Gesink's time trialling abilities

[auscyclefan94]

IN a few hours time I will plead my case on why Gesink is an average to reasonable time trialler and nothing more than that. Haven't had time to properly comment on Gesink's abilities and analyse his results.

 

[Contre la montre]

I'm still undecided about Gesinks timetrialling abilities. I would say they are probably sufficient for winning a GT on a suitable course. He knows how to suffer and in the third week the ability to suffer becomes more important.

What I am decided on is Gesink's explosiveness. Two wins in Emmilia both in an uphill sprint show he has enough explosiveness.

 

[Lanark]

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

Valverde certainly is. Probably the most talented guy out there, with Contador. But just looking at GC's, he probably isn't no. Gesink is better than Basso and Menchov were at his age, but you never know how someone improves from there on.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Some results which should be dsicussed

13 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Stage 4 : Bourg-lès-Valence - Valence I.T.T.

The placing in this is quite deceiving especially for how much time he lost.

8 Vuelta al Pais Vasco, Stage 6 : Zalla - Zalla I.T.T.

A reasonable result

6 Tirreno - Adriatico, Stage 5 : Loreto - Macerata I.T.T.

Yes the placing seems to be evidence that he is a good time trialler but this time trial like Oman suits a rider who is strong on climbs. This is indicated by firstly by some of the riders who finished highly in the tt were climbers not time triallers and secondly the route was rather undulating.

13 Tour of California, Stage 6 : Solvang I.T.T.

Again, not a bad result but he beat nobody who was of a high quality. Yes he beat Armstrong but seriously it was his come back race and he was fat as it is at that point.

9 Vuelta a España, Stage 20 : La Granja de San Ildefonso - Alto de Navacerrada I.T.T.

A mountain time trial so it is a good result but as more of a climber it obviously suits him.

10 Olympic Games (Beijing) - I.T.T.

Now this result is not bad but lets look at the course. It was a very tough course which was going to very much suit Gesink and secondly a lot of the field had come off riding the tour so obviously they were going to be fairly tired. Gesink would of been rather fresh.

10 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Stage 3 : Saint-Paul-en-Jarez I.T.T.

Again not a bad result in placing but wasn't a great field that he beat and wasn't up with the top guys.

5 Vuelta al Pais Vasco, Stage 6 : Orio I.T.T.

A good result.

Again, I think Gesink is a around a reasonable standard of time trialler but I think he is over-hyped when talking about his ability in the time trial.

Just remember that I am not trying to be provocative.

Discuss away...

 

[Barrus]

I thought everyone already tought of him as a reasonable tt-er who does well in hilly tt's but suffers on the flat, or flatter tt's, which could certainly hurt his chances of ever winning the tour (not that much of concern in the Giro and the Vuelta).

he is not bad, but he is not amongst the best and has problems on the flat, although perhaps this year will be a bit differently, seeing as he has focused more on his tt abilities this winter, perhaps this can pay of. When is the first flatter tt, or tt-bike tt he'll ride this year, does anyone know?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Oh come on. If Basso wins the Giro...
Basso post-epo never did a half decent time trial.

Hell what are we talking about, Mosquera even almost won the Vuelta. Talking about an anti-tt man...

And Gesink is 24 year old for crying out loud. How can you already say that. LOL.

the giro has basically no flat itt in it, totally stupid comparision

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

And beaten by Gesink in bothVuelta TT of 2009, even though Gesink rode with a giant hole in his knee in the 2nd one.

Catch my drift?

no. we are asking for TOUR winners that couldn't do well in itt?? name me one in the past 20 years??

 

[Lanark]

I thought everyone already tought of him as a reasonable tt-er who does well in hilly tt's but suffers on the flat, or flatter tt's, which could certainly hurt his chances of ever winning the tour (not that much of concern in the Giro and the Vuelta).

he is not bad, but he is not amongst the best and has problems on the flat, although perhaps this year will be a bit differently, seeing as he has focused more on his tt abilities this winter, perhaps this can pay of. When is the first flatter tt, or tt-bike tt he'll ride this year, does anyone know?

Tirreno-Adriatico. But that's a short 10 km TT, not really a good indication for a 40k Tour TT. After that, probably the Dauphiné.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I thought everyone already tought of him as a reasonable tt-er who does well in hilly tt's but suffers on the flat, or flatter tt's, which could certainly hurt his chances of ever winning the tour (not that much of concern in the Giro and the Vuelta).

he is not bad, but he is not amongst the best and has problems on the flat, although perhaps this year will be a bit differently, seeing as he has focused more on his tt abilities this winter, perhaps this can pay of. When is the first flatter tt, or tt-bike tt he'll ride this year, does anyone know?

I am pretty sure he is competing in tirrenno. There is a ttt and an itt.

I made this thread to discuss the point about his ability in the tt as I thought his ability was a bit over-hyped. Though I can't talk as I over-hype TGAK!

 

[Barrus]

no. we are asking for TOUR winners that couldn't do well in itt?? name me one in the past 20 years??

Oscar Pereiro Sio?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Oscar Pereiro Sio?

Floyd Landis?

 

[boomcie]

no. we are asking for TOUR winners that couldn't do well in itt?? name me one in the past 20 years??

I would have to say Pantani. I know he finished third in a TT in 1998, but still.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I believe gesink could win the tour in a way sastre did with incredible overkill in teamstrenght with mayeb a dozen colombian riders and he attacks and gets away and he could win I suppose.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I would have to say Pantani. I know he finished third in a TT in 1998, but still.

pantani was more than fine itt rider. top 3 tour itt, giro itt. when it mattered he was one of the better itt riders

 

[auscyclefan94]

pantani was more than fine itt rider. top 3 tour itt, giro itt. when it mattered he was one of the better itt riders

Pantani? fine itt rider? are you serious?

 

[boomcie]

pantani was more than fine itt rider. top 3 tour itt, giro itt. when it mattered he was one of the better itt riders

On hilly courses. Ring a bell?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Valverde certainly is. Probably the most talented guy out there, with Contador. But just looking at GC's, he probably isn't no. Gesink is better than Basso and Menchov were at his age, but you never know how someone improves from there on.

Rewind Vuelta 2009, before that disastrous mt stage where Gesink lost 4 minutes due to the whole in his knee, he was Valverde's biggest challenger in every mt stage, and was only what, 30 seconds behind? Evans, Basso and Samuel were all there and doing worse up till that point.

So I don't see why the 'super talented Valverde, Basso and Menchov' would be so far above it according to the Hitch. Because this was 2009, and a Gesink not quite ont he level he is now...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

no. we are asking for TOUR winners that couldn't do well in itt?? name me one in the past 20 years??

Pantani

easy...give me a new one

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

no. we are asking for TOUR winners that couldn't do well in itt?? name me one in the past 20 years??

Sastre, Perriro; neither were better time trialists then gesink.

I don't get it, no one is claiming gesink is a great time trialist, we established he can do well on hilly courses, strugles with flat and prolouges. and hard to tell how bad he really is at a long flat itt. I really can't accept he'd be any worse then say... andy schleck. There or there abouts anyway.

Who is to say gesink's climbing ability won't continue to improve?
he is only 24

 

[boomcie]

There might actually be a good anology there. I don't hear anyone saying Andy can't win the Tour, because he can.

And to be honest, his TT is horrible, at least as bad as Gesink's.

 

[Potomac]

Gesink is very young so he may able to improve his TT ability over the next few years.

As they stand, those TT results look like a liability for a GT contender, however he has managed to put together 3 top 10s in a GT, which indicates just how strong his climbing must be.


Investment in improving his TT should really pay off.

 

[The Hitch]

So I don't see why the 'super talented Valverde, Basso and Menchov' would be so far above it according to the Hitch. Because this was 2009, and a Gesink not quite ont he level he is now...

Ok. I chose the wrong words mate. When your right your right. Basso and Menchov are not far superior to Gesink.


I personaly dont think Gesink will emulate Basso or Menchov. And i think the whole age issue is overated by fans. Cunego and Ullrich won gts before 25 and never again. Others like Mosquera dont hit it till their late 30's. Everyone is different and good form at 23 is under no circumstances a guarantee of future success. In many cases good form at 23 just means people peak early and dont really imrpove much as time goes on.

But at Gesinks age neither Ivan the terrible nor the pope had done as well as he has.


But as for Valverde well he is far superior to Gesink. He had done more than Gesink at that age in gts, and hes got the whole sprinter angle as well as Ardennes classic top dog card going as well.

With the exception of Contador, and possible exception of Spartacus and maybe Michael Kwiatkoswki, the greatest rider of this generation. However great Gesink will be, that is not a status he looks at all likely to reach.

 

[Oldman]

Pantani

easy...give me a new one

If Gesink follows the Pantani "formula" he might have it easy, too. I thought you actually meant could he TT without a huge medical advantage. 140lb(-) climbers that "TT well when they need to" is a reliable indication of serious dopage, not talent.

 

[Havetts]

Pantani might not be the best example due to obvious clinic reasons, but Sastre for example? I'd call him mediocre at TT'ing at best..

 

[jaylew]

a reasonable tt-er who does well in hilly tt's but suffers on the flat, or flatter tt's, which could certainly hurt his chances of ever winning the tour (not that much of concern in the Giro and the Vuelta).

he is not bad, but he is not amongst the best and has problems on the flat

Best description.