Matti Breschel: The next big rider

[Bike Boy]

So who on this forum thinks Mattis has got what it takes?

In my humble opinion I truly believe the next thing for him is to take a very big victory. "De Ronde" or Paris Roubaix presents a good opportunity. And then of course WC on home soil.

He's proved to be very durable in 250 + km events. furthermore It was hard not to take notice of him in the 2010 edition of ronde van vlaanderen. in particular impressive on koppenberg (Boonen couldn't follow his attack). Afterwards replying to a question from a reporter, he said it wasn't that hard to be the first on the top! WTF?

Maybe the worlds is the least likely opportunity for him, considering his rather limited sprinting abilities (relative to the likes of Cavendish, Farrar and those guys). But 2008 = bronze, 2010 = Silver and 2011 = ?
you do the math...

arghh alrighty then, I know you can't apply math like that. It's obviously 2 years in between every medal, so it's actually 2012 = gold!

Although the 2010 season will come to an end very soon, Breschel is not going on vacation just yet. Paris Tours will be his main target now and that's a good place to start right? then go for the monumts in 2011.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Uh, we already knew that since Varese 2008 don't you think? 3rd in WC there already. He is class

 

[Bike Boy]

Uh, we already knew that since Varese 2008 don't you think? 3rd in WC there already. He is class

Please read more thorougly next time... big victories not equal 3rd and 2nd places

 

[Bike Boy]

No offence. and of course I agree that he is class but he's missing the CV

 

[hrotha]

I don't know why you'd compare his "rather limited sprinting abilities" to the likes of Cavendish and Farrar. Pure sprinters rarely have a chance at the WC, and Breschel is fast on his own right.

 

[Bike Boy]

I don't know why you'd compare his "rather limited sprinting abilities" to the likes of Cavendish and Farrar. Pure sprinters rarely have a chance at the WC, and Breschel is fast on his own right.

Yes he is fast but he still needs a smaller groupe than for example Thor Hushovd as we have just witnessed.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No offence. and of course I agree that he is class but he's missing the CV

Well ofcourse but he has been in the shadow of a few certain teammates the last couple of seasons. Especially Cancellara, so he hasn't had much chances of riding for himself.
Im certain he'll pick up a big one soon at Rabobank

 

[Bike Boy]

Well ofcourse but he has been in the shadow of a few certain teammates the last couple of seasons. Especially Cancellara, so he hasn't had much chances of riding for himself.
Im certain he'll pick up a big one soon at Rabobank

100 % agree

 

[roundabout]

Breschel is probably too light for Paris Roubaix. I think he is better suited to races like Amstel or Brabantse Pijl.

As for the Worlds, 2012 are probably better suited to his abilities. How difficult is the finishing straight in 2011 again?

 

[hrotha]

Yes he is fast but he still needs a smaller groupe than for example Thor Hushovd as we have just witnessed.

Well, if you're going to base everything on what we saw today then he needs a group with exactly one less rider so it's not that big of a difference. Hushovd is faster, yes, but Breschel is up there with all the other semi-sprinters. Few riders would want to arrive with him to a finish line.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Breschel doesn't need to count on his sprint though. He can pull off a solo as well.

 

[Bike Boy]

Breschel is probably too light for Paris Roubaix. I think he is better suited to races like Amstel or Brabantse Pijl.

As for the Worlds, 2012 are probably better suited to his abilities. How difficult is the finishing straight in 2011 again?

He could do well in those races. but cobbles is actually what he does best. It's definately more likely that he will win "de ronde" before Paris Roubaix. Unfortunately he had a string of bad luck this year, but if he hits the same kind of form next year nothing is impossible.

 

[Bike Boy]

Breschel doesn't need to count on his sprint though. He can pull off a solo as well.

Based on dwars door vlaanderen then yes, but I hope you realise that he is the worst time trial rider among those who contest in these events (Boonen Cancellara Hushovd).

 

[roundabout]

On the same note, i wonder what Breschel can do if Milano-Sanremo was made another bit more selective.

 

[Bike Boy]

On the same note, i wonder what Breschel can do if Milano-Sanremo was made another bit more selective.

Imaging him going along with Gilbert on pogio! it's not impossible

 

[Magnus]

Breschel is probably too light for Paris Roubaix. I think he is better suited to races like Amstel or Brabantse Pijl.

As for the Worlds, 2012 are probably better suited to his abilities. How difficult is the finishing straight in 2011 again?

4-500 meters @ 4-5%

 

[ingsve]

He could do well in those races. but cobbles is actually what he does best. It's definately more likely that he will win "de ronde" before Paris Roubaix. Unfortunately he had a string of bad luck this year, but if he hits the same kind of form next year nothing is impossible.

+1 Yes, the way he rides cobbles is so effortless it looks like he's just flying over them. I definately see him being a contender for both RVV and PR in many years to come.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Breschel is probably too light for Paris Roubaix. I think he is better suited to races like Amstel or Brabantse Pijl.

As for the Worlds, 2012 are probably better suited to his abilities. How difficult is the finishing straight in 2011 again?

I think he could win Ronde van Vlaanderen though. He has similar characteristics to Greg van Avermeat though he is more accomplished than him. Can sprint, can climb, strong on cobbles - a strong all rounder.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Based on dwars door vlaanderen then yes, but I hope you realise that he is the worst time trial rider among those who contest in these events (Boonen Cancellara Hushovd).

Doesn't matter at all. Time trialling is something very specific which also has to do with position and ofcourse you race against the clock.
There are a couple total non tt-ers who did great solo's over flat distances and pulled it off succesfully, wether it be in classics or tours.

So no, I wouldn't think not being a good time triallist means you cannot pull off a good solo against though competition.

 

[ergmonkey]

Doesn't matter at all. Time trialling is something very specific which also has to do with position and ofcourse you race against the clock.
There are a couple total non tt-ers who did great solo's over flat distances and pulled it off succesfully, wether it be in classics or tours.

So no, I wouldn't think not being a good time triallist means you cannot pull off a good solo against though competition.

Exactly. Examples of this abound. Museeuw doing 40+ kms solo at Roubaix. Gilbert doing 50+ kms solo at Het Volk. Andy Schleck at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Riding away solo in a 6+ hrs race is a completely different task from riding a tt. Sure, Cancellara is awesome at both. But, how many great solo classics rides have Indurain, Rominger, Mick Rodgers, David Millar, or even Jan Ullrich done? Boardman and Wiggins never really set the world on fire with a solo break, either.

 

[Bike Boy]

Doesn't matter at all. Time trialling is something very specific which also has to do with position and ofcourse you race against the clock.
There are a couple total non tt-ers who did great solo's over flat distances and pulled it off succesfully, wether it be in classics or tours.

So no, I wouldn't think not being a good time triallist means you cannot pull off a good solo against though competition.

Well it's also about producing enough watts. I don't think Cancellara regrets the Specific TT training when He's going solo with 48 k to go.
Having said that there's a lot of truth to your point. Mainly because tired legs becomes more of a factor, and of course team tactics.

 

[la.margna]

let's hope they give him instantly HIS bike if he needs to change it again in Flanders 2011...

 

[Bike Boy]

at least he wont have to ride O'Grady's spare bike next time

 

[ingsve]

Well it's also about producing enough watts. I don't think Cancellara regrets the Specific TT training when He's going solo with 48 k to go.

It's also a matter of being able to push oneself against the pain of doing all the work on your own. People who are good at pushing themselves will be good time trialists but some good time trialists might be good without being big sufferers.

 

[Bike Boy]

I don't know if it's my communications skills that's at fail here, or whatever.
Please give it another read guys and I'm sure you will see that we are on the same page about this solo crap.

I will make my self very clear. TT abilities wouldn't hurt when you a trying to stay away from a groupe of chasing riders. In absolutely no way am I saying that it's not possible for riders less skilled in TT to pull it of.