Samuel Samu Sanchez official awesomness thread.

[maxmartin]

Its about who would have done better in the tour de france this year had samu not had his 2 crashes ( when he was 34, NOT, next year when he is at the past it age). Or if you want, who would have done better in 2010 or 11 had Nibali been there, or Giro, Vuelta in 2010 and 11.
Or do you disagree with that.

What, IF. Sorry, I only know how to use facts to make a statement. One thing I won't do is blatantly stating one top cyclist is clearly inferior to another top cyclist with no strong factual evidence to support.

 

[jens_attacks]

we have to revive gesink-van den broeck threads too

 

[gustienordic]

we have to revive gesink-van den broeck threads too

Don't you dare

But, Nibali I think is the better of the two right now. I also don't think Nibali has peaked yet. Samu is on his way down, but he can TT very well. Nibali's TT is a little more inconsistent, but he has put in a few big tts.

 

[Parrulo]

btw maxmartin, nibali only has 1 GT win, not 2.

we have to revive gesink-van den broeck threads too

indeed the nibali vs gesink vs vdb2 thread should be bumped for the lulz

Don't you dare

But, Nibali I think is the better of the two right now. I also don't think Nibali has peaked yet. Samu is on his way down, but he can TT very well. Nibali's TT is a little more inconsistent, but he has put in a few big tts.

nibali used to be a very good short around 20k itt guy but this year he clearly stepped in terms of long itt. it just happened that wiggins was so strong that we barely even noticed this improvement.

nibali's major weakness is him usually having 1 or more bad days in GT's, he has been improving on that regard over the years but it still is his major weakness. then again samu also had the same problem before in the past (galibier 2011, vuelta 2009 are the 2 most obvious examples)

 

[Netserk]

2011 Samu > 2011 Nibbles
2012 Samu < 2012 Nibbles

PS: I very much like them both

 

[cineteq]

2011 Samu > 2011 Nibbles
2012 Samu < 2012 Nibbles

PS: I very much like them both

It's more like this:
2011 Nibbles = 2011 Samu
2011 Nibbles >>>> 2011 Samu

 

[brilleaben]

If Samu retires without having won a GT and major classic, I'm gonna cry like a sad ******.

 

[maxmartin]

btw maxmartin, nibali only has 1 GT win, not 2.

I know What I am saying is if MB2612 think Olympic gold is more than 2 GTs as a fact, then I would agree with MB2612 Samu do have a better racing results than Nibali.

 

[Netserk]

It's more like this:
2011 Nibbles = 2011 Samu
2011 Nibbles >>>> 2011 Samu

 

[icefire]

and in terms of GT's nibali has 1 win and 3 more podiums while samu has no win and only has a vuelta podium (i don't consider the 2010 tour a podium)

2007 and 2009 make for two vuelta podiums in my book. And remember that he dind't win the 2009 vuelta just because the TDF that year had a few kms through Italy

 

[hrotha]

To say that it would be a surprise if Nibali did better than Samu in a GT they both peaked properly for is kind of silly.

It's amazing how Nibali continues to be underrated even after everybody told themselves they wouldn't underrate him no more.

 

[Arnout]

well hitch if it is unfair to compare a peak of his abiliyies nibali to a then past his peak sanchez, why is it fair to compare a peak of his abilities sanchez to a developing nibali?

also to the guy that said sanchez has a better LBL and GdL record then nibali, well sanchez best result in lbl is a 10th place so i wonder how does that beat a second place.

on the GdL sanchez best result is a second place and nibali's is a 5th, tho nibali did mess up big time last year when he could have won if he hadn't rushed into a solo ride 50k from the line.

in terms of 1 week races they both have 1 major win each funny enough achieved this year for both( TA for nibbles and VaPB for samu)

and in terms of GT's nibali has 1 win and 3 more podiums while samu has no win and only has a vuelta podium (i don't consider the 2010 tour a podium)

i would go and say they are at the same level but that doesn't suit the hitchs way of thinking so he will just find some way to make it the way he wants

6th in LBL in 2003 actually, but that's the only Sanchez result I will not believe.

 

[Afrank]

6th in LBL in 2003 actually, but that's the only Sanchez result I will not believe.

And 4th in 2004.

 

[hoerpi]

6th in LBL in 2003 actually, but that's the only Sanchez result I will not believe.

And the two podiums in la Vuelta (2007 and 2009)?

 

[Arnout]

And the two podiums in la Vuelta (2007 and 2009)?

Don't know. In 2003 and early 2004 doping was common practice in Euskaltel. Him getting good results back then (even though he was outside the time limit on the Alpe d'Huez in the 2003 Tour) is a strong indication of doping.

In 2007 and 2009, other than good results, there is no indication of anything dodgy. I can't guarantee he was clean or he is clean, but I don't have any evidence to the contrary either.

In fact, Sanchez has been doing marginal gains (wind tunnel, watts and all the stuff Sky claims is revolutionary. Well, except mood lighting) since a long time. That way, he managed to turn himself from a punchy rider to a climber. The marginal gains worked, but he didn't suddenly become a top rider out of nothing. He was good in the hilly races, but lost the explosiveness and punch for better long-climb performance and a decent TT.

It's my number 1 reason for having to laugh about the bull**** Sky is constantly churning out. Riders have been doing it for years, with incremental results.

 

[The Hitch]

Don't know. In 2003 and early 2004 doping was common practice in Euskaltel. Him getting good results back then (even though he was outside the time limit on the Alpe d'Huez in the 2003 Tour) is a strong indication of doping.

Sanchez was the guy who screamed - "let him race", as the Contador case was going on in the courts, and said - the TDF without Contador is like Rolland Garros without Nadal (which in Spain is a stronger sentence than it will come out to most).

But of course i am just a sky hater who would never ever accuse a rider i like of being suspicious

 

[The Hitch]

To say that it would be a surprise if Nibali did better than Samu in a GT they both peaked properly for is kind of silly.

It's amazing how Nibali continues to be underrated even after everybody told themselves they wouldn't underrate him no more.

I never underrated him. I was one of the 30% who said he would win the Vuelta rather than Mosquera, and said that he was not wasting his time going into the 2011 Giro.

But Samu in 2010 was the 3rd best climber behind Al and Andy.

And in 2011, won Luz ariden, and was 2nd on Plateau de Beile, 2nd on Lalpe (fastest up the climb).

And on Gap he was in the elite group of Contador and Evans. Can you imagine Nibali up there with contador and Evans. Can you imagine him winning Luz Ardiden, or being fastest up Alpe?

And is it really underrating him to answer those 2 questions with - hes not there just yet

 

[cineteq]

And on Gap he was in the elite group of Contador and Evans. Can you imagine Nibali up there with contador and Evans. Can you imagine him winning Luz Ardiden, or being fastest up Alpe?

Of course I can, especially after the Tour this year when he had near-zero helpers.

 

[Arnout]

Sanchez was the guy who screamed - "let him race", as the Contador case was going on in the courts, and said - the TDF without Contador is like Rolland Garros without Nadal (which in Spain is a stronger sentence than it will come out to most).

But of course i am just a sky hater who would never ever accuse a rider i like of being suspicious

True, that speaks against him, but to be honest I never take him seriously in interviews.

 

[The Hitch]

"All i ask of 2013 is not to have bad luck"
http://www.elpedaldefrodo.com/samuel-sanchez-euskaltel/

 

[Eshnar]

"All i ask of 2013 is not to have bad luck"
http://www.elpedaldefrodo.com/samuel-sanchez-euskaltel/

" El año deportivo se ha cerrado pero el año deportivo todavía no"
Seems legit

 

[movingtarget]

"All i ask of 2013 is not to have bad luck"
http://www.elpedaldefrodo.com/samuel-sanchez-euskaltel/

Would be good to see Sanchez and Gesink with more luck that they have had lately. What I like about Sanchez is that he tries things. He is not just sitting in the pack trying to survive and hope for a good GC finish. He's aggressive and has won some good stages like that. His Olympic road race win was one of his best along with his second in the Vuelta.

 

[The Hitch]

Would be good to see Sanchez and Gesink with more luck that they have had lately. What I like about Sanchez is that he tries things. He is not just sitting in the pack trying to survive and hope for a good GC finish. He's aggressive and has won some good stages like that. His Olympic road race win was one of his best along with his second in the Vuelta.

Uh no you cant compare samus luck.to gesinks. Samu just haf his last 2 chances at a tour podium and its pribably too late for him now to enjoy any success. Gesink meanwhile is still in his mid 20s with the best part of a decade ahead of him.

 

[trevim]

But Samu in 2010 was the 3rd best climber behind Al and Andy.

That's probably right although Menchov was going very well too. Anyway, the real question is: will he ride the Tour yet again?
Perhaps with Contador out because of the wildcard/WT issue and Schleck not finding his top shape again he may as well get it....

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Would be good to see Sanchez and Gesink with more luck that they have had lately. What I like about Sanchez is that he tries things. He is not just sitting in the pack trying to survive and hope for a good GC finish. He's aggressive and has won some good stages like that. His Olympic road race win was one of his best along with his second in the Vuelta.

samu has only had 1 bad year. gesinks bad luck is eternal.