movingtarget said:
Squire said:
movingtarget said:
Have you looked at some of the other GC riders that do get results ? They are thinner than TJVG. I doubt that it's simply weight loss and that doesn't explain why he can compete in one week races and not three week races. A team like BMC who is paying TJVG a good salary would have looked into nutrition, blood values, viruses, basically everything. I refuse to believe that the team is that clueless in running tests and looking for answers for one of their highest paid riders. Nutrition would be one of the basics along with training and recovery.
That wouldn't surprise me one bit. Kristoff was definitely not impressed with the team during his tenure there, and they aren't exactly known for getting the best out of their riders.
One riders opinion. Evans always had good things to say about how BMC ran things as does Porte and other riders. Even TJVG has said that the team have been very supportive.
Look at those GC riders who left Quickstep.
Uran came second in the Giro riding for them. Little support, but had solid enough form to look like he'd win.
Uran suddenly joins Garmin aka Cannondale and it's all downhill. Dan Martin sucked at Garmin, joins Quickstep and raced with new enthusiasm and vigor. Tejay's environment might be very cheery and supportive, but it's not translating into tangible race results. But we all know Quickstep have a different contract system which doesn't favour everyone.
Proof? Gilbert. Crap at BMC post 2011. Absolutely garbage. He performed really badly, often injured.
Joins a new team, new environment...wins a monument. The new environment for WHATEVER reason, was conducive to him getting better results very quickly. I don't care what the WHY and WHAT is, but I do recognise it clearly produced tangible results in races.
And good for Gilbert.
They should be changing something. If that means taking pressure off him as a GC rider, then do it. ASAP.
Oh and lenric was right on one thing...he should be sent to a sports psychologist as well. His thinking needs to change. Because he is in a mental slump. Not his fault, but hey, by all means, BMC can ignore that too.
BMC have a massive budget. They in theory, should have had a GT podium since Cadel's Giro placing. They did actually hire someone with that intent. He was in second place in last years Tour when considering that puncture...
Straight up, everyone knows nationalistic fervent patriotism exists in cycling. The Aussies who expect Porte to win are a little mad IMO. Most are too naive to say BMC threw his chances of a podium last year away, but for me, someone who use to dislike Porte to say they did...the point holds. Change something BMC.
BMC waste lots of resources in races. I've lost count of the races where they did not do big turns at the front. I remember they use to. But Cadel was riding and calling the shots then. It's a miracle GvA rides for them. Imagine what he'd do riding for Quickstep?
Everyone can be kind, heck Libertine has some exemplary things about the parcours, and yes, those points do stand that Tejay would possibly be faring better in the 90s. EPO was on point then too, so bigger heavier guys could climb. I'll agree hands down he'd have a chance back then.
But most GC riders are much smaller now. So how would adding more power with weight help his riding style on longer, lower inclined events go? Well in theory. Might even solve his issues. But he won't suddenly become a GC rider these days without something shockingly sinister occurring. Plus, it would have by now! He knows the people to get that done......he rides with Lance Armstrong in his spare time. If it were really that issue, wouldn't he asked for pointers by now?