Merckx picks Gilbert over Van den Broeck for good Tour finish

[hrotha]

Are you suggesting he doesnt

Funny thing, I was thinking about going back and editing that to "dope with a ridiculous five-star GT-geared program" or something

 

[42x16ss]

I just hope that Gilbert ignores what Merckx has said altogether. It's great to see a truly top tier rider not even include the Tour in his season. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the last time Gilbert rode the TdF was 2007?

With all the focus that the TdF gets I find it very refreshing for a top tier rider to remember that there are other races worth focusing your entire season on. I wish more riders would follow his lead...

 

[theyoungest]

With all the focus that the TdF gets I find it very refreshing for a top tier rider to remember that there are other races worth focusing your entire season on. I wish more riders would follow his lead...

You can hardly argue that the entire season of top tier riders like Cancellara, Rodriguez, Evans, Basso, and Nibali was built around the Tour. BTW, the Tour is part of Gilbert's objectives for next year.

 

[Franklin]

I don't see Gilbert winning Paris Roubaix. For that matter, even MSR and RVV are going to be tough (as in not hilly enough).

All five monuments? Wishful thinking!

 

[Angliru]

The only critisism I have for Gilbert (who I really like) is his timming. Either too early or too late when he makes his moves. Has anyone else noticed this?

That always used to be the case prior to last year (2009). Since then his timing has improved and thus so have his results. Being an attacking, aggressive rider it's only logical that not all of his efforts are going to be successful but the change in his fortunes shows that he's become more astute at knowing when to make his move.

 

[Praetor]

I don't see Gilbert winning Paris Roubaix. For that matter, even MSR and RVV are going to be tough (as in not hilly enough).

All five monuments? Wishful thinking!

MSR is difficult for any rider, given that it is usually a lottery, but Gilbert has already proven that he's one of the few who might actually have a chance of staying away. If Devolder can win RVV, than so can Gilbert. Hard to say what he can do in Roubaix, since he never really went for that one, but seeing his strong performances on cobbles in the Omloop Het Volk (when it was still called that), I think he's certainly capable of getting an O'Grady of Backsteds-style win.

It is still going to be difficult, but he is the only one in this generation who seems capable of getting victories in those 5 classics.

(Some might say Boasson Hagen or Sagan could do it too, but let's wait for them to get a even top 10 finish in just one of 'em before we declare them crownprinces of modern cycling).

 

[El Pistolero]

I just hope that Gilbert ignores what Merckx has said altogether. It's great to see a truly top tier rider not even include the Tour in his season. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the last time Gilbert rode the TdF was 2007?

With all the focus that the TdF gets I find it very refreshing for a top tier rider to remember that there are other races worth focusing your entire season on. I wish more riders would follow his lead...

He's riding the Tour de France next year.

But don't worry, only for stage wins

 

[The Hitch]

It is still going to be difficult, but he is the only one in this generation who seems capable of getting victories in those 5 classics.

(Some might say Boasson Hagen or Sagan could do it too, but let's wait for them to get a even top 10 finish in just one of 'em before we declare them crownprinces of modern cycling).

You mention 3 guys but ignore the heir apparent.

There was a poll a week back. Who will win 5 monuments. Spartacus vs Gilbert. Cancellara was winning by 1 or 2 votes last i checked, and we have to bear in mind that this forum is full of Gilbert fanboys

Of course many said that Cancellara cant ride a hill so has no chance at LBL or Lombardia but we then pointed out severl occasions on which Cancellara has been able to climb very well, when he has so prepared.

Certainatly more of a chance than the thread subject has of winning the 4 monuments he is yet to achieve.

 

[El Pistolero]

You mention 3 guys but ignore the heir apparent.

There was a poll a week back. Who will win 5 monuments. Spartacus vs Gilbert. Cancellara was winning by 1 or 2 votes last i checked, and we have to bear in mind that this forum is full of Gilbert fanboys

Of course many said that Cancellara cant ride a hill so has no chance at LBL or Lombardia but we then pointed out severl occasions on which Cancellara has been able to climb very well, when he has so prepared.

Certainatly more of a chance than the thread subject has of winning the 4 monuments he is yet to achieve.

And this forum isn't filled with Cancellara fanboys lol?

He can win the Tour de France according to some guys here.

Gilbert has proven him self in all type of classics, Cancellara hasn't.

 

[The Hitch]

And this forum isn't filled with Cancellara fanboys lol?

He can win the Tour de France according to some guys here.

Dont take the extreme as the norm. Some people even think even Cadel Evans can win the Tour.

But most people dont.

Gilbert was together with Samu Sanchez the top guy on that "athletes no body hates " list.

Besides how many Swiss guys are there here. Now, how many Belgians are there?

 

[El Pistolero]

Dont take the extreme as the norm. Some people even think even Cadel Evans can win the Tour.

But most people dont.

Gilbert was together with Samu Sanchez the top guy on that "athletes no body hates " list.

Besides how many Swiss guys are there here. Now, how many Belgians are there?

Is that a trick question? I'm going to say zero.

Sire, il n'y a pas de Belges.

And I'm sure Cancellara has a **** load of Italian fans. He's more Italian than Swiss to me anyway. Italian parents, speaks Italian, Italian first name, Italian family name.

But then again, I'm sure Gilbert has a lot of French fans as well seeing as they haven't got a good cyclist of their own.

 

[Praetor]

Certainatly more of a chance than the thread subject has of winning the 4 monuments he is yet to achieve.

A small chance (Gilbert at Paris-Roubaix) is still bigger than no chance (Cancellara at Liege Bastogne Liege)

Maybe if they let the Swiss draw a new, less hilly LBL so Fabian can win, like they did with the Tour de Suisse (an abomination if there ever was one)

 

[The Hitch]

A small chance (Gilbert at Paris-Roubaix) is still bigger than no chance (Cancellara at Liege Bastogne Liege)

Maybe if they let the Swiss draw a new, less hilly LBL so Fabian can win, like they did with the Tour de Suisse (an abomination if there ever was one)

Maybe if they had a flat Olympic road race Fab would have got a silver medal.


Oh wait

This was the 2008 Olympic road race

And Fab DID get a silver medal.

 

[Matthijs]

You mention 3 guys but ignore the heir apparent.

There was a poll a week back. Who will win 5 monuments. Spartacus vs Gilbert. Cancellara was winning by 1 or 2 votes last i checked, and we have to bear in mind that this forum is full of Gilbert fanboys

since when cycling races are won on a democratic base

 

[El Pistolero]

Maybe if they had a flat Olympic road race Fab would have got a silver medal.


Oh wait

This was the 2008 Olympic road race

And Fab DID get a silver medal.

I fail to see how that race compares to LBL though?

If only for this reason:

Independent sources showed that pollution levels were above the limit deemed safe by the World Health Organization on August 9.[11][12][13] However, the cycling event went ahead as scheduled with no objections from the athletes. Fifty-three of the 143 cyclists pulled out during the race; however, this is not unusual (over half withdrew mid-race at the 2004 Summer Olympics). Post-race, a number of riders highlighted the punishing conditions, in particular the heat (26 °C/79 °F) and humidity (90%), which were much higher than in Europe, where the majority of UCI ProTour races are held. Pollution, however, was not widely cited as a problem,[14][15] though Stefan Schumacher of Germany, who had been considered an outside favorite for victory in the event, said the elements and the pollution played a role in his withdrawal.[16]

 

[Parrulo]

Maybe if they had a flat Olympic road race Fab would have got a silver medal.


Oh wait

This was the 2008 Olympic road race

And Fab DID get a silver medal.

i didn't knew that the course for the olympics in 2008 was to climb the chinise version of the zoncolan a few times

hint: in case some1 misses it i am just pointing out the exageration of the grafic

 

[theyoungest]

I fail to see how that race compares to LBL though?

If only for this reason:

Independent sources showed that pollution levels were above the limit deemed safe by the World Health Organization on August 9.[11][12][13] However, the cycling event went ahead as scheduled with no objections from the athletes. Fifty-three of the 143 cyclists pulled out during the race; however, this is not unusual (over half withdrew mid-race at the 2004 Summer Olympics). Post-race, a number of riders highlighted the punishing conditions, in particular the heat (26 °C/79 °F) and humidity (90%), which were much higher than in Europe, where the majority of UCI ProTour races are held. Pollution, however, was not widely cited as a problem,[14][15] though Stefan Schumacher of Germany, who had been considered an outside favorite for victory in the event, said the elements and the pollution played a role in his withdrawal.[16]

The fact that the other guys in the front group were Sanchez, Rebellin, Kolobnev, Andy Schleck, and Rogers, suggests something about the nature of the race: it was an Ardennes type race. Cancellara returned on the descent or on the flat, if I'm not mistaken, but there are descents in LBL as well. Cancellara isn't as vertically challenged as you apparently think he is. He was the strongest climber in the 2009 Worlds as well, where you could have witnessed Gilbert and Evans struggling to hold his wheel uphill, if you had paid attention.

 

[The Hitch]

I fail to see how that race compares to LBL though?

If only for this reason:

Independent sources showed that pollution levels were above the limit deemed safe by the World Health Organization on August 9.[11][12][13] However, the cycling event went ahead as scheduled with no objections from the athletes. Fifty-three of the 143 cyclists pulled out during the race; however, this is not unusual (over half withdrew mid-race at the 2004 Summer Olympics). Post-race, a number of riders highlighted the punishing conditions, in particular the heat (26 °C/79 °F) and humidity (90%), which were much higher than in Europe, where the majority of UCI ProTour races are held. Pollution, however, was not widely cited as a problem,[14][15] though Stefan Schumacher of Germany, who had been considered an outside favorite for victory in the event, said the elements and the pollution played a role in his withdrawal.[16]

Lol. I have to give you credit for trying. Its a very nice idea.

So Cancellara is some anti pollution ubermench who copes with it while everyone else falters, but will not have this advantage in europe?????

I dont see how that would hurt his chances for LBL. He got over those climbs, as well as Samu, Valverde, Evans, Gesink, Andy Schleck, Alexander Kolobnev etc etc etc.

Andy Schleck came 4th. He has won Liege Bastogne Liege.
Alejandro Valverde came 12th. He has won Liege Bastogne Liege.
Kolobnev came 3rd. He was runner up at this years Liege Bastogne Liege.
Samuel Sanchez won. he is one of the worlds best climbers.

If anything pollution made the race MORE difficult. and Cancellara STILL got over the climbs.

i didn't knew that the course for the olympics in 2008 was to climb the chinise version of the zoncolan a few times

hint: in case some1 misses it i am just pointing out the exageration of the grafic

Its not the Zoncolan but NEITHER is Liege Bastogne Liege. Before the race pundits said this race was like a TDF mountain stage. All the favourites were gt guys. Cancellara came 2nd. He didnt do it through some lucky break, he did it by hanging on with the best climbers in the world.

So i just dont see how people can say he has NO chance at LBL, when he had no problem with this. And as El Pistolero so nicely pointed out, he was facing high pollution levels to boot.

 

[El Pistolero]

Lol. I have to give you credit for trying. Its a very nice idea.

So Cancellara is some anti pollution ubermench who copes with it while everyone else falters, but will not have this advantage in europe?????

I dont see how that would hurt his chances for LBL. He got over those climbs, as well as Samu, Valverde, Evans, Gesink, Andy Schleck, Alexander Kolobnev etc etc etc.

Andy Schleck came 4th. He has won Liege Bastogne Liege.
Alejandro Valverde came 12th. He has won Liege Bastogne Liege.
Kolobnev came 3rd. He was runner up at this years Liege Bastogne Liege.
Samuel Sanchez won. he is one of the worlds best climbers.

If anything pollution made the race MORE difficult. and Cancellara STILL got over the climbs.



Its not the Zoncolan but NEITHER is Liege Bastogne Liege. Before the race pundits said this race was like a TDF mountain stage. All the favourites were gt guys. Cancellara came 2nd. He didnt do it through some lucky break, he did it by hanging on with the best climbers in the world.

So i just dont see how people can say he has NO chance at LBL, when he had no problem with this. And as El Pistolero so nicely pointed out, he was facing high pollution levels to boot.

It wasn't about pollution, but about a totally different environment? If you actually read it, pollution wasn't a high factor, but the humidity and heat was. Ardennes race in 30 degrees? Do you honestly believe that?

LBL is a way harder race than the Olympics. And he didn't hang on with the best climbers of the world at all? He got dropped by them, but got back on a flat part.

 

[maltiv]

It wasn't about pollution, but about a totally different environment? If you actually read it, pollution wasn't a high factor, but the humidity and heat was. Ardennes race in 30 degrees? Do you honestly believe that?

LBL is a way harder race than the Olympics. And he didn't hang on with the best climbers of the world at all? He got dropped by them, but got back on a flat part.

Which is exactly how he could win LBL. You really think he couldn't have done the same thing Vino did this year?

 

[El Pistolero]

Which is exactly how he could win LBL. You really think he couldn't have done the same thing Vino did this year?

One problem: LBL doesn't end on a flat part. And it has like double the hills that were in the Olympics He'd crack.

LBL is not a criterium race, it's hill after hill after hill after hill.

 

[roundabout]

On Mendrisio form Cancellara has a chance. However, while he very likely won't get dropped, there will be a faster finisher with him unless he sneaks away Hamilton style.

 

[theyoungest]

One problem: LBL doesn't end on a flat part. And it has like double the hills that were in the Olympics He'd crack.

LBL is not a criterium race, it's hill after hill after hill after hill.

After all, the Olympics and the Worlds are criterium races.

 

[The Hitch]

LBL is not a criterium race, it's hill after hill after hill after hill.

As youngest has pointed out, if a circuit has one hill, and you do the circuit 8 times then its also hill after hill after hill after hill

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Just don't go into a discussion with El Pistolero when it involves either a Belgian rider or an adversary of a Belgian rider