem was thar dan martin also was strong in the last part of the climb, but gesink still have chances to make top 6 in gc, the irish will loose at least between 15 and 20 seconds with him in the itt

 

[classicomano]

Robert Gesink leaves La Vuelta

13 minutes ago

The Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM is sad to announce that Robert Gesink will leave the Vuelta a España due to private circumstances. The Team Belkin leader chooses to rush to Holland to be with his family.

“My pregnant wife has undergone surgery twice this past week. Her situation has not improved and she is still in the hospital. I will immediately leave the Vuelta to be with my family, who needs me right now,” Robert Gesink said. Gesink is currently classed 7th in the general classification.

Team Belkin supports this decision and will support Robert and his wife wherever possible. The entire team wishes them all the best in this difficult time.