Greg Van Avermaet

[Saint Unix]

Re: Re:

A lot of full-blown statements there, but I understand your emotions. I probably would have been equally enthusiastic if Fabian had won RVV last year. I may never become a fan of Van Avermaet, but he deserved the win most of the those in the front trio, and based on his whole career there's no denying a monument win had to come sooner or later. Congratulations to him and to all of his fans. Enjoy the moment!

I'm not a fan of van Avermaet, but there's no denying the class he's shown since the ORR.

I don't dislike GvA, by the way. I just prefer other riders. Sagan is a far more proactive and entertaining rider, while also having panache in abundance, for example.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

He's had an insane year after so many years of being the quintessential "Nearly Guy". Without a doubt the best cyclist in the world at the moment. Any rider who finishes in the front group of P-R deserves to win, but GvA clearly deserved it the most of them. Puncture before Arenberg and did most of the work in the front trio.

Just amazing to think that a rider, in this day and age of specialization, could possibly win both Paris Roubaix and the Olympic Road Race on that course. Possibly could have added RVV if he wasn't taken down as well.

Having taken Sagan's place as the undoubted star of the Classics, I bet he's got his eye on the World Champions jersey now as well. Must be the early favourite.

A lot of full-blown statements there, but I understand your emotions. I probably would have been equally enthusiastic if Fabian had won RVV last year. I may never become a fan of Van Avermaet, but he deserved the win most of the those in the front trio, and based on his whole career there's no denying a monument win had to come sooner or later. Congratulations to him and to all of his fans. Enjoy the moment!

Yeah, perhaps I'm a bit over effusive with the praise Just delighted to see such a talented rider get his first monument - and probably the best one to win as well!

Nice for Belgium as well, that with Boonen retiring (although in reality he hasn't done much for five years now), they have GVA an Gilbert (re)emerging as genuine superstars - and perhaps Naesen will soon join them as well.

 

[yaco]

The shame is such a wonderfully talented rider only has a 9 page thread.

 

[Mr.White]

What a monster shape! He seems to be more stronger as the race goes on. I have a feeling he'd be able to ride in front up until tomorrow, and still won a sprint! Strongest guy in the classics, no doubt! He's stronger than Sagan, and tactically much better. I posted in Valverde thread yesterday that Bala overcome GVA as the best rider of the season so far with his Itzulia win. But now, Greg is way up ahead. Dream season so far, he basically won or came 2nd in every important race he entered.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

What a monster shape! He seems to be more stronger as the race goes on. I have a feeling he'd be able to ride in front up until tomorrow, and still won a sprint! Strongest guy in the classics, no doubt! He's stronger than Sagan, and tactically much better. I posted in Valverde thread yesterday that Bala overcome GVA as the best rider of the season so far with his Itzulia win. But now, Greg is way up ahead. Dream season so far, he basically won or came 2nd in every important race he entered.

Yeah, it's been an incredible start to the year. I guess Milano-Sanremo is the one exception to this where he missed the key move. He's never done particularly well there (i think 5th last year was his best ever, and that was kind of lucky to finish so high) - it's the one big classic he does where he can't really use his insane endurance to get into a winning position.

 

[Jancouver]

Re:

What a 9 months! I'm so happy for him. Good point about him winning both Roubaix and the Olympics on such a tough course. Then again, he's always had that versatility. He even has good results in LBL and Lombardia.

Edit: switched Olympics for Worlds

Yes, he won the Olympics and Roubaix, but do you realize that he was just lucky that other riders ahead of him crashed or had mechanicals on both occasions?

He would never win (at least the Olympics) without the bad luck the others had. Hey, he is a great rider, but around here it sounds like he crushed the fields on both occasions with his own strength and that is not exactly the case.

 

[jaylew]

I disagree with you saying he was just lucky. A rider with the results he's had the last year isn't just lucky. And he was incredibly strong in both races you mention.

But who said he crushed the fields I don't think anyone is saying that. He's just always there, whether winning or 2nd. He even went 1-2 in Canada last year, was 5th at San Sebastian, and was in the final group of ~10 at Worlds. To be fair, Sagan is probably just as versatile.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Congrats GVA with a very fine victory. And what a ride from his team mate: Oss. Chapeau.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re: Re:

What a 9 months! I'm so happy for him. Good point about him winning both Roubaix and the Olympics on such a tough course. Then again, he's always had that versatility. He even has good results in LBL and Lombardia.

Edit: switched Olympics for Worlds

Yes, he won the Olympics and Roubaix, but do you realize that he was just lucky that other riders ahead of him crashed or had mechanicals on both occasions?

He would never win (at least the Olympics) without the bad luck the others had. Hey, he is a great rider, but around here it sounds like he crushed the fields on both occasions with his own strength and that is not exactly the case.

Tell me one big race where at least one of the favorites didn't experience bad luck.

Sagan had it easy last year in the Ronde with Gilbert not even being at the start line, Greg crashing out and Cancellara riding like an imbecile.

 

[Katabatic]

Re: Re:

What a 9 months! I'm so happy for him. Good point about him winning both Roubaix and the Olympics on such a tough course. Then again, he's always had that versatility. He even has good results in LBL and Lombardia.

Edit: switched Olympics for Worlds

Yes, he won the Olympics and Roubaix, but do you realize that he was just lucky that other riders ahead of him crashed or had mechanicals on both occasions?

He would never win (at least the Olympics) without the bad luck the others had. Hey, he is a great rider, but around here it sounds like he crushed the fields on both occasions with his own strength and that is not exactly the case.

You could just as easily turn this argument on its head and say that Nibali and Henao crashed because they were desperate to try to hold off late chargers in the flat like GVA. They had been down the parcour before. There was no excuse outside of carelessness.

And it's hardly a given that they could not have been chased down regardless. Nibali was the only one of the lead trio that's even decent at time trials or flats.

 

[Poursuivant]

Really pleased for him, I have warmed to him this year, he has really earned all his victories.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Hands down the best rider in the world right now. If it wasn't meant to be for Tommeke, this was the real winner for me. Good thing he finally gets a monument, but imagine if Sagan wouldn't have crashed last Sunday. If the would have caught Gilbert, GvA would win 9 out of 10 times on the line.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

What a 9 months! I'm so happy for him. Good point about him winning both Roubaix and the Olympics on such a tough course. Then again, he's always had that versatility. He even has good results in LBL and Lombardia.

Edit: switched Olympics for Worlds

Yes, he won the Olympics and Roubaix, but do you realize that he was just lucky that other riders ahead of him crashed or had mechanicals on both occasions?

He would never win (at least the Olympics) without the bad luck the others had. Hey, he is a great rider, but around here it sounds like he crushed the fields on both occasions with his own strength and that is not exactly the case.

Tell me one big race where at least one of the favorites didn't experience bad luck.

Sagan had it easy last year in the Ronde with Gilbert not even being at the start line, Greg crashing out and Cancellara riding like an imbecile.

Last year, as an April's fools, I wrote an article analysing Alberto Contador's Grand Tour victories and in every single race, bar the 2009 TdF, I found evidence supporting the notion (and the article's conclusion) that he had just gotten lucky by winning them.

When I think about it, that type of article was written exactly like how you conduct yourself on this forum. By blowing each small portion of luck way out of proportion to label it the sole decisive factor in a given race, thus completely disregarding the eventual winner's strengths and ascribing his victory to nothing but dumb luck.

Except for the fact that that article was meant as a joke, whereas your incessant ramblings clearly aren't.

Luck is present in every race - yesterday it was extreme (and it was so too at the Olympics) - but to say that GvA has won everything on luck alone is just ridiculous.

Unfortunately, the article I'm referring to is in Danish, so it wouldn't make much sense linking to it here.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

What a 9 months! I'm so happy for him. Good point about him winning both Roubaix and the Olympics on such a tough course. Then again, he's always had that versatility. He even has good results in LBL and Lombardia.

Edit: switched Olympics for Worlds

Yes, he won the Olympics and Roubaix, but do you realize that he was just lucky that other riders ahead of him crashed or had mechanicals on both occasions?

He would never win (at least the Olympics) without the bad luck the others had. Hey, he is a great rider, but around here it sounds like he crushed the fields on both occasions with his own strength and that is not exactly the case.

Tell me one big race where at least one of the favorites didn't experience bad luck.

Sagan had it easy last year in the Ronde with Gilbert not even being at the start line, Greg crashing out and Cancellara riding like an imbecile.

Last year, as an April's fools, I wrote an article analysing Alberto Contador's Grand Tour victories and in every single race, bar the 2009 TdF, I found evidence supporting the notion (and the article's conclusion) that he had just gotten lucky by winning them.

When I think about it, that type of article was written exactly like how you conduct yourself on this forum. By blowing each small portion of luck way out of proportion to label it the sole decisive factor in a given race, thus completely disregarding the eventual winner's strengths and ascribing his victory to nothing but dumb luck.

Except for the fact that that article was meant as a joke, whereas your incessant ramblings clearly aren't.

Luck is present in every race - yesterday it was extreme (and it was so too at the Olympics) - but to say that GvA has won everything on luck alone is just ridiculous.

Unfortunately, the article I'm referring to is in Danish, so it wouldn't make much sense linking to it here.

I would like to read it - I'm Danish

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

I would like to read it - I'm Danish

As you wish

http://www.feltet.dk/nyheder/afsloering_alle_contadors_sejre_vundet_paa_held/

 

[Põhja Konn]

His victories this season has showed that having a best sprint after a hard day in the saddle is a deadly weapon. What I cannot understand though is how he got the treatment of a secondary favourite by his rivals up until (and including) yesterday. Despite having won the 3 most important cobbled races prior to Ronde van Vlaanderen, he was still not treated as a man to beat by his fellow competitors neither in Ronde nor Roubaix. And thats been his greatest feat (or biggest slice of luck, depending on how to look at it) - winning consistently in a way that avoids putting the target on his back.
Why his rivals didn't go all out to eliminate him after his crash yesterday, when they did exactly that for Sagan and Cancellara a year earlier is utterly incomprehensible.

There's no doubt he has had significant amount of good fortune in getting his big wins, but the important thing is, he has always made sure he is there and ready to take advantage from it if lady luck is smiling. In the end, that is what matters and that is why he is a deserved and worthy winner of all those races.

After this spring it should be abundantly clear for each and every one of his rivals that if they want to win a cobbled classic they have to beat GVA. And to beat GVA, they have to get rid of him before the finish. I really want to see how he fares, when he is the one with the target on his back, with his rivals riding specifically against him like they did with Cancellara and have done in recent years with Sagan.

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

What a fu******* thread? van avermat looser

Yeah, what a looser

 

[RedheadDane]

I might be judgemental, but I wouldn't give much for a post coming from someone with a profile picture like that. Besides, lots of things have happened in seven years.

At funny little moment happened at the BMC victory-thingy yesterday. Basically Ochowicz was making a speech while Greg was standing next to him with his trophy, look a little... well... the way I suppose you're looking when you're holding a rock. After some time Ochowicz finally had mercy and allowed him to but the trophy on a table.

 

[VO2 Max]

Re:

His victories this season has showed that having a best sprint after a hard day in the saddle is a deadly weapon. What I cannot understand though is how he got the treatment of a secondary favourite by his rivals up until (and including) yesterday. Despite having won the 3 most important cobbled races prior to Ronde van Vlaanderen, he was still not treated as a man to beat by his fellow competitors neither in Ronde nor Roubaix. And thats been his greatest feat (or biggest slice of luck, depending on how to look at it) - winning consistently in a way that avoids putting the target on his back.
Why his rivals didn't go all out to eliminate him after his crash yesterday, when they did exactly that for Sagan and Cancellara a year earlier is utterly incomprehensible.

What he's doing is handling this spring's key dynamic of Sagan vs QS really well and really taking advantage of the almost stand-off that's going on there. I still don't put him quite at Sagan's level, but the longer everyone else stays terrified of Sagan then the more stuff GVA is going to win. He's very smart as well as super strong.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re: Re:

What a fu******* thread? van avermat looser

Yeah, what a looser

Is this our friend Oleg Tinkov?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

I would like to read it - I'm Danish

As you wish

http://www.feltet.dk/nyheder/afsloering_alle_contadors_sejre_vundet_paa_held/

Haha, I remember reading that article once.

How many Danes are we, we must be one of the best represented countries relative to population in here (I didn't know Koblet was Dane).

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

I would like to read it - I'm Danish

As you wish

http://www.feltet.dk/nyheder/afsloering_alle_contadors_sejre_vundet_paa_held/

Haha, I remember reading that article once.

How many Danes are we, we must be one of the best represented countries relative to population in here (I didn't know Koblet was Dane).

We're everywhere!

 

[dlwssonic]

Re: Re:

What a 9 months! I'm so happy for him. Good point about him winning both Roubaix and the Olympics on such a tough course. Then again, he's always had that versatility. He even has good results in LBL and Lombardia.

Edit: switched Olympics for Worlds

Yes, he won the Olympics and Roubaix, but do you realize that he was just lucky that other riders ahead of him crashed or had mechanicals on both occasions?

He would never win (at least the Olympics) without the bad luck the others had. Hey, he is a great rider, but around here it sounds like he crushed the fields on both occasions with his own strength and that is not exactly the case.

How do you know for sure. Do you have the time gap that GVA's group had to Nibali just as the crash happened. And GVA's group was much bigger and there was a flat straight before the finish.

Anyway the Olympics win was impressive because of the profile not because of his dominance. He beat climbers on a extremely tough course. Anyway Roubaix has never suited him that much, he never really stood out that much on the flat cobbles. His specialty is short sharp climbs and small group sprints which he has dominated along with Sagan for the past two years.

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

His victories this season has showed that having a best sprint after a hard day in the saddle is a deadly weapon. What I cannot understand though is how he got the treatment of a secondary favourite by his rivals up until (and including) yesterday. Despite having won the 3 most important cobbled races prior to Ronde van Vlaanderen, he was still not treated as a man to beat by his fellow competitors neither in Ronde nor Roubaix. And thats been his greatest feat (or biggest slice of luck, depending on how to look at it) - winning consistently in a way that avoids putting the target on his back.
Why his rivals didn't go all out to eliminate him after his crash yesterday, when they did exactly that for Sagan and Cancellara a year earlier is utterly incomprehensible.

What he's doing is handling this spring's key dynamic of Sagan vs QS really well and really taking advantage of the almost stand-off that's going on there. I still don't put him quite at Sagan's level, but the longer everyone else stays terrified of Sagan then the more stuff GVA is going to win. He's very smart as well as super strong.

He's ahead atm, results don't lie. It's not one race, where you might had bad luck or something, it's 5-6 races and he's better in every one of them (well except MSR, but that one really doesn't suit Greg). Don't be delusional. He has much higher level of endurance, which is the most important thing in these races, and thanks to that he can produce better sprint at the finish line. Sagan is more explosive, out of the question, but he never dropped Greg for good. He always comes back. Boonen was like that, Cancellara too. Sagan, no! He needs to work on that, endurance is the key!

 

[Netserk]

He dropped him in Wevelgem last year.