Teams & Riders Marc Hirschi discussion thread

[spalco]

For various obvious reasons it's tempting to name the thread "Marc Hirschi is the new Cancellara", but I think that joke's pretty played out, and I don't want to stereotype him.
He does clearly deserve his own thread though. Only just 22 years old, has showed up with panache, instinct, style and power everywhere in the WT in the last two years. After his two impressive almost-stage wins at the 2020 Tour especially, I don't doubt he'll rack up wins in the coming years in many different sorts of races, so I'm getting on early on the Hirschi-support train.

Is he the new Cancellara? He sees himself as a puncheur and Classics racer, but there's probably always some pressure to ride for GC. I just hope he won't lose his aggression somewhere on the way.

 

[Red Rick]

He's not the new xxx is the new yyyy is the new zzz?

Thank Vino for that

 

[SafeBet]

He's been impressive from his very first races among the pros. I remember his 10th place in Harelbeke last year after being in the break for a long time.

Gotta say I don't see many similiraties with Fabu. Hirschi can climb much better than Cancellara and should be in the mix for all the hilly Classics in the coming years. Cancellara was obsiously a much better TTer.
I'm tempted to say Hirschi has a better sprint too, but Cancellara was very fast at the end of tough races so I don't know. Cancellara was also bigger and heavier, thus being more suited to cobble races, although Hirschi will probably do reasonably good in the Ronde and Harelbeke.

I'm confident Hirschi will improve his recovery and challenge some one week stage races in the future (like Itzulia, Pologne, even TA and PN on lighter routes). Can't see him being a GT rider at this point, but stranger things have happened.

Overall a very crafty rider, beautiful style on the bike and a great descender (always a plus). Definitely a rider I'll be rooting for.

 

[Red Rick]

He's been impressive from his very first races among the pros. I remember his 10th place in Harelbeke last year after being in the break for a long time.

Gotta say I don't see many similiraties with Fabu. Hirschi can climb much better than Cancellara and should be in the mix for all the hilly Classics in the coming years. Cancellara was obsiously a much better TTer.
I'm tempted to say Hirschi has a better sprint too, but Cancellara was very fast at the end of tough races so I don't know. Cancellara was also bigger and heavier, thus being more suited to cobble races, although Hirschi will probably do reasonably good in the Ronde and Harelbeke.

I'm confident Hirschi will improve his recovery and challenge some one week stage races in the future (like Itzulia, Pologne, even TA and PN on lighter routes). Can't see him being a GT rider at this point, but stranger things have happened.

Overall a very crafty rider, beautiful style on the bike and a great descender (always a plus). Definitely a rider I'll be rooting for.

Very much doubt Hirschi has a better sprint but it won't matter as Hirschi as a more hilly rider will face much worse sprinters than Cancellara did.

I don't know how Hirschi's ITT is, but his climbing today was already strong and if you can crank out solos like this it tells me he's a strong rouleur as well and a great rider for the medium mountains and hilly classics.

 

[Blanco]

That descending yesterday was a thing of beauty.

 

[Sestriere]

I'd like to reserve my spot on the bandwagon! Brilliant ride yesterday, probably could have even won the stage had he played the sprint a little better.

 

[hayneplane]

Hirschi should definitely be a good candidate to win races like Amstel Gold, San Seb where he was 3rd last year and stages in races like Catalunya and Basque Country.

Day by day recovery whilst having to stay up at the pointy end will determine if he can win stage races but an epic solo like that on day nine of the Tour is a promising indicator.

 

[Rts123]

Could he win king of mountains?
And will he even try?
I think he can, but not sure if he will

 

[Red Rick]

KoM could be a reasonable target.

But I fear it will go to a GC rider.

 

[ice&fire]

De Gendt is sh*ting his pants

 

[Rts123]

Hope it not go to gc rider. If hirschi can get in break on 2-3 mountain stages he have a chance. Just hope hes allowed to try. Be good to see him rewarded after yesterdays effort

 

[Krokro]

I'm following him since a few months, but well, brilliant ride yesterday. Very hyped and disappointed he didn't win that stage.

It's been a while I didn't root that loud for someone at the finish line. Such a heartbreak but I'm sure he will get some serious wins in a near future!

 

[AlexNYC]

I don't think I'd seen him in action before yesterday, he has huge potential. Just from yesterday's stage: he can climb, descend, and sprint with the best of them, and he's still so young too!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He could potentially win Strade, Amstel, San Sebastian, Ronde, MSR, Liège, and perhaps even Lombardia. Also Paris Nice and other 1 week stage races with a similar profile.

I think of the non-sprinters, there aren't many that are faster. He won't be too far off of Stuyven's speed imho. If i were to compare him, i'd say he's a refined Max Schachmann.

 

[yaco]

Everything. I've seen suggest he's also decent on cobbles - I'd liken him to Dylan Tuens but probably a better climber.

 

[johnymax]

He and Pogačar have battled since their junior years. Hirschi often came out on top in the past if I'm not mistaken. So a big talent who is probably best suited to the hilly classics. He's had some great results last year for a neopro. Just hasn't been talked about as much as Evenepoel or Pogačar for obvious reasons (because both of them are having historically good starts of their careers).

 

[spalco]

What a guy, finally got his stage! I didn't think he had another effort like that in him so soon, but why not.

Man of the race so far for me, although that'll probably change with whoever wins of course.

I especially love his instinct, experience far beyond his years, every one of his attacks has been spot on perfect timing.

 

[SafeBet]

Way to win your first pro race, Marc.
A champion in the making. Chapeau.

 

[Gigs_98]

The rest of the peloton better hopes he doesn't get even better in the years to come. He is so freakin strong already.

On another note, am I the only one thinking his climbing style out of the saddle looks very Contador-esque?

 

[Red Rick]

Made the other attackers look amateurs and fools.

 

[Red Rick]

The rest of the peloton better hopes he doesn't get even better in the years to come. He is so freakin strong already.

On another note, am I the only one thinking his climbing style out of the saddle looks very Contador-esque?

Haven't paid attention.

I will say that his descending does not make my heart skip beats like Contadors did

 

[Valv.Piti]

Is this the guy Red Rick will start fanboying over post Contador/Nibali? I think so.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

great ride

 

[luckyboy]

Can't wait to see which team he will fulfill his potential at after Sunweb don't take him to any WT races next year, or whatever new plan to anger their star riders they will come up with.

 

[Red Rick]

Is this the guy Red Rick will start fanboying over post Contador/Nibali? I think so.

Gonna need more than one, tennis is doing a horrendous job replacing my fave players.