Is Robert Gesink soft?

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

The tour is more important yes but the point is that it is not so much more important that a podium in the Tour is worth more than a 1st in the Vuelta.

I agree that we cant say that Gesink would win the Giro/ Vuelta but i also think that - being up there in the Giro/ Vuelta and winning a stage is better than coming 6th in the tour and not contending any stages.

see your problem is your assuming gesink cant better this year. Myself, and many others believe Gesink was not at his best at the tour... had an injury, but personally I think he peaked a bit to early. He can do better, and should still make solid progress in the nest couple of years (Andy schleck is roughly 1 year older... look at the progress he made between 09 and 10 )

if he's confident in his abilities, why should he settle for riding in the giro/vuelta where the competition level is lower?

 

[ScottyMuser]

Sure nibali got a 1st and 3rd at 2 GTs this year.. better than any other cyclist right..? but I wonder how many people here think he is the number 1 GT rider in the world

Depends what you mean. If you mean "is overall, regardless of the year they have just had, the best GT rider" then not many. But if you ask "in this years GTs, who performed the best" then I would expect quite a few to claim Nibali, me included. The only other 2 racers in the peloton who had as good a season were Gilbert and Cencellara.


Also, your last post stenches of TDF-fanboyism, I'm sorry. Riding the Giro or Vulelta for a win, rather then to compete for the last step on the podium is NOT settling" for riding in an inferior race, especially early on in a riders career.

 

[El Pistolero]

I get the time gaps but what are the 2nd numbers. 40 for Grabsch, 25 for Cadel 15 for Millar 0 for Gesink?


+ 1 totally agree. I expect to hear the TDF is be all end all, from the July crowd but its surprising to read it in October. Many great riders dont even ride the Tour. Gilbert doesnt even though he could easily win stages. Cancellara doesnt peak for it. Nibali didnt ride it. Im surprised to see Youngest write this, being the cycling fan that he is. Is it part of a "Nibali won the Giro, but we thing Gesink is better than Nibali, so we will claim Gesinks 6th in the TDF makes him the better rider" logic going on there

Great analogy as well. Most people here see Menchov as having had a way better career than Cuddles (see poll from few months ago). If 3rd tdf = 1st Giro/ Vuelta then Cuddles two 2nd places would automatically make him way better than Menchov, even without his WC win. But this is not the case. A win in a GT is better than a runner up in a gt. Sure the TDF is more prestigious, but GT wise, Nibali has already achieved more than CUddles.



Substitute "Gesink" for "Eze" and "year" for "week" and these are my exact words to Dekker.

The reason why Gilbert doesn't ride the Tour was to prepare him self for the Worlds though. I don't know the profile of the Worlds next year, but I heard it's very flat. So there's a good chance he'll be doing the Tour next year.

 

[The Hitch]

The reason why Gilbert doesn't ride the Tour was to prepare him self for the Worlds though. I don't know the profile of the Worlds next year, but I heard it's very flat. So there's a good chance he'll be doing the Tour next year.

Yes it is very very flat. Gilbert wont have much of a chance there im afraid.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm sorry, but thats everything thats wrong with the sport post-LA winning his first TDF. ITs NOT all about the TDF, and a win at the Giro or Vuleta is at LEAST as good as a podium (note not a win) in the TDF - just ask Menchov who thanks to his wins at each is comprehensively the better rider out of him and Evans when we look at results.

In fact in many years, a win at the giro/vuleta are much BETTER achievements then 3rd in the Tour (2009 for instance) as the parcours are frequently harder, and the riding/attacking harder too.

+ 1 totally agree. I expect to hear the TDF is be all end all, from the July crowd but its surprising to read it in October. Many great riders dont even ride the Tour. Gilbert doesnt even though he could easily win stages. Cancellara doesnt peak for it. Nibali didnt ride it. Im surprised to see Youngest write this, being the cycling fan that he is. Is it part of a "Nibali won the Giro, but we thing Gesink is better than Nibali, so we will claim Gesinks 6th in the TDF makes him the better rider" logic going on there

What you guys don't seem to get is that I'm not talking from my own perspective, I'm just explaining why I think Gesink wants to ride the Tour first and foremost. I like the Giro as much as the next guy, idem for the Vuelta, but during this year's Tour Gesink said that he'd never seen such a high level of racing, and being the ambitious guy he is, he'll want to prove he can be among the best at that high level.

Where Nibali comes into the equation, no idea. You must have me confused with Dekker T.

 

[MADRAZO]

Yes it is very very flat. Gilbert wont have much of a chance there im afraid.

The 14 km route has a couple of small hills including the finish 400 meter hill (around 5% I think (not sure)) "Geels Bakke"

In the Tour Of Denmark they previed the route with this result:

1. [NZL] ROULSTON Hayden THR 4h03'17" 25

(broke away on the last lap, before the sprint)

2. [DEN] BRESCHEL Matti SAX 02" 15
3. [ITA] BELLETTI Manuel COG 02" 10
4. [RUS] BELKOV Maxim ISD 02" 5
5. [NZL] AVERY Clinton RSH 02" 3
6. [USA] FARRAR Tyler GRM 02" 0
7. [AUS] RENSHAW Mark THR 02" 0
8. [BEL] DE BACKER Bert SKS 02" 0
9. [NED] VAN LEIJEN Joost VAC 02" 0
10. [NED] BOS Theo CTT 02" 0
11. [NED] LIGTHART Pim VAC 02" 0
12. [DEN] MORTENSEN Martin VAC 02" 0
13. [DEN] LANDER Sebastian VPC 02" 0
14. [DEN] FUGLSANG Jakob SAX 02" 0
15. [NED] KREDER Michel GRM 02" 0

So it will not be impossible for a rider like Gilbert, and he will propably give it a go. But most likely it will be for the sprinters including Cavendish/Greipel, but as the results shows it is a bit of a mix with Maxim Belkov beating Farrar/Renshaw for instance, but still not very hard as Theo Bos was also in the mix.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Depends what you mean. If you mean "is overall, regardless of the year they have just had, the best GT rider" then not many. But if you ask "in this years GTs, who performed the best" then I would expect quite a few to claim Nibali, me included. The only other 2 racers in the peloton who had as good a season were Gilbert and Cencellara.


Also, your last post stenches of TDF-fanboyism, I'm sorry. Riding the Giro or Vulelta for a win, rather then to compete for the last step on the podium is NOT settling" for riding in an inferior race, especially early on in a riders career.

Nope, what I said was, whom is the best GT rider in the world.


you really don't get what i'm saying, like the youngest pointed out, I'm merely explaining that many guys, like gesink merely priortise the tour, and it would be ignorant to ignore why.

All year long i'm critical of the tour, I hope some can vouch for me on that, and I'm certainly not a tour fanboy. I just understand the motives and reasoning of the riders.

and well done, you completely missed the point of my last post. I'm not belittling the giro/vuelta, but gesink believes he can compete for the win at the tour, obviously the competition is higher at the tour (note, if your capable understand this doesn't mean I'm calling the race inferior) and he wants to prove himself there. I would love to see him ride the giro/vuelta next year, I've said this multiple times on the forum. But I'm not gesink, and he like most youngsters will choose the tour, and I can at least respect his reasoning.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Wrong again Ozzie that is not the only time Gesink did good time trials.

Flat Dauphine ITT, 40km:
1. [GER] GRABSCH Bert THR 51'26" 40
2. [AUS] EVANS Cadel SIL 07" 25
3. [GBR] MILLAR David GRM 39" 15
4. [CZE] RABON Frantisek THR 40" 10
5. [ESP] CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto AST 44"
13. [NED] GESINK Robert RAB 01'43" 0

Hilly Tirreno ITT, 30km:
1. [GER] KLÖDEN Andreas AST 41'32" 40
2. [BEL] DEVOLDER Stijn QST 20" 25
3. [SWE] LÖFKVIST Thomas THR 21" 15 4. [ITA] SCARPONI Michele SDA 21" 10 5. [RUS] IGNATIEV Mikhail KAT 32" 5
6. [NED] GESINK Robert RAB 40" 3
7. [ITA] GARZELLI Stefano ASA 41" 2
8. [NOR] BOASSON HAGEN Edvald THR 52" 1
9. [GER] GERDEMANN Linus MRM 58" 0
10. [FRA] COPPEL Jérôme FDJ 01'00" 0

Other decent time trials, flat vuelta ITT's (2009)
28 Vuelta a España, Stage 7 : Valencia I.T.T.
30 Vuelta a España, Stage 20 : Toledo - Toledo I.T.T.

So apart from 2010, he's always been decent enough.
Try again ACF. Keep trying.

Really who did he beat in those time trials? Boasson hagen, gerdemann, and coppel! the fact in the tirreno tt that it was very hilly says it all. Keep trying Dekker_T!

Lack of practice on TT position. He even admitted that afterwards.

If Cuddles said that it would of been an excuse but because gesink said it, it is a fair reason. He lost a fair bit of time in a tt that would suit him and in a race which our dutch friends have said "was in great form" and "was at his peak".

 

[Kwibus]

This year all the people that said Gesink can't TT were right and maybe next year DT will be right. We'll see. The discussion about Gesinks TT skill is never ending

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

If Cuddles said that it would of been an excuse but because gesink said it, it is a fair reason. He lost a fair bit of time in a tt that would suit him and in a race which our dutch friends have said "was in great form" and "was at his peak".

curious as to what race you are referring to here?

 

[The Sheep]

curious as to what race you are referring to here?

suisse I would imagine, he botched up his TT there

 

[Ferminal]

I get the time gaps but what are the 2nd numbers. 40 for Grabsch, 25 for Cadel 15 for Millar 0 for Gesink?

CQ points.

 

[auscyclefan94]

curious as to what race you are referring to here?

My apologies timmy, the tds tt this year.

 

[Moondance]

Well, well, well.

It seems the big softie is skipping Lombardy, apparantly because his dad is in the hospital. Sorry for Gesink. Hope his dad isn't in too bad a shape.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah it sounded pretty serious, I don't think he would fly back if it was something minor. Hope he'll pull through...

 

[auscyclefan94]

Honestly craig, what were you thinking making this thread?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

@ acf - f.e, but I do think he can do better.

--

and yeah really sad news, hope his dad will be fine.

 

[The Hitch]

CQ points.

I dont think so. Cuddles 15 to Grabsch 40?

Also Gesink 0 points? and Contador had blank. Cant be Cq points.

 

[theyoungest]

Soooo... softy Gesink won't be there, time for softy Mollema to step up? He doesn't seem to have the form though.

 

[The Hitch]

Honestly craig, what were you thinking making this thread?

worried about the soon to come "is cuddles soft" thread are we

You know those 10 minutes on the Madeline were unclear

 

[Moondance]

Soooo... softy Gesink won't be there, time for softy Mollema to step up? He doesn't seem to have the form though.

I guess Martens will be the designated leader... Probably.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I dont think so. Cuddles 15 to Grabsch 40?

Also Gesink 0 points? and Contador had blank. Cant be Cq points.

you misunderstand, that is how much CQ points they get for this stage.
As in--
1st-40
2nd-25
3rd-15
4th-10 (the last rider to get a point on this stage, thus AC had none).

 

[Ferminal]

I dont think so. Cuddles 15 to Grabsch 40?

Also Gesink 0 points? and Contador had blank. Cant be Cq points.

The points awarded for the stage!

http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=11930

Bad news about Lombardy, he was going to win by a minute. Hope his Dad's ok too.

 

[Kwibus]

Soooo... softy Gesink won't be there, time for softy Mollema to step up? He doesn't seem to have the form though.

He ended far down in Emilia so not sure if he's able to compete. It would surely be awesome if he will be up there, but I doubt it.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah, think the time was just too short to fully get back into shape after he broke his collarbone.

edit: Dagblad de Limburger (the website version of it), reports Gesink's dad was transported via trauma helicopter yesterday, and Frans Maassen described the situation as "very severe".