Marianne Vos Discussion Thread

[TheEnoculator]

I think it's time to have a thread on the greatest female cyclist of all time (yes, she's better than Jeannie Longo because Vos also does cross and is mighty good at it). Plus it's good to give women's cycling its share of space on the CN forum.

I haven't heard of this kind of dominance since reading about Eddy Merckx's career, as I'm too young to have seen Merckx race live. This is truly incredible.

How do you see her career evolve from now on? What do you suggest to keep someone so dominant motivated? What were your favourite Vos moments?

 

[Afrank]

She definitely deserves her own thread.

What were your favourite Vos moments?

favorite Vos moment Without a doubt the world champs a few days ago, when she just rode away from her breakaway companions like they were standing still. And scored the 3rd fastest ascent of the Cauberg in history. And when you consider that she had been 2nd every between 2007 until now that makes it all the more impressive.

 

[The Hitch]

There was a thread a few years back, which major pro cyclist has the least haters.

I believe this should be the winner.

And scored the 3rd fastest ascent of the Cauberg in history. And when you consider that she had been 2nd every between 2007 until now that makes it all the more impressive.

What do you mean by 3rd fastest ascent in Cauberg history?

 

[Afrank]

There was a thread a few years back, which major pro cyclist has the least haters.

I believe this should be the winner.



What do you mean by 3rd fastest ascent in Cauberg history?

Saw it here http://climbing-records.blogspot.ro/2012/09/caubergs-fastest-times-phil-sets-new.html
But now that I look closer it looks like they were just listing the times of the woman and U23 men in comparison to Gilberts record. My mistake .

Still though, only 20 seconds slower than Gilbert on the Cauberg isn't too bad.

 

[TheEnoculator]

Well, I only started following Vos closely this year, me being a Rabo/Giant fan.

I think the London gold really takes the cake for me. That was epic racing that rivalled Cadel Evans' stage 7 win in 2010 Giro.

 

[WillemS]

The greatest I've seen of her, so far, is her fist Giro win in 2011. I knew she could sprint, win from small break-away groups, win solo, win in the field, win on the track (don't forget, she is also an Olympic gold medalist on track), and ride well on mountain stages, but actually winning the hardest stage race in the women's peloton, the Giro Donne, was a revelation for me. She won 50% of the stages in 2011, including big mountain stages, not just bunch sprints, which she also did.

It wasn't just a one year fluke, she repeated that trick this year, winning 5 of 9 stages (56%, but that's inflated, 2011 edition had 10 stages).

That said, there's one thing she could improve: time trailing. She has won major time trails, but at the Olympics she had a total off-day and there are better time trailers in the women's peloton. But, hey, you got to leave some races for the competition, else they might quit demoralized and demotivated.

 

[theyoungest]

What were your favourite Vos moments?

This is one, from the Giro Donne last year. She arrives on top of the Mortirolo together with Emma Pooley, then wins the stage with 1'30" advantage built up on the descent. She's not only the best physiologically, but also technically.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This. I was desperately, desperately hoping that Daphny van den Brand could retire on a win, but not a chance, not a chance in hell.

Marianne rode all the way up the X-Duin. Half the elite men couldn't manage that, and no other women.

 

[WindLessBreeze]

The Cannibal's female version

w/o the crank, I hope

 

[GPdesAmeriques]

That said, there's one thing she could improve: time trailing. She has won major time trails, but at the Olympics she had a total off-day and there are better time trailers in the women's peloton. But, hey, you got to leave some races for the competition, else they might quit demoralized and demotivated.

Well, two of the best (Judith Arndt and Kristin Armstrong) are now retired. I suspect she'll get stronger in longer time trials as she gets older. Double gold at Rio 2016?

 

[Swabian Lass]

Well, two of the best (Judith Arndt and Kristin Armstrong) are now retired. I suspect she'll get stronger in longer time trials as she gets older. Double gold at Rio 2016?

Any other rider else and I'd think that was maybe a little optimistic, but with Vos you can never rule anything out. After all she'll need something to keep her motivated!

 

[Swabian Lass]

This. I was desperately, desperately hoping that Daphny van den Brand could retire on a win, but not a chance, not a chance in hell.

Marianne rode all the way up the X-Duin. Half the elite men couldn't manage that, and no other women.

Thanks for posting that - just watched it again. Amazing riding.

 

[theyoungest]

Any other rider else and I'd think that was maybe a little optimistic, but with Vos you can never rule anything out. After all she'll need something to keep her motivated!

She's going to try mountainbiking as well... maybe in Rio she can try to do the magic track-mountainbike-road triple?

 

[GPdesAmeriques]

Rainbow Jersey back in action.

 

[TheEnoculator]

Rainbow Jersey back in action.

She broke the curse of WC silvers. I hope she won't be going into the rainbow jersey curse.

 

[42x16ss]

This is one, from the Giro Donne last year. She arrives on top of the Mortirolo together with Emma Pooley, then wins the stage with 1'30" advantage built up on the descent. She's not only the best physiologically, but also technically.

I remember watching the sprint finish for the women's RR at Geelong a couple of years ago. Vos was on the far right and was using the line on the shoulder as a guide when she sprinted. She didn't deviate a mm in a 60 kph bunch sprint.

 

[manafana]

womans cycling is still a bit like 60 and 70s tactically which allows someone of the skillset of VOS to thrive shes pretty amazing and would love see a grand tour covers in full, iv heard the tactics are mad in their races

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Everytime i see her.

 

[GPdesAmeriques]

Should this thread be in General?

If Vos wins on the road in March (and she's a favourite for RVV) then she will have won in track (Dutch Madison Championships), cyclocross (World Championships), MTB (Cyprus Sunshine Cup), and road in a span of three months.

 

[johanb]

If Vos wins on the road in March? You mean when Vos wins on the road in March