I seem to have a different taste than anyone else on this forum, I wonder if it's because I'm still a teenager and most of the contributors are adults.
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SHAD0W93 said:Hopefully he gets Flanders next year.
True. I've always seen him as the bridge between Sagan and Kwiatkowski.Nirvana said:For him isn't surpring, if he wants he can stay with a top 15/20 GC riders gruop.
Many tends to underrate his climbing, maybe because he is considered primarily a cobbles rider.
At this point, he isn't in as good shape as in 2017. Maybe that was his peak, but he wasn't that bad in Omloop either really. He was actually pretty good.Lexman said:not after Strade Bianche
I think 2017 was exceptional in terms of how great 4-5 of the classic riders where: Greg, Gilbert, Kwito, Valverde and then of course Sagan who didnt have his best year, yet still was strong. I don't think that is happening again in the near future: we witnessed some truly special performances and the ceiling of those guys were super high. I think you can be a little lesser this year and still win, at least I don't see Greg and Gil getting better or staying at the exactly same and high level.Dekker_Tifosi said:There are many riders currently not in their 2017 shape at this period. A lot has to do with the riders preparing in Oman/Dubai/Abu Dhabi coming to cold europe. A big portion of them have failed to adept. It takes time. A lot of riders are ill now as well.
Valv.Piti said:I think 2017 was exceptional in terms of how great 4-5 of the classic riders where: Greg, Gilbert, Kwito, Valverde and then of course Sagan who didnt have his best year, yet still was strong. I don't think that is happening again in the near future: we witnessed some truly special performances and the ceiling of those guys were super high. I think you can be a little lesser this year and still win, at least I don't see Greg and Gil getting better or staying at the exactly same and high level.Dekker_Tifosi said:There are many riders currently not in their 2017 shape at this period. A lot has to do with the riders preparing in Oman/Dubai/Abu Dhabi coming to cold europe. A big portion of them have failed to adept. It takes time. A lot of riders are ill now as well.
Yup, the racing was for the most part exceptional and the riders had an exceptional high level, too. Overall without a doubt the best classics campaign I have followed, primarily talking about the cobbles, but I haven't followed too many that closely either.Emotional Cobble Guy said:Valv.Piti said:I think 2017 was exceptional in terms of how great 4-5 of the classic riders where: Greg, Gilbert, Kwito, Valverde and then of course Sagan who didnt have his best year, yet still was strong. I don't think that is happening again in the near future: we witnessed some truly special performances and the ceiling of those guys were super high. I think you can be a little lesser this year and still win, at least I don't see Greg and Gil getting better or staying at the exactly same and high level.Dekker_Tifosi said:There are many riders currently not in their 2017 shape at this period. A lot has to do with the riders preparing in Oman/Dubai/Abu Dhabi coming to cold europe. A big portion of them have failed to adept. It takes time. A lot of riders are ill now as well.
Although i think its still a wee bit early to make these predictions i must admit you can feel its gonna be a quite different classics campaign.
2017 was exceptional, one of the most crazy first halves of a season i've experienced.
GVA didnt look too bad today in Tirreno imo being up there with alot of GC guys. Most riders of his "class" got dropped
this isn't his race at all. he was good enough on harelbeke.Dekker_Tifosi said:Hmm. While he was there again this day. He never seemed super. He's in decent form, but nothing like last year. I wonder if he just peaked right at RVV/PR this year, or undercooked it a little...
It seems like it. He doesn't really have the tools to force much if he's not 100%.Dekker_Tifosi said:Hmm. While he was there again this day. He never seemed super. He's in decent form, but nothing like last year. I wonder if he just peaked right at RVV/PR this year, or undercooked it a little...