Teams & Riders Team Visma - Lease a Bike

[RedheadDane]

First Roglic, then Bennett.
Someone really ought to teach those guys to not wear sunglasses during interviews.

 

[Escarabajo]

I only see JV faces in the results. Very impressive.

https://www.procyclingstats.com/index.php

 

[richwallone]

First Roglic, then Bennett.
Someone really ought to teach those guys to not wear sunglasses during interviews.

I guarantee you that they both are getting a little bonus from the sunglasses company for wearing them during interviews

 

[geisterhome]

I have the feeling that it's just going too well for them at the moment, that streak could end during the Tour.

 

[Leinster]

I have the feeling that it's just going too well for them at the moment, that streak could end during the Tour.

At this stage, if they don’t win the Tour, are they the new PDM?

 

[ice&fire]

At this stage, if they don’t win the Tour, are they the new PDM?

I can't recall a single year when PDM went to the Tour with one of the top two favorites for the win in their roster.

 

[Breezy1985]

I only see JV faces in the results. Very impressive.

https://www.procyclingstats.com/index.php

View: https://youtu.be/UePtoxDhJSw

 

[Swingtop]

Still think it would have been better to take De Plus instead (regardless of his departure) and Amund G. Jansen instead of Gesink.

Yeah... Good timing. Gesink crushing the peloton today, dropping Froome

 

[johnymax]

Yeah... Good timing. Gesink crushing the peloton today, dropping Froome

Froome was dropped by 80 riders not only Gesink. But yeah, Gesink is a fantastic domestique, he can be used on the flat, hills or mountains. And he always gives his all for the team. It's a good thing he is on the Tour squad.

 

[Leinster]

I can't recall a single year when PDM went to the Tour with one of the top two favorites for the win in their roster.

Delgado did finish 2nd in 87, tbf. And Lemond would have been THE hot favorite that year had he made it to the start line. Rooks was definitely one of the favorites (in an open field) in 88. And Breukink after his 3rd in 1990 was one of the top favorites in another very open field in 91, certainly shorter odds before the start than Indurain.

 

[Big Doopie]

Delgado did finish 2nd in 87, tbf. And Lemond would have been THE hot favorite that year had he made it to the start line. Rooks was definitely one of the favorites (in an open field) in 88. And Breukink after his 3rd in 1990 was one of the top favorites in another very open field in 91, certainly shorter odds before the start than Indurain.

I believe Lemond would still have been with La Vie Claire in 1987.

 

[Leinster]

I believe Lemond would still have been with La Vie Claire in 1987.

Right, I looked that up and didn't remember the timeline right.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Yeah... Good timing. Gesink crushing the peloton today, dropping Froome

The pace was good, but not lethal. If all like 30 riders who target a GC are still there it's not crushing the peloton, IMO ... but yeah, he did a good job.

It was Kuss who didn't look all that hot. Wonder if he'll perform today, on a finish that should suit him more.

 

[johnymax]

The pace was good, but not lethal. If all like 30 riders who target a GC are still there it's not crushing the peloton, IMO ... but yeah, he did a good job.

It was Kuss who didn't look all that hot. Wonder if he'll perform today, on a finish that should suit him more.

Yes Kuss usually needs some time to get into form. I expect him to perform better as the race goes on.

 

[ice&fire]

Delgado did finish 2nd in 87, tbf. And Lemond would have been THE hot favorite that year had he made it to the start line. Rooks was definitely one of the favorites (in an open field) in 88. And Breukink after his 3rd in 1990 was one of the top favorites in another very open field in 91, certainly shorter odds before the start than Indurain.

There's a big difference between being 'a favorite' and being the top favorite.

1987: There was no clear favorite but Fignon had shown signs of recovering a decent level finishing 3rd in the Vuelta and Roche had won the Giro. Both were rated above Delgado, whose TT abilities in the flat had always been awful (Purito level)... until that edition of the Tour. Even Herrera (Vuelta winner) and Kelly (Vuelta leader until his abandon with 3 days to finish) were rated above Delgado.
1988: The race was open, but Delgado and Hampsteen were rated above everyone else. French favorite Bernard was under question after his abandon in the Giro due to an accident.
1989: Delgado and Fignon were rated above everyone else.
1990-91: Lemond was the top favorite.
1992: Indurain was the top favorite

No PDM rider ever was in the top tier of the pre-race favorites like Roglic and Bernal are as of today. Breukink '91 was their best bet. But he was rated together with Bugno as second tier favorite, below Lemond and above indurain as you say.

If Roglic wins Dauphiné and does not win Le Tour it will be way worse than anything PDM ever did.

 

[Leinster]

If Roglic wins Dauphiné and does not win Le Tour it will be way worse than anything PDM ever did.

Oh, ok, I didn't realize you were coming at it from that angle, in which case I agree. My point was more that PDM were the strongest team in cycling in the late 80s/early 90s, but could just never win the big one.

I think the big problem they seemed to have was that someone would leave the team and then win the Tour (Delgado, Lemond).

If the entire J-V team abandons after stage 11 due to a dodgy batch of ketones, and then Dumoulin ends up winning the 2022 Tour riding for Israel SUN, the circle will be complete.

 

[perico]

I can't recall a single year when PDM went to the Tour with one of the top two favorites for the win in their roster.

Delgado was a top favorite in 1987 going into the TdF along with Bernard, Roche, and Fignon, but there wasn’t a clear favorite like now. There were a couple of years where Breukink was considered a **** star favorite as well.

 

[Red Rick]

I'm just laughing at Dutch people thinking Dumoulin will be better than Roglic in the Tour.

 

[johnymax]

I'm just laughing at Dutch people thinking Dumoulin will be better than Roglic in the Tour.

Are they thinking Kruijswijk will be better than both, too?

 

[Red Rick]

Are they thinking Kruijswijk will be better than both, too?

Not that far, but they will insist stuff like Kruijswijk > Pogacar all because of July/Dutch tardism

 

[johnymax]

Yes Kuss usually needs some time to get into form. I expect him to perform better as the race goes on.

Told you about Kuss
He didn't need much time though. But he can still be inconsistent at times so I wouldn't be surprised if he has a not super day in the coming stages.

 

[Carols]

Finally Ineos has some worthy opponents . Beat them up at their own game and ride away. I Love It!

 

[Carols]

Told you about Kuss
He didn't need much time though. But he can still be inconsistent at times so I wouldn't be surprised if he has a not super day in the coming stages.

Yep Sepp is coming into his own. As you say still inconsistent but maturing nicely. Best USA rider in the peloton (yes I know that's not saying much). I watched him ride here for years before he made it to Europe and hoped he would turn into somebody. Hopefully he'll get to ride for himself after JV takes le Tour.

 

[ice&fire]

Delgado was a top favorite in 1987 going into the TdF along with Bernard, Roche, and Fignon, but there wasn’t a clear favorite like now. There were a couple of years where Breukink was considered a **** star favorite as well.

Yes, both Delgado 87 and Breukink 91 were 4-star candidates.
But Roche 87 and Lemond 91 were 5-star candidates.
Roglic is a 5-star candidate as of today.
TJV is not in a position similar to PDM, it's in a better position. If they fail, it will be a bigger failure.

 

[Leinster]

Yes, both Delgado 87 and Breukink 91 were 4-star candidates.
But Roche 87 and Lemond 91 were 5-star candidates.
Roglic is a 5-star candidate as of today.
TJV is not in a position similar to PDM, it's in a better position. If they fail, it will be a bigger failure.

Was Roche 5-star in '87? He'd won Romandie and the Giro, (and nearly Paris Nice and Liege) but a GT double was always going to be a tough ask. With no Hinault or Lemond it was an open field.