Philippe Gilbert Webchat Transcript

[Captain_Cavman]

For those that are interested...


http://uk.yahoo.eurosport.com/cycling/chat.shtml?chatid=6ef055b9c7

 

[maltiv]

Interesting that he says he'll try to win Sanremo and P-R next year. Hushovd will be very happy about that

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

ii'll eat my helmet if gilbert wins PR.

 

[will10]

Interesting that he says he'll try to win Sanremo and P-R next year. Hushovd will be very happy about that

They complement each other in San Remo. And Gilbert will be nowhere in PR.

 

[roundabout]

That chat was really, er, insightful.

Did he charge for the questions?

 

[just some guy]

They complement each other in San Remo. And Gilbert will be nowhere in PR.

I recon it will be move GVA and Phil in MSR with help from GH and Ballan if he is still with the team. Thor will not make it to the poggio imo

PR will be Thor, Manual Quiniato, Ballan

Flanders will be Phil, Thor and GVA

 

[AussieGoddess]

Thanks for that link.

I dont think he will be seriously going for PR ....

He will be too busy trying to win MSR, RVV, defend the Ardennes, win in Liege at the tour, win the worlds and win back Lombardy

Thats a lot of goals for one season (but I have faith )

 

[Kvinto]

it was quite indistinct answer on the PR question: "It's all for me to find out next year. I think I have a chance." When he was asked this last year he said something like: one day i'll try, but definitely not in 2011 because you can ruin all the season in PR blah-blah-blah...

 

[will10]

Thanks for that link.

I dont think he will be seriously going for PR ....

He will be too busy trying to win MSR, RVV, defend the Ardennes, win in Liege at the tour, win the worlds and win back Lombardy

Thats a lot of goals for one season (but I have faith )

He's already said he wants to win the classics he hasn't won yet, so I expect a full bore attempt at San Remo and Flanders, and at least riding Roubaix - not many win it first time out - perhaps with an eye to going for the win in the future.

 

[jens_attacks]

next year he won't win any of the ardennes classics.he will win san remo,roubaix beating cance in the sprint and also flanders.i'm sure that's his program,it will be great.
winning same thing multiple times is boring.

 

[roundabout]

He's already said he wants to win the classics he hasn't won yet, so I expect a full bore attempt at San Remo and Flanders, and at least riding Roubaix - not many win it first time out - perhaps with an eye to going for the win in the future.

Yes.

I want to move up the list though and equal the likes of riders like Van Looy*

I would have thought that this line was a giveaway.

*He won all 5 monuments.

 

[The Hitch]

ii'll eat my helmet if gilbert wins PR.

Isnt that how you got the Cadel avatar

 

[maltiv]

One thing is for sure: if Gilbert wants to win Sanremo, Cavendish won't. Not because Gilbert certainly will but because BMC will try to make the race as hard as possible. Considering their insane lineup that won't be a problem. GVA could do one hell of a leadout for Gilbert up Poggio.

 

[Richeypen]

One thing is for sure: if Gilbert wants to win Sanremo, Cavendish won't. Not because Gilbert certainly will but because BMC will try to make the race as hard as possible. Considering their insane lineup that won't be a problem. GVA could do one hell of a leadout for Gilbert up Poggio.

Setting things up nicely for EBH

 

[jencredible]

His confidence is justified, and I love the way he rides, but his interviews are always painful to listen to in their arrogance/borderline narcissism. Many great champions are/were humble and gracious, and it did nothing to dull their edge or the memory of their greatness.

Thor and Phil will clash, but Phil will get enough help from the team and he'll take down at least one of his remaining three monuments next year. I agree with a previous poster, though, the likelihood of him winning Roubaix is less than that of Schleck winning the Tour.

 

[Swabian Lass]

I liked the way that he said he, Thor and Cadel all sat down to discuss their goals and they were finished in 30 minutes because they all had different goals and there was not conflict. Oh yeah. Do you think they sat there in silence for 30 minutes and then there was a rush for the door.....

 

[just some guy]

I liked the way that he said he, Thor and Cadel all sat down to discuss their goals and they were finished in 30 minutes because they all had different goals and there was not conflict. Oh yeah. Do you think they sat there in silence for 30 minutes and then there was a rush for the door.....

Poor GVA not at the meeting.

it is pretty simple though

Phil MSR

Thor P-R

Cadel TDF

The rest they could take or leave ie Phil might help set up a team mate or Thor does a huge pull to smash the Peloton appart in 1 of the xwind stages.

We already have seen Cadel work for Phil

The other 2 ideas not so much but I really do think Thor will become a different rider if a team rides for him at P-R and he wins.

 

[maltiv]

Poor GVA not at the meeting.

GVA deserves to be taken seriously in all classics but he isn't. After all he would've finished 2nd on the world cup if it still existed, behind his new teammate Gilbert. However that might be a good thing, as he could easily end up doing a JVS/Devolder/Zaugg etc.

 

[just some guy]

GVA deserves to be taken seriously in all classics but he isn't. After all he would've finished 2nd on the world cup if it still existed, behind his new teammate Gilbert. However that might be a good thing, as he could easily end up doing a JVS/Devolder/Zaugg etc.

I have been saying he will have a massive year next year because of Phil, hope I´m correct

 

[Swabian Lass]

Poor GVA not at the meeting.

it is pretty simple though

Phil MSR

Thor P-R

Cadel TDF

The rest they could take or leave ie Phil might help set up a team mate or Thor does a huge pull to smash the Peloton appart in 1 of the xwind stages.

We already have seen Cadel work for Phil

The other 2 ideas not so much but I really do think Thor will become a different rider if a team rides for him at P-R and he wins.

I agree with you - both that that would be a sensible split and that Thor will be a different rider if he wins P-R. Heck, he'll be a different man if he wins P-R.

It's just that I think that will be the hardest to reach agreement on. I don't really see Thor contending at MSR next year, and Cadel will obviously ride for the GC at TdF (although I can see problems if Thor wants Green, I think Phil's main interest next year will be stage hunting). PhilGil is clearly interested in P-R, though and I don't think that will go down at all well with Thor. Two leaders on the road won't wash. Perhaps they'll do a deal that it's Thor's this year, and Phil gets a clear run next year.

 

[Panda Claws]

As if Greg Van Avermaet will have shot at winning with Gilbert around. Do not get me wrong GVA is a good rider but Gilbert is just heaps better and not the kind of guy that will let a team mate ride.

Also, GVA would not have finished second in the world cup, not even close.

 

[maltiv]

As if Greg Van Avermaet will have shot at winning with Gilbert around. Do not get me wrong GVA is a good rider but Gilbert is just heaps better and not the kind of guy that will let a team mate ride.

Also, GVA would not have finished second in the world cup, not even close.

Not even close, huh? Very good argument. Have you done the calculation to back up your statement?

Cancellara: 70 points (MSR) + 50 points (RVV) + 70 points P-R = 190 points

GVA: 100 points (P-T) + 50 points (San Sebastian) + 28 points (LBL) + 20 points (MSR) + 14 points (Lombardia) + 3 points (RVV) + 2 points (AGR)= 217 points.

Please do write why GVA isn't 2nd

 

[ferryman]

I'm just hoping a certain Mr Valverde can turn up next year lean, mean and ready to, at least, make Phil look like he has to try to win

 

[Panda Claws]

Not even close, huh? Very good argument. Have you done the calculation to back up your statement?

Cancellara: 70 points (MSR) + 50 points (RVV) + 70 points P-R = 190 points

GVA: 100 points (P-T) + 50 points (San Sebastian) + 28 points (LBL) + 20 points (MSR) + 14 points (Lombardia) + 3 points (RVV) + 2 points (AGR)= 217 points.

Please do write why GVA isn't 2nd

First of all, you are right I did not look into it. So yes according to the (weird) world cup ranking he is indeed 2nd. Should you count the fleche wallone however Rodriguez jumps to second place. But I am not here to complain about the world cup points distribution.

Still, Gilbert wins with a huge margin at 394 points so I am still fearing the worst for GVA next year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I recon it will be move GVA and Phil in MSR with help from GH and Ballan if he is still with the team. Thor will not make it to the poggio imo

PR will be Thor, Manual Quiniato, Ballan

Flanders will be Phil, Thor and GVA

Are you drunk? Why wouldn't Thor make it to the Poggio? He's a better climber than any of the other sprinters?

I have been saying he will have a massive year next year because of Phil, hope I´m correct

I hope so as well. GVA has always been one of my favourites and it could work out well for him next year. I am not so sure if he will sign on for next year at BMC if things don't go well. I hope the same thing happens with Cadel in the Ardennes but I think he will be more of a team player next year.