Sat 5th of March: Montepaschi Strade Bianche (was Monte Paschi Eroica) 1.1

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert's problem last year was that he could drop everyone on a climb, but had a hard time defending his lead. That happenend in the Gold Race, were he attacked on the Keutenberg, but was quickly captured by Ivanov and Kolobnev, it happened in LBL, were he was by far the best on the Saint Nicolas, but could barely hold his lead on Valverde and a some of other guys for a couple of kilometers, during the Worlds he had the same problem, dropping everyone on the last hill, getting caught 3 kilometers later.

He only succeeded (and brilliantly) in Lombardia, but that was after he got a gap in the descent, in the rains, against some tired, and not that strong, competitors.

But he could defend his leads many times as well like in both his Lombardia wins, in both his Omloop wins, in both his Paris-Tours wins, etc

It's not like Valverde or any other guy win every classic they're in you know...

I think his problem is more of being too aggressive in some races and then being to tired to response to the succeeding attacks.

Gilbert had 0 victories last year at this point of the season, now already 2

 

[c&cfan]

i dont understand you pistolero.

"cancellara was the strongest in mendrisio. answer (yours): fact, he lost it!"

but when it is gilbert.. lol

he lost to valverde. he has an amazing aceleration and stamina. but still lost it.

gilbert won one monument 2 times, in those "conditions", no big rival in shape. still, congrats to him to be so regular. thats why i believe that he will dominate the classics, but not the five great. stiil, cunego won the same monument 3 times. is cunego better?

and.. you think that valverde cant follow gilbert in an uphill sprint? based in what? valverde is better climber and better sprinter. mix both. not only that, look to the palmares.
valverde wasnt trying to drop gilbert in that moment. he didnt need to do it. he was using him to try and catching another one that in my opinion has much more potential for the monuments than gilbert, vino.

gilbert: amazing acelaration and capable of perfoming very well all year. but to win the big goals, we have to choose another one.

 

[Lanark]

But he could defend his leads many times as well like in both his Lombardia wins, in both his Omloop wins, in both his Paris-Tours wins, etc

It's not like Valverde or any other guy win every classic they're in you know...

I think his problem is more of being too aggressive in some races and then being to tired to response to the succeeding attacks.

Gilbert had 0 victories last year at this point of the season, now already 2

His Paris-Tours wins and his first win in Lombardia were in a small group, I thought it was clear I was talking about finishing a solo after you dropped everyone in spectacular style on a hill. Maybe he is too eager, but I think he would benefit from changing his training style, sacrificing a small amount of explosiveness on the hills for some more endurance. He is too one-sided now.

I'm not trying to sound too negative. Gilbert is by far the best hill-sprinter in the peloton, unless there are extreme circumstances (steeper than 10%), no one even comes close to him.

 

[El Pistolero]

i dont understand you pistolero.

"cancellara was the strongest in mendrisio. answer (yours): fact, he lost it!"

but when it is gilbert.. lol

he lost to valverde. he has an amazing aceleration and stamina. but still lost it.

gilbert won one monument 2 times, in those "conditions", no big rival in shape. still, congrats to him to be so regular. thats why i believe that he will dominate the classics, but not the five great. stiil, cunego won the same monument 3 times. is cunego better?

and.. you think that valverde cant follow gilbert in an uphill sprint? based in what? valverde is better climber and better sprinter. mix both. not only that, look to the palmares.
valverde wasnt trying to drop gilbert in that moment. he didnt need to do it. he was using him to try and catching another one that in my opinion has much more potential for the monuments than gilbert, vino.

gilbert: amazing acelaration and capable of perfoming very well all year. but to win the big goals, we have to choose another one.

Strongest men doesn't always win. Cancellara was strongest in Mendrisio, but incredibly stupid.

Gilbert was stronger than Valverde in LBL. Did you even watch the race? Gilbert attacked a lot more.

Trust me, when he wins LBL this year you'll say something else

And let's see, I base my self on Saint Nicholas. Valverde tried to follow, but cracked. Or just check out la redoute at LBL last year. Where was Valverde? Being third or fourth, Gilbert doesn't care, he just wants to win.

 

[c&cfan]

i totally agree with lanark.

and pistolero, for the pure great classics champs, there are only five races that matter + worlds. the others are training. gilbert wins the training ones.

look to what bonnen says about omloop for example.

vino boonen cancellara valverde etc. all better than gilbert so far. and if you count the other areas (TTs sprint GT stage races), jesus! what a difference in class!

 

[jens_attacks]

well done phil!keep them coming...milan-san remo next?

 

[El Pistolero]

i totally agree with lanark.

and pistolero, for the pure great classics champs, there are only five races that matter + worlds. the others are training. gilbert wins the training ones.

look to what bonnen says about omloop for example.

vino boonen cancellara valverde etc. all better than gilbert so far. and if you count the other areas (TTs sprint GT stage races), jesus! what a difference in class!

Lombardia isn't training. He won it twice.

You know... Beating Samu Sanchez(olympic champion) and Michele Scarponi(second best climber at the Giro 2010)

And he raced more than both those guys They have less excuse than him for being tired.

Cancellara failed 6 times before he finally could win the Ronde... Gilbert was third on his third and fourth try... Cancellara is not super man you know. Just because he had one great season doesn't mean they will all be like that.

You're not going to hear Boonen say Paris-Tours is a training ride by the way...

 

[hrotha]

Gilbert was stronger than Valverde in LBL. Did you even watch the race? Gilbert attacked a lot more.

Major LOL.

 

[c&cfan]

exactly pistolero! he wants to win the big five! and he cant do it!!

in fact to win a race like that, he needs to do what he does.. because he cant beat valverde (maybe one in ten tries) 1vs1 or follow every atack from the other guys..

and he isnt even a champion like boonen or valverde or bettini was (or even cav in a sprint)! he isnt "the" marked man. he still has freedom.

if i am wrong and he shows it to me, i will say it.

and the guy only sees classics.. still the others do a lot more in other areas.

 

[boomcie]

Gilbert's problem last year was that he could drop everyone on a climb, but had a hard time defending his lead. That happenend in the Gold Race, were he attacked on the Keutenberg, but was quickly captured by Ivanov and Kolobnev, it happened in LBL, were he was by far the best on the Saint Nicolas, but could barely hold his lead on Valverde and a some of other guys for a couple of kilometers, during the Worlds he had the same problem, dropping everyone on the last hill, getting caught 3 kilometers later.

He just attacked with a little too much gusto in LBL. He had to bridge the gap with Vino and Kolobnev and it had to happen quickly. I think he burned himself there. If Vino and Kolobnev where not ahead, he could have simply attacked with a little reserve and keep the lead till the finish. At least this is what I believe.

At the worlds the hill was just too damn far from the finish, otherwise Gilbert would have crushed everyone, that I know for sure.

Good job winning today, he's awesome.

 

[c&cfan]

Lombardia isn't training. He won it twice.

You know... Beating Samu Sanchez(olympic champion) and Michele Scarponi(second best climber at the Giro 2010)

And he raced more than both those guys They have less excuse than him for being tired.

wait............... its like saying that contador only races 50 so he is a pussy. when the others were racing, they werent only targetting one little stage. you are very wrong!

still, even if you were right, its just like i said. he as an amazing aceleration and ability to be in shape all year. maybe because, unlike others, he just focus in classics and one stage or two (max) in a GT. totally different.

congrats.. only samu scarponi and nibali. both were riding to win a GT and obviously were much more tired.

 

[El Pistolero]

exactly pistolero! he wants to win the big five! and he cant do it!!

in fact to win a race like that, he needs to do what he does.. because he cant beat valverde (maybe one in ten tries) 1vs1 or follow every atack from the other guys..

and he isnt even a champion like boonen or valverde or bettini was (or even cav in a sprint)! he isnt "the" marked man. he still has freedom.

if i am wrong and he shows it to me, i will say it.

and the guy only sees classics.. still the others do a lot more in other areas.

Gilbert is the only person in cycling that sees ALL the classics. Boonen is just cobbled classics and MSR(every type of cyclist can win that one really, sprinters just need less luck than other types), Gilbert can win the Ronde, LBL, GdL, Paris-Tours, MSR, etc

The only thing I can't see him win is Fleche Wallone, think it's too steep for him. And Paris-Roubaix is a question mark as of now, so will not comment on that.

 

[Kazistuta]

and the guy only sees classics.. still the others do a lot more in other areas.

WHAT?

You do know Gilbert is actually one of the few guys out there able to be competitive all year?

And why not excel in what you're good at? No need to go the Devolder/Danielson/Rogers way and try and be a GC threat, when you're clearly lacking in some aspects.

Philippe Gilbert is a great rider, and he's actually getting better and better each year.

 

[c&cfan]

He just attacked with a little too much gusto in LBL. He had to bridge the gap with Vino and Kolobnev and it had to happen quickly. I think he burned himself there. If Vino and Kolobnev where not ahead, he could have simply attacked with a little reserve and keep the lead till the finish. At least this is what I believe.

At the worlds the hill was just too damn far from the finish, otherwise Gilbert would have crushed everyone, that I know for sure.

Good job winning today, he's awesome.

you dont know it or sure. if it was the last climb, gilbert would've atacked earlier for sure. otherwise you know what would happen (like it did). losing to (at least) valverde.

 

[c&cfan]

WHAT?

You do know Gilbert is actually one of the few guys out there able to be competitive all year?

And why not excel in what you're good at? No need to go the Devolder/Danielson/Rogers way and try and be a GC threat, when you're clearly lacking in some aspects.

Philippe Gilbert is a great rider, and he's actually getting better and better each year.

competitive only in classics. look at bonnen (sprints) or cancellara (stage races and TTs) or valverde (classics and gts sprints tts breakways etc.)

same answer to you and pistolero. he sees ALL classics. still he, until now, lost to those guys.

but he is very exciting to watch. thats it.

he doesnt excel in classics because he didnt win the true classics. (besides lombardia..in special conditions, just like i said.)

 

[El Pistolero]

wait............... its like saying that contador only races 50 so he is a pussy. when the others were racing, they werent only targetting one little stage. you are very wrong!

still, even if you were right, its just like i said. he as an amazing aceleration and ability to be in shape all year. maybe because, unlike others, he just focus in classics and one stage or two (max) in a GT. totally different.

congrats.. only samu scarponi and nibali. both were riding to win a GT and obviously were much more tired.

Why would Gilbert need to ride a GT for the win while he can't? Look how it worked out for Cuddles.

Samu is a climber, Philippe Gilbert is the only true classics specialist out there right now. Perhaps Cancellara will prove me wrong some day by doing good in the hilly classics, but besides that you can't name anyone.

I'd rather win a classic than come third at the Tour anyway.

 

[hfer07]

Gilbert gets it done once again & he ain't taking no sh!t from no one not more!!!

glad to see Ballan getting back in some good form

 

[El Pistolero]

competitive only in classics. look at bonnen (sprints) or cancellara (stage races and TTs) or valverde (classics and gts sprints tts breakways etc.)

same answer to you and pistolero. he sees ALL classics. still he, until now, lost to those guys.

but he is very exciting to watch. thats it.

Boonen doesn't feel like sprinting anymore.

The only times you'll still see him sprint is in MSR and perhaps P-T.

Not a lot of cyclists had a better season than Gilbert in 2009 and 2010

 

[c&cfan]

Why would Gilbert need to ride a GT for the win while he can't? Look how it worked out for Cuddles.

Samu is a climber, Philippe Gilbert is the only true classics specialist out there right now. Perhaps Cancellara will prove me wrong some day by doing good in the hilly classics, but besides that you can't name anyone.

I'd rather win a classic than come third at the Tour anyway.

thats the spot pistolero! he cant win a gt.. or a sprint.. or a TT. the others can. bonnen can still (and even if he coudnt, he already did lots of times) win sprints. also hushovd. bonnen also did good TTs.

phillipe gilbert is the only true classics specialist. right. still he loses to the bonnen cancellara valverde cavendish and freire in the classics that really matter, even for him.

 

[c&cfan]

cuddles is another thing.. with that gut and endurance, he could've been great in monuments. still, fleche and worlds. right now gilbert would kill for that.

 

[Sylvester]

i totally agree with lanark.

and pistolero, for the pure great classics champs, there are only five races that matter + worlds. the others are training. gilbert wins the training ones.

look to what bonnen says about omloop for example.

vino boonen cancellara valverde etc. all better than gilbert so far. and if you count the other areas (TTs sprint GT stage races), jesus! what a difference in class!

Vino never did the Ronde or Paris-Roubaix. Quite remarkable for a Pure Great Classics Champ, but that does not matter, as he did obtain a great 7th place in Lombardia (2007), an astonishing 31st place in Milano-San Remo (2001), and a fantastic 21st place at the World Championships (2005).

Compare that to Gilbert's lousy 3rd place in San Remo, his 3rd in a very weak Ronde (average speed: 21 km/h, I guess), his 3rd place in LBL (you remember? only 4 riders finished that race) and his 6th at the Worlds (Gilbert 6th at the Worlds? Impossible! I guess I'm quoting the results of the Cow Racing World Championship for C-countries!).

Jesus! What a difference in class!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Gilbert wins.. asif

Unlucky for ballan, seems to be riding well

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Ah, we finally found them!!
The Gilbert haters

 

[Grzdylu]

Cancellara 5th. Not bad.

 

[il_fiammingo]

i totally agree with lanark.

and pistolero, for the pure great classics champs, there are only five races that matter + worlds. the others are training. gilbert wins the training ones.

look to what bonnen says about omloop for example.

vino boonen cancellara valverde etc. all better than gilbert so far. and if you count the other areas (TTs sprint GT stage races), jesus! what a difference in class!

Are we really criticizing Gilbert here? Dzjeezes. He makes cycling so attractive.
You want to talk about class? Well, you can start by scratching Vino and Valverde of your list for obvious reasons.

Let's just compare Gilbert to Bettini, the best one day rider of the last decade, at the same age.

Bettini: 2 LBL, Zurich, Lazio, 1 stage Tour, 2 stages Tirreno
Gilbert: 2 Lombardia, 2 Paris-Tours, 2 Het Volk, 2 Piemonte, 2 stages Vuelta, 1 stage Giro, 1 stage Dauphiné.

I would say he's pretty much on schedule of becoming the best one day rider of his generation.