The Matthew Brennan Threat

[RedheadDane]

Maybe they would have allowed him to participate if he hadn't been wearing one of the classification jerseys. Now there's zero chance.

And of course, the fact that he's wearing a classification jersey probably means that he doesn't want to pull out.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

They have Olav Kooij, probably still a bit faster in a flat sprint like Gent-Wevelgem (although Brennan is very fast indeed).

To me, Kooij needs perfect circumstances to win, and while we don't know what Brennan will ultimately be best at, right now the kid is winning. I also think you have a valid point as well.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

And of course, the fact that he's wearing a classification jersey probably means that he doesn't want to pull out.

True

 

[Blanco]

New Sagan is on the horizon...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

the sole highlight of Visma's season. Oh and Ben Tullett

 

[hayneplane]

DDV could be an interesting race for him. Not as deep a field and many riders saving their energies for the monuments around the corner. A lot shorter race than GW so more suited for a neopro.

 

[RedheadDane]

And... Visma is pulling him from Catalunya.
Though, I don't think they're sending him to GW.

 

[Netserk]

Probably to Dwars and even perhaps the monuments.

 

[RedheadDane]

Probably to Dwars and even perhaps the monuments.

Well, you're the one who posted the updated schedule.
Doesn't appear to be the case.

 

[Netserk]

Well, you're the one who posted the updated schedule.
Doesn't appear to be the case.

Not the case then. Plans can change multiple times.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I'm going to guess that they have some plan other than to just sit him out of the next week of races. If that's what they do, it's an idiotic decision.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Well, you're the one who posted the updated schedule.
Doesn't appear to be the case.

Yet

 

[theyoungest]

To me, Kooij needs perfect circumstances to win, and while we don't know what Brennan will ultimately be best at, right now the kid is winning. I also think you have a valid point as well.

I'm not quite sure what you mean, since Kooij almost never has perfect circumstances, always has to find his own way, and still managed to win quite a few races. On a course like Gent-Wevelgem I'd rate their chances of survival somewhat similar, Kooij is also quite good in the hills.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I'm not quite sure what you mean, since Kooij almost never has perfect circumstances, always has to find his own way, and still managed to win quite a few races. On a course like Gent-Wevelgem I'd rate their chances of survival somewhat similar, Kooij is also quite good in the hills.

He can't win true sprint stages unless there are not top sprinters there. he can do okay if there is a slight uphill, but not too uphill. He needs to get lucky in his set-up, because rarely is he actually in the right position. He is fast, but not Merlier or Philipsen fast. He needs the right people to not be there, and the race not to be too flat, and the last K not to be too flat. He's a grade B sprinter. Facts. One would assume you could could work out what I meant.

 

[Netserk]

He can't win true sprint stages.

Tour de Pologne 2024 Stage 7 results

Jonas Vingegaard is the winner of Tour de Pologne 2024, before Diego Ulissi and Wilco Kelderman. The stage from Wieliczka to Kraków was won by Olav Kooij.

www.procyclingstats.com

Tour de Pologne 2024 Stage 4 results

Tour de Pologne 2024 Stage 4 from Kudowa-Zdrój to Prudnik was won by Olav Kooij before Sam Bennett and Mads Pedersen. Jonas Vingegaard was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

UAE Tour 2024 Stage 5 results

UAE Tour 2024 Stage 5 from Al Aqah to Umm Al Quwain was won by Olav Kooij before Tim Merlier and Sam Welsford. Jay Vine was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Tour de Pologne 2024 Stage 7 results

Jonas Vingegaard is the winner of Tour de Pologne 2024, before Diego Ulissi and Wilco Kelderman. The stage from Wieliczka to Kraków was won by Olav Kooij.

www.procyclingstats.com

Merlier not in top form, clearly.

Tour de Pologne 2024 Stage 4 results

Tour de Pologne 2024 Stage 4 from Kudowa-Zdrój to Prudnik was won by Olav Kooij before Sam Bennett and Mads Pedersen. Jonas Vingegaard was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

Same

UAE Tour 2024 Stage 5 results

UAE Tour 2024 Stage 5 from Al Aqah to Umm Al Quwain was won by Olav Kooij before Tim Merlier and Sam Welsford. Jay Vine was leading the general classification.

www.procyclingstats.com

A stopped clock is right twice per day. Are you seriously suggesting he is the same calaber as Merlier, Milan, or Philipsen? Interesting take, if so. He's a grade B sprinter. Do I see the potential for Brennan to win many more races than Kooij is capable of? Yes, I do.

 

[Netserk]

A stopped clock is right twice per day. Are you seriously suggesting he is the same calaber as Merlier, Milan, or Philipsen?

I am seriously suggesting that he can "win true sprint stages".

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I am seriously suggesting that he can "win true sprint stages".

Against actual sprinters, I think he loses much more than he wins, and the stats bear that out. He loses to Merlier more than he wins, he loses to Milan more than he wins, he loses to Philipsen A LOT more than he wins. Grade B...but I mean, he CRUSHED Bittner in Oman.

 

[theyoungest]

He can't win true sprint stages unless there are not top sprinters there. he can do okay if there is a slight uphill, but not too uphill. He needs to get lucky in his set-up, because rarely is he actually in the right position. He is fast, but not Merlier or Philipsen fast. He needs the right people to not be there, and the race not to be too flat, and the last K not to be too flat. He's a grade B sprinter. Facts. One would assume you could could work out what I meant.

Kooij is already better than Philipsen was at that age. Same for Merlier. Let me remind you he's just 23 years old and already has 39 pro wins. Pretty good for a second tier sprinter who needs everything to go his way...

I think you just don't know too much about him, because pretty much everything you say is demonstrably false. I do agree that Brennan is probably more versatile, although of course he could still turn out to be another Ewan who starts out great and then you don't really hear that much from anymore. Who knows, he's just 19.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Kooij is already better than Philipsen was at that age. Same for Merlier. Let me remind you he's just 23 years old and already has 39 pro wins. Pretty good for a second tier sprinter who needs everything to go his way...

I think you just don't know too much about him, because pretty much everything you say is demonstrably false. I do agree that Brennan is probably more versatile, although of course he could still turn out to be another Ewan who starts out great and then you don't really hear that much from anymore. Who knows, he's just 19.

I follow Visma, as I'm a Wout fan, and I'm more often, than not, I'm disappointed with Kooij's results. Maybe I'm being too hard, but I just don't see him becoming Merlier. Maybe you're right, but I just see something missing in him.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Kooij is already better than Philipsen was at that age. Same for Merlier. Let me remind you he's just 23 years old and already has 39 pro wins. Pretty good for a second tier sprinter who needs everything to go his way...

I think you just don't know too much about him, because pretty much everything you say is demonstrably false. I do agree that Brennan is probably more versatile, although of course he could still turn out to be another Ewan who starts out great and then you don't really hear that much from anymore. Who knows, he's just 19.

Maybe he needs to go to a team who will give him a sprint train, rather than Visma, who can't seem to work out whether to support Wout or Jonas? But do you see a WT team willing to take him with the idea that he will become their #1 option for sprint stages? Because I don't. Maybe a Tudor level team, but I doubt he is going to be Soudal or Treks next big thing for sprints.

And look, I love it when he beats Philipsen in particular, I just wouldn't put money on him doing so on a regular basis.

 

[theyoungest]

I follow Visma, as I'm a Wout fan, and I'm more often, than not, I'm disappointed with Kooij's results. Maybe I'm being too hard, but I just don't see him becoming Merlier. Maybe you're right, but I just see something missing in him.

How can you be disappointed? In every race where he starts, he wins a stage. Well, almost every race.

I think there's a lot of teams who'd love him to be their first sprinter. Visma have kept him on as sort of a little extra, and just let their big sprinter Groenewegen go to Jayco... now who would you rather have on your team, Kooij or Groenewegen?

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

How can you be disappointed? In every race where he starts, he wins a stage. Well, almost every race.

I think there's a lot of teams who'd love him to be their first sprinter. Visma have kept him on as sort of a little extra, and just let their big sprinter Groenewegen go to Jayco... now who would you rather have on your team, Kooij or Groenewegen?

That's my point on being disappointed. Also, I just don't think you build a sprint train around getting Kooij sprint wins, regardless of team. Clearly, that isn't a Visma priority, so he just has to take whichever single rider Visma has there, to position him in the sprint. So maybe I'm being unfair about his positioning? I do see him being (like seems to be the MO with Visma here lately) badly positioned at the worst time, many times.

Kooij for sure, but that's because I will never forgive Groenewegen for the Jakobsen sprint.

And here's to get back to the topic of this thread. We just watched Brennan take wins when he was not well positioned, and when he was well far enough behind, where there are very few riders who could have bridged that gap AND won. I don't think Kooij is that kind of talent.

 

[theyoungest]

That's my point on being disappointed. Also, I just don't think you build a sprint train around getting Kooij sprint wins, regardless of team. Clearly, that isn't a Visma priority, so he just has to take whichever single rider Visma has there, to position him in the sprint. So maybe I'm being unfair about his positioning? I do see him being (like seems to be the MO with Visma here lately) badly positioned at the worst time, many times.

Kooij for sure, but that's because I will never forgive Groenewegen for the Jakobsen sprint.

Kooij doesn't need a train, has almost never had one, and is one of the best sprinters in the peloton when it comes to finding his own way and positioning. He now has a leadout guy in McLay but you can already see that he goes his own way regardless because he's just good at that. So really, I don't know what you're on about.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Kooij doesn't need a train, has almost never had one, and is one of the best sprinters in the peloton when it comes to finding his own way and positioning. He now has a leadout guy in McLay but you can already see that he goes his own way regardless because he's just good at that. So really, I don't know what you're on about.

Then we disagree...you seem to love for me to be wrong, so here's to wishing you all the luck in the world in that pursuit. It really isn't a big deal to me.

And if Kooij becomes someting I don't think he will, then that's awesome. I never begrudge someone becoming the best they can be. I've got nothing against the guy, nor you.

Lets see how Kooij does tomorrow.