Jonathan Tiernan-Locke Discussion Thread

[jens_attacks]

can't wait to see him standing up those pedals and hammering through ardennes

 

[Roude Leiw]

Leaving Endura may have been a mistake, now that they're Pro Conti.

I don't think that changing teams just resulted in marginal gains when it comes to the monthly paycheck....

 

[wwabbit]

I don't think that changing teams just resulted in marginal gains when it comes to the monthly paycheck....

You sir win the thread.

 

[MartinGT]

I haven't had a chance to really watch the Tour of the Basque, so can someone give me a brief update on how JTL is getting on?

I noticed he was 13mins down yesterday, was this due to him working early on? or just not having the legs?

 

[del1962]

I haven't had a chance to really watch the Tour of the Basque, so can someone give me a brief update on how JTL is getting on?

I noticed he was 13mins down yesterday, was this due to him working early on? or just not having the legs?

Don't know, all 4 sky riders apart from Porte/Henaoa where well down, Team orders in anticipation of having to defending the jersey?

Shame the JTL seems constantly on domestique duties though.

 

[MartinGT]

Don't know, all 4 sky riders apart from Porte/Henaoa where well down, Team orders in anticipation of having to defending the jersey?

Shame the JTL seems constantly on domestique duties though.

He was never going to be a team leader. Its a massive step up from where he was to where he is now. Just the level of riders he is riding against is a massive step up, so going in straight away is silly.

It will be interesting however what he will be for L-B-L etc though.

 

[maltiv]

He was never going to be a team leader. Its a massive step up from where he was to where he is now. Just the level of riders he is riding against is a massive step up, so going in straight away is silly.

It will be interesting however what he will be for L-B-L etc though.

He will obviously be on domestique duties for Henao and Uran. You have to perform to get a free role. JTL hasn't even been in the top 20 of any race this year...

 

[MartinGT]

He will obviously be on domestique duties for Henao and Uran. You have to perform to get a free role. JTL hasn't even been in the top 20 of any race this year...

Aye exactly. I think he will possibly take a year to settle in. A big difference in what he was used to, to what he is in now. Plus, there will be a different sort of pressure on him also.

 

[BlenJones2]

He will obviously be on domestique duties for Henao and Uran. You have to perform to get a free role. JTL hasn't even been in the top 20 of any race this year...

He's not really had the chance to be in the top 20 of anything he's done. I think that in team sky they really have to perform in training, as JTL obviously won't be a team leader if henao is going better than him. But I think he probably is going better than some posts have suggested as he did a team role in C-I and P-N where sky obv won overall and one of the sky race reports recently said his form is improving.

 

[maltiv]

He's not really had the chance to be in the top 20 of anything he's done. I think that in team sky they really have to perform in training, as JTL obviously won't be a team leader if henao is going better than him. But I think he probably is going better than some posts have suggested as he did a team role in C-I and P-N where sky obv won overall and one of the sky race reports recently said his form is improving.

He has done a ****ty job as a domestique too, really.

 

[BlenJones2]

He has done a ****ty job as a domestique too, really.

How do you know that?

 

[Non Grimpeur]

JTL is a very good rider but I can't help thinking that Sky doesn't suit him.

Last year he was doing a lot of intensive training rides of less than two hours. My understanding is that he's doing a lot more volume with Sky and is on a weight loss plan. Maybe this type of set up doesn't suit his body and he's knackered.

Hope I'm wrong. I would like to see him do well.

 

[theyoungest]

He has done a ****ty job as a domestique too, really.

It's difficult to say, we only see the last hour and a half of races. But yeah, for arguably Britain's best hills racer he's not looking that impressive so far.

 

[Michele]

@non grimpeur, do you know him personally to have such an info?

 

[Non Grimpeur]

@non grimpeur, do you know him personally to have such an info?

No I don't know him. Just read a few interviews about him and follow his progress.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...the-ardennes-hopes-to-grow-on-team-sky_276575

 

[JRanton]

It's always difficult to judge quite how well someone is going when they're on domestique duties but the usual ''tell'' is how early they're used in the train when defending the lead. So given how early JTL is being used up in Pais Vasco, earlier than Zandio and Dombrowski, I don't think that's a great sign. Another thing with Sky riders is that if they're not good in the early season then they don't tend to be great at any point in the year. The only real exception is Froome in both 2011 and 2012...

 

[postmanhat]

It's difficult to say, we only see the last hour and a half of races. But yeah, for arguably Britain's best hills racer he's not looking that impressive so far.

Today was the first time I'd seen him riding at all this year! Sky seem to have him on a program of doing the first 100k. Understandable perhaps, given his race history?

My hope for this year was that they might let him a few goes at the La Vuelta. Still holding out for that at least!

 

[del1962]

Brian Smith thinks he needs to relax more and his main aim is Ardennes

 

[MartinGT]

So, how did JTL do in the Ardennes?

 

[Pentacycle]

So, how did JTL do in the Ardennes?

You'd think he'd finish a race once in a while, but he didn't manage. 0 CQ points so far. It's fair to say he's a bit overrated, or something's wrong with him since he joined Sky.

 

[MartinGT]

It's a massive step up for the lad and a change in his role too. I think the people who overrated him was the Sky Fanbois who got giddy because he won a couple of small races.

 

[theyoungest]

It's a massive step up for the lad and a change in his role too. I think the people who overrated him was the Sky Fanbois who got giddy because he won a couple of small races.

Small races where he was better than Nairo f.cking Quintana. I don't know what's wrong with the guy, either he's a pure domestique, or marginal gains have marginalized him.

 

[wwabbit]

I think the simplest explanation is that he can't handle domestique work and finish the race.

 

[MartinGT]

Small races where he was better than Nairo f.cking Quintana. I don't know what's wrong with the guy, either he's a pure domestique, or marginal gains have marginalized him.

He wants to get the same programme as the Dawg

 

[Duartista]

He wants to get the same programme as the Dawg

The main problem seems to be that he has been put on a very tough training programme a la Froome etc, and it has been too tough for him. See the interview posted above.