Rider's schedule 2015 season

[trevim]

So I guess we can use a place to discuss the schedule's for the next season.
First of all, let's talk about Gilbert's plans as explained in this link.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-keen-to-return-to-the-cobbles

Apparently Gilbert is realizing that cobbled races have the lock to make him one of the most accomplished riders ever in the classics. His team (as usual in BMC) is being generally coward; I don't know what their problem is, they don't need Gilbert's WT points in the Ardennes and Flanders is definitely within is reach.

So what do you think?

Other topics:
Majka - Giro or Tour?
Tony Martin - Hour record and what else?
Rui Costa - typical season again or maybe a crack at the Vuelta after the Tour?

 

[Sciocco]

So I guess we can use a place to discuss the schedule's for the next season.
First of all, let's talk about Gilbert's plans as explained in this link.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-keen-to-return-to-the-cobbles

Apparently Gilbert is realizing that cobbled races have the lock to make him one of the most accomplished riders ever in the classics. His team (as usual in BMC) is being generally coward; I don't know what their problem is, they don't need Gilbert's WT points in the Ardennes and Flanders is definitely within is reach.

So what do you think?

Other topics:
Majka - Giro or Tour?
Tony Martin - Hour record and what else?
Rui Costa - typical season again or maybe a crack at the Vuelta after the Tour?

I'd like to see Gilbert ride the cobbles again, he basically stated he wants Flanders, MSR, and PR. I would hope the guy has earned at least co-leader in those races.

I'd prefer Majka to do Tour-Vuelta over Giro-Vuelta. Obviously doing the Giro would give him more time to recuperate but after 2014 not sure if he really needs that. Not to mention the last two years he has been quite timid in the Giro and frankly I was not a fan. After this years Tour he more or less became a winner. My strategy would be to have him ride the tour, but not for GC at all. Let him ride in the back when Contador doesn't need him so he doesn't get burned out and can ride the Vuelta.

Tony Martin is one of the most exciting stage hunters in the peloton so I would like to see him have the freedom to chase after those when he isn't trying to win every ITT around.

Costa to win 8 Suisse in a row.

 

[Jspear]

I'd like to see Gilbert ride the cobbles again, he basically stated he wants Flanders, MSR, and PR. I would hope the guy has earned at least co-leader in those races.

I'd prefer Majka to do Tour-Vuelta over Giro-Vuelta. Obviously doing the Giro would give him more time to recuperate but after 2014 not sure if he really needs that. Not to mention the last two years he has been quite timid in the Giro and frankly I was not a fan. After this years Tour he more or less became a winner. My strategy would be to have him ride the tour, but not for GC at all. Let him ride in the back when Contador doesn't need him so he doesn't get burned out and can ride the Vuelta.

Tony Martin is one of the most exciting stage hunters in the peloton so I would like to see him have the freedom to chase after those when he isn't trying to win every ITT around.

Costa to win 8 Suisse in a row.

The bolded: In 2013 he placed 7th at the age of 23 - not to bad. In 2014 he placed 6th (which is still an improvement) in spite of having a stomach flu. Personally I think he should ride the Giro/Vuelta. He can give AC great support and then have the proper recovery before doing the Vuelta. I'm excited to see what he will do in the Vuelta. I think he will race with much more confidence coming out of a pretty good 2014. Hopefully he gets leadership roles outside of the Vuelta as well.

As for Tony Martin I think is great that he is going for the hour record. I do think he will have his hands full because of Wiggins. Wiggins is an excellent ttist and he is a track rider. He plans on doing it next year as well. At the end of the year if they both actually end up doing it I believe Wiggins will have the record.

 

[damian13ster]

I'd like to see Gilbert ride the cobbles again, he basically stated he wants Flanders, MSR, and PR. I would hope the guy has earned at least co-leader in those races.

I'd prefer Majka to do Tour-Vuelta over Giro-Vuelta. Obviously doing the Giro would give him more time to recuperate but after 2014 not sure if he really needs that. Not to mention the last two years he has been quite timid in the Giro and frankly I was not a fan. After this years Tour he more or less became a winner. My strategy would be to have him ride the tour, but not for GC at all. Let him ride in the back when Contador doesn't need him so he doesn't get burned out and can ride the Vuelta.

Tony Martin is one of the most exciting stage hunters in the peloton so I would like to see him have the freedom to chase after those when he isn't trying to win every ITT around.

Costa to win 8 Suisse in a row.

Why would he ride in the back? Most stages suit him. Short TT, TTT, and cobbles being the only ones not for him (although he will be working on TT during the offseason). Just keep at the front, be a protected rider in first week and then be a second threat in GC. He doesnt need much time for recovery and will be ready for Vuelta anyway

 

[Lupetto]

Tony Martin - Hour record and what else?

I think he will try this after Rio 2016.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Apparently Gilbert is realizing that cobbled races have the lock to make him one of the most accomplished riders ever in the classics. His team (as usual in BMC) is being generally coward; I don't know what their problem is, they don't need Gilbert's WT points in the Ardennes and Flanders is definitely within is reach.

With the new course of RVV it should be somewhat better suited to him. It would definitely be nice to see him there. MSR will be very difficult imo unless they bulk up the course as they were planning earlier. I can't see him win PR at all. But he stated his dream is to win all five monuments and he'd love to really prepare in a dedicated way for Paris-Roubaix. I'd really love to see him try and prove me wrong though. As long as they keep this bulked up route with the RVV and if they ever get around to changing the course in MSR I do think he's in with a shot at winning those, which will certainly increase his status in history dramatically.

I really hope they at least let him ride MSR and RVV at BMC.

 

[Echoes]

I remember very well the day Gilbert raced Paris-Roubaix in 2007 for the first and so far last time. The next day I bought the "Dernière heure" and read his interview and he said he was terribly exhausted. "It's even harder than the Tour of France".

But good on him that he made it. He finished 54th or something and that is something he should be praised for. I would also appreciate if he raced again.

I think it was also a blessing for him that he started out with Madiot. I think he's a good coach for youngsters (he even focuses too much on youngsters, actually!) and he would encourage most of these to race Paris-Roubaix if only for experience. Wiggins also started out with Madiot. That's why he still races Paris-Roubaix now.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

Gilbert really has a shot at RVV, so it would be crazy for BMC not to let him try it. They will become one of the best teams for the early races then, with Greg, Phil, Dillier, and a recovered Phinney.

 

[Jspear]

Gilbert really has a shot at RVV, so it would be crazy for BMC not to let him try it. They will become one of the best teams for the early races then, with Greg, Phil, Dillier, and a recovered Phinney.

Do you think he has more of a shot with GVA? At the end of the race if they both happened to be there they could be a deadly combo, but one would have to sacrifice for the other. Personally I think GVA deserves the leadership role....

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I would keep GVA as leader in the cobbles races.
Can't see Gilbert playing second fiddle here, it would all end in failure. Too much ambition.

BMC should take both to MSR.

 

[Akuryo]

I think he will try this after Rio 2016.

He said a few days ago, that he plans on doing it in 2015. But also mentioned, that he has to talk to his team first. And we all know what Lefevere thinks of letting his riders start on the track (except Keisse and Terpstra)...

 

[sir fly]

Gilbert will concentrate on De Ronde when his results won't be that important to BMC. The closing year of their contract could be the one.
Paris - Roubaix is out of his reach, in my opinion.
Milan - San Remo is more realistic if the new route is applied.

 

[trevim]

Do you think he has more of a shot with GVA? At the end of the race if they both happened to be there they could be a deadly combo, but one would have to sacrifice for the other. Personally I think GVA deserves the leadership role....

Gilbert was OK working for GvA in the Worlds. But in my opinion, Gilbert has that killer instinct that makes him a winner even if at this point GvA is probably as good a rider as Gilbert on the physical side.

 

[Sciocco]

The bolded: In 2013 he placed 7th at the age of 23 - not to bad. In 2014 he placed 6th (which is still an improvement) in spite of having a stomach flu. Personally I think he should ride the Giro/Vuelta. He can give AC great support and then have the proper recovery before doing the Vuelta. I'm excited to see what he will do in the Vuelta. I think he will race with much more confidence coming out of a pretty good 2014. Hopefully he gets leadership roles outside of the Vuelta as well.

A great 2014. He was happy to top10 in the giro 2013/14 which is one of my least favorite things about riders but during the tour... Contador crashes and Majka is told to go win some stages and winky face and all he grabs two major mountain stages and the polka dot jersey. Not to mention the Hautacam stage he took the riskier approach to securing the polka dot and rode with the GC contenders and placed high enough to take the necessary number of points. Then he goes to Poland and wins two stages and the GC. The other thing he mentioned was that he much prefers the weather at the Tour.

Why would he ride in the back? Most stages suit him. Short TT, TTT, and cobbles being the only ones not for him (although he will be working on TT during the offseason). Just keep at the front, be a protected rider in first week and then be a second threat in GC. He doesnt need much time for recovery and will be ready for Vuelta anyway

I just don't think trying to ride into a top10 GC place in the Tour is worth it. I believe with some more improvements as one would expect he could contend for a podium at the Vuelta (or more... ), especially if he rides with the confidence and aggressiveness he gained during the 2014 TdF/Poland. Now he could stay high up in GC during the TdF and be a backup plan if Contador has an issue or be used as a second threat. I'd just rather see him do his dom. work and rest when he can then go all in at the Vuelta.

Dream scenario is Contador - Contador - Majka wins for the three GTs.

 

[Jspear]

Dream scenario is Contador - Contador - Majka wins for the three GTs.

Imagine how crazy Tinkov would become....

 

[SKSemtex]

Imagine how crazy Tinkov would become....

Add one or two monuments from Sagan and yes, he will be very happy

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Gilbert was OK working for GvA in the Worlds. But in my opinion, Gilbert has that killer instinct that makes him a winner even if at this point GvA is probably as good a rider as Gilbert on the physical side.

I think Gilbert's killer instinct is tied to physical form and suitable finish.

Top form in '11 : wins everywhere. Is that killer instinct or was he just stronger than all others?

AGR finish: The length and grade of Cauberg is ideal for Gilbert. Delivery him from front and he will sprint up the hill. Killer instinct? Maybe, but I see this similar to a top TT'er who will always perform well on a flat course type of thing.

I think GVA will perform better in the cobble races, except in a situation where Gilbert suddenly finds his '11 form again.

 

[Coat-O]

It's now confirmed that Quintana AND Valverde will ride both the Tour and the Vuelta.

Beñat Intxausti, Jesus Herrada, Ion Izagirre og Juan Lobato will do the Giro.

 

[cineteq]

It's now confirmed that Quintana AND Valverde will ride both the Tour and the Vuelta.

If Valverde were a team player, I'd say this is good news.

 

[Coat-O]

If Valverde were a team player, I'd say this is good news.

It's a good question. A La Zubia-Valverde would add some conflict to the team dynamics. He was way stronger than both Froome and Contador that day, so we will properly see some infighting.

 

[Coat-O]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014...erde-share-leadership-2015-tour-vuelta_353815

*Waiting for procyclingstats to add their schedules* And Valverde will do the Ardennes classics as a captain of course.

 

[Coat-O]

It's gonna be a good Tour next year.

Contador, Quintana, Froome, Nibali, Valverde, Rodríguez, Pinot, Peraud, Bardet, Tejay, Talansky/Martin (?), Kelderman, Mollema, Barguil, the Yates brothers.

 

[Gloin22]

We said the same this year Look how it ended

 

[Dr. Juice]

I'm furious that Valverde does not do the Giro. He has never participated. There are so many Ardennes-like stages to win + weak competition which means an almost guaranteed podium and if - I hope not - something goes wrong regarding Contador ...he might even win.

You have to do all 3 GT's at least once in your life. If not, you are half a rider.

 

[damian13ster]

A great 2014. He was happy to top10 in the giro 2013/14 which is one of my least favorite things about riders but during the tour... Contador crashes and Majka is told to go win some stages and winky face and all he grabs two major mountain stages and the polka dot jersey. Not to mention the Hautacam stage he took the riskier approach to securing the polka dot and rode with the GC contenders and placed high enough to take the necessary number of points. Then he goes to Poland and wins two stages and the GC. The other thing he mentioned was that he much prefers the weather at the Tour.



I just don't think trying to ride into a top10 GC place in the Tour is worth it. I believe with some more improvements as one would expect he could contend for a podium at the Vuelta (or more... ), especially if he rides with the confidence and aggressiveness he gained during the 2014 TdF/Poland. Now he could stay high up in GC during the TdF and be a backup plan if Contador has an issue or be used as a second threat. I'd just rather see him do his dom. work and rest when he can then go all in at the Vuelta.

Dream scenario is Contador - Contador - Majka wins for the three GTs.

I think Majka winning the Vuelta has more chance of happening than Contador winning a Tour.
It is very likely that Froome wins TdF, skips Vuelta, and the rest of the riders arrive tired. He can hold his peak for a really long time + once Contador fails i might be too late to go for stages anyway, we will see how it goes but I dont see him riding in the back