I have enjoyed Baden Cooke's Vuelta commentary with Matt Keenan on SBS. He's a bit different to some of the other commentators.
You would think so. The results have dried up and he's 37. One day riders can go for longer but not all of them. He's probably in more of a mentor role now anyway which is still good for the team but with only teams of 8 next season you have to wonder what his role would be.dirkprovin said:Given he is 37, wouldn't retirement be a distinct possibility ? If he is wanting to continue racing then most likely it will have to be at a lower tier given his record of accidents and injuries in recent years.fattyboomstixsmum said:Where is Gerrans going?dirkprovin said:4 confirmed outs: Cort, Gerrans, Keukeleire, Plaza
Would appear to be 2 years.claude cat said:Haig has re-signed. Not sure of the duration.
http://www.greenedgecycling.com/news/haig-at-home-with-orica-scott
Gerrans should be going to a DS role.movingtarget said:You would think so. The results have dried up and he's 37. One day riders can go for longer but not all of them. He's probably in more of a mentor role now anyway which is still good for the team but with only teams of 8 next season you have to wonder what his role would be.dirkprovin said:Given he is 37, wouldn't retirement be a distinct possibility ? If he is wanting to continue racing then most likely it will have to be at a lower tier given his record of accidents and injuries in recent years.fattyboomstixsmum said:Where is Gerrans going?dirkprovin said:4 confirmed outs: Cort, Gerrans, Keukeleire, Plaza
Big call. Another year is needed before Haig needs that kind of expectation.yaco said:Will end up a better GC rider than the Yates brothers, and some chance to get to the level of Chaves - Expect to ride a shadow GC in 2018 which will be his third year.
My view fits somewhere in between. He is about to turn 24 and therefore has a greater physical maturity than most 1st/2nd year pros who make the switch at earlier ages. Whilst I do largely agree with Yaco re his potential (seems to climb as well as either Yates, stronger TTer); there should be no hurry to pile expectation and hype upon him.42x16ss said:Big call. Another year is needed before Haig needs that kind of expectation.yaco said:Will end up a better GC rider than the Yates brothers, and some chance to get to the level of Chaves - Expect to ride a shadow GC in 2018 which will be his third year.
I am comfortable with my call - I am not expecting any GT GC results from Haig until year 4 and I am referring to years down the track.42x16ss said:Big call. Another year is needed before Haig needs that kind of expectation.yaco said:Will end up a better GC rider than the Yates brothers, and some chance to get to the level of Chaves - Expect to ride a shadow GC in 2018 which will be his third year.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it happens, but I don't see it as a certainty that Haig will be better than both Yates. I do expect him to genuinely challenge GT results in the future though.dirkprovin said:My view fits somewhere in between. He is about to turn 24 and therefore has a greater physical maturity than most 1st/2nd year pros who make the switch at earlier ages. Whilst I do largely agree with Yaco re his potential (seems to climb as well as either Yates, stronger TTer); there should be no hurry to pile expectation and hype upon him.42x16ss said:Big call. Another year is needed before Haig needs that kind of expectation.yaco said:Will end up a better GC rider than the Yates brothers, and some chance to get to the level of Chaves - Expect to ride a shadow GC in 2018 which will be his third year.
Let him get some GC experience at WT one weekers next season and, if his form merits, possibly give him a slot as a GC "B option" at one of next years GTs. In the meantime, let the talking heads continue to pump up Richie's tyres and talk up Dennis whilst he sneaks under the radar.
I think we've seen sufficient of both Yates' to have a fairly good read on their capacities and limitations.42x16ss said:Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if it happens, but I don't see it as a certainty that Haig will be better than both Yates. I do expect him to genuinely challenge GT results in the future though.dirkprovin said:My view fits somewhere in between. He is about to turn 24 and therefore has a greater physical maturity than most 1st/2nd year pros who make the switch at earlier ages. Whilst I do largely agree with Yaco re his potential (seems to climb as well as either Yates, stronger TTer); there should be no hurry to pile expectation and hype upon him.42x16ss said:Big call. Another year is needed before Haig needs that kind of expectation.yaco said:Will end up a better GC rider than the Yates brothers, and some chance to get to the level of Chaves - Expect to ride a shadow GC in 2018 which will be his third year.
Let him get some GC experience at WT one weekers next season and, if his form merits, possibly give him a slot as a GC "B option" at one of next years GTs. In the meantime, let the talking heads continue to pump up Richie's tyres and talk up Dennis whilst he sneaks under the radar.
For me, the truly scary talent is Power, IF he gets his health and form right.
Anyone who was making such predictions must only have been looking at the names and not the actual condition of the riders themselves. It was a head-scratcher when it was first touted that they would send all 3 GC men to the Vuelta and absolutely mind-boggling that they actually followed through and did so. It's left them top-heavy/"too many chiefs, not enough Indians" with one of the GC men not even capable of even being a meaningful domestique.HelloDolly said:Must be very disappointed with this Vuelta ....considering that at the onset they were listed as the team to take on SKY
It's been a shocking Vuelta - As DP wrote sending 3 GC riders to a GT is a recipe for disaster - I suppose it's seems a good idea if you are into fantasy cycling - Actually so far the whole GT season has been extremely disappointing - Nowhere near a podium and one stage across the three GT's makes for poor reading.HelloDolly said:Must be very disappointed with this Vuelta ....considering that at the onset they were listed as the team to take on SKY
Whilst I largely agree that this Vuelta has been distinctly sub-standard and the GTs, in general, disappointing; the reality was that it was going to be difficult to match last seasons results let alone improve upon them.yaco said:It's been a shocking Vuelta - As DP wrote sending 3 GC riders to a GT is a recipe for disaster - I suppose it's seems a good idea if you are into fantasy cycling - Actually so far the whole GT season has been extremely disappointing - Nowhere near a podium and one stage across the three GT's makes for poor reading.HelloDolly said:Must be very disappointed with this Vuelta ....considering that at the onset they were listed as the team to take on SKY
Wins are always nice. However, the overall significance of racking up wins in a 2nd tier non WT race = maybe 3 parts of diddly squat. 2017 with 2 GT podiums, 2 more GT top 10s and 2 monuments was always going to be exceedingly difficult to match let alone exceed.Dazed and Confused said:As the entire GC team tanked in Spain, Ewan is doing his best to accumulate wins in Britland.
He certainly is. Made the time cuts very easily. Would not surprise if there is a real effort to get him up for at least a prominent showing in the sprint given his efforts for others on various stages.Alexandre B. said:Is Cort still in the race? Tomorrow is the last opportunity to save this Vuelta.
No top-10 in GC is a bit of a bummer with this startlist.
It's hardly been a terrible season - Disappointing from a GC perspective no doubt, solid in the classics, very solid in the sprints with Ewan and some young riders are developing well - Overall it's been a solid season but more was expected.portugal11 said:Terrible season
Especially when the guy who was - perhaps - your best shot for the overall loses a large part of the season due to injury, and has to deal with personal issues on top.dirkprovin said:Wins are always nice. However, the overall significance of racking up wins in a 2nd tier non WT race = maybe 3 parts of diddly squat. 2017 with 2 GT podiums, 2 more GT top 10s and 2 monuments was always going to be exceedingly difficult to match let alone exceed.Dazed and Confused said:As the entire GC team tanked in Spain, Ewan is doing his best to accumulate wins in Britland.
Orica shot themselves in the foot with their selections for this GT ..... and when you send unbalanced teams to any GT where you have any legitimate ambitions; you pay for it. It is what it is .... what is imperative is that the strategic mis-steps made prior to and during this season are not only acknowledged but never repeated.
A more reasonable summation. Realistically, it was a massive ask to live up to the level of 2016 with 2 GT podiums + 2 other GT top10s plus 2 monuments.yaco said:It's hardly been a terrible season - Disappointing from a GC perspective no doubt, solid in the classics, very solid in the sprints with Ewan and some young riders are developing well - Overall it's been a solid season but more was expected.portugal11 said:Terrible season