Rafal Majka discussion thread

[jens_attacks]

tomorrow it's his turn

 

[damian13ster]

tomorrow it's his turn

He did rest today so I expect an attack. Whether that will be enough though....I would love it to be

 

[cineteq]

Majka: The goal is to win one more stage and keep the jersey http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2...a-pois-c-est-mon-objectif-de-le-ramener_sport

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Majka: The goal is to win one more stage and keep the jersey http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2...a-pois-c-est-mon-objectif-de-le-ramener_sport

Yep, winning a stage should always be the goal if he has the legs. If he's strong enough KOM points will follow automatically.

 

[RedheadDane]

There's something that has been "bothering"* me about him for a while; his eyes, there seem to be something off with one of his eyes.

* Of course it doesn't actually bother me, since it doesn't hinder his racing, I just couldn't think of a better word.

 

[damian13ster]

Told you the guy is legit and will become much more aggresive with newly gained confidence from first victory of his career.

He just needed stage 13 to show himself that he can hang on with the best and then all hell broke lose.
Seriously curious about the tactic for tommorow though. Seems like a typical breakaway stage. If Purito goes, so does Rafal and he should take another win. If Rodriguez stays then I think so does Rafal and he will check how he is compared to GC contenders going head to head

 

[Afrank]

Someone needs to take a screenshot of Majka's wink as an avatar.

 

[SeriousSam]

For the stages he won from the break, how did his ascent times compare to Nibali?

 

[damian13ster]

For the stages he won from the break, how did his ascent times compare to Nibali?

I think for stage 14 he had about 60s advantage at the start of the climb (or they started together and he attacked gaining 60 second advantage). Anyway, when the race got serious I think he had 50 seconds advantage with 5km to go. Ended up winning by 24.

Today I think he started somewhere between 1.36-2 minutes in front of Nibali. Won by 46 seconds.

I am sure someone can pull up actual climb times though pretty soon.

 

[Netserk]

He remembered to zip the jersey today. Though I'm sure he had to be told by Bjarne to do so.

 

[difdauf]

what could be interesting in Majka's tour, would be to remind every riders that it can be cool to not be just a strong teamate or a second class leader.

2 glorious win and mountain jersey in the same tour is far better that all he could have done in 10 years as contador's lieutenant.

Hope we will see more climbers tank the first week and put fire on mountains in the next years.

 

[phanatic]

what could be interesting in Majka's tour, would be to remind every riders that it can be cool to not be just a strong teamate or a second class leader.

2 glorious win and mountain jersey in the same tour is far better that all he could have done in 10 years as contador's lieutenant.

Hope we will see more climbers tank the first week and put fire on mountains in the next years.

I'm not sure. Majka was already a gc leader in his own right, and only substituted in the last minute for Kreuziger.

 

[damian13ster]

So anybody have full climbing times? i know Nibali and Peraud were faster on the last mountain but I want to see the others.

 

[alin.constantin89]

So anybody have full climbing times? i know Nibali and Peraud were faster on the last mountain but I want to see the others.

I'm interested too

 

[jilbiker]

The next contador?

Very impressed by Majka's riding. His climbing skills rank with the best, he just needs timetrialing added, and some belief from Management that he is a GC winner and he will do it.

Should he leave Tinkoff? I think he is not ready. Perhaps next year will be his breakout, he just needs a better racing schedule. And plan to win a GC, not just show up for perhaps a Podium place

 

[nilfen]

Very impressed by Majka's riding. His climbing skills rank with the best, he just needs timetrialing added, and some belief from Management that he is a GC winner and he will do it.

Should he leave Tinkoff? I think he is not ready. Perhaps next year will be his breakout, he just needs a better racing schedule. And plan to win a GC, not just show up for perhaps a Podium place

Didnt he race the last two Giros as teamleader?

 

[alin.constantin89]

Very impressed by Majka's riding. His climbing skills rank with the best, he just needs timetrialing added, and some belief from Management that he is a GC winner and he will do it.

Should he leave Tinkoff? I think he is not ready. Perhaps next year will be his breakout, he just needs a better racing schedule. And plan to win a GC, not just show up for perhaps a Podium place

What did he do in Giro ?

 

[damian13ster]

Didnt he race the last two Giros as teamleader?

He did, but in a first one he was coming off of knee injury (two years ago he injured his knee as well so didnt race even though he was supposed to be team leader), and this one he did good but got an infection. Still top 10 in both races. I think he should top 3-5 next year.

Also, I am ashamed for Polish comentators. Jaskula (stage winner from 21 years ago I believe, exactly on the same MTF) suggesting Majka will ride as co-leader with Contador next year (well, he suggests Contador may be a helper but that was too stupid to go through my keyboard originally). I think he is still high after victory or was celebrating with too much %

 

[alin.constantin89]

He did, but in a first one he was coming off of knee injury (two years ago he injured his knee as well so didnt race even though he was supposed to be team leader), and this one he did good but got an infection. Still top 10 in both races. I think he should top 3-5 next year.

Also, I am ashamed for Polish comentators. Jaskula (stage winner from 21 years ago I believe, exactly on the same MTF) suggesting Majka will ride as co-leader with Contador next yer. I think he is still high after victory or was celebrating with too much %

top10 in TDF ? I'm watching right now the GC and he's 2 HOURS behind Nibali.

 

[sultanofhyd]

No reason for him to leave Tinkoff. He is only 24 and Contador doesn't have many years left in him. Even if he has to ride for Contador for 3 more years he'll still get to lead the team at many races and be only 27 which is when most riders peak.

 

[Czapiewski]

top10 in TDF ? I'm watching right now the GC and he's 2 HOURS behind Nibali.

They were talking about last two Giros.

 

[damian13ster]

top10 in TDF ? I'm watching right now the GC and he's 2 HOURS behind Nibali.

If you are really looking at GC in this TdF to judge Majka then I am lost for words..... If he did target the race, him being in top 10 would be as good of a bet as any

 

[alin.constantin89]

They were talking about last two Giros.

Nibali's men, Aru, kicked Majka's *** in Giro, he's no match for the big guys.

 

[alin.constantin89]

If you are really looking at GC in this TdF to judge Majka then I am lost for words..... If he did target the race, him being in top 10 would be as good of a bet as any

you are talking about how good he is when the fact is he won ONLY because he's not a threat for the GC guys. And yesterday he came almost in the same time with Kittel and Greipel.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Nibali's men, Aru, kicked Majka's *** in Giro, he's no match for the big guys.

And Aru was 42nd in the Giro last year. Stop jumping to conclusions.