Ryder Hesjedal - GC Chances

[Steel4Ever]

Based on past TT performances, there's no way he'll beat Gesink in a long TT. He never has. Let alone take nearly 3 minutes on him.

2008 Olympics (47.6km)
Gesink 1:05:02
Ryder 1:05:42

2009 Vuelta (30km)
Gesink 38:14
Ryder 40:34

2010 Pais Vasco (22km)
Gesink 33:39
Ryder 33:54

2010 California (33.6km - flat)
Ryder 43:14 -- 46.66km/hr

2010 Suisse (26.9km - hill)
Gesink 34:40 -- 42.47km/hr


Ok then...just hoping he doesn't fall out of the Top 10!
Hopefully Kreuziger won't be on form for the TT...

 

[Frosty]

2010 Pais Vasco (22km)
Gesink 33:39
Ryder 33:54

Horner won that stage in a 32.33 with Rodriguez finishing in 33.06 but there was a 300 metre hill in it whereas this one is flat. Cant see Horner being in that sort of form either.

 

[carl spackler]

A lot of people laughed at this thread

 

[131313]

I'm standing by my 7th place prediction.

I'd be really proud of my prognostication skills, but I was also certain that Kruezinger would finish on the podium.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Soooo...what about Ryder's chances this year???

I think, judging by his results this year, that 2010 was kind of a perfect storm for Ryder -- riding the crest of the 2010 wave before crashing down in 2011.

I'm definitely pro-Canuck and it pains me to say it, but I have a feeling he won't even crack the top 20 this year. Plus, I don't think the teams will allow him to do what he did in last years Tour.

Good luck to ya, anyway!

 

[ingsve]

I think chances are that the strongest Garmin rider will be Tom Danielson who seems to do well when he gets a chance in a GT (at least in the vuelta) and he has looked better than VDV and Hesjedal this year. This means Ryder will most likely get to ride mainly for him rather focus on his own GC position.

 

[Ferminal]

I have Tommy D and Vandevelde ahead of him at the moment.

His season has been disappointing, but maybe he has been going all Andy on us.

 

[carl spackler]

Unfortunately I dont like his chances too much this year either. im thinking they are all in for VDV on GC. But it does seem like both Ryder and VDV have been off this year when compared to Danielson.

We'll probably know the Garmin story sooner rather than later. Seems doubtful all three will be with the leaders for too long.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I find it odd when people compare him to the JVDB, Gesink, Basso, EVans of the GC men. He simply isn't of that quality.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Well...there goes that game plan!

Stage 1 and already 2:00 down on contenders like that Aussie chap whatshisname.

To be fair, not the fault of Ryder, but as they say -- that's bike racin'!

 

[hrotha]

Well...there goes that game plan!

Stage 1 and already 2:00 down on contenders like that Aussie chap whatshisname.

To be fair, not the fault of Ryder, but as they say -- that's bike racin'!

If he was able to get a top 10 before today, 2 minutes shouldn't make it impossible, just a bit harder. It's a lot of time when fighting for the podium, but usually there's bigger gaps in the low end of the top 10.

 

[roundabout]

15+ riders who can potentially beat Hesjedal got almost 2 minutes on him.

Of course some things can wrong for some of these people and Hesjedal might well get time back by being stronger than some of them but he can not lose any more time from now on.

 

[jobiwan]

15+ riders who can potentially beat Hesjedal got almost 2 minutes on him.

Of course some things can wrong for some of these people and Hesjedal might well get time back by being stronger than some of them but he can not lose any more time from now on.

Garmin should probably focus on one of the non-GC classifications along with the stage wins.

BTW: I'm not a fan of the Rebellin invasion!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

BTW: I'm not a fan of the Rebellin invasion!

It's giving me a serious case of the creeps.

Garmin are in a strange position now. They came into the race with split objectives, part sprints, part TTT and part GC. Their potential GC men haven't lost so much time that they are simply out of the running for a top 10, but that objective is going to be a great deal harder now, particularly as their theoretical best hope lost the most time.

The thing is though, their GC team was pretty compact anyway - only three guys who can climb, two of whom are also there for the TTT. And it's not as if those guys are going to add much to their efforts in the sprints no matter how they are deployed. The most they could do is add a little to efforts to bring back breaks. And it's hard to see the Garmin GC guys changing to a stage hunting role very successfully. So for the moment, I suspect that they'll continue as before just with slightly lowered expectations.

 

[greenedge]

Top 10 for him. I hope he can rebound and maybe go to the Vuelta with Martin in the mountains.

 

[Steel4Ever]

I find it odd when people compare him to the...Gesink...of the GC men. He simply isn't of that quality.

True. This year he seems to be better.

1st Mountain Stage
29 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:03:57
77 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:17:44

Overall
38 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:18:39
39 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:20:55

 

[Steel4Ever]

2010 recap:

I'll go out on a limb and predict 7th place overall.

WTF? The field is rather strong in this Tour, do you really think he's among the ten best climbers in the race?

Apparently le Tour is capable of all kinds of surprises!