Philippe Gilbert on Fire!

[ElChingon]

I think he will have at least an equal year.

He takes charge and knows how to pick his attacks which are not the sneakiest but are when he knows when it best suits him. He may not get the who team to support him at all races but at this point all he needs are a couple quality domestiques with him. If he is at races with Thor and Cadel we all know he'll still get his wins even if it means stepping on a few toes and dogs along the way.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Im hardly Gilberts biggest fan (though I still love the guy), and had hoped to see someone else win FW, but from what I heard he went up the Muur as fast as Cadel, and thats considering that he started celebrating about 100 m out.



I got to love you Belgians. In England a cyclist like Cancellara wouldn't get into the audience on a talk show but here hes on the panel

what I meant was some of the riders should have gone early, on that steepness I'm not convinced he could have done it the whole way up (like conta last year). No one went, basically the first time we saw the leaders was just a couple hundred metres from the end. No way he was gonna lose.

 

[El Pistolero]

what I meant was some of the riders should have gone early, on that steepness I'm not convinced he could have done it the whole way up (like conta last year). No one went, basically the first time we saw the leaders was just a couple hundred metres from the end. No way he was gonna lose.

Actually you can see Gilbert blocking of Rodriguez on the Mur by riding in his way. Gilbert was in the first 3 of the peloton for pretty much the entire climb. Don't think anything would have changed the outcome except a mechanical or a crash.

 

[hrotha]

You honestly think Phinney will be a leader at BMC with Phil working for him? Keep dreaming.

Your reading comprehension never ceases to amaze me.

 

[El Pistolero]

Your reading comprehension never ceases to amaze me.

Oh, I know what he meant. The only time you'll see Gilbert doing domestique work will be for Cadel Evans at the Tour. He would have done the same this year if VDB2 didn't crash out.

No way he's going to be doing domestique work in any other race. Not for Phinney, not for Thor Hushovd, not for Greg van Avermaet, not for Cadel at any other race than the Tour.

I was just taking a piss at him with his ridiculous statement about Gilbert having done loads of domestique work for Phinney in the summer races

Gilbert will be a leader at every race he starts next year except the Tour. Not much will change from Lotto. Cadel Evans will be a domestique at the Ardennes, Phil will repay him in July. Thor and Phil complement each other at San Remo, so there's no problem there. At the Ronde Hushovd has never been good, so Phil will be leader again. He won't ride Roubaix and he'll be sole leader at the Ardennes. He'll be leader at the Ronde van België, he'll be leader at the fall classics as well. If that's not being a leader of a team than I don't know what is. The first thing that came out of Cadel Evans' mouth when he heard Phil signed with BMC was "I'll guess I'll have to be a domestique at the Ardennes then, I'll be glad to do so."

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Actually you can see Gilbert blocking of Rodriguez on the Mur by riding in his way. Gilbert was in the first 3 of the peloton for pretty much the entire climb. Don't think anything would have changed the outcome except a mechanical or a crash.

I disagree there were oppurtunities to attack, and no one tried to. Granted the pace was very high that day, and it just looked like no one had anything left.

 

[El Pistolero]

I disagree there were oppurtunities to attack, and no one tried to. Granted the pace was very high that day, and it just looked like no one had anything left.

We'll agree to disagree then. Now at LBL there were many more opportunities to attack, but the Shlecks played it brilliantly there.

For a moment there I thought we were back at the Mapei years at LBL.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

We'll agree to disagree then. Now at LBL there were many more opportunities to attack, but the Shlecks played it brilliantly there.

I do think LBL gilbert was too good. I think FW suits him the least, but he did improve a great deal this last year, after already being a star anyway.

 

[El Pistolero]

I do think LBL gilbert was too good. I think FW suits him the least, but he did improve a great deal this last year, after already being a star anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the outcome of LBL would have changed, but the Schlecks were leading out the fastest sprinter. I guess no one ever told them it's supposed to be the other way around: you force the fastest guy to be up front, so you at least have the element of surprise and drafting benefits. And they also could have tried something at the place where Vino attacked last year.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the outcome of LBL would have changed, but the Schlecks were leading out the fastest sprinter. I guess no one ever told them it's supposed to be the other way around: you force the fastest guy to be up front, so you at least have the element of surprise and drafting benefits. And they also could have tried something at the place where Vino attacked last year.

they should have, but its the schlecks. did we expect any different?

 

[hughmoore]

Agree, Cadel will play domestique early on and Phil will repay in July. If anything this will make things easier for Phil, because Cadel will be there for the 1-2 punch and wont have any pressure to win. Same thing when he is with Thor. BMC will have multiple options.

Looking fowrad to new season.



Hugh

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gilbert in polka dots, lol.

Too many chiefs, not enough Indians at BMC.

Please Explain! Ardennes it will all be for Phil. Cadel and greg will be super domestiques for him.

No,. Just like cancellara he will marked out of races. We saw it in Lombardia at the end of the season.

he was also the leader at Omega Pharma, that wont be the case at BMC, very different circumstances.

That said, he proved with the amount of work he did helping Taylor Phinney in the mid season races that hes not above domestique duties.

The amount of work he did for Phinney? Geez you are full of it sometimes. He pulled him up to the front once. This post proves your hate for BMC.

Im hardly Gilberts biggest fan (though I still love the guy), and had hoped to see someone else win FW, but from what I heard he went up the Muur as fast as Cadel, and thats considering that he started celebrating about 100 m out.

The Muur was raced much differently this year, I think JRod, Anton or even AC will be smarter next year on the Muur

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

In theory euskatel should be a real chance on the muur, with two excellent contendors.. samu goes first, anton follows wheels or vica-versa. But it is of course difficult to be really good at the right time of the race.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I think what Libertine said about too many chiefs at BMC, not enough Indians, may have a lot to do with being able to "shine more" next season. The key word there being "more". He had a pretty amazing season this year, so to do better will be difficult although not impossible. He could win a few more big events like monuments or the Worlds, and if he does then he won't have to win as many to surpass this year. Still, I said no.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

The Muur was raced much differently this year, I think JRod, Anton or even AC will be smarter next year on the Muur

The thing is, the experience of 2010 won't leave them. JRod, AC et al, adjusted to their mistiming the year before; they didn't want to go full bore the whole time again, and watch anybody pip them at then end.

I agree that it will be a crapshoot (which is why I love it). But, I don't think the tactical adjustments of the climbers will rule out Gilbert.



I think there are just enough Chiefs for the different tribes of races BMC will target. They're are not complementary assets like at Garmin (If not Haussler, then Farrar at MSR, for example). There will be a number of captains, but there will be one captain per race.

As for Gilbert himself, he makes things happen. He can make the big ones happen. Cancellara's spring is good evidence of a one man vs. the world effect, but that's really all there is to draw on. Gilbert had a great 2010, and an enormous 2011. I wish I could say something more sophisticated than "it just doesn't fit."

EDIt: I voted Yes to be a supportive minority, but its more of a "shine a different light", which in retrospect would mean no to the question. He won't be in a TDF jersey, but may win RvV. He might not win FW, but may win Lombardia for example.

 

[ramjambunath]

It's going to be difficult to 'outshine' his blonde hair next year. So I vote no (this may also apply to his racing).

 

[hfer07]

No doubt Gilbert has had the best season of his life-although it does not mean he will be as successful next year simply because of these two factor:
1-) His own team mates
2-) Alejandro Valverde in the Ardennes

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Valverde as good as he is never dominated in this style. I do agree that he is the next best tho, and should make things harder, also the emergence of sagan.

 

[just some guy]

Oh, I know what he meant. The only time you'll see Gilbert doing domestique work will be for Cadel Evans at the Tour. He would have done the same this year if VDB2 didn't crash out.

No way he's going to be doing domestique work in any other race. Not for Phinney, not for Thor Hushovd, not for Greg van Avermaet, not for Cadel at any other race than the Tour.

I was just taking a piss at him with his ridiculous statement about Gilbert having done loads of domestique work for Phinney in the summer races

Gilbert will be a leader at every race he starts next year except the Tour. Not much will change from Lotto. Cadel Evans will be a domestique at the Ardennes, Phil will repay him in July. Thor and Phil complement each other at San Remo, so there's no problem there. At the Ronde Hushovd has never been good, so Phil will be leader again. He won't ride Roubaix and he'll be sole leader at the Ardennes. He'll be leader at the Ronde van België, he'll be leader at the fall classics as well. If that's not being a leader of a team than I don't know what is. The first thing that came out of Cadel Evans' mouth when he heard Phil signed with BMC was "I'll guess I'll have to be a domestique at the Ardennes then, I'll be glad to do so."

Gilbert will work for Cadel at FW imo
And while he will be a leader BMC will have more than 1 options. As Gilbert has won what he wants this year next year he will look for races that he has not won 1st and imo will get wins for others.

 

[bicing]

OP is right that phil can contend for the polka jersey........... in australia and qatar

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Its going to be very hard to match an exceptional year.

If I was him I would concentrate on what I hadnt won and conserve energy in the rest, but I'm not him - he is a true racer.

Does the RVV course change help him?

Oh and Valverde is back - which must mean some real competition

It does, the last hill is les far away from the finish than the Bosberg

 

[Kvinto]

with all due respect to Phil i'm expecting to see a traditional by its stupidity thread "Is Gilbert past his prime?" next year

 

[catmiles]

It's going to be difficult to 'outshine' his blonde hair next year. So I vote no (this may also apply to his racing).

maybe shocking pink next?

 

[il_fiammingo]

It does, the last hill is les far away from the finish than the Bosberg

That's not true. Bosberg was at 11.9km. Paterberg now is at 13.3km

 

[AussieGoddess]

I think he will do well next year ... but it will be pretty hard to outshine the kind of season he has had.

Maybe if he gets RVV, the Worlds and Lombardy (which isnt out of the question) you would consider it as good ... but it would take 2 monuments