QS 2018

[Mayomaniac]

Can DQS sign Fabio Aru or Betancur?

It only really seems to work for sprinters or classics riders.

 

[Rackham]

I've seen some whining & moaning about Cav's latest sprint victory from his rivals.

Irrespective of who is right or wrong, the broader picture is the fact Deceuninck, Alpecin & UAE should probably be careful not to overdo their dominance & leave something for the other teams.

Because this peloton will quickly go from functional to dysfunctional in no time. It's a bit obvious so far to see only 3 teams have won after six stages. Considering how important the Tour de France is to every sponsor, there are going to be a load of people p*ssed-off if they leave empty handed.

 

[carolina]

It only really seems to work for sprinters or classics riders.

Sign Nibali and get all 5 monuments in the 2022 bag?

 

[Fergoose]

The other spritners and their team do seem a bit ordinary (since Caleb has sadly nave to leave), but it is getting a bit daft. The fact he was using any energy on the first stage he won to pick up green jersey points tells you everything about his confidence levels despite having been in the wilderness for years.

He was even emulating the Voeckler tongue today so will maybe get 4th overall on GC.

 

[SHAD0W93]

so whoever signs bennett will have viviani situation on their books

Too be fair Viviani was never rated as a top sprinter before and Bennett was considered third on Bora.

 

[hrotha]

I have no doubt that Cav is on the best stuff and that makes a big difference but this kind of transformation is too big to explain away merely with doping. Mental factors do matter.

 

[Rackham]

I have no doubt that Cav is on the best stuff and that makes a big difference but this kind of transformation is too big to explain away merely with doping. Mental factors do matter.

It's a "what came first? The chicken or the egg?" situation.

Going from a tractor who can't follow the slowest sprinters to feeling like God on wheels again (first in training, then in the Tour of Turkey) must have been a serious morale booster.

There always seems a common denominator with all the guys who people perceive as being mentally above the rest: they're winners. And you don't win a bike race just with your morale, you win it with your legs. No amount of never-quit attitude can give you the jump to outsprint a peloton in the Tour de France.

But it's not Cav's fault, he's just playing the same game as the rest & DQS have turned into masters of the current era. Good for him.

 

[ppanther92]

It only really seems to work for sprinters or classics riders.

Why not make Aru a classics rider? He obviously has the time trial power already.

Amyway, the team is ofc beyond ridiculous. Ok, they never quite cracked the GT formula but Cavendish couldn't even finish races (at least in the front group) not too long ago...

 

[ppanther92]

But for DQS its great ofc. I actually kind of thought Vivianni and Bennett were also some sort of top level sprinters anyway. But apparently they can replicate it, no matter the name. Good position for negotiations.

 

[Forever The Best]

Cavendish's career was supposed to be over, and wins 3 stages? I don't even know what to say anymore...
The current state of peloton is a joke, hopefully someone steps up and busts some of those ridiculous few teams like AFLD in 2008.

 

[pmcg76]

[QUOTE="SHAD0W93, post: 2588929, member: 22542"
Too be fair Viviani was never rated as a top sprinter before and Bennett was considered third on Bora.
[/QUOTE]

Only on the basis of who the others were. Sagan was the "star" and Ackermann was German. Had little to do with who was best sprinter, thus why Bennett left. Sad that Ackerman has faded so rapidly, Sagan in even worse form than last year.

 

[roundabout]

We’d have liked to continue with the Viviani of QuickStep, but we never found that when he was with us.

Cofidis turn to Coquard after Viviani disappointment

'We’d have continued with the Viviani of QuickStep, but we never saw that with us' says Vasseur

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Ripper]

Cofidis turn to Coquard after Viviani disappointment

'We’d have continued with the Viviani of QuickStep, but we never saw that with us' says Vasseur

www.cyclingnews.com

Not discounting any of the issues around DQS, but Confidis really do seem to give off an aura of suck. As in, come to us, and we will make you suck at what you do.

 

[Akuryo]

Not discounting any of the issues around DQS, but Confidis really do seem to give off an aura of suck. As in, come to us, and we will make you suck at what you do.

They are truly on opposite ends of the spectrum. While Quickstep can turn any bum into a winner, Cofidis would turn known stars in to bottle carriers.

 

[Bonimenier]

They are truly on opposite ends of the spectrum. While Quickstep can turn any bum into a winner, Cofidis would turn known stars in to bottle carriers.

Laporte will become one of the winniest riders of the peloton next year at JV.

 

[Mayomaniac]

They are truly on opposite ends of the spectrum. While Quickstep can turn any bum into a winner, Cofidis would turn known stars in to bottle carriers.

Cofidis have improved a lot under Roberto Damiani. G Martin took it to the next level once he signed with them. Viviani has flopped, but that is just the Quickstep effect and there are rumours that he's not the hardest worker when he's on his own (last year he showed up in Betancur-shape at the first post-lockdown training camp).

 

[Ripper]

Cofidis have improved a lot under Roberto Damiani. G Martin took it to the next level once he signed with them. Viviani has flopped, but that is just the Quickstep effect and there are rumours that he's not the hardest worker when he's on his own (last year he showed up in Betancur-shape at the first post-lockdown training camp).

There is no doubt some truth to this. Not sure about Vivian's work ethic, you could be right there as well. I had forgotten Damiani had come back to the top level ... been a while since the Lotto days!

Whether Confidis is truly at a better level might need a bit more evidence. I still think they might be the anti-DQS team

 

[Rackham]

Just look at how cavalier this guy is with his public demolition of his riders:

Patrick Lefevere likens Sam Bennett’s move to Bora to 'women who return home after domestic abuse' | Cyclingnews

Something tells me this is not coincidental or innocent, i.e. the liberty Lefevere seems to believe he has to totally annihilate & verbally abuse his own team means they're probably on the (best) juice & Lefevere believes they owe DQS everything.

Once you're in the system, there's no way out (unless you incriminate yourself). So the public abuse from their boss is just something they need to live with.

I mean there's just no way this appears like a "normal" employer/employee relationship, at all. It looks more like Lefevere has his own little fiefdom going & can throw sh*t at anyone & everyone within his team because he has them by the balls, basically.

That's what it looks like to me.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Seems like Quickstep are a little bit weaker this year after the departure of Dr ibarguren

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Seems like Quickstep are a little bit weaker this year after the departure of Dr ibarguren

And today in Gent Wevelgem the best QS finisher was Asgreen at 32nd

 

[fmk_RoI]

Seems like Quickstep are a little bit weaker this year after the departure of Dr ibarguren

Or (most visibly) Tim Declercq has been sidelined. You see what you want to see and are blind to the rest.

 

[Netserk]

Or (most visibly) Tim Declercq has been sidelined. You see what you want to see and are blind to the rest.

You expect Declercq to bring results? Makes more sense to point to illness for Lampaert, different race program for Alaphilippe and age catching up with Stybar.

 

[fmk_RoI]

You expect Declercq to bring results? Makes more sense to point to illness for Lampaert, different race program for Alaphilippe and age catching up with Stybar.

I did say most visibly. And I didn't say he would bring the results. You well know the role he plays in bringing results.

 

[F_Cance]

Declercq definitely is not the missing piece. QSs classics leaders are just not good enough (so far).

 

[SafeBet]

Seems like Quickstep are a little bit weaker this year after the departure of Dr ibarguren

Movistar isn't exactly dominating the Classics though.