Santos Tour Down Under Stage 2 Mt. Barker to Rostrevor 116.5km

[Lanark]

He won the Team Pursuit, lucky enough to be born in the best country. How many people count team time trials as real victories on this forum?

By the way, this is the road racing forum. As far as I'm concerned he only won a very short Romandie prologue, British road race title(lol) and the overall in one of the worst stage races there is.

So yeah, he definitely was not a winner type. Since when are we counting junior races?

He also regularly wins games of Monopoly against his brother, or doesn´t that count either suddenly?

 

[jens_attacks]

plus he's a great interviewer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kTEQm88UKc

un grande!!!

 

[Flamin]

Didn't watch the race. Had this crash anything to do with the escapees staying away on the descent or was the gap too big anyway?

also nice to see that Hermans seems fully recovered from some pretty serious injuries last winter, which affected most of his 2012 season.

 

[Dedelou]

P+P were saying that a few times when he attacked up the final climb. I dont think he is quite that good.

You listen to P and P and you will see some very special cycling: Like " Andy is leading the peleton because he wants to make up for the time he lost the day before" These two are really making me laugh with their commentaries

 

[Hugo Koblet]

He won the Team Pursuit, lucky enough to be born in the best country. How many people count team time trials as real victories on this forum?

You can also argue that he's good enough to be on the best team in the world.

 

[Ruudz0r]

He won the Team Pursuit, lucky enough to be born in the best country. How many people count team time trials as real victories on this forum?

By the way, this is the road racing forum. As far as I'm concerned he only won a very short Romandie prologue, British road race title(lol) and the overall in one of the worst stage races there is.

So yeah, he definitely was not a winner type. Since when are we counting junior races?

Your the one saying Sky turned him into a winner, he always was a winner in whatever he focussed on its logical he didnt win much on the road last year (except for a prologue while he was in track form).

 

[Ruudz0r]

i thought that too but now i doubt it
i really think hayman,eisel,stannard end eddie boss will be for the cobbles race and thomas not.
he lost weight and i think he might target races like paris-nice this year.we'll see

I believe the Sky classic squad is skipping PN + TA. Im sure Thomas will be there in Flanders in great shape though.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Didn't watch the race. Had this crash anything to do with the escapees staying away on the descent or was the gap too big anyway?

The crash wasn't shown. I think the riders involved were behind the 2nd group - at least they were behind on the climb. Gilbert started in a good position but seemed to slide backwards from what we saw. Maybe strength of numbers would have helped the chase but Thomas was very strong and would have won regardless

 

[markene2]

Kash to win stage 3 DDD

 

[barmaher]

From cyclingtips.com.au

His team director, Kurt-Asle Arvesen says Thomas was always planning to attack on today’s stage.

“We could see that Geraint was in really good shape already in December,” Arvseon said.

“He was really motivated to do this stage. He’s been talking about this attack on Corkscrew all week, and he did it and managed to stay away.

“It’s really good for him. He’s in good form and he will be better in the classics. Now we try to keep the jersey to Sunday.”

 

[jens_attacks]

i've just seen the stage. indeed thomas hasn't the most beautiful style climbing but he's efficient. the strongest by far,very powerful sprint too.
can't see him losing on old willunga.

Kash to win stage 3 DDD

the veins are slowly popping again. kash is fit again, ready to fight for le tour

 

[El Pistolero]

Your the one saying Sky turned him into a winner, he always was a winner in whatever he focussed on its logical he didnt win much on the road last year (except for a prologue while he was in track form).

No, he was not always a winner. He's been a pro on the road for 5 years now. He has already ridden 5 Grand Tours.

For the record, I'm not implying any clinic related stuff when I say "Wow, Sky turned GT into a winner.". It's just noticeable how whenever Sky says someone will be a leader, he actually starts dominating that race. Good for betting on races.

 

[Ruudz0r]

He has also been a pro on the track in all those years.

 

[whittashau]

George Bennett looked fantastic in the NZ nationals and it doesn't surprise me that he is continuing that form. I see him as an outside bet for the GC.

 

[Froome19]

No, he was not always a winner. He's been a pro on the road for 5 years now. He has already ridden 5 Grand Tours.

For the record, I'm not implying any clinic related stuff when I say "Wow, Sky turned GT into a winner.". It's just noticeable how whenever Sky says someone will be a leader, he actually starts dominating that race. Good for betting on races.

He won gold in Beijing on the track, had 3 years on the road then of which 2009 he barely raced and then 2010 and 2011 which underlined his potential.

Do not worry it was a bit obvious that you were not implicating clinic related stuff, because even that could not explain away Sky's amazing return rate.

 

[El Pistolero]

He has also been a pro on the track in all those years.

Yeah, riding in an event that's basically a team time trial.

 

[Froome19]

Yeah, riding in an event that's basically a team time trial.

Yeh I have not seen many team time trials which are 4km

 

[El Pistolero]

Yeh I have not seen many team time trials which are 4km

The principle is about the same:

- Two 4-man squads competing against each other
- Fastest time wins or the team that overtakes the other in the final
- Front wheel of the 3rd rider counts
- Which means one rider usually sacrifices himself

Sounds like a short team time trial to me. Major difference being that you ride on the track, but then again, so many road pro's train on the track these days during winter.

 

[BlenJones2]

He did briefly have the individual pursuit WR before bobridge broke it. (Ignoring boardmans aero time)

 

[Froome19]

The principle is about the same:

- Two 4-man squads competing against each other
- Fastest time wins or the team that overtakes the other in the final
- Front wheel of the 3rd rider counts
- Which means one rider usually sacrifices himself

Sounds like a short team time trial to me. Major difference being that you ride on the track, but then again, so many road pro's train on the track these days during winter.

Exactly what it is.
Spot on.
And if it would be 50m it would still be a short TTT.

 

[Froome19]

He did briefly have the individual pursuit WR before bobridge broke it. (Ignoring boardmans aero time)

He may have broken that again if not for the change in focus.
I do not know how many IPs he has done in recent years what with it being take out of the Olympics. Then again Wiggins if he set his mind to it could probably take back the record as well.

 

[theyoungest]

The principle is about the same:

- Two 4-man squads competing against each other
- Fastest time wins or the team that overtakes the other in the final
- Front wheel of the 3rd rider counts
- Which means one rider usually sacrifices himself

Sounds like a short team time trial to me. Major difference being that you ride on the track, but then again, so many road pro's train on the track these days during winter.

Your point was that he isn't a winner. Which is just a funny thing to say about a multiple Olympic champion, doesn't matter in which discipline.

To me it's pretty obvious that Geraint Thomas is the engine of the British pursuit squad. Don't hold it against him that Belgium doesn't compete in events like that (or do they?)

 

[El Pistolero]

Your point was that he isn't a winner. Which is just a funny thing to say about a multiple Olympic champion, doesn't matter in which discipline.

To me it's pretty obvious that Geraint Thomas is the engine of the British pursuit squad. Don't hold it against him that Belgium doesn't compete in events like that (or do they?)

To me it's pretty obvious that GT wouldn't have won the Team Pursuit if he was born in Belgium. Belgians are decent in the Madison, but that's not an Olympic event anymore. I think GT was second on the Madison last year at the WC in fact.

Just because you win Team Pursuit(while being by far in the strongest country) doesn't make you a winner in this sport: road racing. And for me, GT was not a winner type, but he did seem like a winner type yesterday.

Perhaps I should've said not a winner on the road, but I thought it was implied since this is the road racing forum. Yeah, him not focusing on the track anymore can be a reason for him being better this year. But I don't really believe you need to sacrifice your whole road season just to win a 4km team time trial.

 

[iZnoGouD]

I hope GT blows, can he handle more than 1 stage?

 

[theyoungest]

To me it's pretty obvious that GT wouldn't have won the Team Pursuit if he was born in Belgium. Belgians are decent in the Madison, but that's not an Olympic event anymore. I think GT was second on the Madison last year at the WC in fact.

Just because you win Team Pursuit(while being by far in the strongest country) doesn't make you a winner. And for me, GT was not a winner type, but he did seem like a winner type yesterday.

Britain isn't the strongest country by far, in fact Australia was stronger in the years before. And Bobridge-Dennis-Hepburn-O'Shea actually seems stronger individually than Thomas-Kennaugh-Clancy-Burke.