Romain Bardet Discussion Thread

[armchairclimber]

First GC podium of the year and, thankfully, he seems just as ready to race aggressively as ever. It bodes well.

 

[@NL_LeMondFans]

Re:

Bardet could just try to become the next Richard Virenque

In terms of persona, I couldn't think of someone more different from Virenque than Bardet. Bardet is smart, for starters.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

Bardet could just try to become the next Richard Virenque

In terms of persona, I couldn't think of someone more different from Virenque than Bardet. Bardet is smart, for starters.

I think Brullnux meant in terms of entertainment, aggressive riding .

 

[@NL_LeMondFans]

Re: Re:

Bardet could just try to become the next Richard Virenque

In terms of persona, I couldn't think of someone more different from Virenque than Bardet. Bardet is smart, for starters.

I think Brullnux meant in terms of entertainment, aggressive riding .

Fair enough. Bardet sure is entertaining, to say the least. That's why I hope he can find an opening on one day races. It's harder to shine on grand Tours when you're targeting GC.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

Bardet could just try to become the next Richard Virenque

In terms of persona, I couldn't think of someone more different from Virenque than Bardet. Bardet is smart, for starters.

I think Brullnux meant in terms of entertainment, aggressive riding .

Fair enough. Bardet sure is entertaining, to say the least. That's why I hope he can find an opening on one day races. It's harder to shine on grand Tours when you're targeting GC.

And to me (another analogy with Virenque - post ban), he could go for the polka dot in the Tour, forget the GC, since the best he can realistically get is a 5th place or so.

 

[Carols]

Re: Re:

Bardet could just try to become the next Richard Virenque

In terms of persona, I couldn't think of someone more different from Virenque than Bardet. Bardet is smart, for starters.

I think Brullnux meant in terms of entertainment, aggressive riding .

Fair enough. Bardet sure is entertaining, to say the least. That's why I hope he can find an opening on one day races. It's harder to shine on grand Tours when you're targeting GC.

And to me (another analogy with Virenque - post ban), he could go for the polka dot in the Tour, forget the GC, since the best he can realistically get is a 5th place or so.

He is only 25 I wouldn't write him of so soon for a Tour podium in the future. The older guard is aging, he has some time yet to improve while their powers decline. Sure there is Nairito and Aru still on the upswing but so is he. I like his style!

 

[Tonton]

I like his style of riding, but I don't see him make enough progress in ITT to be competitive in a GT, i.e. podium. It's not just Nairito or Aru, but between Pinot, Landa, TJVG, Dumoulin maybe, and all the Sky guys that keep popping out of the woodwork, Porte, Gerrans..that's a lot of customers for a top-5. I really hope that I'm wrong.

 

[Carols]

I like his style of riding, but I don't see him make enough progress in ITT to be competitive in a GT, i.e. podium. It's not just Nairito or Aru, but between Pinot, Landa, TJVG, Dumoulin maybe, and all the Sky guys that keep popping out of the woodwork, Porte, Gerrans..that's a lot of customers for a top-5. I really hope that I'm wrong.

Well I think you're wrong about Porte and Gerrans. Did you mean Geraint Thomas? TJVG regularly disappoints. Tom D. and Landa if he learns to TT, maybe.

Romain just needs to work the TT religiously to become at least adequate.

 

[Tonton]

I like his style of riding, but I don't see him make enough progress in ITT to be competitive in a GT, i.e. podium. It's not just Nairito or Aru, but between Pinot, Landa, TJVG, Dumoulin maybe, and all the Sky guys that keep popping out of the woodwork, Porte, Gerrans..that's a lot of customers for a top-5. I really hope that I'm wrong.

Well I think you're wrong about Porte and Gerrans. Did you mean Geraint Thomas? TJVG regularly disappoints. Tom D. and Landa if he learns to TT, maybe.

Romain just needs to work the TT religiously to become at least adequate.

Thomas. I stand corrected. Sorry. I'm following the Tour La Provence at the same time. A lot of action.

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

Bardet could just try to become the next Richard Virenque

In terms of persona, I couldn't think of someone more different from Virenque than Bardet. Bardet is smart, for starters.

I think Brullnux meant in terms of entertainment, aggressive riding .

Yes

 

[armchairclimber]

Two top ten placings this weekend. I fancy him to trouble the leaders at Paris Nice

 

[Carols]

Re:

Two top ten placings this weekend. I fancy him to trouble the leaders at Paris Nice

This kid is growing on me I'll be watching how he fares!

 

[armchairclimber]

Not a great Paris Nice as it turns out. Not bad if he is some way from top form mind.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Best Paris-Nice ever for him, even if he was not really in-form climbing wise.

I think it's positive.

 

[portugal11]

French riders are so overrated nowadays... he was beaten by galopin, izaguirre. And these guys aren't climbers at all. He won't make a top 10 in le tour.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

French riders are so overrated nowadays... he was beaten by galopin, izaguirre. And these guys aren't climbers at all. He won't make a top 10 in le tour.

Paris-Nice is not a race that suits his qualities. Not enough gradients.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

French riders are so overrated nowadays... he was beaten by galopin, izaguirre. And these guys aren't climbers at all. He won't make a top 10 in le tour.

Gallopin (with two l) is French... , so you're saying that a French guy is overrated because another French guy beat him? Very smart, my friend, very smart...

 

[armchairclimber]

Re:

French riders are so overrated nowadays... he was beaten by galopin, izaguirre. And these guys aren't climbers at all. He won't make a top 10 in le tour.

You mean like in 2014 and 2015?

 

[staubsauger]

Well. If Bardet's really wants to target a top 10 / top 5 spot at the TdF only. I really really hope Ag2R just sends up the road Pozzovivo in about every mountainous stage and keeps with Pikachu as super-domestique for Romain. Because if AG2R ain't gonna win the polka dot competition with either Pozzo or Bardet their TdF is a complete tactical failure for me. Even if Bardet reaches a top 5 gc spot and lands a stage win. They just got 2 riders absolutely capable of doing longe-range mountain attacks and winning the polka-dot jersey in great fashion once again. The simply have to use it from my pov!

 

[del1962]

Didn't Bardet say he wasn't expecting much from P-N

 

[Alexandre B.]

Smart last km today. He didn't burnt himself and he's in the first GC group (assuming Dan Martin will fade in a tougher summit finish tomorrow).

His first podium at WT level is reachable.

 

[CheckMyPecs]

Re:

Smart last km today. He didn't burnt himself and he's in the first GC group (assuming Dan Martin will fade in a tougher summit finish tomorrow).

His first podium at WT level is reachable.

Don't assume too much, buddy.

 

[armchairclimber]

Off the pace with Quintana and Contador but he didn't do too badly. Presumably he will want to be peaking in the summer, so not a bad place to be.

 

[Alexandre B.]

2014 -> Tour of Oman (13th), Paris-Nice (36th), Volta a Catalunya (4th)
2015 -> Vuelta a Andalucia (5th), Paris-Nice (14th), Volta a Catalunya (DNF)
2016 -> Tour of Oman (2nd), Paris-Nice (9th), Volta a Catalunya (6th)
13 top-10 at the moment.

For the first time in his career, he's showing consistency before the first goal of his season (the Ardennes).

 

[Tonton]

Yes, a solid start of the season for Bardet. And I like his racing calendar, including one-day races, which makes Romain a complete rider.