Riders to watch in 2012

[will10]

Yes, if you include Gilbert, they are. Otherwise I haven't been very impressed.

They were the only team in Flanders with enough guys to chase Cancellara down before the Muur. And who were the first two guys over the Bosberg - Gilbert and Ballan. Remind me who they're riding for next season?

 

[theyoungest]

Haven't you seen them chase Cancellara with 6 man at this year's RVV?

Did you see how big that group was? When the **** hit the fan before, they were nowhere.

Team managers are one thing, they often do not know what they're talking about, but no DS has ever called Evans mentally weak, as far as I know. Right? When a DS says so, it's certainly more damning, IMO.

I don't remember literally what Marc Sergeant said about him (ACF probably does ) but it wasn't all very encouraging.

 

[El Pistolero]

Lol, I wouldn't expect this from a Cadel Evans fan... if anyone has been called mentally weak by team managers and journalists alike, it's him. And if anyone has proved the whole world wrong, it's him as well.


Yes, if you include Gilbert, they are. Otherwise I haven't been very impressed.

Ballan: he was great this year at the Ronde, if Phil worked together with him one of them would have won. I saw Ballan more than Sebastian Langeveld last year

George Hincapie: he can easily top 10 in the Ronde and Roubaix. He's also a good domestique.

Philippe Gilbert: ...

Greg van Avermaet: better than anything Rabobus have for the cobbles. He has definitely grown this year.

Thor Hushovd: already said he wouldn't mind being a domestique at the Ronde. He's one of the best at Paris-Roubaix. Second best at the moment probably.

Manuel Quinziato: great domestique, has already shown he can ride the cobbles.

Taylor Phinney: just there to get experience. Could surprise some though.

Klaas Lodewyck: domestique pur sang for Phil.

---

Please tell me you're kidding right? Rabobus is nothing compared to BMC at the cobbles.

 

[El Pistolero]

Because when he finally came close to peak form he could keep up with Gilbert who normally shat on everyone even when he was not on form himself. Only the Schlecks could say together with Gesink they could somewhat keep up with Gilbert on the hills.

Nikki Terpstra finished a second from Gilbert at an uphill finish in Ster ZLM Toer. GVA finished in his wheel at an uphill finish in the fourth stage of the Tour of Belgium. It's really not impressive to come close to someone who isn't in top shape anymore. If he won, then we'd be talking.

 

[Señor_Contador]

I would say Froome.

The only reason he lost the Vuelta this year was because he had to do all that work for Wiggins and Cobo knows the Peña Cabarga climb intimatelly (he lives close to that climb I think).

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I don't remember literally what Marc Sergeant said about him (ACF probably does ) but it wasn't all very encouraging.

Yeah, it wasn't.

That was because of Evans surprise move to BMC, though. Sergeant acted like a lover scorned, and I don't really blame him. I don't think he said anything about Evans being mentally weak, though.

Gesink isn't going anywhere, though, so Van Houwelingen's comments were all the more surprising to me.

 

[theyoungest]

Please tell me you're kidding right? Rabobus is nothing compared to BMC at the cobbles.

On paper it was the same this year. But the facts are that BMC had no results to speak of, on the cobbles.

I'm not talking about potential, in potential they're a thousand times stronger. But if you include guys like Quinziato, and even Lodewyck/Phinney, those aren't really better than the Rabo support squad.

Gesink isn't going anywhere, though, so Van Houwelingen's comments were all the more surprising to me.

To say that maybe the glass was half empty a little too often for Gesink in the Tour is not that damaging as to enforce a break or anything.

 

[El Pistolero]

On paper it was the same this year. But the facts are that BMC had no results to speak of, on the cobbles.

I'm not talking about potential, in potential they're a thousand times stronger. But if you include guys like Quinziato, and even Lodewyck/Phinney, those aren't really better than the Rabo support squad.


To say that maybe the glass was half empty a little too often for Gesink in the Tour is not that damaging as to enforce a break or anything.

Last year they had no leaders for the cobbled classics. Now they have Gilbert and Hushovd. That's one major difference.

It would be like Astana with their current team + Contador.

 

[just some guy]

Ballan: he was great this year at the Ronde, if Phil worked together with him one of them would have won. I saw Ballan more than Sebastian Langeveld last year

George Hincapie: he can easily top 10 in the Ronde and Roubaix. He's also a good domestique.

Philippe Gilbert: ...

Greg van Avermaet: better than anything Rabobus have for the cobbles. He has definitely grown this year.

Thor Hushovd: already said he wouldn't mind being a domestique at the Ronde. He's one of the best at Paris-Roubaix. Second best at the moment probably.

Manuel Quinziato: great domestique, has already shown he can ride the cobbles.

Taylor Phinney: just there to get experience. Could surprise some though.

Klaas Lodewyck: domestique pur sang for Phil.

---

Please tell me you're kidding right? Rabobus is nothing compared to BMC at the cobbles.

you forgot the German although he will ride alot with Evans He win ride Flanders and P-R

 

[greenedge]

I think Gesink would only move if his season was disastrous or a split occurred between him and the managers of Rabo making him unhappy. However i think he will have a good season next year.
Speaking of viable teams for Gesink he could go to Vaconsoleil ( with a lot of Dutch riders ) and that would still have him located in Europe and competing in cyclings' heartland but on a team that needs a leader/ that races at many venues.

Boom and Breschel are now addressing Rabos' need for cobbled riders. However they have to rely on other teams to do the work for them. Next year BMC shall probably have to.

 

[greenedge]

I would say Froome.

The only reason he lost the Vuelta this year was because he had to do all that work for Wiggins and Cobo knows the Peña Cabarga climb intimatelly (he lives close to that climb I think).

I fully agree. I hope he goes better than Wiggins next year at the TDF as well.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

If it looks like a pig, sounds like a pig and is a pig then call it a Pig!


LOL, cobbled classics BMC is far better, ardennes classics BMC is far better & stage races BMC has guys such as Evans & Van Garderen. Until one of the Rabo boys podiums at a GT maybe I will consider them to better stage racing teeam Rabo has a sprinter and BMC doesn't have one. I mean Gesink is more than welcome to set tempo on one of the earlier climbs n an alpine stage when Cadel is 37.

Wow your stupidity and inability to read has failed you again . I said bmc have bigger leaders. But Rabo have much better depth and all round team.

As In more support for gesink rather then going to a team with too many chiefs as it is. Read between the lines.

 

[CheeseHead]

Ah fun... a lot of names have been names, but here's my take:

Van Keirsbulck : neopro in 2011, didn't shine on WT-level yet, but showed his class, both mentally and physically on continental level (De Panne, le Samyn, Omloop van het Houtland). His gf died in a car accident in june or july, but bounced back with a strong end season with a first pro win in a semi-classic.

Roelandts : With Gilbert gone off to BMC, more room for him. He's got the stamina now, to be there at 200+ km races. And he's got a sprint! Classics-podia all over, maybe even at Valkenburg, when a late attack by Gilbert is caught by the Spaniards.

Talansky : GT prodigy, can climb and TT. First pro year was decent though not too spectacular. Finished Vuelta (anonymusly).. top20 in 2012.

De Gendt : not a youngster, but showed great progress in 2011, on the verge of bigger things if he learns to peak a bit better. His 'solo' that kept off the Voigt-lead peloton in Paris-Nice was top-notch.

 

[El Pistolero]

Wow your stupidity and inability to read has failed you again . I said bmc have bigger leaders. But Rabo have much better depth and all round team.

As In more support for gesink rather then going to a team with too many chiefs as it is. Read between the lines.

Mediocre support for a mediocre leader.

What depth does Rabo have?

Besides Breschel they have no one who can potentially challenge for a victory in a big one day race. They definitely don't have as good domestiques for the classics as BMC.

 

[theyoungest]

Mediocre support for a mediocre leader.

What depth does Rabo have?

Besides Breschel they have no one who can potentially challenge for a victory in a big one day race. They definitely don't have as good domestiques for the classics as BMC.

Their domestiques? You mean Burghardt, Quinziato, those guys? I reckon guys like Tjallingii and Tankink are just as good.

 

[Mambo95]

The one to watch for me is Luke Rowe.

I don't expect much from him yet, but he comes from my area and I rode behind him for about 10km a few years back. He seems like a nice guy too.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Their domestiques? You mean Burghardt, Quinziato, those guys? I reckon guys like Tjallingii and Tankink are just as good.

Burghardt, Quinziato, Schar, Van Avermaet, Phinney, Hincapie. BMC have much better domestiques than Rabobank.

 

[gustienordic]

Mediocre support for a mediocre leader.

What depth does Rabo have?

Besides Breschel they have no one who can potentially challenge for a victory in a big one day race. They definitely don't have as good domestiques for the classics as BMC.

Rabobank's leaders: Lars Boom, Steven Kruijswijk, Bauke Mollema, Luis Leon Sanchez, Matti Breschel, Mark Renshaw, Theo Bos, Michael Matthews.

I would say Kruijswijk is better than TJ, and BMC doesn't have any sprinters. Rabo might not have the classics team that BMC has, but they also have way more young talented riders, plus they have Renshaw who can sprint...

Youngsters include: Kruijswijk, Matthews, Bol, Kelderman, Slagter, and you could almost count Gesink in that.

Rabo is developing young riders while BMC is just using money to buy out the best riders. BMC = Yankees of baseball.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Rabobank's leaders: Lars Boom, Steven Kruijswijk, Bauke Mollema, Luis Leon Sanchez, Matti Breschel, Mark Renshaw, Theo Bos, Michael Matthews.

I would say Kruijswijk is better than TJ, and BMC doesn't have any sprinters. Rabo might not have the classics team that BMC has, but they also have way more young talented riders, plus they have Renshaw who can sprint...

Youngsters include: Kruijswijk, Matthews, Bol, Kelderman, Slagter, and you could almost count Gesink in that.

Rabo is developing young riders while BMC is just using money to buy out the best riders. BMC = Yankees of baseball.

I would say the fact that BMChave hired guys like Roe, Phinney, Van Garderen, Eijssen, Schar & Frank indicates that they are looking to develop these guys.

 

[gustienordic]

I would say the fact that BMChave hired guys like Roe, Phinney, Van Garderen, Eijssen, Schar & Frank indicates that they are looking to develop these guys. Get your facts right please.

I agree with Roe, Eijssen, Schar & Frank, but TJ & Phinney have too much of a reputation to count as the same thing (just my opinion).

I do like BMC, just saying that Rabobank deserves more credit than they get.

 

[El Pistolero]

Their domestiques? You mean Burghardt, Quinziato, those guys? I reckon guys like Tjallingii and Tankink are just as good.

It's not because guys like Alessandro Ballan would be the sole leader in a team like Rabo that it's the same in a team like BMC.

And before you say Ballan ain't a domestique..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DQmN89ChO4&feature=related

And he has done a lot of work for GVA as well. I'm actually surprised at how good of a team-mate this guy is.

And to be honest, I expect Greg van Avermaet to do a lot of domestique work next year whether he likes it or not(just look at the work he did for Phil at Vuelta 2010). He'll also get his own chances though. And then you have Evans saying "I'll guess I'll be a domestique at the Ardennes then. I'll be happy to do it" when he reacted on Phil's signing. So yeah, I count him in as a domestique as well for the classics if Phil has the legs of last year. And before you say he won't:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_67w23bWyk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3AlTFtXfag

+ Giro del Piemonte 2009, but I can't seem to find footage of it.

 

[El Pistolero]

Rabobank's leaders: Lars Boom, Steven Kruijswijk, Bauke Mollema, Luis Leon Sanchez, Matti Breschel, Mark Renshaw, Theo Bos, Michael Matthews.

I would say Kruijswijk is better than TJ, and BMC doesn't have any sprinters. Rabo might not have the classics team that BMC has, but they also have way more young talented riders, plus they have Renshaw who can sprint...

Youngsters include: Kruijswijk, Matthews, Bol, Kelderman, Slagter, and you could almost count Gesink in that.

Rabo is developing young riders while BMC is just using money to buy out the best riders. BMC = Yankees of baseball.

Lars Boom: as if he's going to win classics next year. Has he even top tenned one by now? I rate him a lot lower than Greg van Avermaet.
Luis Leon Sanchez: was mediocre this whole year and has never proven much in the classics anyway. I know he won San Sebastian, but what has he done in the Ardennes or Lombardia?
Mark Renshaw: exactly what has he proven in sprints? Being the leadout guy is something else than sprinting. They also have no decent train or leadout guy for their sprinters.
Theo Bos: mediocre sprinter. Whoopie!
Michael Matthews: promising young kid, but come'on now...

Rabobank is not a bad team or anything, but I just don't see the depth in it Steven Kruiswyck and Bauke Mollema are also no Menchov(he had a "bad" year though)

 

[Richeypen]

The one to watch for me is Luke Rowe.

I don't expect much from him yet, but he comes from my area and I rode behind him for about 10km a few years back. He seems like a nice guy too.

All I know about him is he is off the track program. What sort of rider is he?

 

[Mambo95]

All I know about him is he is off the track program. What sort of rider is he?

I don't myself really. I get the impression he's a classics type with a bit of a sprint.

 

[greenedge]

I will say Bjorn Leukemans will go well next year. Also Yonathan Monsalve.

I would not discredit Burghardt a G-W/TDF stage winner. He's also rode on T-MOBILE. Tjallingii has done well this year ( P-R, though a lucky break ) but cannont be compared to Burghardt, who is also being groomed as Hincapies' successor as RC at BMC.

@ Gustienordic; I would go as far to say that SK is better than Mollema, let alone TJVG. However TJVG is younger and has already come second at Algarve/ 3rd at Dauphinie. He is a huge talent. Last year Rabo won like no sprints with Freire ( a rider with big capabilities ), whilst BMC won a few with Kristoff. They do have an all-round team but they will not win a GT next year since they are sending no one to the Giro. Contador/ Evans/ Menchov/ Shlecks/ Wiggins will beat them in the TDF, whilst at the Vuelta Contador/ Cobo/ Anton all have better chances. BMC were only set up a few years ago though so they have not had a chance to really develop their youth. Blythe, Schar, Frank, TJVG and Phinney are all talents so if they develop them at their team they can say they are BMC's. They are now also setting up a youth team ( Hincapie's ). You can't blame them for snapping up ( TJVG after HTC folded ). Movistar picked up Quintana.

@El Pistolero; @ Gustienordic did not list LLS in that list. I hope he can have an ok season next year as well ( but he is not a GC hopeful as some once thought ). GVA also did a lot of work for Gilbert in the 2010 WC on Challambra Crescent, then he came 5th. Cadel counts as 5 domestiques for the Ardennes classics. Allesandro Ballan even rode for Cunego in the 08 WC. Lars Boom was ok in P-R this year, Renshaw shall get a chance to work for himself ( and if it fails he can help Bos/ Matthews ). Bos just needs to position himself well, whilst Matthews just needs to grow as a rider ( but is a really good instinctive rider ). Rabo do have a good youth program though. How come you are siding with @ACF on BMC ( am i missing something??? )

Luke Rowe should have won the U23 WC this year ( but he rode stupidly, hitting the sprint a long way out ), for that matter so did Hepburn for not telling the team he was cramping.