Steven Kruijswijk

[Red Rick]

Re:

Apparently he was also misinformed. They (team) told him the climb would flatten out. So when the pace went really high he went all out to follow thinking it would become easier. But it didn't get easier and once dropped he was totally blown.

He doesn't feel bad about it though. Still sees chances for the podium and the other mt stage should suit him better

Rabofail strikes again

 

[Valv.Piti]

How can you get that type of misinformation in 2018, sitting in 3rd a bit less than a minute down? All out in Andorra

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Besides all the drama he still finished 5th GC men, which on a climb so unsuited to him as it can be, is not bad. Just a hard malus for the upcoming weekend stages. Now he HAS to attack

 

[Escarabajo]

He is just a bit tired from the Tour. He is still doing great.

 

[Sciatic]

I think he still has a shot as long as Mas and MAL have their focus on winning rather than just satisfied with podium (which is a great result for Mas). ‘Cause if those two want to win they have to be willing to let SK go up the road while they sit behind Yates to put pressure on him to respond. Based on how Yates has played it so far, he will also let SK go because he’s worri d about Bala on his wheel. That’s quite a few things that need to happen, but not impossible. I’m rooting for him— Is like to see him one GT after losing that Giro.

 

[del1962]

Podium is possible

That would be a great season if he achieves it

 

[Laplaz]

Yeah a podium would be awesome! Hopefully he can hold on tomorrow

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

Re:

I have absolutely no recollection of starting this thread.

The past is a foreign country. I do things differently there.

DId you ever determine how he ranked vs Gesink?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

As long as tomorrow's stage doesn't end in a waiting game he can hold. If they wait and it's a last 2km explosive jump stage than it will be hard

 

[JosephK]

Re:

As long as tomorrow's stage doesn't end in a waiting game he can hold. If they wait and it's a last 2km explosive jump stage than it will be hard

Top five positions on GC in both the TDF and the Vuelta this year would be a great accomplishment for Kruijswijk. And if he holds onto 3rd tomorrow, that would be amazing.

 

[SlickMongoose]

He's only 20 seconds behind Valverde. If he manages to overtake him that would mean a Dutch 2nd place in all three GT's this year.

 

[movingtarget]

I don't think he could have done much better backing up after the Tour. Would like to see him secure a podium but I'm 50/50 about whether he can. A lot of riders looking at the podium still.

 

[Kwibus]

He's only 20 seconds behind Valverde. If he manages to overtake him that would mean a Dutch 2nd place in all three GT's this year.

That would mean that all 3 GTs this year were won by brits and the runnee up was always a dutch rider. That would be a crazy history fact.

Dont think it will happen though

 

[del1962]

Seen an interview with SK where he said he was struggling with the altitude, has he said his before as I hadn't noticed altitude a problem for him before

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Seen an interview with SK where he said he was struggling with the altitude, has he said his before as I hadn't noticed altitude a problem for him before

Not really, but he's admitted to be completely on the limit right before snowbank face plant in 2016

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think that's more because of the lack of altitude training. Eg he didn't prepare specifically for the Vuelta. He just tried to take his Tour form into the race

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Logical result. He was good but not good enough for top 3. Next year full focus on Giro or Vuelta and start fresher. Then podium is possible

 

[Stella0596]

Re:

Logical result. He was good but not good enough for top 3. Next year full focus on Giro or Vuelta and start fresher. Then podium is possible

I was really rooting for him for either a stage win or a podium. And in the end, he's left with nothing, again. Must be hard for him.

 

[movingtarget]

Still a good season with a fifth and a fourth in grand tours.

 

[SafeBet]

Painful to watch in the end, but I don't think he's got any regrets this time. He attacked when he could. Lopez and Mas were overall stronger than him in this race. I think this is an amazing performance considering he'd ridden the Tour before and how easy this Vuelta route was.

Next year back to the Giro please.

 

[staubsauger]

5th at the Tour de France & the Vuelta a Espana are quite nice results for him. It confirms the 2016 Giro d'Italia was no fluke at Kruijswijk can indeed be up there with the big guns. Especially given he rode back to back grand tours this year and still was in contention for a podium spot in Spain and close to winning on legendary Alp d'Huez!

Next year Kruijswijk should lead Jumbo in Italy with full force. Keep Bennett and Kuss as super-domestiques for Roglic in France. But then, build a whole team around Kruijswijk at the Giro with Tolhoek, Gesink, De Plus, De Gier, Van Emden etc and try to win the damn thing. No Van Poppel please.

 

[yaco]

Will be interesting to see if he goes back to his conventional program after the success of 2018.

 

[staubsauger]

Well, one of Kruijswijk-Landa-Bardet just has to go all in at the 2019 Giro d'Italia! Especially since Simon P. Yates might try the Tour de France in 2019 and the new kids on the block like Bernal are arriving quite powerful. It won't be Bardet and it's not 100% Landa's choice either. So hopefully, Kruijswijk is the man.

Once Sky decides to give Bernal team leadership at the Giro d'Italia that whole calculation changes of course.

Edith reminds me that Movistar actually gave everyone a good lection not to throw all eggs in the Tour de France basket this year, with Carapaz 4th place at the Giro d'Italia being der best gt result. So others might have learned.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Well, one of Kruijswijk-Landa-Bardet just has to go all in at the 2019 Giro d'Italia! Especially since Simon P. Yates might try the Tour de France in 2019 and the new kids on the block like Bernal are arriving quite powerful. It won't be Bardet and it's not 100% Landa's choice either. So hopefully, Kruijswijk is the man.

Once Sky decides to give Bernal team leadership at the Giro d'Italia that whole calculation changes of course.

Edith reminds me that Movistar actually gave everyone a good lection not to throw all eggs in the Tour de France basket this year, with Carapaz 4th place at the Giro d'Italia being der best gt result. So others might have learned.

According to La Gazzetta Simon Yates actually wants to ride the Giro because he has unfinished buisness with the race, but who knows what the team wants...
I still think that Steven will probably go for the Giro and that's great news.

 

[Red Rick]

Would absolutely love it Kruijswijk and Yates went to the Giro again. Seems Mas wants to go for the Tour....