Jurgen Van den Broeck Discussion thread

[Ramira]

I hope for the sake of my Tour CQ team he podiums. Good chance of it now.

Based on previous years he really should. In my opinion he was set for a top 5 before the start, and with 2 guys expected ahead of him out already, and people around him struggling (like Talansky getting dropped, Valverde not being 100%) the logic says he should be 2 or 3, but logic hasn't really held so far this TDF.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Boy, VDB sure seems controversial judging from this thread.

Did we just see a reincarnation of the "old" JVDB? I sure hope so!

 

[Ramira]

Re:

Boy, VDB sure seems controversial judging from this thread.

Did we just see a reincarnation of the "old" JVDB? I sure hope so!

Well he's definitely put in a great performance. However he's not been at his best in the high mountains yet.

If he's only coming into form now for the third week he should have a part to play, if he's just specialized on TT's at the cost of his climbing he'll just follow a bit and finish somewhere between 5-10.

 

[HelloDolly]

I had an argument with someone before the Giro started where I said I was predicting JvdB would podium .and day has just re-enforced that view .I still think it because he will get better as the Giro goes on or at least better in comparison to others . esp as I see Astana get weaker ...

 

[Volderke]

I feel that he is getting back to his old TT level / talent, but I feel he cannot combine great TT and great climbing. It is one or the other, and while his TT is back to his junior level, his climbing has faded a bit. I hope he can prove me wrong though!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Gotta say that was a respectable ITT performance.
How to use this capability to win something in the Giro, well thats the key thing for me.

 

[Miburo]

He used to miss such a good ITT and now suddenly he's on this level.

I hope his climbing gets better, and gets the podium. He really deserves it.

 

[Arredondo]

His TT'ing is better, but his climbing is less. So i don't think podium is possible. Even top-5 will be extremely hard to reach.

 

[Samamba]

He spent more time on his time trial bike this winter and gained 5 kilo's... This is the result. More power but to heavy for a top climber. I hope he can come home with a top-5 but it will be hard.

 

[movingtarget]

Some commentators were saying before the Giro started that he was one to watch. Very nice ride in the TT. If he can hold it together in the mountains he is heading for a possible top 5. His best result for quite a while.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Re:

Some commentators were saying before the Giro started that he was one to watch. Very nice ride in the TT. If he can hold it together in the mountains he is heading for a possible top 5. His best result for quite a while.

Now he too far from top 5. Probably too heavy.

 

[Jagartrott]

If he could stay upright as he did in the Tour 2010 and 2012, he'd probably finish top-5 in this Giro, but again he fell and lost time today.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Great TT, but the capability is not being used in a meaningful way.
Forget GC.

 

[HelloDolly]

Its no tlost yet...imagine there will some big gaps in stages to come ...he can still move up

 

[jens_attacks]

Indeed. He can still get another 4th
Giro only started

 

[movingtarget]

Consistency and crashes have always plagued him. Forgettable stage yesterday after such a good TT.

 

[Flamin]

Crash caused by Anton I guess, but then again why would you ride behind Anton in a tricky descent?

Missing the Astana TGV easily cost him an additional 2+ minutes time loss, though his climbing legs are very poor anyway.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Losing 3 minutes on Hesjedal isnt a good sign, hunger knock?

 

[Sylvester]

Or he was hurt in the crash.

I guess he won't do a lot better than today in the coming stages though, he always seems very vulnerable whenever something has gone wrong.

It's a shame as his TT was really good.

 

[Lexman]

his DS says he isn't very much injured but he never hot anymore in his rhythm on the last climb and made him lose that amount of time

 

[De Snelle Duif]

I really hope Jurgen does a Hesjedahl and just goes for a breakaway one of the following stages. He desperately needs to win some time back as he doesn't seem to climb that well but could still easily be the best climber of a breakaway.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Apparently Jurgen is peaking towards the Worlds TT Championships, which means he'll do the Vuelta just to get some form and help Montfort and De Clercq. Will be interesting to see how he does and if this career change will work.