Philipe Gilbert Future Tour de France Champion

[Jan the Man]

I will be intrigued if he does give it his all. Who knows where he may end up. I think with the attrition rate of this Tour top 15 is possible.

That said i think he would be better off soft peadlling stages 12 and 14 to go maximum on stages 13, 16 and 17 where he can make up some more points on Cavendish and Rojas for the Green Jersey.

 

[boomcie]

I personally think he'll struggle to keep up with guys that push a lighter gear. I'd be very surprised if he does well.

 

[El Pistolero]

I personally think he'll struggle to keep up with guys that push a lighter gear. I'd be very surprised if he does well.

Someone should tell Gilbert that a lighter gear exists. It was painfully obvious on Super-Besse that he's pushing a gear higher than everyone else lol. Painfully for his rivals that is.

 

[BillytheKid]

Someone should tell Gilbert that a lighter gear exists. It was painfully obvious on Super-Besse that he's pushing a gear higher than everyone else lol. Painfully for his rivals that is.

Hard to read Gilbert. Logic would say he's not the type of rider for the big mountains, but stranger things have happened. I think he'll want to protect the green jersey and be present on the stages where he can score points. This won't make him a contender in the upper GC. He might see the latter half of the top ten. The last four stages will see some big changes on the GC. As for the future, he's will certainly be a rider who could transform and ride for the yellow.

 

[El Pistolero]

Hard to read Gilbert. Logic would say he's not the type of rider for the big mountains, but stranger things have happened. I think he'll want to protect the green jersey and be present on the stages where he can score points. This won't make him a contender in the upper GC. He might see the latter half of the top ten. The last four stages will see some big changes on the GC. As for the future, he's will certainly be a rider who could transform and ride for the yellow.

Yeah, at the moment he won't top 10 at all this Tour. But I think he can go far in a real mountain stage if he tries. But green is more important, so he won't blow him self up I suppose.

 

[Ferminal]

Yeah, at the moment he won't top 10 at all this Tour. But I think he can go far in a real mountain stage if he tries. But green is more important, so he won't blow him self up I suppose.

Hopefully he takes it easy the 4 big stages, get in breaks and chase some points.

Whilst they will probably go to breaks, he is a chance of winning sprints on stage 13 and 16? (the one to Gap). The day after hopefully he attacks on the Pramartino and holds them off on the descent.

As things stand in this Tour I think he could probably top25 if he rode for it.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yeah, at the moment he won't top 10 at all this Tour. But I think he can go far in a real mountain stage if he tries. But green is more important, so he won't blow him self up I suppose.

The problem is that, unless it's the 2009 Tour, most GTs have more than one real mountain stage, and that I expect to be PhilGil's downfall.

 

[jens_attacks]

so no comment after gilbert talked about his evil plan regarding cav on eurosport?
he said omega will go so hard on the stage with galibier and alpe that poor cav won't even make the time limit.
new record for alpe d'huez ascent to come?is possible that phil can beat pantani's time?

lol sounds like fun.

 

[Thomsena]

Gilbert will never win the Tour but the way he has done his to effect the stages makes him a champ nonetheless. What a rider. And we saw that yesterday when Lotto put a poo on top of Brian Holms head with their tactics.

 

[hrotha]

Didn't Gilbert often talk about his recovery not being good enough for stage races? We even see it in hilly stages that suit him perfectly but which he doesn't win because he's not fresh anymore. I wouldn't completely rule out a decent result, say, top 25 or so, but I don't find that particularly likely. I think he'll try, fail, and go back to his normal schedule, saving energy for days to come.

 

[El Pistolero]

Didn't Gilbert often talk about his recovery not being good enough for stage races? We even see it in hilly stages that suit him perfectly but which he doesn't win because he's not fresh anymore. I wouldn't completely rule out a decent result, say, top 25 or so, but I don't find that particularly likely. I think he'll try, fail, and go back to his normal schedule, saving energy for days to come.

His recovery seems to be pretty good these first 11 stages. He has put in a lot of energy in most of these stages, and not a lot of cyclists would be able to keep that level for so long.

I think he'll test him self on one real mountain stage, but as for a good GC. I don't think it's possible after all he has done already. Wasted a lot more energy than the other competitors. Today he was burned after yesterday's effort though.

 

[Ramira]

After today I really don't care whether or not he could do it, I just want him to try no matter what. Imagine someone with the attacking mindset of Gilbert challenging for the Vuelta, every stage with any type of ascent on it would become a battlefield for the GC contenders.

 

[Opalius]

I am so impressed. God I like his spirit!

 

[jens_attacks]

yes you can phil!too bad that omega has few riders,they failed at controlling the intermediate sprint today.but it's not over for phil,tomorrow is plateau de beille,why the hell not a top ten there?

 

[hrotha]

Has he been interviewed after the stage? Has he said if he attacked to get into the top 10, or because he was bored?

 

[roundabout]

Lotto either have some of the worst people in the team car, are riding without ear pieces or have energy to do 42 stages.

 

[Arnolfini]

Has he been interviewed after the stage? Has he said if he attacked to get into the top 10, or because he was bored?

First he attacked to get away from HTC and Movistar, but the one he got away with was because he enjoyed the speed of the descent (cfr. yesterday as well), and he saw he had some distance.

 

[the chicken from T]

what a rider

PG. can never win the TdF, but i hope he decides to participate every year from now on.
He definitely makes this tour a lot more interesting, he may ride stupid but i rather see one stupid guy who attacks and loses then all these followers riding for place 3 to 10.

 

[jens_attacks]

Has he been interviewed after the stage? Has he said if he attacked to get into the top 10, or because he was bored?

he said something like vandenert told me "hey you fuccin mental there's a nice descent for a powerfull attack right there.give it a go!"
and then he went.

making vino a little less missed

 

[aahmadhu]

he's an Ardennes specialist, which shows that he loves action packed races, adrenalines etc.. maybe he was too bored with the pace of the peloton today and "what the heck.. i'm going~!!" might as well get some points, even if it only 2 points.

 

[Amsterhammer]

making vino a little less missed

Spot on. We need riders of Gilbert's quality who are prepared to do the unexpected, or even the inexplicable.

 

[Winterfold]

For Gilbert to win GC in the Tour he would have to stop being Gilbert.

The day Gilbert stops being Gilbert is a black day for cycling as it would be a victory of the head and logic over the heart and passion.

 

[Fus087]

For Gilbert to win GC in the Tour he would have to stop being Gilbert.

The day Gilbert stops being Gilbert is a black day for cycling as it would be a victory of the head and logic over the heart and passion.

Quoted for truth.
Please let Gilbert continue to be Gilbert, and reap rich rewards for it.

 

[AussieGoddess]

I am a huge fan.

Though from this point - I would like to see him get a good place on GC. He does deserve it after being one of the best riders in the Tour so far.

Would be a great result for OPL ... 2 stages, worn yellow and green, and a top 10 GC.

Will be hard to stop him from being his natural attacking self though

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Will be hard for him to limit his losses to the GC men without going on multiple raids in the mountains for intermediates (not at all unlikely) or seriously improving his climbing.

But it's unlikely. Frankly, the simple fact that Philippe Gilbert is in the top 10 after 2 weeks tells you just how un-selective the parcours has been so far.