Horner' s interview

[Dr. Maserati]

I thought Horners comments were pretty accurate - Andy does have to arrive at the Tour in better form. That means being better right from the start of the season.

I actually think being on a Bruyneel team will be good for Andy (not Clinic talk) as JB will tolerate it less if Andy is not in good form right from the start of the season.

Pinotti is a very underestimated rider. He was 9th in one of the hardest Giro's ever, without being in the big breakaway. Had he been in that breakaway, he would have finished on the podium! Nonetheless, the course didn't suit him at all, so one can just imagine how well he could have done there with 2 long time trials.

I agree with your assessment of Pinotti - but I would doubt he will be in the TdF squad. I think for both himself & BMC they will be more interested in having him at the Giro.

 

[La Pandera]

He's a loud mouth + American = Loud mouth American

If he was an Aussie he'd be a loud mouth Aussie. Some people just want to get offended these days I guess...

Strange that my question wasn't directed at you so why are you answering it? Are you and ACF one and the same?

 

[La Pandera]

But yet we only hear people complaining about Contador's attack on Arcalis and when he dropped Klöden lol.

What Armstrong did was much more disgusting IMO. At one stage you could see him talk to Frank Schleck right before he attacked and Franki was right on his wheel and they co-operated till they were back to the front of the race.

That incident is conveniently forgotten or just ignored by those that still hold a grudge against Contador for not bowing down to LA and letting him have his gloriously triiumphant return to the Tour.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Strange that my question wasn't directed at you so why are you answering it? Are you and ACF one and the same?

i belive he answered because you came with a question that did not necessarily had to be answered from acf? no need to be so grumpy m8

 

[auscyclefan94]

What does his being an "American" have to do with anything? You say it as if it's a trait quite common in all Americans. Is that fair to imply or say?

See below.

He's a loud mouth + American = Loud mouth American

If he was an Aussie he'd be a loud mouth Aussie. Some people just want to get offended these days I guess...

Yes you are spot on. People like La Pandera want to feel self righteous so they can look down at people & call them every name under the sun.

Gilbert and Burghardt will fuse together to form a Swiss.

But seriously, I don't know a lot about the Swiss cyclists at BMC, so can't give my opinion on that.

I wonder if there will be a token swiss or if Burghardt will pass as swiss

Frank, Morabito and/or Schar could get a spot.

Gilbert
Hushovd
Burghardt
Evans
Pinnoti
Cummings
Hincapie

^ Those will be in it for sure if nothing bad happens

I doubt Pinotti will be. I have a feeling that Marco will do the giro this year to look for stages and possibl a high gc. I think that will be BMC's plan for the Giro.

 

[La Pandera]

See below.

Yes you are spot on. People like La Pandera want to feel self righteous so they can look down at people & call them every name under the sun.

I think the worst I've ever called anyone on this forum is a hypocrite and that likely was directed at you due primarily due to it being your own personal favorite when it comes to name-calling which I consistently find quite ironic.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think the worst I've ever called anyone on this forum is a hypocrite and that likely was directed at you due primarily to it being your own personal favorite when it comes to name-calling which I consistently find quite ironic.

Well I think the forum has made it pretty clear what they think of your attack on me. I'll be waiting for an apology. Regarding my comment about you, I will not be apologising because you often do look down on people even if you don't directly use an insulting word.

 

[Granville57]

On Horner, he has always been a loud mouth American who just spins the cliches and crap around whenever the media talks to him so no big story here.

Well of course he's "always been American" so it's redundant to attach the label. And it's perfectly obvious to anyone who follows the forum what your reaction would've been had the same been said of an Aussie.

You became a parody of yourself long ago. Just stop.

 

[daveinzambia]

Well of course he's "always been American" so it's redundant to attach the label. And it's perfectly obvious to anyone who follows the forum what your reaction would've been had the same been said of an Aussie.

You became a parody of yourself long ago. Just stop.

Agree, everyone knows he is American and no need to mention it here unless you are specifically trying to make a point about Americans being loud mouth's (is that the correct plural? does not seem right)

 

[La Pandera]

Well I think the forum has made it pretty clear what they think of your attack on me. I'll be waiting for an apology. Regarding my comment about you, I will not be apologising because you often do look down on people even if you don't directly use an insulting word.

As if I really care who springs to your defense. An apology?? For what? I don't see anywhere in my original post or any post after it that warrants one. If your skin so thin that any question posed to you gets your eyes all misty then you have some personal issues that need resolving. You've got a long wait coming for that apology.

 

[La Pandera]

Well of course he's "always been American" so it's redundant to attach the label. And it's perfectly obvious to anyone who follows the forum what your reaction would've been had the same been said of an Aussie.

You became a parody of yourself long ago. Just stop.

Well ACF it appears the forum isn't unanimous in their support as you seem to delusionally believe.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well ACF it appears the forum isn't unanimous in their support as you seem to delusionally believe.

Well when I poseted that comment I certainly seemed to have support. I am glad people who have supported you give you the need to gloat about it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gilbert
Hushovd
Burghardt
Evans
Pinnoti
Cummings
Hincapie

^ Those will be in it for sure if nothing bad happens

BMC just announced on their website that Pinotti's main targets for 2012 are the Giro and Olympics.

 

[Race Radio]

He's a loud mouth + American = Loud mouth American

If he was an Aussie he'd be a loud mouth Aussie. Some people just want to get offended these days I guess...

Have you ever talked to Chris? Loud is not a description that I would use.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Have you ever talked to Chris? Loud is not a description that I would use.

to be fair to el pistelero, it was actually me that made that comment. He was merely explaining what I was trying to say.

 

[movingtarget]

I thought Horners comments were pretty accurate - Andy does have to arrive at the Tour in better form. That means being better right from the start of the season.

I actually think being on a Bruyneel team will be good for Andy (not Clinic talk) as JB will tolerate it less if Andy is not in good form right from the start of the season.



I agree with your assessment of Pinotti - but I would doubt he will be in the TdF squad. I think for both himself & BMC they will be more interested in having him at the Giro.

Yeah I think Bruyneel will be good for Schleck with discipline and tactics especially maybe also some help re the TT. I don't think Pinotti would be a sure thing for the TDF unless there was a team time trial which there isn't. The medium mountains suit him but BMC for all the talk of their not buying climbers are still a stronger squad than last year. Evans would not be too concerned and Saxo plus Radio/Nissan don't look too formidable on paper. I think Evans would be pretty happy with the squad he is part of. If he can replicate his 2011 TDF form he will go close to winning. Contador will definitely be better and you would think also that Schleck will have to be better otherwise he has no chance. Schleck did not seem anywhere near as strong as he was in the 2010 TDF.

 

[Race Radio]

to be fair to el pistelero, it was actually me that made that comment. He was merely explaining what I was trying to say.

Chris is hardly a loud mouth. He will talk your ear off but he is not loud. He is an astute analyst of the sport.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I honestly think that Evans and his team thought it wiser to stick with the yellow jersey wearing Frank Schleck at the time of the attack. Had Frank attacked first Evans would've IMO shadowed him all the way up the climb (if he had the legs to do so). At that point in his career Evans was looking for someone else to bridge the gap for him. Only when the time splits for Sastre's attack continued to increase did Evans finally realize the error of his choice. Additionally he anticipated getting the time back in the ITT. Of course that never happened.

Frank Schleck didn't have the legs to do much, though. This was already apparent on the previous MTF. On the Bonette he wasn't one of the best, either.

Schleck was only 8 seconds ahead of Evans before the Alpe d'Huez stage, with Sastre only 41 behind Evans. Sastre already climbed WAY better than Frank and Evans on the previous MTF and was obviously a better time trialist than Frank, who was a horrible one back then.

You may very well be right that Evans was keen to follow Frank Schleck's every move on that stage at first, a huge tactical error in itself, but Sastre was always going to be the much bigger GC threat.

 

[just some guy]

Gilbert
Hushovd
Burghardt
Evans
Pinnoti
Cummings
Hincapie

^ Those will be in it for sure if nothing bad happens

Hushovd
Burghardt
Evans
Gilbert
Hincapie
Moinard
TJVG
Santaromita
Quinziato

Will IMO be the tour team - apparently Evans really rated Moinards work -and The other Ivan is very important for off the bike and keeping Cadel calm during the race.

But Cummings was a good call but if Cadel is in for the win same as this year if it all goes to crap BMC will have stage winners in Gilbert, Thor .

 

[Digger]

My issue with him is he certainly wasn't this candid when he was riding on the same team as Armstrong. He was quite docile and subservient. Where before he joined Bruyneel he never hesitated to speak his mind and issue his critiques. Not so in the 2 years with LA.

Well said.

 

[El Pistolero]

Have you ever talked to Chris? Loud is not a description that I would use.

Never called him a loud mouth, thank you. I would however describe him having a big mouth after watching this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ituh5z6P6TU

Besides, I'm not an American, so I doubt he'd be willing to be friendly against me

 

[El Pistolero]

Hushovd
Burghardt
Evans
Gilbert
Hincapie
Moinard
TJVG
Santaromita
Quinziato

Will IMO be the tour team - apparently Evans really rated Moinards work -and The other Ivan is very important for off the bike and keeping Cadel calm during the race.

But Cummings was a good call but if Cadel is in for the win same as this year if it all goes to crap BMC will have stage winners in Gilbert, Thor .

Yeah, I totally forgot about TJVG. He'll be in it as well if he has a decent year. But I do think Pinotti will be part of the team. The Tour suits him more than the Giro, I think they'll send a B(or C) squad to the Giro. Perhaps next year they'll send someone like Gilbert to the Giro to make up for it.

 

[cineteq]

Chris is hardly a loud mouth. He will talk your ear off but he is not loud. He is an astute analyst of the sport.

These people obviously have not watched Chris talk. This guy knows the sport and he's not afraid to have an opinion.

 

[richo36]

Really dont see what the big deal is about what he said. Personally think he is just being honest about his goals and motivation.

First off he is clearly refering to BMC being weak in the mountains because if he isnt he didnt watch any of this years tour. BMC controlled the race on flat to rolling hill stages. BMC are weak tho in the mountains IMO, so i see no problem with his statement.

I also dont see anything wrong with this statement:
"If Andy is the best guy at the Tour de France hands down, then I get to ride on the front on the second to last climb and start the last climb at the front. I’m on TV the whole time, destroying the whole field, bringing it down to five-ten guys maybe, and then Andy gets to go on and win the Tour de France and I make €50,000 afterwards, no problem"

First line states andy is the leader. He puts an "if" in at the start for the fact that the tour is half a year away. Alot can happen in that time. Also if in the race it is clear ("hands down") that andy is the best, horner will ride for him. However if he isnt we will go to plan b (either frank or himself to be team leader). Smart to have this plan in place, you dont want to have a wiggins/froome situation. He then goes on to how he will race for andy. IMO He will destroy the field. probaly not to 5-10 people (he does say maybe) but he will demolish the field. Peleton will drop from 180 to 10-30. He is not saying im going to push the pace so hard contador and evans and samu will struggle to keep up. He is saying im going to push the pace so contador evans samu are isolated and have no teammates. Then andy can launch and do the rest. Finally the lines "im on tv the whole time" and "I make $50000", thats his motivation to ride for andy. He gains a lot by being on the tv the whole time (publicity etc) and 50000 is a pretty good pay day.

Dont really care about the sastre stuff, dont know why horner brought it up, happened so long ago. evans made a tatical error but sastre was still better on the day.

 

[mewmewmew13]

You are really a tool.
Instead of just appreciating it, and especially the jokes, you go on mission and hope for the best.
Chris will ride at the front, even more km than Ultra-Pate and Bak added up together, hands free and holding a Coke and Snickers up in the air. Fully loaded of course.

To then even deliver excellent race analysis every night. Excellent. Godlike.
This guy even remembers each hundredth second of crashing.

Hi there , Cobbledy. C'mon...not nice the name-calling.
I don't do that.
I actually like Chris...it's one of those things , y'know, when you sit down and read something...and you just sorta shake your head and go ???
"What the heck did he just say???"

I do see on retro that he was probably just cackling out a stream of thoughts.
I wish him well and I was happy for him when he won the Basque...but his definitive statements that he was going to "destroy the field" next year on Tv was one of those things that made me go 'whoa'!

(on first read I also thought it sounded as if he were dissing his new teamie Andy a bit...)
I will truly be amazed if he could smash all the GC leaders to smithereens..
we'll see!

Now go pet your kitties