Menchov back in the light in 2012 at Katusha ?

[Angliru]

Reclaim?

Regardless, I think his best days are probably behind him. I'd have Contador, Evans, Wiggins, Nibali, Andy, Froome, Cobo, Sanchez all down as riders with a better chance.

Based on one somewhat down year? Didn't he just make the podium of the Tour in 2010? I thinks its a bit premature to be playing taps on Menchov's career.
He was peaking in the final week of the Vuelta and said himself that he could've won it but Cobo was riding well. I think he has a year or two left of grand tour contending form left in him.

 

[Thomsena]

With all the crashes in the Tour 2011, I'm sure Dennis - like every year - would have been in front of the crashes avoiding being caught and losing time - one of his true strenghts!...

 

[Nick C.]

With all the crashes in the Tour 2011, I'm sure Dennis - like every year - would have been in front of the crashes avoiding being caught and losing time - one of his true strenghts!...

I think Menchov has historically been on the wrong end of the peleton when it splits. As for 2011 does anyone think he would have been the fourth man on the stage into (was it Gap?) where Contador, Sanchez and Evans broke clear over the top and on the descent/run in to put time into every other GC contender?

 

[will10]

Menchov is great at losing time on nothing stages. With the crashfest that was the first week of TdF 2011, he'd have lost some time I am confident. Not to mention how much he'd stand to lose to Pinarolo and Gap!!

 

[Angliru]

With all the crashes in the Tour 2011, I'm sure Dennis - like every year - would have been in front of the crashes avoiding being caught and losing time - one of his true strenghts!...

...and how many crashes was he behind in the 2010 Tour and last year's Giro/Vuelta?

 

[theyoungest]

Menchov is great at losing time on nothing stages. With the crashfest that was the first week of TdF 2011, he'd have lost some time I am confident. Not to mention how much he'd stand to lose to Pinarolo and Gap!!

If you've followed him a bit, you'd know that when he's really, really good, he doesn't lose unnecessary time. Menchov is a guy who can get into "the zone" rarely, but when he does he's really focussed.

 

[The Hitch]

That's a nice mosaic of Denis Menchov you made, good job.

lol. Nicely done.

"Sucked" is perhaps a bit harsh for 8th in Giro and 5th in the Vuelta (as a domestique for the eventual winner), but yea he wasn't at his usual level. I think he just lacked motivation, or perhaps he just doesn't have it anymore. We will see.

Yeah Menchov is one of those guys that I think needs motivation, in order to push himself.

Personally I dont get how people can put in top time trials race after race after race. If I were a pro cyclist, there would be 1 type of time trial I would have 99% of the time, and another type of time trial for when Im in the itt of a gt I can win, and am willing to experience new levels of pain for that hour of racing.

thats how I see Menchov. Hes not always the best. But give him a carrot and he will catch it.

 

[Thomsena]

...and how many crashes was he behind in the 2010 Tour and last year's Giro/Vuelta?

And how many times haven't we seen him getting caught because of the lack of skills to positioning himself correctly? Let's not make him out to be good at it, shall we...?

 

[The Hitch]

Reclaim?

Regardless, I think his best days are probably behind him. I'd have Contador, Evans, Wiggins, Nibali, Andy, Froome, Cobo, Sanchez all down as riders with a better chance.

As glad as I am to see someone with the sense to mention Sanchez in the favourites (considering many on these boards see Voeckler, Nibali, Peraud with a much better chance), I have to ask, Cobo???


The case for The Pope is that he is on his day arguably the best gc tter, especially on a hill course seeing how he owned Leipheimer in Giro 09.

The case for El Bisonte is that he is arguably a slightly better climber than the Pope. (and considering Dennis was pretty impressive in Vuelta, and has some other great results before, I would take the pope over bisonte personally).

On a 2012 course, the tt aspect wins every time.

As for Froome, I think the heat of the Vuelta suits him more, he will kind of be trying to peak for that, and he has TDF peaks and challenges ahead of him, just not in 2012 where its all for Wiggins (and Cav).

Hopefully he will be a real contender in future years, especially if he can win the Vuelta and focus on that.

 

[The Hitch]

I dont think menchov could`ve beaten evans in last years tour. Yes he could of stayed with him in the mountains but evans`s TT around grenoble was pretty impressive indeed. All his BMC bosses were doing was relaying andy schleck`s time back to him. And at the end of the stage in his interview he said he would of liked to of got more feedback about tony martin`s time saying he could of pushed harder to beat it.

I dont think menchov could get in and around tony martin in a TT in the tour.

GC guys often do better than tt specialists in a final stage time trial since they are on peak for one and for two have far more motivation.

For example Martin did a worse time than he did in Dauphine tt which was the same course, despite the fact that he had far better conditions for the TDF one.

In 2009 Contador beat Cancellara in the final tt.

In 2007 Levi Evans Karpets Popo and Contador were the top 5, no pure tt specialist in there.

Menchov was arguably the best tter in 2010 tt when the wind totaly messed up all the gc contenders but he put 2 minutes into Contador.

He also beat Evans when Evans was going for the title, with the yellow jersey in his reach in 08.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I have to ask, Cobo???

Like Froome has a better shot.

 

[The Hitch]

Like Froome has a better shot.

Froome can tt.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Froome can tt.

Cobo can outclimb him on longer climbs.

 

[The Hitch]

Cobo can outclimb him on longer climbs.

Im not sure about that. Froome was working as a dom on Angliru and La Farrapona and a Covatilla and finished not far behind Cobo on 2 of them and about a minute behind on Angrilu.

If Cobo is a better climber its not by much and Froome will get far bigger advantages in tts. Theres nothing like any of those climbs in the decisive parts of any stages this year anyway.

 

[Der Effe]

He would of been around the mark but I do believe Evans is better and would have beaten him. Many of the claims by Silent Assasin are simply absurd and need to be pulled apart.

What nonsense. His statements might be a little too bold but that's what statements usually are. Nonetheless Menchov could've definitley won last year's Tour de France and is by no means a worse GT cyclist than Cadel Evans is.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Im not sure about that. Froome was working as a dom on Angliru and La Farrapona and a Covatilla and finished not far behind Cobo on 2 of them and about a minute behind on Angrilu.

If Cobo is a better climber its not by much and Froome will get far bigger advantages in tts. Theres nothing like any of those climbs in the decisive parts of any stages this year anyway.

Froome wasn't working as a dom all the way up Angliru. Let's face it, he couldn't distance Wout Poels and an unmotivated Menchov.

Cobo has already proven himself in a hard TDF mountain stage. Froome ......... not so much.

 

[The Hitch]

Froome wasn't working as a dom all the way up Angliru. Let's face it, he couldn't distance Wout Poels and an unmotivated Menchov.

Cobo has already proven himself in a hard TDF mountain stage. Froome ......... not so much.

ANd where do you see the hard mountain stages next year?

And do you see Cobo getting minutes on Froome in these stages?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

ANd where do you see the hard mountain stages next year?

And do you see Cobo getting minutes on Froome in these stages?

If they both reach a similar level as last year, then yeah, why not?

Hard stages are 11, 16 and 17. But 10, 11 and 17 will likely prove the most selective, IMO.

 

[Altitude]

Denis is very good, but not good enough to win the Tour. I'll say possible podium this year for Mr. 9/10

 

[taiwan]

Reclaim?

Regardless, I think his best days are probably behind him. I'd have Contador, Evans, Wiggins, Nibali, Andy, Froome, Cobo, Sanchez all down as riders with a better chance.

F.

F.

S.

Froome hypists should have sorted themselves out by now.

 

[Swabian Lass]

Depends a bit which Denis Menchov shows up. the Denis Menchov who wins GTs or the Denis Menchov who crashes and falls off.

Seriously, this year's tdf will suit him and I could see him maybe making the podium, but I don't see him winning.

 

[Boeing]

One thing for sure, Menchov in the mix challanges the approach of every GT team with a contender. Hard to argue that.

 

[Walkman]

The case for The Pope is that he is on his day arguably the best gc tter, especially on a hill course seeing how he owned Leipheimer in Giro 09.

Didn't he beat Levi with like 20 seconds or so? Hardly "ownage" so to speak.

However, I think a peaked Menchov could have podium at le Tour. Winning? Hard to say. Personally I don't think so, but then again, I am an Evans fan...

 

[Angliru]

Denis is very good, but not good enough to win the Tour. I'll say possible podium this year for Mr. 9/10

The same was often said about Evans before 2011.

 

[taiwan]

Apart from Bert and Evans, on paper he'll be the best rider starting. That's the thing to remember here.