Re: Re:
I don't believe Zakarin can or will win the race, but he's a wildcard because of his tendency to lose time at unexpected times and try to win it back at even more unexpected times, which a GC mix made up of negative racers like Meintjes desperately needs; he's too dangerous to be allowed too much rope, and he doesn't have that same paralyzing fear of losing 7th place that some seem to.
Meintjes is the worst type of GC rider imaginable. His presence actively hurts races. At least with some guys riding defensively to rely on their TT is a viable strategy for the podium, but he's not one of them. He's good enough to stay with the best, but seemingly never good enough to take a turn or try to gain anything. His entire modus operandi is "fall backwards as slowly as possible".Tank Engine said:Libertine Seguros said:Valv.Piti - both Yates brothers are pretty interesting short stage racers and one-day racers, but they both retreat into their shells abjectly when the races get longer. Don't know if it's "conserve energy until later" "damn, now I'm knackered and all I can do is follow" until we've got a greater body of work to judge, but they really don't inspire much excitement in Grand Tours. In much the same way as Valverde is criticised for being ultra-conservative in the biggest races but animates the small ones. Still, could be worse - there could be one Yates and two Meintjes.
Tank - Kamaz trucks, those inelegant but rugged machines, can power over all terrains and are manufactured in Naberezhnye Chelny (Набережные Челны), Tatarstan. By coincidence, another inelegant but rugged machine that can power over all terrains and rejoices in the name Ilnur Zakarin, was manufactured in the same town.
1. True. I think though that Meintjes is also just holding on.
2. Thanks for the answer. I did think of Zakarin, but a) the image of a preying mantis does not go with a truck, b) I can't see any salvation from that source. True, it was a downhill finish which is the worst terrain for a Kamaz, but I can only see him as possible top-5.
I don't believe Zakarin can or will win the race, but he's a wildcard because of his tendency to lose time at unexpected times and try to win it back at even more unexpected times, which a GC mix made up of negative racers like Meintjes desperately needs; he's too dangerous to be allowed too much rope, and he doesn't have that same paralyzing fear of losing 7th place that some seem to.