Jurgen Van den Broeck Discussion thread

[Miburo]

I can't agree with that, his record is littered with tops tens in one week stage races. He just isn't good enough to win anything.

Andy also has top 10's in one week stage races. And VDB2 don't have that many at all. And the point is that he only cares about the tour.

That's what he always says "all about the tour".

Usually andy also shows us something before the tour, not much considering his level at the tour but still

Still like both of them.
Hope he can reach the podium this year, but it will be very difficult. I say also, that he should target other GT's or stage races.

He should never do that. He has no ITT. You need a good ITT to win a week stage race unless you're an amazing climber which he isn't.

 

[Pippo_San]

The Greg Van Avermaet of stage races.

GVA should feel offended by such comparison. At least he won big with the Paris - Tours (and something here and there - not only criteriums like JVDB2)

 

[nick101]

Imo consistency is the key for VDB. If he keeps up with the main contenders in the mountains and doesn't lose more than a mintute to contador/froome in TT's then top 5 is within reach. He has proven himself to be consistent. Also mechanicals/poor placement needs to be avoided. After La Planche des Belles Filles he was already behind the others due to the significant time lost due to a mechanical and was unlikely to gain time on wiggins during the race so essentially lost the race at that point. That was a main factor that caused him to miss out on his best chance of Tdf podium ever?.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

He should never do that. He has no ITT. You need a good ITT to win a week stage race unless you're an amazing climber which he isn't.

His ITT is normally not that terrible. He's just someone who finishes high by Being consistent, something that doesn't matter much in week long stage races.

Anyway, he doesn't seem to care much about not winning, and as long as he doesn't I guess he's doing fine. There's no shame in multiple top-5 finishes. He should try to podium a GT by picking well though.

 

[fgrune]

How strong is his helper in the mountains de Clercq?

 

[all_in]

I really don't understand why Vanendert doesn't ride.Is he injured?

 

[Miburo]

I really don't understand why Vanendert doesn't ride.Is he injured?

yep, had a disease orso.

 

[trevim]

He won a stage at the Giro, a some very solid GC's in Suisse, Italy, etc.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

He won a stage at the Giro, a some very solid GC's in Suisse, Italy, etc.

Procyclingstats got him down for 1 (one!) prowin in his career at the tender age of 30.

Extraordinary.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

He only started cycling at competitive level at age 22. Is 26 now.

edit: Talking about De Clercq

 

[Panda Claws]

Procyclingstats got him down for 1 (one!) prowin in his career at the tender age of 30.

Extraordinary.

Sour people. The same thing has been said plenty of times on the other pages of this thread.

 

[Angliru]

Procyclingstats got him down for 1 (one!) prowin in his career at the tender age of 30.

Extraordinary.

Getting top 5 to 7 in the gc at Tour should count for something shouldn't it?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Getting top 5 to 7 in the gc at Tour should count for something shouldn't it?

Of course, just don't think his palmares matches the hype and glory etc.

I guess it boils down to how one judges the important parts of the sport.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Which hype and glory???

 

[nick101]

I really don't understand why Vanendert doesn't ride.Is he injured?

Has an intestinal parasite

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Which hype and glory???

perhaps its my general irritation with all the placement racing which unfairly singles out JVDB. Anyway I will leave the thread.

 

[The Principal Sheep]

"Finishing in the top-5 would be good but the podium would be better,"

Pretty much sums up my hopes for Jurgen, sadly I can see a bad day (or two) ruining this and a 6-10 more likely for him.

 

[The Principal Sheep]

"Finishing in the top-5 would be good but the podium would be better,"

Pretty much sums up my hopes for Jurgen, sadly I can see a bad day (or two) ruining this and a 6-10 more likely for him.

Well I wish I kept my mouth shut (VDB abandons)

 

[Cookster15]

Really sad to read Jurgen has abandoned the Tour due to knee injuries sustained in stage 5. I never like to see genuine GC contenders go out that way.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-den-broeck-abandons-tour-de-france

 

[greenedge]

Hopefully he can recover for the Vuelta (a top 10 should be feasible)/ ride well at the WC.

 

[DenisMenchov]

******* ******* * *****
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[jens_attacks]

******* ******* * *****
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***** ******

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

UCI needs to change those 3K rules, again a top ten rider gets mingled up in a place where he has nothing to look for.

 

[del1962]

UCI needs to change those 3K rules, again a top ten rider gets mingled up in a place where he has nothing to look for.

Totally agree, sprint stages only though

 

[Lanark]

Maybe the GC-riders should change their behavior. All these crashes happen in the first half (and most in the first quarter) of the peloton. Every year 5 top-10 candidates crash in these stages.

But why are they even riding in the front of the peloton in the last 3-k? Because they want to avoid losing time in case there are gaps in the peloton. When was the last time there were such gaps that a GC rider lost enough time to make a difference in Paris? Probably never happened. These guys are risking their lives to avoid losing 10 seconds. Why not just ride with the last 20 in every bunch sprint stage, maybe you'll lose a couple of seconds (and that's not even guaranteed), but at least you won't break any bones.