willbick said:
Im not really convinced by this idea that the form of riders varies much during a season. Obviously if they get ill or are injured then that will affect their performance but I think the main reason why performance levels vary is just motivation. You cant give 100% at every race otherwise you will wear yourself out so riders chose target races where they give 100%.
So for example, Cancellara was not targeting success in the Middle East races so he simply didnt try very hard, whereas Phinney was the opposite. Im sure there is nothing wrong with Canc's 'form', it is just he wasnt motivated.
Strade Bianche is obviously a favourite race for him so he will no doubt be giving 100%.
Interview from 3 days ago with Tom Boonen and Fabian:
"Q: But then you were really close. Do you see that as the race you should have won?
Tom Boonen (laconically) : Maybe. It was a mistake on my part. I had a little bit of a hunger flat at the end, and I wasn't sure about myself, and when you are afraid to make mistakes, then you make them. And Sep was very strong that day as well.
Fabian: It's simply too early in the season.
TB: I repeat it every year in the press conference: If you are hundred percent for Omloop, you can forget about the Classics later. You can be up to eighty or eighty-five percent of your possibility, that is all."
The form of a rider varies a lot during a season. For example Nibali on top form would destroy the Nibali we see in the early season... All the motivation in the world could not help him, it's all about the numbers.
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