Tejay Van Garderen.

[Warhawk]

Agree- not sure what is going on with Tejay in helpng Cadel perhaps a little too tenative in the mountains? However, with each stage comes more experience.

Strictly speaking you could say he's improved in each mountain stage (I'm counting stages 7, 8, and 10 for those purposes). In stage 7 he got dropped real early on the last climb and lost several minutes. He wasn't really able to help Cadel at all. In stage 8 he got dropped fairly late on the last climb (and there were a lot of climbs that day) and lost about a minute. Wasn't really able to help Cadel much that day either. Yesterday he got dropped fairly late again on the last climb AND caught back up on the descent (ended up losing about 15 seconds on that last little rise since he was gassed) AND, for a while on the last climb, was sitting in third behind the Sky guys with Evans on his wheel.

So at least his trend line is looking pretty good.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I hope he doesn't turn out to be the next tommy d. (promise alot but dissapointing)

 

[Warhawk]

I hope he doesn't turn out to be the next tommy d. (promise alot but dissapointing)

Well, Tommy D is hardly the only rider you could say that about. It happens. Even if he never lives up to the hype, which is pretty big at the moment, he can still have a successful career, regardless of the opinions of many internet posters who find a strange kind of joy in calling people out as "OVERRATED!" whenever they can't quite meet expectations.

I'll certainly be rooting for him, anyway. He could end up winning 10 GTs or none, and I'll be just as much a fan of him either way.

And anyway, it's not like it's his fault the announcers overhype him. That's just something that happens everywhere in sports.

 

[greenedge]

I think at the moment he is overrated for GT's ( went bad last night ) but he is only 23 and can definitely continue to develop. At the moment he seems like he has potential and he is placing well at most 1 week races, ToC and P-N.

I voted maybe.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Depends on who's rating him.

On this particular forum he might be underrated. If I went purely by the comments on this forum, I'd think he was an hour in the hole, not wearing the white jersey.

On this forum he is underrated, by Phil and Paul, he is overrated.

 

[Red Lobster]

I hope he doesn't turn out to be the next tommy d. (promise alot but dissapointing)

IF he turns out to be the next Tom Danielson at least it will not be for the same reason. TD is a physical marvel hampered by psychological fragility and self-doubt. By contrast, I am impressed by Van Garderen's mindset, will to win and overall self-confidence ... But it remains to be seen if the physical talents are really GT contender quality.

 

[BillytheKid]

IF he turns out to be the next Tom Danielson at least it will not be for the same reason. TD is a physical marvel hampered by psychological fragility and self-doubt. By contrast, I am impressed by Van Garderen's mindset, will to win and overall self-confidence ... But it remains to be seen if the physical talents are really GT contender quality.

He needs to lean out more to climb better of course. That will come with time. At 23 he looks pretty darn good, but for now, has the knack of blowing on the uphill finishes as we all know. I sometimes wonder about terms like "psyschological fragility and self-doubt." Wiggins had that rap on the road at least until this year. So many things can go wrong. Even the smallest thing at the wrong time becomes something you can't overcome as GC rider.

 

[orangerider]

Seems like another Levi Leipheimer to me - good performance when slow legs are required, but falls apart when the attacks come into play.

 

[dlwssonic]

Over rated by who???
Phil and paul probably not on this forum though.
I have a feeling he will fade in the second and third week.

 

[theyoungest]

Whats Dombrowski's TT like? an early Gesink or an early Frandy?

Dombrowski is very much an early Gesink. Just hope they keep him that way, and not turn him into a pure time trialist like Gesink is at the moment

 

[Clemson Cycling]

Dombrowski is very much an early Gesink. Just hope they keep him that way, and not turn him into a pure time trialist like Gesink is at the moment

Any thoughts on Ian Boswell or Lawson Craddock. Are these future GC guys or not so much. Craddock can ride a time trial for sure.

 

[Red Lobster]

Dombrowski is very much an early Gesink.

I have the same thought ... Dombrowski is just a bit more elegant on the bike, thank goodness.

 

[LaFlorecita]

****!!!! Because of Evans Tejay lost time. And Tejay was riding so well.. all for nothing now.

 

[roundabout]

Evans is riding for a podium. Tejay had his first convincing high mountain stage, ever?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Evans is riding for a podium. Tejay had his first convincing high mountain stage, ever?

Evans isn't going to win yellow anyway, Tejay could've won white.

 

[TRDean]

****!!!! Because of Evans Tejay lost time. And Tejay was riding so well.. all for nothing now.

It wasn't all for nothing...jeez...he is not the leader of the team...can you comprehend that???? He is sitting in 6th on GC now...I think we are seeing the true talent he has and will develop in the future.

 

[dlwssonic]

Evans isn't going to win yellow anyway, Tejay could've won white.

He still can, I hope he won't lose white because of the time lost today.

 

[LaFlorecita]

It wasn't all for nothing...jeez...he is not the leader of the team...can you comprehend that???? He is sitting in 6th on GC now...I think we are seeing the true talent he has and will develop in the future.

Just to be clear, I hate it when domestiques miss out on the chance to win something because they have to work for their lesser team leader.

 

[roundabout]

Evans isn't going to win yellow anyway, Tejay could've won white.

Podium > White

 

[LaFlorecita]

Podium > White

Podium: 1 Wiggo 2 Froome 3 Nibali

You heard it here first.

 

[TRDean]

Podium: 1 Wiggo 2 Froome 3 Nibali

You heard it here first.

Van Garderen 2 minutes up and in white..even while helping Evans...

 

[auscyclefan94]

Just to be clear, I hate it when domestiques miss out on the chance to win something because they have to work for their lesser team leader.

Tejay is still in white silly. May I remind some of you that he lost time on two climbing stages earlier in the race so for people to say he is stronger because of today are being a bit forgetful.

You are being very immature Fleur. Tejay has always said that he is riding for Cadel here and to gain experience. 2012 is not for just himself.

 

[Bavarianrider]

very impressive performance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hands up for Tejay

 

[LaFlorecita]

very impressive performance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hands up for Tejay

Yes he was so awesome.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Tejay is still in white silly. May I remind some of you that he lost time on two climbing stages earlier in the race so for people to say he is stronger because of today are being a bit forgetful.

You are being very immature Fleur. Tejay has always said that he is riding for Cadel here and to gain experience. 2012 is not for just himself.

Tejay was stronger today though. If he ends up losing to Pinot by 1 minute I will feel very sorry for him.