Teams & Riders Peter Sagan discussion thread.

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Is this still a Peter Sagan discussion thread?

No. The most important thing to talk about in most threads these days is Valverde. Then we have to bring up Nibali.

I predict he’ll be 2nd in Amstel.

Who, Nibali or Valverde?

Maybe he's actually referring to Sagan. Unfortunately the he is ambiguous as we have no idea who is actually being referred to.

 

[Tonton]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

 

[Jspear]

Re: Re:

Is this still a Peter Sagan discussion thread?

No. The most important thing to talk about in most threads these days is Valverde. Then we have to bring up Nibali.

I predict he’ll be 2nd in Amstel.

Who, Nibali or Valverde?

Maybe he's actually referring to Sagan. Unfortunately the he is ambiguous s we have no idea who is actually being referred to.

The he is of course talking about the rider who’s thread this is.

 

[SKSemtex]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

Even peloton fully focused on him to lose this time, cannot stop him from the win.
He is in monstrous form and he has the great team here.
He can lose AGR only if he decide to help winning somebody else.
BTW I miss your pre-race prediction. You do not defend your title properly.

 

[Blanco]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

Even peloton fully focused on him to lose this time, cannot stop him from the win.
He is in monstrous form and he has the great team here.
He can lose AGR only if he decide to help winning somebody else.
BTW I miss your pre-race prediction. You do not defend your title properly.

You're way too sure he will win tomorrow, I wouldn't be. There are too many top guns in this race, all on form. He's maybe the top favorite, but there are many ways for him to lose this race.

 

[Netserk]

He would hardly be able to do better on Keutenberg than Valverde did last year. There are several scenarios that would be difficult to handle for him, but I also have him as one of the main favourites.

 

[Jancouver]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

Even peloton fully focused on him to lose this time, cannot stop him from the win.
He is in monstrous form and he has the great team here.
He can lose AGR only if he decide to help winning somebody else.
BTW I miss your pre-race prediction. You do not defend your title properly.

Are you referring to Sagan, Valverde or Nibali? :lol:

 

[Flamin]

Re:

He would hardly be able to do better on Keutenberg than Valverde did last year. There are several scenarios that would be difficult to handle for him, but I also have him as one of the main favourites.

Than Kwiatkowski you mean?

 

[Netserk]

No. The point was that Valverde wasn't good enough there, so if Sagan was in the same situation, I wouldn't expect him to make the bridge (on the climb, but perhaps he could do so on the plateau...)

 

[Durden93]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

I don’t know if you’re right about the peloton marking Sagan but they absolutely should. Repeated short climbs are where Sagan thrives. On another note, how did Sagan go from a non-starter last year to this year’s pre-race favourite?

 

[Flamin]

Re:

No. The point was that Valverde wasn't good enough there, so if Sagan was in the same situation, I wouldn't expect him to make the bridge (on the climb, but perhaps he could do so on the plateau...)

Got it. Fair enough.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re:

No. The point was that Valverde wasn't good enough there, so if Sagan was in the same situation, I wouldn't expect him to make the bridge (on the climb, but perhaps he could do so on the plateau...)

Let's be honest. He couldn't. On the other hand last year Kwiatko and last year Gilbert will not be racing tommorow. Their started season together with Sagan and nothing indicates that their form can be superior to Sagan.

 

[tobydawq]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

I don’t know if you’re right about the peloton marking Sagan but they absolutely should. Repeated short climbs are where Sagan thrives. On another note, how did Sagan go from a non-starter last year to this year’s pre-race favourite?

What kind of weird logic is this?

The same way Froome will be the favourite for the Giro this year, I presume. Or the same way Valverde will be the favourite for a number of races in the autumn. Or the same way Nibali will be an outsider next Sunday in Liège.

Riders change their calendars from year to year and good riders will obviously be favourites in the new races they choose to target as long as they suit them...

 

[Jancouver]

What are the chances of Sagan riding Liege next week?

IMO he should do Liege just to see and learn (while supporting his team) if he can be competitive and target this race one day.

 

[Durden93]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

I don’t know if you’re right about the peloton marking Sagan but they absolutely should. Repeated short climbs are where Sagan thrives. On another note, how did Sagan go from a non-starter last year to this year’s pre-race favourite?

What kind of weird logic is this?

The same way Froome will be the favourite for the Giro this year, I presume. Or the same way Valverde will be the favourite for a number of races in the autumn. Or the same way Nibali will be an outsider next Sunday in Liège.

Riders change their calendars from year to year and good riders will obviously be favourites in the new races they choose to target as long as they suit them...

My point was that I found it weird that Sagan wasn’t at all interested in the race last year but now he could win it. I think he’s a significant favourite at this point. Also, GTs are not remotely similiar to classics. GT routes change significantly from year to year whereas the classics routes stay largely the same.

 

[tobydawq]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

I don’t know if you’re right about the peloton marking Sagan but they absolutely should. Repeated short climbs are where Sagan thrives. On another note, how did Sagan go from a non-starter last year to this year’s pre-race favourite?

What kind of weird logic is this?

The same way Froome will be the favourite for the Giro this year, I presume. Or the same way Valverde will be the favourite for a number of races in the autumn. Or the same way Nibali will be an outsider next Sunday in Liège.

Riders change their calendars from year to year and good riders will obviously be favourites in the new races they choose to target as long as they suit them...

My point was that I found it weird that Sagan wasn’t at all interested in the race last year but now he could win it. I think he’s a significant favourite at this point. Also, GTs are not remotely similiar to classics. GT routes change significantly from year to year whereas the classics routes stay largely the same.

He skipped the opening weekend and now extends the spring season one week, so compared to last year he has been racing for the same amount of weeks (six).

He wants his downtime before California which is why he usually stops after Roubaix. Last year he very unsuccessfully participated in the Rund um den Finanzplatz or whatever its name is, which proved that he didn't like racing between Roubaix and California (perhaps he had a hangover from a party thrown by Boonen the day before, though).

Another reason explaining his participation could be that he has an eye on the WorldTour ranking which he leads comfortably at the moment.

 

[Leinster]

Re:

What are the chances of Sagan riding Liege next week?

IMO he should do Liege just to see and learn (while supporting his team) if he can be competitive and target this race one day.

Now that he’s won pretty much all there is to win in the 75kg+ weight division, it’d be great to see him try for some of the lumpier races. I still believe there isn’t a race on the calendar that he can’t win, if he has the focus and drive to go for it.

 

[Durden93]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

I don’t know if you’re right about the peloton marking Sagan but they absolutely should. Repeated short climbs are where Sagan thrives. On another note, how did Sagan go from a non-starter last year to this year’s pre-race favourite?

What kind of weird logic is this?

The same way Froome will be the favourite for the Giro this year, I presume. Or the same way Valverde will be the favourite for a number of races in the autumn. Or the same way Nibali will be an outsider next Sunday in Liège.

Riders change their calendars from year to year and good riders will obviously be favourites in the new races they choose to target as long as they suit them...

My point was that I found it weird that Sagan wasn’t at all interested in the race last year but now he could win it. I think he’s a significant favourite at this point. Also, GTs are not remotely similiar to classics. GT routes change significantly from year to year whereas the classics routes stay largely the same.

He skipped the opening weekend and now extends the spring season one week, so compared to last year he has been racing for the same amount of weeks (six).

He wants his downtime before California which is why he usually stops after Roubaix. Last year he very unsuccessfully participated in the Rund um den Finanzplatz or whatever its name is, which proved that he didn't like racing between Roubaix and California (perhaps he had a hangover from a party thrown by Boonen the day before, though).

Another reason explaining his participation could be that he has an eye on the WorldTour ranking which he leads comfortably at the moment.

Right, I completely forgot he skipped the opening weekend. That changes things quite a bit.

 

[SKSemtex]

Re: Re:

What are the chances of Sagan riding Liege next week?

IMO he should do Liege just to see and learn (while supporting his team) if he can be competitive and target this race one day.

Now that he’s won pretty much all there is to win in the 75kg+ weight division, it’d be great to see him try for some of the lumpier races. I still believe there isn’t a race on the calendar that he can’t win, if he has the focus and drive to go for it.

Me too. I would prefer him to go for all 5 then try to collect another RVV and PR.

 

[Durden93]

Re: Re:

What are the chances of Sagan riding Liege next week?

IMO he should do Liege just to see and learn (while supporting his team) if he can be competitive and target this race one day.

Now that he’s won pretty much all there is to win in the 75kg+ weight division, it’d be great to see him try for some of the lumpier races. I still believe there isn’t a race on the calendar that he can’t win, if he has the focus and drive to go for it.

I really doubt Sagan would be able to beat Valverde and Alaphilippe with so much racing in his legs. Maybe if he peaked for it he could but I doubt it.

 

[Koronin]

[mod hat on]

Stay on topic please.

[mod hat off]

Sagan: can win anything unless the field rides against him. Add Valverde to the mix, and Sagan can somewhat fly under the radar. Danger.

Nibali, yes, is the best all-around rider, he's aggressive and will go for broke. Watch out. QS may find a way to screw it up and not podium. Alaf, Bardet, Martin? They can win.

But to me, in this mess and so many pretenders like in PR, Sagan won't be the focus, therefore he can win.

I'm not watching the start list, just got back from a 16 hour work day. After three of those. But if all participate, this will be a dog fight.

I don’t know if you’re right about the peloton marking Sagan but they absolutely should. Repeated short climbs are where Sagan thrives. On another note, how did Sagan go from a non-starter last year to this year’s pre-race favourite?

What kind of weird logic is this?

The same way Froome will be the favourite for the Giro this year, I presume. Or the same way Valverde will be the favourite for a number of races in the autumn. Or the same way Nibali will be an outsider next Sunday in Liège.

Riders change their calendars from year to year and good riders will obviously be favourites in the new races they choose to target as long as they suit them...

My point was that I found it weird that Sagan wasn’t at all interested in the race last year but now he could win it. I think he’s a significant favourite at this point. Also, GTs are not remotely similiar to classics. GT routes change significantly from year to year whereas the classics routes stay largely the same.

He skipped the opening weekend and now extends the spring season one week, so compared to last year he has been racing for the same amount of weeks (six).

He wants his downtime before California which is why he usually stops after Roubaix. Last year he very unsuccessfully participated in the Rund um den Finanzplatz or whatever its name is, which proved that he didn't like racing between Roubaix and California (perhaps he had a hangover from a party thrown by Boonen the day before, though).

Another reason explaining his participation could be that he has an eye on the WorldTour ranking which he leads comfortably at the moment.

If Valverde gets a good finish at Amstel along with another Ardennes double the WT points rankings will be very tight.

 

[tobydawq]

True, and Valverde probably has more possibilities to score many points in the remainder of the season. But Sagan can also get somewhere between some and a lot of points in California, Suisse, TdF, Binckbank Tour and the Canadian races. His problem is that of these races, it's only the Canadian and Binckbank he can win outright.

If Valverde podiums the Tour and Vuelta, Suisse, the Ardennes double, CSS and Lombardia, he will be unstoppable.

 

[Koronin]

Re:

True, and Valverde probably has more possibilities to score many points in the remainder of the season. But Sagan can also get somewhere between some and a lot of points in California, Suisse, TdF, Binckbank Tour and the Canadian races. His problem is that of these races, it's only the Canadian and Binckbank he can win outright.

If Valverde podiums the Tour and Vuelta, Suisse, the Ardennes double, CSS and Lombardia, he will be unstoppable.

Don't forget the Worlds where he's likely to podium even if he doesn't actually win it. The other thing is Valverde will go after stage points in races as well. He's the one GC rider that is know for points hunting during races. Top 10 at least in Grand Tours give WT points and it's highly likely that he'll be in the top 10 GC of both the Tour and Vuelta along with a a good chance of a podium in at least 1 of the two.

 

[Durden93]

Re:

True, and Valverde probably has more possibilities to score many points in the remainder of the season. But Sagan can also get somewhere between some and a lot of points in California, Suisse, TdF, Binckbank Tour and the Canadian races. His problem is that of these races, it's only the Canadian and Binckbank he can win outright.

If Valverde podiums the Tour and Vuelta, Suisse, the Ardennes double, CSS and Lombardia, he will be unstoppable.

That's a lot to ask for given that Valverde has never podiumed the TDF and Vuelta in the same year and never won Il Lombardia

 

[Blanco]

If Valverde stays healthy all season, Sagan won't win World Tour.

Oh, and I do think he really cares about this race, cause he prolonged his spring season specially for it. I don't think that's because he wants to help his teammates.