Re: Re:
Sagan made not one mistake, but couple of them. First he put Oss to work with 4 Steppers in the group, huge mistake! He should've force Lampaert to work, or maybe Roelandts. If Lampaert attacks, Oss covers. If Stybar attacks, he lets that go to somebody else to cover. Stybar, although a great rider, wouldn't last to the finish, he just isn't that kind of rider, he never produced something similar. Oss could hold him on the leash, and then Sagan and co. would caught him on the Kwaremont or after Paterberg. If Gilbert attacks, that's a danger one, but I bet Van Avermaet, Benoot, Naesen and Vanmarcke would thought the same, someone would close that. That leaves Terpstra, they considered him as a wing man, but he was the main man. And he'll be the main man tomorrow also. If they let him go unmarked, they will see him next time at the Velodrome. The last mistake was dropping strong group at the Paterberg, that group was his last chance of catching Terstra, although odds were not big.
So, for money, Sagan needs to mark only two guys tomorrow, Terpstra and Van Avermaet. If one of them escapes, it's game over for him.
Oss would not hold Terpstra's wheel for long, just like Nibali didn't. Terpstra is the best roleur on the team, strongest rider to go solo, that means you must mark his moves, he's the great danger. Sagan really should've been on his wheel, and Van Avermaet also. The best man to let go is Stybar, then Gilbert and then at the end Terpstra.cyclopsnoobie said:What would have followed if Sagand went with Terpstra was also incredibly predictable ………and to the extend that i find it hard to believe that this line of reasoning is still present in the debate.Red Rick said:Yeah it's very hard for Sagan to win with his team situation. He was strong in de Ronde, but he can't miss any move, he can't attack too much, he can't win solo, so he's down to hoping he doesn't miss the winning move and win the sprint
Wasting Oss before the Kruisberg was a dumb move. Not being onto Terpstra was a terrible move. The last one you can blame everyone for, because what followed was incredibly predictable.
But maybe you suggest that Oss should be the one to follow Terpstra - if yes - than i agree - i am also inclined to believe that Oss should have be saved for covering exactly those terpstrasque attacks - as many as he could.
But yeah, i guess - there was probably idea that Oss was supposed to sustain hard tempo to postpone the beginning of QS attacking carousel (first Terpstra, than Štybar, than Gilbert and if needed second round) as late as possible - in best scenario to Paterberg.
Sagan made not one mistake, but couple of them. First he put Oss to work with 4 Steppers in the group, huge mistake! He should've force Lampaert to work, or maybe Roelandts. If Lampaert attacks, Oss covers. If Stybar attacks, he lets that go to somebody else to cover. Stybar, although a great rider, wouldn't last to the finish, he just isn't that kind of rider, he never produced something similar. Oss could hold him on the leash, and then Sagan and co. would caught him on the Kwaremont or after Paterberg. If Gilbert attacks, that's a danger one, but I bet Van Avermaet, Benoot, Naesen and Vanmarcke would thought the same, someone would close that. That leaves Terpstra, they considered him as a wing man, but he was the main man. And he'll be the main man tomorrow also. If they let him go unmarked, they will see him next time at the Velodrome. The last mistake was dropping strong group at the Paterberg, that group was his last chance of catching Terstra, although odds were not big.
So, for money, Sagan needs to mark only two guys tomorrow, Terpstra and Van Avermaet. If one of them escapes, it's game over for him.