Menchov & Sastre: What are they thinking?

[movingtarget]

Sastre has been talking retirement which would be a sensible move. He is only riding for stage wins these days but was a very good GC rider. Even when he attacks these days, the attacks are from a long way out and have little chance of succeeding. He should be looking at getting into breaks like he did at the Giro last year although that one was a 50 rider break !

Menchov rode so well in last year's TDF and I still think he has some good results left in him but only if he targets one grand tour per year like last year. This year he is out of sorts but I think he can still impove in the Giro's upcoming stages. The Geox team looks pretty thin at the moment. I think Menchov should have opted for Katusha instead when re-signing.

 

[webvan]

Well at least Menchov pulled himself together today, Sastre on the other hand...

 

[killswitch]

Sastre will probably go for the stage win on Sunday...

 

[webvan]

Menchov had seemed to get better in the second week, still very far from the Top 4 though, but slipped again yesterday on the gentle climb towards the finish. What's up?

 

[Nastyy]

Menchov had seemed to get better in the second week, still very far from the Top 4 though, but slipped again yesterday on the gentle climb towards the finish. What's up?

He has already won the Giro so there's nothing for him to win in this Giro. Probably not very motivated and ****ed about the fact he can't do the Tour.

 

[luckyboy]

He has already won the Giro so there's nothing for him to win in this Giro.

What has Contador been doing for the past three weeks then?

 

[webvan]

Hey, watching the RAI replay coverage and Menchov tried something today, Gadret who attacked the pink jersey group just caught up with him and is trying to drop him...

...and Menchov finished with Dertie, so not too shabby. Wonder when he attacked and how much of a lead he got? With a good ITT he could make it to 5th tomorrow.

 

[Nastyy]

What has Contador been doing for the past three weeks then?

He's in a different situation. Since Andy Schleck isn't there it was an easy victory for him. Menchov would knew he wasn't going to win so probably didn't bother too much.

 

[hrotha]

You guys realize if Menchov had done a good TT today he could have ended up 4th in the GC (possibly even inheriting a podium later on) and no one would have any idea how that happened, right?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

he didn't deserve any better then what he got. Poor ride.

Said it in the other thread, but I suspect he is starting to move into the "past it" category.

 

[luckyboy]

He's had a pretty crappy year, but lets wait and see how he goes in Vuelta first. Less than a year ago he was 3rd in the Tour.

 

[rzombie1988]

No sympathy from me for Menchov. Although yesterday's stage was the first time I have ever seen him attempt an attack.

 

[Escarabajo]

You guys realize if Menchov had done a good TT today he could have ended up 4th in the GC (possibly even inheriting a podium later on) and no one would have any idea how that happened, right?

Same as in the Tour. He was third and I had no idea that he was riding until the last time trial.

 

[Cobblestoned]

I didn't overrate this before Giro, but I guess Menchov and Geox missed some hard racing to be prepared for the Giro.
All those little details can make the difference.

Surely I overrated Menchov, Sastre and whole Team Geox before Giro anyway.
Menchov first looked good in last week, but then had nothing left to attack and even lost some more time.

 

[Escarabajo]

I didn't overrate this before Giro, but I guess Menchov and Geox missed some hard racing to be prepared for the Giro.
All those little details can make the difference.
Surely I overrated Menchov, Sastre and whole Team Geox before Giro anyway.
Menchov first looked good in last week, but then had nothing left to attack and even lost some more time.

+1.

Agreed on the bolded.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Menchov is the biggest disapointment of the Giro. Considering this was his peak, he really underperformed.

 

[webvan]

Yes, what a poor ITT, he couldn't even be bothered to race hard enough to finish 5th.

We did see him a couple of times in TDF last year, actually three times, first when AS and AC were marking each other and he was riding with Sanchez, then when he was with SS and AC after AS's chain jumped and during the ITT. Pretty standard for him.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Does anyone really miss them? I don't think so... Tour of Austria showed today why this team isn't worth participating at Le Tour.

 

[Parrulo]

Does anyone really miss them? I don't think so... Tour of Austria showed today why this team isn't worth participating at Le Tour.

menchov and sastre out of form in july when their next goal is in late august/september and they haven't raced since may. shocker

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

menchov and sastre out of form in july when their next goal is in late august/september and they haven't raced since may. shocker

Even a out-of-form Sastre should be able to beat Leopold König, even a out-of-form Menchov should be able to beat Petr Ignatenko.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Even a out-of-form Sastre should be able to beat Leopold König, even a out-of-form Menchov should be able to beat Petr Ignatenko.

Nah

Out-of-form Menchov is like out-of-form Andy. Hopeless.

Like Andy couldn't close a gap on de Gendt on a mountain in suisse. Likewise Menchov is hopeless as **** if he isn't in form

 

[webvan]

Yes, that's a bit of a shocker to me, unless these guys are "in form" they are useless, talent should always be there, odd.

 

[Benotti69]

Yes, that's a bit of a shocker to me, unless these guys are "in form" they are useless, talent should always be there, odd.

not odd, in 'form' is easily described in the clinic.

 

[Parrulo]

maybe menchov couldn't care less about the tour of autria and is just soft pedalling in preparation for the vuelta? machado is also preparing for the vuelta also hasn't raced since the giro and today finished 7 minutes down.

but no it must be clinic related

 

[Zoncolan]

Hope to see Sastre and Menchov back to contending form for the Vuelta.