Tejay Van Garderen Discussion Thread

[pmcg76]

If you ride the roads of Europe, eat food from different venues, deal with difficult weather and foreign languages and conditions, I think that you will adapt to the everyday conditions, as a pro cyclist(hopefully.)

Without naming names, early on Americans had a hard time "cutting it" in the European culture, particularly in Belgium and Italy.

Individuals like Greg LeMond were helped by riders like Boyer, and obviously Farrar was helped by his dear departed pro cyclist friend in Belgium.
To achieve in such a tough sport, one needs a family like foundation as a base in Europe.

Chris Horner!!!

 

[El Pistolero]

If you ride the roads of Europe, eat food from different venues, deal with difficult weather and foreign languages and conditions, I think that you will adapt to the everyday conditions, as a pro cyclist(hopefully.)

Without naming names, early on Americans had a hard time "cutting it" in the European culture, particularly in Belgium and Italy.

Individuals like Greg LeMond were helped by riders like Boyer, and obviously Farrar was helped by his dear departed pro cyclist friend in Belgium.
To achieve in such a tough sport, one needs a family like foundation as a base in Europe.

Allan Peiper= the Planckaerts.

 

[The Plediadian]

Chris Horner!!!

An example of a career shortened by to many Big Macs, and chocolate shakes.

 

[maxmartin]

Nice showing by Teejay, top 5 this Tour?

 

[Jspear]

Nice showing by Teejay, top 5 this Tour?

This is just the beginning. The high mountains will be way more selective. We will have to wait and see if he can hang in there. Personally I don't think he'll break the top 5.

 

[Oldman]

I have been around. Unfortunatley in our US CULTURE WE GET A LITTLE PROVINCIAL. We miss the comfortable thing in our country,(actually which I disdain, like micky Ds, comfort food, Venice Beach, comfy roads in Colorado, you know the typical American white bread culture.)
So to be a top rider in Europe, like Gilbert, Evans Cantador, ya gotta live the culture.
Nothing bad about Tjs riding. It is the American culture which hurts him.[/QUOTE]

Are you employing the Royal "We" when you describe US "culture"? Since you disdain some selected provincial pitfalls we'd be led to assume your cultural standards had something to do with actual experience. That sort of generalization made toward any Euro culture would certainly net some outrage.
The assumption that TJ labors under the same unenlightened cultural exposure that riders in the 80's, early 90's experienced is quite a leap. While you may assume US racing isn't as hard (you'd be dead wrong) most any credible current day rider is aware of travel hardships. Ability to travel and adapt is a key talent to any big-league athlete wherever they come from.

Horner's inability to "adapt" had more to do with being outside of F de J's program of preparation than his diet. He's clearly overcome that adaptation process.

By the way...most folks claiming a cultural advantage know how to spell...or at least use Spellcheck.

 

[cineteq]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Is he still overrated?

 

[BigMac]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Not overrated by normal levels of hype.

Still overrated by Jason Mercierness standards of ratedness.

 

[snccdcno]

Tejay Van Garderen

I miss Jason's simulation thread updates

 

[Carols]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Hopefully Tejay learned a bit more again today. D%$n he just let it slip away by trying to stay with Froome instead of pacing himself. Tough Beat!

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Hopefully Tejay learned a bit more again today. D%$n he just let it slip away by trying to stay with Froome instead of pacing himself. Tough Beat!

Indeed. Still a good race by him.

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Hopefully Tejay learned a bit more again today. D%$n he just let it slip away by trying to stay with Froome instead of pacing himself. Tough Beat!

Shame he could not hang on. Good enough for the odd stage win but just cannot recover enough to win GT.
He had the one great stage he danced all over Froome ,,,,just the 1.
Froome deserved the victory

 

[BigMac]

He was already losing too much time before he bonked. Not his fault Froome was here to spoil the party. Tejay was great, nothing to be ashamed of. Maybe next time.

 

[DBotero]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Brave ride today.He did nothing wrong,Froome was simply stronger.Hopefully this will continue with a good TDF.

 

[jmdirt]

Hopefully the solid work Tejay did at CdD will lead to a great TdF!

 

[Carols]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Hopefully Tejay learned a bit more again today. D%$n he just let it slip away by trying to stay with Froome instead of pacing himself. Tough Beat!

Shame he could not hang on. Good enough for the odd stage win but just cannot recover enough to win GT.
He had the one great stage he danced all over Froome ,,,,just the 1.
Froome deserved the victory

It was a brave, gutsy attempt! But he's just not quite good enough to be a true GT contender. Maybe some day in a weaker field he'll manage to win a race like the CD. And he's good enough for a few stage wins in the GTs. He's still young but there is already a younger group coming up, that is displaying more talent......

 

[BigMac]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Hopefully Tejay learned a bit more again today. D%$n he just let it slip away by trying to stay with Froome instead of pacing himself. Tough Beat!

Shame he could not hang on. Good enough for the odd stage win but just cannot recover enough to win GT.
He had the one great stage he danced all over Froome ,,,,just the 1.
Froome deserved the victory

It was a brave, gutsy attempt! But he's just not quite good enough to be a true GT contender. Maybe some day in a weaker field he'll manage to win a race like the CD. And he's good enough for a few stage wins in the GTs. He's still young but there is already a younger group coming up, that is displaying more talent......

He doesn't really need a weaker field does he, just a race without Froome.

 

[HelloDolly]

Great ride by TJVG this Dauphine .....he certainly has improved adn hope he didn't go too deep

I think he could do a top 5 in the Tour ...maybe a podium if there are withdrawls etc

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Great ride by TJVG this Dauphine .....he certainly has improved adn hope he didn't go too deep

I think he could do a top 5 in the Tour ...maybe a podium if there are withdrawls etc

Agreed. His ride was certainly an improvement and very encouraging. Anyone but Froome or Contador would have been 2nd...
Looking forward to the Tour, hopefully a little luck goes TJ's way there.

 

[Carols]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Hopefully Tejay learned a bit more again today. D%$n he just let it slip away by trying to stay with Froome instead of pacing himself. Tough Beat!

Shame he could not hang on. Good enough for the odd stage win but just cannot recover enough to win GT.
He had the one great stage he danced all over Froome ,,,,just the 1.
Froome deserved the victory

It was a brave, gutsy attempt! But he's just not quite good enough to be a true GT contender. Maybe some day in a weaker field he'll manage to win a race like the CD. And he's good enough for a few stage wins in the GTs. He's still young but there is already a younger group coming up, that is displaying more talent......

He doesn't really need a weaker field does he, just a race without Froome.

Or Contador or Quintana or Nibali in better shape

 

[Pricey_sky]

Unlucky for Tejay but he rode a good race, he will suffer from the lack of iTT in the Tour but he has at least shown that he can climb up to a level near the best, he could top 5 the Tour of it all goes well.

 

[Electress]

What was the difference in the end? All that work done by Astana certainly helped Sky - might have made no difference to the outcome, but bet Nibali is off TJ's (and Valverde's (lol)) Christmas card list ;o)

I'm not a huge fan of TJVG but I am pleased to see him begin to fulfil his potential. Having these dangerous 'nearly' men chomping at the heels makes the GC fight much more fun!

 

[Angliru]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Is he still overrated?

It's only the Dauphine. When he does this over the course of 3 weeks then you can say something.

 

[ray j willings]

Re: Tejay Van Garderen

Hopefully Tejay learned a bit more again today. D%$n he just let it slip away by trying to stay with Froome instead of pacing himself. Tough Beat!

Shame he could not hang on. Good enough for the odd stage win but just cannot recover enough to win GT.
He had the one great stage he danced all over Froome ,,,,just the 1.
Froome deserved the victory

It was a brave, gutsy attempt! But he's just not quite good enough to be a true GT contender. Maybe some day in a weaker field he'll manage to win a race like the CD. And he's good enough for a few stage wins in the GTs. He's still young but there is already a younger group coming up, that is displaying more talent......

We need someone new to kick some as$. NOW.

 

[bdoyle86]

Who comes to mind for younger talent? Dombrowski, Craddock? Anyone else