Romain Bardet Discussion Thread

[hrotha]

I'm sure Bardet is bad enough that he could improve considerably without losing out in the climbing department by legit means.

 

[toolittle]

Re:

I'm sure Bardet is bad enough that he could improve considerably without losing out in the climbing department by legit means.

Last year, Bardet seems to has invested some time to TT inside wind tunnel. But...
But his teammate such as Latour, Alexis Gougeard, Tony Gallopin has pulled out an improved TT.

Bardet is not an all rounder. He is a fighter. As an audience, seeing a fighter to pull out 100% focus, 110% performance, taking risks in square and fair manner is enjoyable.

I always feel boring with some of super performance... Pantani, Armstrong types of performance is not so exciting in my opinion. I am rather to see Cadel Evans and Bardet.

 

[yaco]

- He seems to have the same schedule which always features the TDF - Wondering how much pull he has in the team which will allow him to ride the Giro.

 

[staubsauger]

Re:

- He seems to have the same schedule which always features the TDF - Wondering how much pull he has in the team which will allow him to ride the Giro.

As far as I'm aware Lavenu himself wanted Bardet to ride the 2017 Giro d'Italia instantly. That's what he said when BeIN Sports gave him a ring during the 2016 Giro d'Italia. Then, Romain got 2nd in the Tour, 3rd last year and the Tour of Italy was off the cards of course.

If he doesn't win in 2018, I wouldn't rule out that after three consecutive podium placements in France, he tries to win the pink jersey in 2019! After all AG2R agreed to let Gadret focus on the Giro d'Italia before and bought in Pozzovivo and Betancur especially for the corsa rosa. The insurance probably accepts it for one time.

It all depends on the course and about this year's TdF performance of course. But AG2R isn't as Tour fixated as other French teams have been in the past.

 

[Tonton]

Well, Romain had a more than decent ITT and a good day today. Promising...

 

[JosephK]

Well, Romain had a more than decent ITT and a good day today. Promising...

I am guardedly optimistic about him for the TDF. He has reached the podium, before -- no small feat in this current era.

 

[fantomas]

Well, Romain had a more than decent ITT and a good day today. Promising...

He didn't do too well today, but then again Saturday and Sunday should suit him better.

 

[Tonton]

Romain is looking good in his build-up. Nice ITT, showing form...good day for him.

 

[Laplaz]

Bardet's tour will depend a lot from the TTT and inespecially from the Roubaix stage, so he should pray Naesen and Gougeard are in good shape that day. The Alps and Pyrenees suits him very well this year with 3 high mountain stages with downhill finish, and i think he will win at least one of these. Podium could be possible again, to win will still be very unlikely.

 

[jmdirt]

I just read RB's TdF presser. As every year, I am hoping for at least five GC guys to kick the crap out of each other. He is one of the guys who can mix it up at the front. I hope that his legs are good and that his mind is on fight mode.

 

[del1962]

You have to had it too Bardet, really digging in on the roubaix stage to limit his losses and one of the most aggressive and best on the Alpe

I can think of other French GC hopes whose head would have dropped on the Roubaix stage

 

[Red Rick]

He climbs well enough to be there but to make the top 3 he's always dependent on others messing up

 

[Bolder]

Re:

Bardet's tour will depend a lot from the TTT and inespecially from the Roubaix stage, so he should pray Naesen and Gougeard are in good shape that day. The Alps and Pyrenees suits him very well this year with 3 high mountain stages with downhill finish, and i think he will win at least one of these. Podium could be possible again, to win will still be very unlikely.

revisiting this very prescient quote from a few weeks ago. That is exactly why he finds himself down 3 minutes. Roubaix kicked his ass, even if he finished without much time loss, it was a blow both psychologically and physically. The fiasco at the end of the Mur stage didn't help either.

He didn't win in the Alps but yesterday he was very, very close. Oddly I think his physical form is excellent but the above have put him in a hole that will be very, very hard to dig out of if he wants a podium.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

He climbs well enough to be there but to make the top 3 he's always dependent on others messing up

I think he misses the podium this year unless a few of the top three collapse.

 

[Finn84]

I wouldn't be surprised if he wins in Saint-Lary-Soulan.

 

[toolittle]

Re: Re:

Pozzovivo did a good show for the team in giro.

TDF is another story. AG2R won't be happy with TDF version of pozzovivo.

I can't imagine RB in top3 GC this year.

AG2R team is quite good this year. With RB, Latour, and Frank Matthias team classicification is quite possible.

Latour has a real chance for white jersey.

If RB targets potka and combative, the chance is sky high.
Then, RB could still attack and do his Ninja way.

I believe French communities will be happy with potka + white + team + combative + nice stage(s) win + 3 person in top 12.

It isx if use all the horsepower to get a GC 5th and nothing else.

The truth is that old generation of gc will be past in 2 years time.
In New generation, none super strong all round riders.
All of up and coming guys on the table are climb strong with ok TT only. RB has real chance for yellow 2 years later but not now.

A year passed, AG2R arranged their best for Bardet in TDF again.
But lucky lady isn't with him. He lost some time and strength before Alps.
Even with all good things happened together, Froome, Dumoulin and Thomas are still before him.

Pierre Latour improved a bit as expected. White jersey is belonged to him if no accident and no work for Bardet.
If the team worked for stages and Potka, I won't be supprise if they could get 2 stages.

 

[IndianCyclist]

"Tyre mix-up blamed for Bardet's Roubaix woes"
He wont train specifically for the TT. Equipment isn't good enough.
If the simple things aren't taken care of, how can he win the TDF.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

He won't win the Tour if he doesn't improve his ITT a lot. It's really rare for someone who can't time trial to win the Tour.

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

He won't win the Tour if he doesn't improve his ITT a lot. It's really rare for someone who can't time trial to win the Tour.

Is TTing the real problem though?
Let's say there's no TT at the end of the week, does he win the Tour?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

No. Not this year at least. His climbing has not been at the level of first 3 on Mende and Rosiere

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

He won't win the Tour if he doesn't improve his ITT a lot. It's really rare for someone who can't time trial to win the Tour.

Is TTing the real problem though?
Let's say there's no TT at the end of the week, does he win the Tour?

Not this Tour, no, but he would have a shot in a fantasy Tour with no ITT or TTT. His climbing is good enough for that. Of course he has some other issues as well, but if he doesn't improve his ITT he certainly doesn't have a chance to ever win.

 

[staubsauger]

AG2R really should've signed with Look Cyclisme or should've gotten Bianchi on board instead of LottoNL few years back. Focus & Factor simply aren't top notch manufacturers.

 

[toolittle]

Re: Re:

He won't win the Tour if he doesn't improve his ITT a lot. It's really rare for someone who can't time trial to win the Tour.

Is TTing the real problem though?
Let's say there's no TT at the end of the week, does he win the Tour?

Not this Tour, no, but he would have a shot in a fantasy Tour with no ITT or TTT. His climbing is good enough for that. Of course he has some other issues as well, but if he doesn't improve his ITT he certainly doesn't have a chance to ever win.

Bardet should understand his ability and target a more possible mission.
No ITT or TTT.
Looks for long epic stages with uphill finish and potka.

And hilly classics for the rest of season.

 

[Alexandre B.]

First real set back in the Tour for Romain.

I wonder what he’ll do next year with that in mind.

 

[staubsauger]

Re:

First real step-back in the Tour for Romain.

I wonder what he’ll do next year with that in mind.

Looks like it's finally time for the Giro!