Most disappointing riders so far

[El Pistolero]

A domestique that finished top 10 in both the Tour and the Vuelta

Ok, it's official, you are crazy and not to be taken serious at all.
Besides, even if Gesink won all those Tours, you still would not give him credit, because A) he is Dutch and B) he is from Rabobank. You are too predictable

He's a domestique in all races except the Tour. Has the Tour started yet? No, think not.

Poor Gesink cramped up because of VDB's pace @AGR. Great domestique work from him.

I would give credit were credit is due. And definitely not getting credit for his climbing this season. And for your "what if", Gesink didn't win. Cuddles was clearly a lot better than Gesink.

 

[theyoungest]

He's a domestique in all races except the Tour.

Paris-Nice? Pais Vasco?

Cuddles was clearly a lot better than Gesink.

Not in the time trial though, where Gesink nearly dethroned him.

 

[El Pistolero]

Not in the time trial though, where Gesink nearly dethroned him.

But we're talking about climbing

 

[The Hitch]

Not in the time trial though, where Gesink nearly dethroned him.

Well to be fair Gesink did have a huge head start from the ttt.

 

[theyoungest]

But we're talking about climbing

Even his climbing wasn't necessarily bad. His total amount of seconds lost on climbing stages this season (excluding bonifications): 6 in Pais Vasco, 29 in Tirreno. Makes 35. Absolutely disastrous.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Even his climbing wasn't necessarily bad. His total amount of seconds lost on climbing stages this season (excluding bonifications): 6 in Pais Vasco, 29 in Tirreno. Makes 35. Absolutely disastrous.

And that on, mostly, short punchy climbs...

enough said

 

[El Pistolero]

Even his climbing wasn't necessarily bad. His total amount of seconds lost on climbing stages this season (excluding bonifications): 6 in Pais Vasco, 29 in Tirreno. Makes 35. Absolutely disastrous.

Like I said, almost no gaps at Pais Vasco, but he was clearly struggling on the climbs.

Same as in Tirreno.

And look at his climbing in the Ardennes. He's going to lose major time with this form in some of the punchy stages at the Tour this year.

 

[theyoungest]

Like I said, almost no gaps at Pais Vasco, but he was clearly struggling on the climbs.

Same as in Tirreno.

And look at his climbing in the Ardennes. He's going to lose major time with this form in some of the punchy stages at the Tour this year.

In that case: Basso will utterly suck at the Tour.

 

[El Pistolero]

In that case: Basso will utterly suck at the Tour.

Basso: never has form except in GTs
Gesink: totally different story

It's like comparing Andy to Contador.
Apples and oranges and you know it. But ok, have it your way. Gesink is just another cyclist then who only cares about the Tour apparently and doesn't have the talent to have a strong base form.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

JvdB is a team leader. We've seen absolute zero from him this year. Absolutely no indication that he's at the top level.

I think a lot of the climbers are either a) saving themselves (unlikely), or b) cannot handle the types of accelerations from the punchy short-distance climbers.

Which, frankly, gives me a high hopes for a very competitive Tour. I'm hoping we see the punchy riders like Vino, Gilbert, Sammy Sanchez attacking on the rolling stages to hurt the climbers.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Basso: never has form except in GTs
Gesink: totally different story

It's like comparing Andy to Contador.
Apples and oranges and you know it. But ok, have it your way. Gesink is just another cyclist then who only cares about the Tour apparently and doesn't have the talent to have a strong base form.

I would not be so certain.

Gesink even said himself he didn't feel on form in the Ardennes week. Just his base level.
He's not like Basso and Andy who immediately suck big time when out of form. But he is also considerely worse than when in top form.

Just compare form in Emilia/Montreal or last years Suisse to now. That is a big difference.
You seem to think Gesink is always at 100% or something

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I found Vinokourov one of the biggest dissapointments in the classics actually.

The race where I expected him the least (Fleche Wallone) he did well, the other races he was invisible

In all fairness, he did have a mechanical at LBL, though from the looks of it, I don't think he would have been able to go with the Schlecks and Gilbert.

Kolobnev is the one who was there but for some unknown reason missed the move.

 

[El Pistolero]

I would not be so certain.

Gesink even said himself he didn't feel on form in the Ardennes week. Just his base level.
He's not like Basso and Andy who immediately suck big time when out of form. But he is also considerely worse than when in top form.

Just compare form in Emilia/Montreal or last years Suisse to now. That is a big difference.
You seem to think Gesink is always at 100% or something

No, I'm just saying he's been disappointing compared to what he has shown before. Except in the TT of course.

 

[boomcie]

He's a domestique in all races except the Tour. Has the Tour started yet? No, think not.

Poor Gesink cramped up because of VDB's pace @AGR. Great domestique work from him.

I would give credit were credit is due. And definitely not getting credit for his climbing this season. And for your "what if", Gesink didn't win. Cuddles was clearly a lot better than Gesink.

Bullcrap Pistolet. That's just untrue. Doing bad doesn't equal being a domestique.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I found Vinokourov one of the biggest dissapointments in the classics actually.

The race where I expected him the least (Fleche Wallone) he did well, the other races he was invisible

you are kidding right?? you know what happened in lbl on roche faucon?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

you are kidding right?? you know what happened in lbl on roche faucon?

yes. and that still makes no excuse for his AGR performance... and don';t say that race doesnt suit him because he won there before

 

[El Pistolero]

Bullcrap Pistolet. That's just untrue. Doing bad doesn't equal being a domestique.

But he wasn't bad. He was great in AGR. As a domestique. Ruta del Sol was ok too. Sure, it's a small ****ty race, but so is Tour of Oman.

He also had to do domestique work in LBL hence he dropped. Although he wasn't in his AGR shape anymore. Gesink on the other hand is a leader in most races he starts.

Yeah, he sucked in Paris-Nice, but he was sick there though.

 

[Anonymous]

Id have to say the whole of leopard. They had two big aims this year, the Classics were they had Cancellara for Cobbles and the Chuckle Brothers for the Ardennes, and the Tour de France.

They came out with no wins (bar one minor one) in the classics, and they arent going to win the Tour. Frank and Andys complete inability to come up with a tactic against Gilbert on Sunday shows they arent going to have any idea how to deal with Contador and Basso in July.

And Boonen. The only time i even remember seeing Boonen this spring was when he punctured/bike broke in the Arenberg

 

[cineteq]

They came out with no wins (bar one minor one) in the classics, and they arent going to win the Tour. Frank and Andys complete inability to come up with a tactic against Gilbert on Sunday shows they arent going to have any idea how to deal with Contador and Basso in July.

As if any tactic would have worked...LOL
- 1

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

News flash. Tour of Oman, Tour Down, Under and Qatar don't hold up to Milan-San Remo.

That's what? 8 wins?

They started good early, but after that, they really dropped the ball.

Sure Gesink has a second and third place at T-A/Pais Vasco, but imo he was climbing like crap in those races.

Omega Phil scores better on his own than super team Garmin-Cervelo

you clearly miss the point. And if your gonna play that game, then the only wins that were worth mentioning from 2010 are MSR and PN prologue.

And again MSR aside, rabobank have had improvements across the board (much much better in flanders and PR, better in agr, g-w, fleche. Winning arguably the biggest non-WT race. PN and the other Spanish PT races), not just TA and basque. Don't be ignorant, rabo have clearly been much better then last season. It is ok that you posted thoughtlessly earlier, don't try to defend it.

Arguing that one sprint by friere, in just 200m last year (MSR) overrides the massive improvement they have done this year is very impressive argument making

Like I said a team with depth, whom have rode well.

your anti-dutch posts are a bit much at times. You void reason. Only you lose credibility anyway, whatever.

Bullcrap Pistolet. That's just untrue. Doing bad doesn't equal being a domestique.

this lol.
You know what gesink was a domestique all season so far. because i say it, it must be true.

my god what a performance considering his domestique duties.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Climbing like crap, but still finishing podium and finishing ahead many reputated climbers even in the 'climb' stages.

What must those other riders have been doing? Climbing worse than crap?
Among them, a certain JvdB btw

do you really have to defend gesink at every instance?? it's getting more pathetic than el pistolero

 

[Havetts]

do you really have to defend gesink at every instance?? it's getting more pathetic than el pistolero

So being 'off-form' with the climbing, improving your TT by miles and you still say it isnt well done.

Btw, pot meet kettle.

 

[boomcie]

So being 'off-form' with the climbing, improving your TT by miles and you still say it isnt well done.

Btw, pot meet kettle.

One catfight please.

 

[Flamin]

Devolder, without any competition. Best result in a spring classic: 37th, Brabantse Pijl.

 

[Angliru]

I would not be so certain.

Gesink even said himself he didn't feel on form in the Ardennes week. Just his base level.
He's not like Basso and Andy who immediately suck big time when out of form. But he is also considerely worse than when in top form.

Isn't this the same thing just in kinder words?