Menchov back in the light in 2012 at Katusha ?

[The Hitch]

it was a joke...

What was a joke?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Samu has in the past been outsprinted by Andy Schleck

this


but my bad. I thought libertine responded to andy schleck post but was still about evans

 

[El Imbatido]

Samu got outsprinted by Kloden at Paris-Nice last year

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

kloden is quite fast though.I can't believe how often I've heard the myth that kloden was slow. also there is always an exception I could say basos is a better sprinter then duarte because he beat him at lugano, or boogerd was faster than vainsteins because he beat him in agr 2000 sprint

 

[webvan]

Kloden really isn't that fast, each time there was a sprint that mattered, Vosges/2005, Gd-Bornand/2004 he was beaten.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

so is rojas or duque. that doesn't mean they are slow

 

[greenedge]

Kloden really isn't that fast, each time there was a sprint that mattered, Vosges/2005, Gd-Bornand/2004 he was beaten.

By LA. Lance actually did have a good sprint as well though.

 

[webvan]

Can't remember him winning too many sprints ? And the other time was this dude called Weening I think...point is Kloden can't really sprint to save his life so there's no need to rave about that aspect of his cycling abilities. It could also be argued that he cracks under pressure and has poor tactical abilities (2006 fiasco in the Pyrenees) but that's another story.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

1 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor 2.41.42
2 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Colavita Olive Oil, presented by Bolla Wines
3 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Jelly Belly/Aramark
4 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service presented by Berry Floor
5 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Domina Vacanze

lance winning a massprint in georgia 2004

 

[pastronef]

http://inrng.com/2011/12/tinker-tailor-cyclist-spy/

I post this here, it's about the Katusha team

 

[Swede1]

Hence the "on average". Samu might have a better kick when on top form, but Evans spends more time on form than Samu.

On a Tour de France stage though when they are both on top form i'd go with Sanchez. Evans just beats other people by having more endurance and going for a long sprint. Samu is pretty quick though.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Can't remember him winning too many sprints ? And the other time was this dude called Weening I think...point is Kloden can't really sprint to save his life so there's no need to rave about that aspect of his cycling abilities. It could also be argued that he cracks under pressure and has poor tactical abilities (2006 fiasco in the Pyrenees) but that's another story.

Kloden's victory over Samu in Paris-Nice last year was his first stage win (not including ITT) since 2005 - he is one of the worst sprinters. 2006 La Touisseire with a time bonus up for grabs he lost out to Perreroi and Evans, though he did make most of the pace the last few kms. Also on Alp d'Huez he was nowhere in the sprint finish, and there may have been a 3rd place bonus available too.

I wouldn't say that he cracks under pressure (he has limited his losses in the mountains well at times after being dropped by superior climbers), but poor tactics at times yes, for like you suggest, he got his T-Mobile team to push for everything on the Queen stage in the Pyrenees in '06 when he wasn't yet on great form (still building up his racing miles following his collarbone injury earlier in the season), and that ended up cracking him more than the other GC riders.

 

[uphillstruggle]

I find it difficult to tell how to rank the GC/climbers in terms of sprint. You obviously have Valverde and Cunego but below them the other guys with a kick have all out sprinted each other at some point. It really comes down to who is suffering the most. Contador very nearly out sprinted Evans in this years tour, Kloden and AS have outsprinted Sanchez, who in turn beat Rebellin quite comfortably in the Olympics (and all the other examples mentioned above).

Having a go at an assesment I would say that Sanchez and Rodriguez are faster than Evans but the latter is more of a hard man and can produce a good sprint after a hard climb (e.g Fleche Wallone, stage 4 tour de fracne). Valverde is the best

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Ever since the route was announced i was of the firm opinion that the enigmatic pope would win it but with CAS dragging its a$$...my belief aint that strong, o i of lil faith lol

 

[auscyclefan94]

2011 Tour is a tour that Menchov could of easily won over Cadel

Wrong

Everybody knows this

Wrong

I was talking to a few cycling fans and they agreed that Menchov would of been a huge threat to win last year.

Yeah

2012 is when Menchov will become true TDF cycling king. Everyone says that the 2012 route favors Menchov. He is an excellent in the time trial great climber

Everyone knows Menchov will lose some stupid time.

...best all around cyclist...

Are you ****ing kidding me?

some say better than Cadel

Ok now that is really sad.

 

[theyoungest]

ACF, even you would have to agree that Menchov could possibly have stayed with Evans over the climbs last year, and (with his 2010 form) could have been a real threat in the final TT as well.

 

[auscyclefan94]

ACF, even you would have to agree that Menchov could possibly have stayed with Evans over the climbs last year, and (with his 2010 form) could have been a real threat in the final TT as well.

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.

 

[maltiv]

ACF, actually his post is a lot more objective and informative than yours at least...Also he's not entirely wrong, a lot of people agree that Menchov could've won the TDF last year. Let's not forget that he has won 3 GT's.

 

[El Pistolero]

ACF, actually his post is a lot more objective and informative than yours at least...Also he's not entirely wrong, a lot of people agree that Menchov could've won the TDF last year. Let's not forget that he has won 3 GT's.

He sucked this year though.

 

[maltiv]

He sucked this year though.

"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.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

We are in 2012 and the new season just started...well for some atleast. Pedantic you say? Yes Lol

 

[Ferminal]

"Could've" is fairly hypothetical. Yes he could've won it if he was still with Rabo and focused on the Tour, not counting whatever has been going on in Switzerland.

He's due for a good GT though so hopefully he's right up there in July.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

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.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

"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.

Tdf is the one he wants to win, he will be motivated.

 

[just some guy]

the pope is dead - what colour of smoke will we see from the conclave