Gesink's time trialling abilities

[hrotha]

Ugh, you're missing the point. If Mosquera can come that close to a GT win, who is a worse climber and time trialist and already 34yo

Then why is it, according to Oldman, impossible for Gesink to ever win a GC, when he has already shown more promise and is still only 24yo? He doesn't seem to have any valid argument.

My only point is that Mosquera is far from an "anti-tt man". You're hereby sentenced to use a picture of Mosquera in Comunitat Valenciana attire as your avatar.

This one will do:

 

[The Hitch]

Yeah I'm not baiting that one, sorry.

You dont need to.

Im just reminding people here that we are talking about the Condor not Contador.

Just in case after reading your posts they think we are discussing a super climber who wins gt mountain stages beats Cancellara in gt tts and who at the age of 24 has won the Tour de France.

Instead of a climber who wins 2.1 mountain stages, beats Cancellara in prep tts and who at the age of 24 has won The Tour of Oman.

With your posts its easy to confuse the two.

Carry on.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Still not baiting that one. Because I never said such things. If you take things out of context, that's you're call, not mine

 

[offbyone]

I think Gesink is simply an inconsistent rider. He is still learning his body and how to train properly to peak at the right time. I really like him and think if he continues to improve that he will be a name we hear a lot of in the future. However, considering his inconsistencies, it is hard to imagine him winning a grand tour.

 

[Oldman]

Ugh, you're missing the point. If Mosquera can come that close to a GT win, who is a worse climber and time trialist and already 34yo

Then why is it, according to Oldman, impossible for Gesink to ever win a GC, when he has already shown more promise and is still only 24yo? He doesn't seem to have any valid argument.

Didn't use the word impossible. Here's some validity for you: Cadell, Levi, Klodi...all good at multiple disciplines but couldn't handle the pressure of being a GC target. Lacking serious credentials in any discipline makes it difficult to win; any strategic plan against him would be to put him in trouble at his weakest level of performance. That could be team support, TTing, pack riding ability, etc. He hasn't been the focus of another team's tactics on that scale and it's pure fan speculation to assume he can win until he shows COMMAND of those capabilities on a GT scale. Looking good to you and on paper is not the same thing as winning.

 

[blaxland]

Gesink's TimeTrialling ability has definantley improved slightly but probably not enough when it comes to GT's.He has age on his side but i think he lacks explosiveness when climbing and this is what will stop him winning Grand Tours,not his TimeTrialing ability?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Lacks explosiveness? Ok I'm not even going to reply that.

 

[Havetts]

Gesinks attack on Avoriaz was in my opinion the most explosive one, where Schlecks was the 'longest'. Look at Gesinks attack vs VDBroeck's, Gesinks was waaaay more explosive.

 

[taiwan]

This been posted?

Merckx believes Gesink can win this Tour de France. But with all due respect, being in great form in February is good how?

 

[royalpig180]

Also i think some people overrate ac's tt ability. He is good, but in no way a specialist or as consistant as some one like menchov/evans.

I think you're overstating this. He had a mediocre 2nd ITT in the tour last year, but look at his prologue results and his other TT results from that year. He was pretty much dominant among GC contenders. Menchov will usually beat him, but other than that I'd put him as the best TTer among GT GC threats.

*note: Due to lack of fitness, I believe the ITT from Algarve this week is not representative of his actual TT skills and does not demonstrate some sort of downward trend.

 

[hrotha]

Merckx believes Gesink can win this Tour de France.

It's settled then: Gesink can't win the Tour.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Merckx believes Gesink can win this Tour de France. But with all due respect, being in great form in February is good how?

Merckx also believed Gilbert can win the Tour de France once..

Why so serious

 

[blaxland]

Gesinks attack on Avoriaz was in my opinion the most explosive one, where Schlecks was the 'longest'. Look at Gesinks attack vs VDBroeck's, Gesinks was waaaay more explosive.

Agree regaurding Avoriaz but Van Den Broek wont win a Grand Tour either....What i mean is in Regaurds to Contador or Schleck's climbing power,those two have the ability to attack in the high mountains day in and day out.The likes of Gesink will only be able to follow(If in good form) so that is why i think Gesink wont win a GT will these two guys are still racing.
Question:What has more prestige a 3rd overall in a Grand Tour?
or
A mountains jersey overall in a GT?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

As if Contador and Schleck are going to enter EVERY grand tour Gesink enters?
Hardly likely. Plus especially Contador is a few years older and probably retiring/going backwards by the time Gesink reaches his peak age (usually from 28y to 32y for grand tour riders)

You're too fussed on the Tour now. A grand Tour also includes the Vuelta and the Giro.

 

[Oldman]

I think you're overstating this. He had a mediocre 2nd ITT in the tour last year, but look at his prologue results and his other TT results from that year. He was pretty much dominant among GC contenders. Menchov will usually beat him, but other than that I'd put him as the best TTer among GT GC threats.

*note: Due to lack of fitness, I believe the ITT from Algarve this week is not representative of his actual TT skills and does not demonstrate some sort of downward trend.

I wouldn't take anything any potential GC contender does in February as indicative of their GT form. That is, unless one of them suddenly breaks the World pursuit or hour record. Considering the number of positives and suspect performances last year among the GT contenders this season will be a work in progress and surprises likely will be the norm rather than the exception.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Why did I see this one + from afc coming ?

Gesink is very young and already a good timetrialer.

His form now seems to be a little bit better than other riders' or TT-specialists and he even said that he did some Extra. But anyway he is a good TTer, who still has many, many years to improve - if the Dutch mafia or acf don't put to much pressure on him.

Great talent that is still learning his body.

 

[blaxland]

As if Contador and Schleck are going to enter EVERY grand tour Gesink enters?
Hardly likely. Plus especially Contador is a few years older and probably retiring/going backwards by the time Gesink reaches his peak age (usually from 28y to 32y for grand tour riders)

You're too fussed on the Tour now. A grand Tour also includes the Vuelta and the Giro.

Agree those two cant enter all three grand Tours every year...
I would like to see Gesink focas on the Vuelta instead of the TDF.This seems to be gesink's real chance of winning a Monument?

 

[The Hitch]

I think you're overstating this. He had a mediocre 2nd ITT in the tour last year, but look at his prologue results and his other TT results from that year. He was pretty much dominant among GC contenders. Menchov will usually beat him, but other than that I'd put him as the best TTer among GT GC threats.

*note: Due to lack of fitness, I believe the ITT from Algarve this week is not representative of his actual TT skills and does not demonstrate some sort of downward trend.

I dont think Menchov will usualy beat Contador in tts. It would be an interesting comparison, but to me Contador seems in recent years, with the exception of 2nd tt at Dauphine and Tour last year, to top 5 even podium most tts he does.

Beating Cancellara in Annency was something truly special.

As if Contador and Schleck are going to enter EVERY grand tour Gesink enters?

Its not as unlikely as you make it out. Afterall Gesink, is going for the Tour AGAIN this year. And it seems Andrew is going to be doing nothing but Tour for the next decade.

I saw some disapointment from you guys that Gesink did only the 1 gt last year, and is putting it all in the Tour again this year. As Hollands big hope in the race they care about more, i can understand why he does it.

But unless this policy changes in the future, Bobby WILL find himself entering EVERY grand Tour Andrew enters.

 

[The Hitch]

As if Contador and Schleck are going to enter EVERY grand tour Gesink enters?

Its not as unlikely as you make it out. Afterall Gesink, is going for the Tour AGAIN this year. And it seems Andrew is going to be doing nothing but Tour for the next decade.

I saw some disapointment from you guys that Gesink did only the 1 gt last year, and is putting it all in the Tour again this year. As Hollands big hope in the race they care about more, i can understand why he does it.

But unless this policy changes in the future, Bobby WILL find himself entering EVERY grand Tour Andrew enters.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

So you missed the memo that he is also doing the Vuelta this year. And plans to do 2 GT every year from now on...?

Ofcourse the Tour remains the main focus, it would be stupid not to with his talent.

 

[The Hitch]

So you missed the memo that he is also doing the Vuelta this year. And plans to do 2 GT every year from now on...?

Well i seriously doubt he can challenge at the Vuelta after going all out at the Tour. A crash at Tour could be his best hope. Facing a recovered, Menchov, Anton, Nibali and maybe Contador, weeks after hard alpine stages, well, he wont get that Grand Tour like that.

Ofcourse the Tour remains the main focus, it would be stupid not to with his talent

If this is your attitude, you cant really complain that Nibali has a gt and Gesink hasnt.

Far superior talents to Gesink - Menchov, Basso, Valverde have focused on other Gts and won them while Cadel Evans went mostly for the Tour. Greats such as Sastre and now Contador see no problem in going for other Grand Tours every now and again.

And you think Gesink is so special that it would be stupid not to follow the Cadel Evans line?

If thats the path he takes, then you will be sat here forever talking about how Gesink had the ability to easily beat all those guys that did win gts, and that he was superior to them all.

A sort of Dutch ACF

I mean meet me half way hear Ruben. Dont you agree that Gesink would be better off going for the Giro and Vuelta and skipping the Tour, to get that Grand Tour, first?

 

[Oldman]

Well i seriously doubt he can challenge at the Vuelta after going all out at the Tour. A crash at Tour could be his best hope. Facing a recovered, Menchov, Anton, Nibali and maybe Contador, weeks after hard alpine stages, well, he wont get that Grand Tour like that.



If this is your attitude, you cant really complain that Nibali has a gt and Gesink hasnt.

Far superior talents to Gesink - Menchov, Basso, Valverde have focused on other Gts and won them while Cadel Evans went mostly for the Tour. Greats such as Sastre and now Contador see no problem in going for other Grand Tours every now and again.

And you think Gesink is so special that it would be stupid not to follow the Cadel Evans line?

If thats the path he takes, then you will be sat here forever talking about how Gesink had the ability to easily beat all those guys that did win gts, and that he was superior to them all.

A sort of Dutch ACF

I mean meet me half way hear Ruben. Dont you agree that Gesink would be better off going for the Giro and Vuelta and skipping the Tour, to get that Grand Tour, first?

I think DT doesn't fully understand what it takes to contend for One GT. After that it gets harder, much harder even with talent. Even the best go for an average of their talents and hope their best attribute doesn't desert them in the third week...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think Gesink is simply an inconsistent rider. He is still learning his body and how to train properly to peak at the right time. I really like him and think if he continues to improve that he will be a name we hear a lot of in the future. However, considering his inconsistencies, it is hard to imagine him winning a grand tour.

I'm almost certain you have no idea what your talking about here. Especially considering one of gesinks biggest strengths is his consistency. Inconsistency has never been a problem, consistently staying on the bike on the other hand...

@royalpig I already stated I was wrong.

@hitch gesink is goin 2 gts this year.
And I disagree with your earlier posts, you paint a picture asif gesink will still be behind guys come next year, when I'n reality you discount progress a still young rider will make this year and next.
Only time will tell.

 

[Oldman]

I'm almost certain you have no idea what your talking about here. Especially considering one of gesinks biggest strengths is his consistency. Inconsistency has never been a problem, consistently staying on the bike on the other hand...

@royalpig I already stated I was wrong.

@hitch gesink is goin 2 gts this year.
And I disagree with your earlier posts, you paint a picture asif gesink will still be behind guys come next year, when I'n reality you discount progress a still young rider will make this year and next.Only time will tell.

Gesink will continue to improve if his maturation isn't complete and most anyone would give him that. The thread was about his TT ability and unless he has absolutely no clue how to set up his bike he will not make huge gains in performance without sacrificing some climbing ability. The question is always: where is that balance and can it be sustained for 3 weeks?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Basso, Valverde and Menchov are not 'far superior talents'