'Per Strand Hagenes is the new Primoz Roglic' thread incoming
Winning moment
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As I said: I think you are wrong and that looking at rider rankings or PCS point is not a very accurate way of measuring a rider like Ewan. Number of wins, and especially the level of the wins (see how he all other years have been winning WT-victories and this year his only win has come in a small 1.1 race (with only 3 WT-teams and 4 PRT-teams on start) tells a lot more in my eyes.
Exactly. Physiologically, he could probably still be a very good WT sprinter, but I don't think he has the heart/mind for mass bunch sprints anymore, possibly due to his crash. Still very capable of excellent results at Pro/.1 level where the finishes tend to be a less hectic.
Him and Cofidis seem like natural bedfellows to me?
How does it prove one does not "care" or is "lazy" though?
It is just saying some stuff to throw him under the bus, for selfish reasons (bias). Only thing I was pointing out.
That he has been surpassed by multiple young sprinters and that crashes/injuries have taken its toll is probably far more closer to the truth. Not to mention that the peloton is riding faster and races are raced a lot more harder, then lets say 3-5 years ago. Probably something that does not suit Ewan.
Look at some of the best sprinters right now. Philipsen, Groves, Kooij, Pedersen... they all go well in the classics. Something Ewan has never really done.
Maybe he is also a rider that just peaked between 21-25 in age. He just declined and for the reasons mentioned above, cant compete with the best anymore. Just like the likes of Ackermann, Bennett, Gaviria... all have a hard time competing.
It doesnt mean that he "doesnt care" or "cant be bothered" now. It is tragic to throw those accusations around, without any substance to it.
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You have to ask the guy who said that, not me.
I don't know if he is lazy or not or if he cares or not, I know only that his performances are not as good as they used to be.
Well, that was the discussion...
And yeah, multiple riders decline. I bet a rider like Alaphilippe is also someone who should be labeled and berated as someone who just "dont care" or "cant be bothered" anymore. He was actually accused by his boss for it... but the boss was the "bad" guy there.
Actually yea, most of those guys seem like they don't care any more. Along with Sagan, Kittel, and latter-day Greipel. This seems to be the way that most sprinters exit the peloton: the fire in their belly goes out. It's hard to stay focused on the goal of winning when it only gets harder and more dangerous as your physical attributes decline (and your awareness of danger becomes greater as you age).
Notable exceptions include Cav (sometimes), Kristoff (who is definitely less successful these days but not for lack of trying, and despite lots of bad luck in the classics over the years), Petacchi (who was probably extra motivated after that ban). These guys show it's possible to slow down and win less without losing all motivation.
But saying they "dont care" or "cant be bothered" is not the sole thing though. In this case, it was pretty clear it was only said because they dont like the rider and has bias towards them. Especially saying it, without no actual proof that is indeed the case. You are just spreading a potentially false narrative about someone and thats dangerous. Just wrong, in my opinion, to do.
It is very few that goes out still being "on top" in any sport. It must, of course, be because everyone just stops caring.
I feel like you're not reading my post very well because I gave multiple examples of sprinters who obviously don't care and contrasted them with multiple examples of sprinters who do care, even though they are no longer what they once were.
The other relevant detail here is captured by a famous boxing quote: “It’s tough to get out of bed to do roadwork at 5 am when you’ve been sleeping in silk pajamas.”
Dito.
One does not prove the other.
Of course, there can be two sides. Some riders have had long and successful careers. Very FEW. As I said.
Still it doesnt mean it is not just a "normal" decline for some riders, taking many factors into account. Not simply throwing out "they dont care" or "they cant be bothered" about a rider. Thats just showing great dislike for them.
For a lot of those guys the problem is that when you were able to win on brute strength and you don't have that strength, you have to win on smarts, and either you develop them or not. Sprinters who never had a period of being dominant have to develop the smarts earlier so likely don't fall off as quickly, a good example of that would be Óscar Freire, who always came into his own in the longer and harder races. Petacchi did have a stint as the fastest outright, but he also did hit his dominance comparatively late on when he'd likely already developed the tactical mind; others like McEwen who made their name on jumping someone else's train could grow old gracefully, while those who had the benefit of being towed to glory by a bludgeoning tactic often simply stop succeeding when that is no longer possible.
Sagan I don't feel fits in with your other examples because I don't think of him as being a true sprinter, just an all-round classics guy who happened to be a strong sprinter, similar to, say, Tom Boonen in that respect, possibly more all round and less of a pure sprinter, but more than capable of mixing it up in bunch gallops. Cav I think has had the incentive of being so close to that Tour record and having to prove himself to team upon team for contracts in his later career that has helped spur him on.
There's also a third group, of those sprinters who accept that their days as the fastest men are done but whose knowledge and acumen in dealing with sprint stages sees them transition into a leadout role, or into becoming a flat stage pilotfish for teams with GC ambitions, extending their stay in the pro péloton. People like Danilo Hondo, Maximiliano Richeze, Daniele Bennati, José Joaquín Rojas. I guess you could also throw in some of those guys who've moved more toward climbing and become stagehunters or ATVs of sorts in that vein there too, like Michael Matthews or Ben Swift?
True. Didn't watch the race but if no arms involved, then not a win.
P.S. Just checked. When Hagenes was on the radio, his hand got detached from the handle. Legitimate win.
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Fryslan today. If it was yesterday's weather certainly the race would detonate completely like De Panne in spring. Has to be seen what happens today. Echelons possible. Weather forecast predicts tailwind though.
Strong sprinters there. Philipsen, Kooij & Groenewegen the main favorites. Hagenes as a dark horse of course after yesterday's display in the Münsterland.
Beautiful landscape of Fryslan guaranteed!
Live coverage on Discovery+/GCN and Omrop Fryslan!
Strong sprinters there. Philipsen, Kooij & Groenewegen the main favorites. Hagenes as a dark horse of course after yesterday's display in the Münsterland.
Beautiful landscape of Fryslan guaranteed!
Live coverage on Discovery+/GCN and Omrop Fryslan!
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Not quite - in terms of vertical metres per kilometre, this one comes in at an impressive 0.815, but it isn't the season record. And on account of the race length, it definitely isn't the race with the fewest vertical metres.
Humm ... flatest race of the year maybe? (I like the way the profile goes down to 200m under sea level!)
Other professional road races/stages below 1 vertical metre per kilometre (I only looked at races/stages PCS lists as flat so may have missed something):
- Antwerp Port Epic (0.999)
- ZLM Tour, stage 2 (0.973)
- Flanders Diamond Tour (0.930)
- UAE Tour, stage 6 (0.880) - season lowest in a WT race
- Antwerp Port Epic WE (0.761)
- Omloop van Borsele (0.654)
- Tour of Taihu Lake, stage 2 (0.634) - season lowest in a men's race
- Baloise Ladies Tour, stage 1 (0.593) - season lowest in a women's race and overall
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Humm ... flatest race of the year maybe? (I like the way the profile goes down to 200m under sea level!)
Certainly lowest race of the season! It seems it's not often they're above water.
I don't see where they dip 200 metres down, though?
The route doesn't, but the second axis on the profile marks -200.
It's split again, if only we could see it...
Super high tech front group composition;
Super high tech front group composition;
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