Teams & Riders The marvelous Victor Campenaerts, cult hero, thread

[jmdirt]

Victor is victorious.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Horner proclaims it the “best stage” of the Tour so far.

 

[proffate]

I know what you mean... but he's only 1m73, barely taller than Evenepoel and smaller than Roglic.

With an ftp of 400 and being the size of Remco I'm surprised he never won a tour tt. Remco said he pushed a little over 400 for his wctt

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

With an ftp of 400 and being the size of Remco I'm surprised he never won a tour tt. Remco said he pushed a little over 400 for his wctt

He doesn't have that many TDF participations, only this and last year, and he stopped focussing on TT a while ago. Furthermore, iirc, Roglic never won a TDF TT either.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Well, that and ASO are actively trying to nuke proper time trials where Campy actually would do very well. Short and medium to super hilly seems to be the go to, and what can Campy then do?

 

[Rob5091]

How Campenaerts won a Tour stage -
https://velo.outsideonline.com/road...te-strategy-of-a-tour-de-france-stage-winner/

... a 130g per hour carbohydrate quota that decimates what was once thought possible.

Data released by Lotto-Dstny’s nutrition partner Precision Fuel & Hydration provides insight into a wild fueling strategy that saw Campenaerts slurp and swig some 2,200 calories of carbohydrates during his four-hour romp into the French Alps.

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[Salvarani]

How Campenaerts won a Tour stage -
https://velo.outsideonline.com/road...te-strategy-of-a-tour-de-france-stage-winner/

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How does the color blind riders cope?

 

[Rob5091]

How does the color blind riders cope?

Different labels?

 

[Salvarani]

Different labels?

We must find out.

 

[Lequack]

He should start a regular drinking vlog, I think he's great at it

https://twitter.com/x/status/1949947153545101736

View: https://x.com/BikeBlz/status/1949947153545101736

 

[Hugh Januss]

I thought Victor was the team MVP for the last few stages in the mountains, as everyone got visibly more tired it seemed like Victor kept lasting closer and closer to the finish.

 

[Hugh Januss]

He should start a regular drinking vlog, I think he's great at it

https://twitter.com/x/status/1949947153545101736

View: https://x.com/BikeBlz/status/1949947153545101736

Matteo probably had one hell of a headache when he woke up this morning.

 

[fenns]

I thought Victor was the team MVP for the last few stages in the mountains, as everyone got visibly more tired it seemed like Victor kept lasting closer and closer to the finish.

He was the best domestique for Jonas

 

[red_flanders]

Victor discussing "balls". Is this a Belgian thing? 🤣

Interesting read. https://www.domestiquecycling.com/e...le-victor-campenaerts-on-rivalry-and-respect/

 

[RobertCrawley]

Victor discussing "balls". Is this a Belgian thing? 🤣

Interesting read. https://www.domestiquecycling.com/e...le-victor-campenaerts-on-rivalry-and-respect/

"Cycling is a big boys' game. We're not asking politely to take the front, you just take the front, and it is what it is. You put your balls on the table, and in the end it’s the big boys riding on the front, and you don’t hit the front by coincidence.”

 

[Rob5091]

Move to Spain, bed at 8 and 4 weeks at altitude ... bingo! you're ready for the Giro
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...in-and-new-lifestyle-bringing-in-the-benefits

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Move to Spain, bed at 8 and 4 weeks at altitude ... bingo! you're ready for the Giro
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...in-and-new-lifestyle-bringing-in-the-benefits

Shame what happened to this guy, 2-3 years ago he was doing all the classics racing properly and attacking, having fun, now he's living at altitude to fetch bottles in 3-4 stage races a year.

Also I'm fairly sure he moved to Spain already a couple of years ago.?

 

[Samamba]

Shame what happened to this guy, 2-3 years ago he was doing all the classics racing properly and attacking, having fun, now he's living at altitude to fetch bottles in 3-4 stage races a year.

Also I'm fairly sure he moved to Spain already a couple of years ago.?

"to fetch bottles" isn't true tho, he's a really good domestique for Vingegaard, his climbing has never been better, but yeah he gave up on classics for it. He even says he can't perform in them anymore. Bit sad, and boring, I agree, but I think he's really good at his new role.

And yeah pretty sure he moved to Spain like 2 or 3 years ago.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Like many others I enjoyed the 'free riding Victor', but I also appreciate that towards the end of 2024 his future was in doubt with his feeling of not being appriciated by Lotto, and facing an uncertain future with no new contract forthcoming.
Moving to Visma has brought job security with a contract now running end of next year.

 

[Gratemans]

Like many others I enjoyed the 'free riding Victor', but I also appreciate that towards the end of 2024 his future was in doubt with his feeling of not being appriciated by Lotto, and facing an uncertain future with no new contract forthcoming.
Moving to Visma has brought job security with a contract now running end of next year.

This. Reminds me a lot of De Gendt who said he was pushing his best numbers ever, only to be passed left an right by the youngsters. And yeah, a lot of riders claim that, but De Gendt actually could push some big watts.
Better to be of value (and score a big paycheck) in another role.

 

[Unchained]

Like many others I enjoyed the 'free riding Victor', but I also appreciate that towards the end of 2024 his future was in doubt with his feeling of not being appriciated by Lotto, and facing an uncertain future with no new contract forthcoming.
Moving to Visma has brought job security with a contract now running end of next year.

Like you I am a Victor fan. But reality is reality he is 34, this is it. He is riding well currently but Visma is a little thin with climbers who can contribute, in my observation Campenaerts is riding in a very similar style and role to a current Jan Christen, big difference is Jan has a deeper team and is 21 years old, so all the hyperactive motions are more survivable to Christen, I impressed with Victor but he is not going to effectively ride with current style in 3 week stage races. Visma needs to start thinking about others who can ride themselves into the ground to achieve team goals, can't be Victor alone.

 

[Samamba]

Like many others I enjoyed the 'free riding Victor', but I also appreciate that towards the end of 2024 his future was in doubt with his feeling of not being appriciated by Lotto, and facing an uncertain future with no new contract forthcoming.
Moving to Visma has brought job security with a contract now running end of next year.

Sorry but this whole "future in doubt", come one, this dude signed a contract in May... It was never in doubt. It's Campenaerts, sure he didn't get the extension at Lotto he expected cause of financial reasons, but he was always gonna get plenty of good offers.

He signed at Visma cause it was financially a decent offer AND cause he dreamt of being part of a GT (especially Tour) winning team. It's his own (dixit himself) decision to not focus on classics anymore. He doesn't feel like he has it in him anymore.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Sorry but this whole "future in doubt", come one, this dude signed a contract in May... It was never in doubt. It's Campenaerts, sure he didn't get the extension at Lotto he expected cause of financial reasons, but he was always gonna get plenty of good offers.

He signed at Visma cause it was financially a decent offer AND cause he dreamt of being part of a GT (especially Tour) winning team. It's his own (dixit himself) decision to not focus on classics anymore. He doesn't feel like he has it in him anymore.

OK.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Like you I am a Victor fan. But reality is reality he is 34, this is it. He is riding well currently but Visma is a little thin with climbers who can contribute, in my observation Campenaerts is riding in a very similar style and role to a current Jan Christen, big difference is Jan has a deeper team and is 21 years old, so all the hyperactive motions are more survivable to Christen, I impressed with Victor but he is not going to effectively ride with current style in 3 week stage races. Visma needs to start thinking about others who can ride themselves into the ground to achieve team goals, can't be Victor alone.

I totally agree with you, I was merely trying to respond (wrongly it appears) to comments as to why he is forthfilling the role of a dom.

 

[canina82]

After an "almost retirement", visma developed him in one of the best domestiques in the world. Very complete, good positioning, good engine, climbs really well right now, what a sign from Visma.