Roman Kreuziger Discussion Thread

[ILovecycling]

That's what i mean. The team was rather weak until now. Though CAS yesterday did his job perfectly.
Astana, Belkin, BMC, AGR, Katusha, Movistar, OPQS, probably Lampre, Lotto and Trek - all this teams are stronger on the paper.
Roche should be nice addition, but he's going from training so that's question. Tinkoff wants to win every race but he'll have hard time to reach it with this team
And it's not only Ardennes, T-A, PV was the same. Really weak team except for Contador and Kreuziger. Glad for Rogers because otherwise it wouldn't look very good for TdF.

Oh god, are you for real?
Hernandez,Paulinho and mainly Sutherland did good job in PV and Mørkøv did awesome work early in stages and controled breakaways almost alone.

As for the Tour,with Contador's form it will be fine,look at Giro 2011,in addition to that Tinkoff is much stronger than then,so no problemo amigo

 

[Kokoso]

In Pais Vasco Sutherland, Paulinho and Hernandez did a **** load of work. I don't see why the Tour would be a problem, even without Rogers.

Am I saying they didn't work? No. I believe they worked as best as they could. But for the final hill there was only Kreuziger. I believe in two stages situation was that Contador and Kreuziger were alone like 20 kms to go. Sutherland was last to stay. When you compare that to other teams, like Movistar, or OPQS, they were pretty weak.

 

[Kokoso]

Oh god, are you for real?
Hernandez,Paulinho and mainly Sutherland did good job in PV and Mørkøv did awesome work early in stages and controled breakaways almost alone.

As for the Tour,with Contador's form it will be fine,look at Giro 2011,in addition to that Tinkoff is much stronger than then,so no problemo amigo

Imagine that there are only Contador and Kreuziger 20 kms to go at some TdF stage, for example 10th. On the other side Movistar and Sky train, like last year. That could be problem.
Everything is relative and you have to compare to opponents. Who until now had stronger teams.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Imagine that there are only Contador and Kreuziger 20 kms to go at some TdF stage, for example 10th. On the other side Movistar and Sky train, like last year. That could be problem.
Everything is relative and you have to compare to opponents. Who until now had stronger teams.

That would only be a problem if Kreuziger doesn't want to sacrifice himself for Contador. Which I don't think will be the case.

 

[Kokoso]

That would only be a problem if Kreuziger doesn't want to sacrifice himself for Contador. Which I don't think will be the case.

If they are two against ten...then you have problem, sacrifice or not.

 

[T-Nielsen]

If they are two against ten...then you have problem, sacrifice or not.

Last year it was Kreuziger and Contador along with Froome and Porte. What have changed this year.

 

[Kokoso]

Last year it was Kreuziger and Contador along with Froome and Porte. What have changed this year.

No, last year it was Contador, Kreuziger, Rogers and Roche here and there. And even then it didn't work out very well for Alberto, he finished fourth. I think some here hope for more this year.

 

[T-Nielsen]

No, last year it was Contador, Kreuziger, Rogers and Roche here and there. And even then it didn't work out very well for Alberto, he finished fourth. I think some here hope for more this year.

Alberto finished 4th because he wasn't better not because his team let him down.

 

[Kokoso]

Alberto finished 4th because he wasn't better not because his team let him down.

Did I say team let him down? No.
Whatever you picked the part where it's harder to see the consequences and I can't blame you for that.

I'll say it less confusing way (I hope): No, last year it was Contador, Kreuziger, Rogers and Roche here and there.
That's the difference.

 

[ILovecycling]

Imagine that there are only Contador and Kreuziger 20 kms to go at some TdF stage, for example 10th. On the other side Movistar and Sky train, like last year. That could be problem.
Everything is relative and you have to compare to opponents. Who until now had stronger teams.

If they are two against ten...then you have problem, sacrifice or not.

No, last year it was Contador, Kreuziger, Rogers and Roche here and there. And even then it didn't work out very well for Alberto, he finished fourth. I think some here hope for more this year.

If there is a situation like this,it won't be a problem at all if Roman and Berto will have a shape of level that I imagine they will have (Alberto 2011,Roman 2013 - i know,bad example but at least little explanation of my imagination).

There would be only 3 riders who can have dangerous attack on Berto - that is Froome,Nibbs and Piti.Porte and Costa won't be a factors this year imo.
From these riders Valverde's attacks won't be really dangerous cuz its "senor cobarde Valverde".Nibbs is dangerous for Alberto only downhill (unless he is level above his '14 Giro) so these 2 riders have to be carefully marked by Roman,and Contador should only react directly on Froomie attacks .

But...imo it will look different,Roman will drill the group in high mountains and Alberto will attack when Froome,Nibali and Valverde will be on their limits.

We'll see,but imo if Saxo survives stage 5 without injury and significant time loss (max 45 secs) Alberto victory is only about himself and Roman.

 

[Jelantik]

If there is a situation like this,it won't be a problem at all if Roman and Berto will have a shape of level that I imagine they will have (Alberto 2011,Roman 2013 - i know,bad example but at least little explanation of my imagination).

There would be only 3 riders who can have dangerous attack on Berto - that is Froome,Nibbs and Piti.Porte and Costa won't be a factors this year imo.
From these riders Valverde's attacks won't be really dangerous cuz its "senor cobarde Valverde".Nibbs is dangerous for Alberto only downhill (unless he is level above his '14 Giro) so these 2 riders have to be carefully marked by Roman,and Contador should only react directly on Froomie attacks .
.

agreed. Nibs attacked even in 2012 was like a mosquito attack for sky. It happened few times but it was more annoying to sky than successful attacks (bungee attacks). Unless he did his TA 2013 attack that makes Froome buckled up like a little girl, that's when Contador should worry. Valverde attack won't be that dangerous because his attacks is always to protect his podium As far as Kreuziger, he will be sacrificed, no matter what, if it comes down to crunch time, especially with Contador is flying this year. He is the strongest guy on the team this year so far.

 

[greenedge]

Imagine that there are only Contador and Kreuziger 20 kms to go at some TdF stage, for example 10th. On the other side Movistar and Sky train, like last year. That could be problem.
Everything is relative and you have to compare to opponents. Who until now had stronger teams.

Rogers would be there too.

Am I saying they didn't work? No. I believe they worked as best as they could. But for the final hill there was only Kreuziger. I believe in two stages situation was that Contador and Kreuziger were alone like 20 kms to go. Sutherland was last to stay. When you compare that to other teams, like Movistar, or OPQS, they were pretty weak.

He's strong enough to control them though..., no real problem happened

 

[Kokoso]

Rogers would be there too.

Read above to catch context.

 

[Kokoso]

Saxo was rather weak at LBL, as expected. From Roman it was active, good race, unfortunately fall and chasing could took some powes and then little bit nonc tactical energy wasting. After Dan Martin attacked Bjarne Riis told him to ride it as a TT and not to wait for anything and so he dragged some opponents this way. Maybe it wasn't the best resolution from Bjarne, who knows.

After LBL I wonder if Kreuziger rides Romandie, could be very strong there.

 

[Butterhead]

Did I say team let him down? No.
Whatever you picked the part where it's harder to see the consequences and I can't blame you for that.

I'll say it less confusing way (I hope): No, last year it was Contador, Kreuziger, Rogers and Roche here and there.
That's the difference.

Jeez, you really need to learn how cycling works!! Nothing you ever say makes sense in the real world, this is not Pro cycling manager, its real people, real roads, real weather and real races.

 

[Kokoso]

Yesterday he didn't do well. Interestingly since second intermediate he didn't lose any time on Kiryenka and in the finish pulled back few seconds. I know there was wind in the first half so was his problem to maintain aerodynamic position? Or he didn't pace himself well? Or combination of both? Or didn't go full gas intentionally? Or has he advantage compared some others in really endurance efforts?

 

[Kokoso]

Or he was better because of the hills...

 

[No_Balls]

Re:

Read somewhere that the entire TS (except AC of course) rode deliberately slower this TT in order to save strenght for the mountains.

 

[SeriousSam]

I wonder whether Roman has any ambition left other than being a domestique.

 

[sultanofhyd]

Re:

I wonder whether Roman has any ambition left other than being a domestique.

Let's face it, we know, and Roman knows, that on his best day and Contador's worst they are probably as good as each other (Ax-3-Domaines). It would be disingenuous of him to have any GC ambition right now with Contador in this form.

 

[trevim]

Re:

I wonder whether Roman has any ambition left other than being a domestique.

I think he's in a good place right now: doesn't have the pressure of leading a GT (remember he got his best result while riding for Contador) and he's still the leader in lots of 1 day or 1 week races.

 

[veganrob]

Re: Re:

Read somewhere that the entire TS (except AC of course) rode deliberately slower this TT in order to save strenght for the mountains.

This would make much more sense.

 

[ILovecycling]

Re: Re:

I wonder whether Roman has any ambition left other than being a domestique.

I think he's in a good place right now: doesn't have the pressure of leading a GT (remember he got his best result while riding for Contador) and he's still the leader in lots of 1 day or 1 week races.

Yep, I agree, he should focus on classics where he improved in past 2 years.Maybe a Vuelta win with a bad competition.

 

[Kokoso]

Re:

I wonder whether Roman has any ambition left other than being a domestique.

In Giro? Don't think so, he has other problems probably. He was leader in Ardennes. In future? I think he has some ambitions. Still he's among top 10-15 GT riders.

 

[rm7]

He'll probably be banned in June.

Anybody knows how long his ban will be?

And since the bio pass problems, he haven't been the same GT rider. It's like he hasn't been training for GT's with climbing and TT, but have done more training for 1 stage races, where he have improved.