Cance > TheRest said:
If only Vanmarcke actually could win a race, which he can't. Valverde is still a great rider who wins more than the young gen guys you speak of. Strade Bianche is a good race for Valverde, but being beaten by semi-sprinter GVA and Stybar (who's in the form of his life) doesn't suggest that he's lost his top speed. It only suggests that he targets other races. His top speed is still unique for a climber/GT specialist of his class.
but Gerrans, 'tho not the class of Valverde, has managed to take his mantle as the fastest finisher for those difficult finishes, the point up and shed Sagan.
if Sagan makes it, not one can match him. Gerrans is about the next best. Valverde has just dropped off. Gerrans, unlike alot of others, and especially the GC riders, has not chosen to take those weightloss drugs or peptides. He still carries the ball of muscle. Which is a very good decision. He can take on the guys who have dropped 4lb or 5lbs and just lost a few miles of explosivity and acceleration.
Kwiatkowski is damn fast, if he can hold those accelerations from the likes of dan martin.
Ricco, Kwiatkowski, Kirchen, Valverde, Rebellin, Gerrans, Bartoli,
I think Gerro now holds the mantle for a rider who can finish (the rider) in those diminished group sprints and accelerations from around ~50 to 66km. If Sagan makes it, he can smoke them. If the group comes into a sprint at 65 and holding it Cancellera can compete, but not if they are accelerating up to their terminal velocity from ~50km. He loses some wattage when he has to jump with his 80kg.