Next great stage racer

[Maaaaaaaarten]

And maybe we can name 2 riders of his age who currently climb better.

Which two though? Quintana, Pinot, Aru, Bardet etc. are all from '90, Kelderman and Dombrowski are from '91. So, I can only think of one better climber from '91. Am I missing someone?

 

[norwegian]

A few years ago, EBH was said to have potential to become any type of rider, also GT`s. The way he has developed, do you think this may be a reality over time?

 

[c&cfan]

A few years ago, EBH was said to have potential to become any type of rider, also GT`s. The way he has developed, do you think this may be a reality over time?

well, i guess he won't develop in nothing in particular, and it is not a good thing.

he isn't "that" good in nothing.

maybe he will end a zabel, that's what i am hoping and it would be great.

 

[Froome19]

A few years ago, EBH was said to have potential to become any type of rider, also GT`s. The way he has developed, do you think this may be a reality over time?

Not if he stays with Sky..
If he moves it will remain very unlikely unless he truly changes his approach.
He has climbing potential he demonstrated that at last year's Dauphine but it will most likely go unexploited and even if it doesnt he may very well not have enough to really fight it out in the high mountains.

 

[Azabael]

Which two though? Quintana, Pinot, Aru, Bardet etc. are all from '90, Kelderman and Dombrowski are from '91. So, I can only think of one better climber from '91. Am I missing someone?

You can't look at one race they both raced and then say one is a better climber. You can only state he climbed better during that particular race. When I said 'of his age', I didn't literally mean the exact same or let alone the year he was born in. And if you want to take my words so literally, Aru is also still 21.

 

[theyoungest]

I hope it's the Giro, if he somehow crashes out or gets ill, he'd still be able to ride the Vuelta. Btw the 'gesink approach' hasn't been very succesfull in GT's, I hope Rabobank aren't thinking they're the same type of riders.

This is typical Dutch nonsense... of course the Gesink approach has been successful. He got top-10 in his first GT. Then he crashed out of his first Tour, and finished 5th in his second.

Kelderman is very useful for weeklong races, a lot of which are held during springtime. That's why the Vuelta rather than the Giro as his first GT makes more sense to me.

 

[franciep10]

quintana is a good climbing talent is he doing the vuelta and with kelderman I see him as time trialist who can climb he's young though hopefully his climbing improves

 

[burning]

Quintana, Kelderman and Bardet comes to my mind

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Mollema likewise but I think this year and specifically this Tour is the make or break point for Mollema if he has the ability to win GTs..

This makes no sense, a tour that doesn't really suit him is make or break? why is there some little clock some where that ends after this tour which will make or break his future? Like so often, your logic is flawed and without reason.

fwiw I don't think mollema really has the ability to win a GT anyway, or would require a weak field to do so.

Hmm, yea perhaps. But then again, being a few years younger he's already beating TJVG in the mountains. And maybe we can name 2 riders of his age who currently climb better. He only lost 46 seconds to Dombrowski on Mt. Baldy. But like mentioned, the future will tell. I'm curious when guys like Keldermand, Aru and Dombrowski will ride their first GT. What do you think about Kelderman, coming Vuelta or next year's Giro?

this year is already a no; good thing.
Giro or vuelta next year, more likely vuelta im thinking.

A few years ago, EBH was said to have potential to become any type of rider, also GT`s. The way he has developed, do you think this may be a reality over time?

personally I always found the GT hype with ebh stupid.

 

[Azabael]

quintana is a good climbing talent is he doing the vuelta and with kelderman I see him as time trialist who can climb he's young though hopefully his climbing improves

The way I see it is that Kelderman has shown as least as much promising riding uphill as he's done timetrialing, but oh well.

I know Quintana is a climbing talent. But I personally like to wait a few years with those colombians to see how they develop. I think they physically sooner mature than north-european guys. But time will tell.

 

[Froome19]

This makes no sense, a tour that doesn't really suit him is make or break? why is there some little clock some where that ends after this tour which will make or break his future? Like so often, your logic is flawed and without reason.
.

His GC placing doesnt decide whether his Tour has been succesful or not, rather it will be how he acquits himself in the high mountains; on stages 7,10,11,16 and 17 which will show whether he has it in him.

Also after his Vuelta last year he has shown he has the ability to do well at the highest level and imo this year is crucial as he is approaching the age where GT riders either stagnate and become regular top 10's and nothing more or they move on to becoming proper GT winners. With the progress he has been showing imo if he doesnt show himself up this year then it will be very likely that he will become one of those riders who stagnate as logically he should have been improving enough and have reached the stage where he will be demonstrating that based on his Ardennes results (a bit to show how he has become a strong rider) and his Vuelta results.

 

[theyoungest]

His GC placing doesnt decide whether his Tour has been succesful or not, rather it will be how he acquits himself in the high mountains; on stages 7,10,11,16 and 17 which will show whether he has it in him.

Also after his Vuelta last year he has shown he has the ability to do well at the highest level and imo this year is crucial as he is approaching the age where GT riders either stagnate and become regular top 10's and nothing more or they move on to becoming proper GT winners. With the progress he has been showing imo if he doesnt show himself up this year then it will be very likely that he will become one of those riders who stagnate as logically he should have been improving enough and have reached the stage where he will be demonstrating that based on his Ardennes results (a bit to show how he has become a strong rider) and his Vuelta results.

With Mollema, no one knows where his limit lies. He started cycling really late, and his progression has been stunted by mono, which cost him almost an entire season, and maybe more.

The level he showed in Pais Vasco and certainly the Ardennes, that's already so much better than any classic he ever did... he's still growing. To regard this year's Tour as the make or break moment of his GT career is a bit strange.

 

[jens_attacks]

nairo quintana no doubt

but the most certain one,just like i said from the monte grappa stage back in 2010,it has to be richie porte.he has the mentality of armstrong and that's one of the most important things in endurance sports.i predict him to podium in one grand tour next year.his improvement is tremendous and nothing will stop him.he will fight with contador in the years to come.

of course richie is 27 but really just in his 3rd year with the big boys

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

nairo quintana no doubt

but the most certain one,just like i said from the monte grappa stage back in 2010,it has to be richie porte.he has the mentality of armstrong and that's one of the most important things in endurance sports.i predict him to podium in one grand tour next year.his improvement is tremendous and nothing will stop him.he will fight with contador in the years to come.

of course richie is 27 but really just in his 3rd year with the big boys

Dont Forget Kash

 

[jens_attacks]

Dont Forget Kash

kash is good but let's face it,he's not getting any younger


alexey lutsenko on the other hand, looks like a guy to watch coming from vino's homeland

 

[Pentacycle]

nairo quintana no doubt

but the most certain one,just like i said from the monte grappa stage back in 2010,it has to be richie porte.he has the mentality of armstrong and that's one of the most important things in endurance sports.i predict him to podium in one grand tour next year.his improvement is tremendous and nothing will stop him.he will fight with contador in the years to come.

of course richie is 27 but really just in his 3rd year with the big boys

This thread is more about the guys who are still in the U23 age group, but of course Porte can still improve.

To me Tim Wellens(BEL) seems the real deal, he's just become pro at Lotto-Belisol 4 days ago(even without hype), and he's shown some promising results over the past years, improving each year. He can excell in both time trials and climbing, and he's got much left to improve imo. I believe he'll ride Tour of Poland next month.

 

[theyoungest]

This thread is more about the guys who are still in the U23 age group, but of course Porte can still improve.

To me Tim Wellens(BEL) seems the real deal, he's just become pro at Lotto-Belisol 4 days ago(even without hype), and he's shown some promising results over the past years, improving each year. He can excell in both time trials and climbing, and he's got much left to improve imo. I believe he'll ride Tour of Poland next month.

A video from when Wellens and Kelderman were juniors.

Yeah, Wellens is a talented climber, and indeed there's been no hype at all around him. A good position to be in.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

His GC placing doesnt decide whether his Tour has been succesful or not, rather it will be how he acquits himself in the high mountains; on stages 7,10,11,16 and 17 which will show whether he has it in him.

Also after his Vuelta last year he has shown he has the ability to do well at the highest level and imo this year is crucial as he is approaching the age where GT riders either stagnate and become regular top 10's and nothing more or they move on to becoming proper GT winners. With the progress he has been showing imo if he doesnt show himself up this year then it will be very likely that he will become one of those riders who stagnate as logically he should have been improving enough and have reached the stage where he will be demonstrating that based on his Ardennes results (a bit to show how he has become a strong rider) and his Vuelta results.

Again flawed logic.

Mollema in a race that doesn't suit him, where he isn't a pure leader is make or break? Mollema started riding very late and already lost a whole season where he went back to Rabo ct (illness), so he isn't a general case (not that your reasoning makes sense for any rider). I suppose by your logic froome also better show himself at le tour or he ain't ever winning a gt... Hmmm lucky hesjedal hadn't seen this also, otherwise no way he would have won il giro.

Different riders, different development patterns; despite some kid's claims of stagnation behind a computer, doesn't make it true.

 

[The Hitch]

Has Libertine brought up Pauline Ferrand-Prévot yet?

This makes no sense, a tour that doesn't really suit him is make or break? why is there some little clock some where that ends after this tour which will make or break his future? Like so often, your logic is flawed and without reason.

fwiw I don't think mollema really has the ability to win a GT anyway, or would require a weak field to do so.

Not only do i agree with everything here, most importantly, it is very nicely written.

 

[The Hitch]

at the beginning of the year i would have said Henao and De Gendt. De Gendt he said before the Giro his main season aim was the Vuelta so lets wait to see what he will do there.

Henao i think even though it was his first gt, i think a true future gt contender would at the age of 24 manage slightly better in a gt won by hejsdal. Especially considering he doesn't have that tt that De Gendt has.

A number of names have been thrown out there in this thread but Quintana imo stands above the others at the moment.

Betancur has been so good at hills he has been carving out a rep as a power classics rider but he has shown real good stuff in the mountains too, so he would be 2nd for me.

From the more established gc riders, i think Peter Velits has more impressive gt results in him.

on a final note, Romain Sicard, we hardle knew ye

 

[Wilba60]

Signed for Sky 2013, apparently.

It is interesting to note that Dennis has signed for Sky. I am sure that GreenEdge must have had a good look at him but maybe they have too many ex pursuit riders in the mix. With Meyer, Howard, Durbridge, Bobridge, Hepburn and Bewley they will be very strong in that area in years to come.

Someone mentioned that Dennis was not a GC rider but how can you tell at that age. He and the pursuiters mentioned above come from the same background as Wiggins...pretty sure he wasn't considered a GC rider when he crossed over from track. Of the GE group, Meyer looks like the one they are going to try and groom for GC and he had a pretty good initiation to it, in a few races this year. Was good to see him racing alongside Weening for a lot of time on the road, hopefully learning plenty along the way.

I think in the near future GE will either stay with the current policy of developing from within unless they can bring over a rider like Porte. He may have been reluctant to ride with GE in it's first year after the Pegasus drama but may be more enthused now. He would make a nice pair with Weening for the stage races and they can develop Meyer under the guidance of these two. Moving from a domestique to the teams No. 1 GC contender would be appealing but I think he still has a contract with Sky.....although if I recall right Cadel still had a contract when he moved across to BMC.

 

[greenedge]

alexey lutsenko on the other hand, looks like a guy to watch coming from vino's homeland

I thought he seemed more like a sprinter

 

[robert_c]

Joe Dombrowski. Give him a few years. He crushed it at the Baby Giro.

 

[PCutter]

Jesse Sergent. Being a New Zealander means he will have to manage his career (ie team choice) well, but plenty of talent and a strong TT

 

[theyoungest]

Jesse Sergent. Being a New Zealander means he will have to manage his career (ie team choice) well, but plenty of talent and a strong TT

Yes. And he can't climb.