I don't get the Gerrans hate

[IndianCyclist]

Gerrans is a rider who has maximized his palmares for his talent.His ability to bluff, out wait other riders is extraordinary. The tactics followed are simple. Chase down late attackers with team. Once team is done utilize the services of other teams if available. Once the finale is set make sure other leaders(big names) chase the attackers as they have more to lose and stick to those leaders like a limpet. then at 100-200 m sprint. He has won a mountain stage of the TDF just by bluffing Egoi Martinez who was a climber. As a result he has won MSR, LBL but only once. After every team is wise to the same, nobody would cooperate. It is like you sow the seeds, you water the plants, you harvest the wheat, you bake the bread and somebody else eats it without paying. Valverde used to do the same long time ago as a result he got lot of 2nd places. Once he took control of the finale, he started to win a lot. But if Gerrans does that he probably would not win. Gerrans' WCC 2014 when he thought he would win without doing any work is when i was pissed off.
This is the part of a longer trend in cycling. To maximize their chances, an all out effort is done for a maximum of 15-20 min only. With the powermeters, everybody knows their limits. As a result everything is choreographed upto the 1-5 kilometer. Cipollini started the extensive use of trains in sprints, Orica started the extensive use of Trains in the hilly classics, US Postal started the extensive use of trains on the climbs. Only the cobbled classics remain..
BTW Paris Nice 2017 was an exception but a very welcome one and it would probably best race of the year

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Dodgy career progression, which allows a non-top echelon talented rider to make a big leap forward well in the 30's. Unidimensional race tactics which consists of leeching from other riders efforts. Ruins a bright Cancellara win in San Remo and suddenly is able to troll even Valverde in his own comfort zones. So, I guess some people could feel a little bit enraged at the time with this rider.

And how many riders can you identify like that ? Some people would argue, half the Sky team. Gerrans had a late start to the sport and improving as he got older was not such a big deal. Valverde received hatred for doing the same thing but when Gerrans did it the response was just over the top. What is worse ? Cancellara's whining every time he gets beat or when the weather is bad or when he wants to neutralize the race or Gerrans winning one or two good races ? Boonen never whined about getting beaten like Cancellara did. People that get enraged about sports results need to get a grip.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

I don't get it either. Of course he doesn't attack much, he's a (sort of) sprinter. That would be like hating on Cavendish or Kittel for never attacking. It's their job to win races, not to race excitedly.
Besides, he seems like a pretty cool guy.

Difference is a rider like Kittel or Cav can't really attack, whereas there's terrain where a puncher like Gerrans could attack

 

[hrotha]

Re:

"The critique boils down to this: you're not a Sagan or Cancellera. Well, what a bloody stupid reason to hate someone!"

Spot on

This thread is packed full with reasons why people hate Gerrans, and that's not one of them. Read it?

 

[yaco]

Well Orica planned for Gerrans to attack on the Poggio assuming that, only Cort would be in the lead group, to give themselves two options - Lo and behold and Ewan was also in the lead group - So at that stage Gerrans was told to sit up and wait for the sprint.

 

[yaco]

Gerrans in his eyes has been unlucky - Evan's rode away from the peleton in the 2009 World's when Gerrans was the protected rider - Gerrans by omission names Matthews for costing him the 2014 World's, because he had Clarke and Matthews in the peleton when Kwiatkovski attacked.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re:

Gerrans in his eyes has been unlucky - Evan's rode away from the peleton in the 2009 World's when Gerrans was the protected rider - Gerrans by omission names Matthews for costing him the 2014 World's, because he had Clarke and Matthews in the peleton when Kwiatkovski attacked.

In the 2009 worlds if Gerrans had been strong enough he could followed, he was just not strong enough. The route suited Evans better, it was too hard for Gerrans.

In the MSR he won he was racing for defending champion Goss who was in the chasing group so that is why he did not take turns. He had been given the specific job of marking moves on the Poggio to be there at the end if the moves were not caught. He carried out the job his team gave him to perfection.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

I don't get it either. Of course he doesn't attack much, he's a (sort of) sprinter. That would be like hating on Cavendish or Kittel for never attacking. It's their job to win races, not to race excitedly.
Besides, he seems like a pretty cool guy.

Difference is a rider like Kittel or Cav can't really attack, whereas there's terrain where a puncher like Gerrans could attack

Sure, he could attack, but if he feels like his chances of winning are bigger if he waits for the (reduced) sprint, why would he?

---

As for the 2014 Worlds: How do we know he wasn't crying about it because he knew he'd messed up? It is possible to cry about something you know is your own fault. And as for saying he was heartbroken; of course he was heartbroken. He'd just messed up what might have been his last chance of becoming World Champion. I don't remember how big his chances were stated to be for Richmond. Doha was definitely too flat, though. Bergen, too hilly? Innsbruck, too hilly? Also, he's getting old.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

Gerrans in his eyes has been unlucky - Evan's rode away from the peleton in the 2009 World's when Gerrans was the protected rider - Gerrans by omission names Matthews for costing him the 2014 World's, because he had Clarke and Matthews in the peleton when Kwiatkovski attacked.

In the 2009 worlds if Gerrans had been strong enough he could followed, he was just not strong enough. The route suited Evans better, it was too hard for Gerrans.

In the MSR he won he was racing for defending champion Goss who was in the chasing group so that is why he did not take turns. He had been given the specific job of marking moves on the Poggio to be there at the end if the moves were not caught. He carried out the job his team gave him to perfection.

Blind Freddy could see the 2009 parcours suited Evans more than Gerrans - Unfortunately team management chose Gerrans as the protected rider - Aussie Team Management recently at the world's and Olympic's have been below par.

 

[KyoGrey]

Re: Re:

Dodgy career progression, which allows a non-top echelon talented rider to make a big leap forward well in the 30's. Unidimensional race tactics which consists of leeching from other riders efforts. Ruins a bright Cancellara win in San Remo and suddenly is able to troll even Valverde in his own comfort zones. So, I guess some people could feel a little bit enraged at the time with this rider.

And how many riders can you identify like that ? Some people would argue, half the Sky team. Gerrans had a late start to the sport and improving as he got older was not such a big deal. Valverde received hatred for doing the same thing but when Gerrans did it the response was just over the top. What is worse ? Cancellara's whining every time he gets beat or when the weather is bad or when he wants to neutralize the race or Gerrans winning one or two good races ? Boonen never whined about getting beaten like Cancellara did. People that get enraged about sports results need to get a grip.

Yes, sports are a beautiful thing and rage is not the appropiate feeling when watching any one of them. I was objectivelly stating the reasons of the Gerrans hate by some fans, which I believe is the topic of this post.

And yes, the same questions can be asked about other riders. But that doesn't make better Gerrans sudden transformation into a terrific killer at age 32 with Orica. Even a rider like Purito, which is considered also a very late bloomer with Katusha had shown much more things at that age, and he certainly won his 2 monuments with a different style

Valverde has practised the same Gerrans race tactics on many occasions (and he was blasted also), but he has also made great pure cycling exhibitions and has been almost unanymously regarded as one of the best cycling talents of the XXI century since he was 23. Cancellara was a whiner sometimes off the road, but in races he was extraordinary in all senses. So there is a certain love/hate side for both this riders and that is what makes them so interesting. What is exactly to love about Gerrans way of riding?

 

[jsem94]

No reason to hate of course, but some of the criticism is warranted. What LS wrote is pretty much spot on. Yes, part of it is also tactics, but that doesn't mean we have to like the guy for it - especially when he whines about it afterwards saying he had the legs but did no turn at the front.

Even if it might be in the best interest of a rider to do things a certain way that doesn't mean we have to like it and we can blast it as boring if we want to. Sky 2012 for instance. It was in the best interest of Wiggins to keep the race dead boring and they were rightfully loathed for it. Yes it was tactics, but that doesn't mean we have to sit there and take it on the chin.

 

[Gigs_98]

Why the hell are there people arguing that the hate is irrational because he has a great talent and is a strong rider. Since when has that anything to do with whether you like someone or not. If that was an indicator Sky would be the most popular team and guys like Wllens not popular at all.

 

[WheelofGear]

He is not any different from Matthews (mostly a mega-wheelsucker) or Bouhanni (a cocky wheelsucker) or Kristoff (except for that Flanders win) or Degenkolb (except for that Roubaix win)..

Cherry-picking.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

He is not any different from Matthews (mostly a mega-wheelsucker) or Bouhanni (a cocky wheelsucker) or Kristoff (except for that Flanders win) or Degenkolb (except for that Roubaix win)..

Cherry-picking.

Matthews isn't popular as well, Bouhanni is a completely different kind of rider and you even already mentioned the two races in which Kristoff and Degenkolb proved that they aren't wheel suckers like Gerrans. When has Gerrans ever done anything like that?

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

He is not any different from Matthews (mostly a mega-wheelsucker) or Bouhanni (a cocky wheelsucker) or Kristoff (except for that Flanders win) or Degenkolb (except for that Roubaix win)..

Cherry-picking.

Matthews isn't popular as well, Bouhanni is a completely different kind of rider and you even already mentioned the two races in which Kristoff and Degenkolb proved that they aren't wheel suckers like Gerrans. When has Gerrans ever done anything like that?

Matthews is exactly the same rider as Gerrans. I'm not seeing him getting as much hate. Bouhanni seems like a officious *** and he is not getting any hate.

Kristoff/Degenkolb are wheelsuckers 95% of the time.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

He is not any different from Matthews (mostly a mega-wheelsucker) or Bouhanni (a cocky wheelsucker) or Kristoff (except for that Flanders win) or Degenkolb (except for that Roubaix win)..

Cherry-picking.

Matthews isn't popular as well, Bouhanni is a completely different kind of rider and you even already mentioned the two races in which Kristoff and Degenkolb proved that they aren't wheel suckers like Gerrans. When has Gerrans ever done anything like that?

Matthews is exactly the same rider as Gerrans. I'm not seeing him getting as much hate. Bouhanni seems like a officious **** and he is not getting any hate.

Kristoff/Degenkolb are wheelsuckers 95% of the time.

Matthews might be a lot like gerrans but he hasn't shown this wheel sucking behaviour that often which is why he isn't as hated as gerrans.
Bouhanni got a lot of hate for his aggressive sprinting last year but you just can't compare the "wheel sucking" before bunch sprints to what gerrans does. For the same reason kristoff and degenkolb aren't hatet because they usually win in bunch sprints and have even shown some aggressive racing in classics.

 

[portugal11]

Re: Re:

He is not any different from Matthews (mostly a mega-wheelsucker) or Bouhanni (a cocky wheelsucker) or Kristoff (except for that Flanders win) or Degenkolb (except for that Roubaix win)..

Cherry-picking.

Matthews isn't popular as well, Bouhanni is a completely different kind of rider and you even already mentioned the two races in which Kristoff and Degenkolb proved that they aren't wheel suckers like Gerrans. When has Gerrans ever done anything like that?

Matthews is exactly the same rider as Gerrans. I'm not seeing him getting as much hate. Bouhanni seems like a officious **** and he is not getting any hate.

Kristoff/Degenkolb are wheelsuckers 95% of the time.

Matthews might be a lot like gerrans but he hasn't shown this wheel sucking behaviour that often which is why he isn't as hated as gerrans.
Bouhanni got a lot of hate for his aggressive sprinting last year but you just can't compare the "wheel sucking" before bunch sprints to what gerrans does. For the same reason kristoff and degenkolb aren't hatet because they usually win in bunch sprints and have even shown some aggressive racing in classics.

He isn't so hated because he never won a big race (despite his giro's stages)

 

[Netserk]

When has Matthews won anything after being towed to the line by a moved he leached?

 

[jaylew]

Matthews and Gerrans aren't the same guy. Matthews is mostly a 3rd tier bunch sprinter who climbs better than most sprinters. In his prime, Gerrans could often be with Valverde, Kwia, Gilbert, etc...in tough finishes. The groups Bling wins from are usually much bigger so he doesn't get the hate Gerrans does because he's just doing what sprinters do.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re:

When has Matthews won anything after being towed to the line by a moved he leached?

Ever seen that Giro stage where Evans gained time on Quintana. He just sat there and did nothing like he always does.

And who said there Matthews couldn't be up there in tougher races? He weight just over 70kg.

He could easily win an easy version of Liege or Flèche Wallone if he cared about those races.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re:

Matthews and Gerrans aren't the same guy. Matthews is mostly a 3rd tier bunch sprinter who climbs better than most sprinters. In his prime, Gerrans could often be with Valverde, Kwia, Gilbert, etc...in tough finishes. The groups Bling wins from are usually much bigger so he doesn't get the hate Gerrans does because he's just doing what sprinters do.

That's doesn't make him any better than Gerrans.

Gerrans just win from a slightly more reduced group.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

When has Matthews won anything after being towed to the line by a moved he leached?

Ever seen that Giro stage where Evans gained time on Quintana. He just sat there and did nothing like he always does.

And who said there Matthews couldn't be up there in tougher races? He weight just over 70kg.

He could easily win an easy version of Liege or Flèche Wallone if he cared about those races.

That was a situation in which evans only cared about gc and matthews only cared about the stage. Of course matthews didn't help Evans. That would have been incredibly stupid.

 

[WheelofGear]

Re: Re:

When has Matthews won anything after being towed to the line by a moved he leached?

Ever seen that Giro stage where Evans gained time on Quintana. He just sat there and did nothing like he always does.

And who said there Matthews couldn't be up there in tougher races? He weight just over 70kg.

He could easily win an easy version of Liege or Flèche Wallone if he cared about those races.

That was a situation in which evans only cared about gc and matthews only cared about the stage. Of course matthews didn't help Evans. That would have been incredibly stupid.

How is that different from the way Gerrans races? Gerrans still takes more pulls than Matthews.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't think you can rationalize it. It's more of an innate human nature. Humans evolved to run around on 2 legs, to run or fight when frightened, etc. Apparently they also evolved to hate Simon Gerrans' racing style

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Matthews and Gerrans aren't the same guy. Matthews is mostly a 3rd tier bunch sprinter who climbs better than most sprinters. In his prime, Gerrans could often be with Valverde, Kwia, Gilbert, etc...in tough finishes. The groups Bling wins from are usually much bigger so he doesn't get the hate Gerrans does because he's just doing what sprinters do.

That's doesn't make him any better than Gerrans.

Gerrans just win from a slightly more reduced group.

I disagree and agree with you at the same time