The Nils Politt thread

[Laplaz]

I think he deserves a thread. Gutsy ride today, looked death already with 50km to go but hold on.

He definitely can win this race in the future.

 

[DFA123]

I think he's the next Cancellara. Could easily be dominating the classics in the next few years.

 

[tobydawq]

I think he deserves a thread. Gutsy ride today, looked death already with 50km to go but hold on.

He definitely can win this race in the future.

I'm not saying he's the new Cancellara but he shares three things with the Swiss Champ. A good TT'er (okay, not a fair comparison at all), good on cobbles and...

https://twitter.com/katushacycling/status/1117453471547047945

...fond of using the term "on the end". It was really this that got me into the Fabian comparison mode

Awesome ride today. I don't know about him looking dead with 50 to go, though. He just always looks a bit laboured, I think. A pity he couldn't showcase the quite excellent kick he has recently acquired at the end. It would certainly have saved Katusha's abysmal season.

Edit: Ha, I swear I had not seen DFA's comment before I wrote this

 

[DFA123]

I think he deserves a thread. Gutsy ride today, looked death already with 50km to go but hold on.

He definitely can win this race in the future.

I'm not saying he's the new Cancellara but he shares three things with the Swiss Champ. A good TT'er (okay, not a fair comparison at all), good on cobbles and...

https://twitter.com/katushacycling/status/1117453471547047945

...fond of using the term "on the end". It was really this that got me into the Fabian comparison mode

Awesome ride today. I don't know about him looking dead with 50 to go, though. He just always looks a bit laboured, I think. A pity he couldn't showcase the quite excellent kick he has recently acquired at the end. It would certainly have saved Katusha's abysmal season.

His attacks were amazing as well. The first one which Gilbert bridged to, was just out the front of the peloton on the normal road. Then later he just stepped on the gas and rode away from Sagan on the cobbles.

He's got something about him tactically, which makes me think he'll make the next step and start winning, which riders like Vanmarcke, Naesen etc... haven't been able to do.

 

[RedheadDane]

I just love how he's so easy to recognise when he's riding full-gas. He does something with his mouth that makes his teeth very visible.

 

[Vesica]

https://twitter.com/katushacycling/status/1117453471547047945

Did he really clean his teeth with that towel?? :lol:

 

[RedheadDane]

https://twitter.com/katushacycling/status/1117453471547047945

Did he really clean his teeth with that towel?? :lol:

Sure looks like it...
Or maybe he made them grow, they kinda looked bigger afterwards. Magical teeth-enlarging towel…

 

[Pantani_lives]

Re:

I just love how he's so easy to recognise when he's riding full-gas. He does something with his mouth that makes his teeth very visible.

At one point he looked like he was going to eat Gilbert, which he didn't. What's eating, Gilbert?

 

[Cance > TheRest]

I don't really see Politt as a versatile rider like Cancellara was. But his position on the bike and powerful riding style can look similar, and I must admit that I made the style comparison in my head as I was watching today.

Apart from that, really interesting way he rode today. Lost it on inexperience and the situation with Lampaert coming from behind, but the engine is there. He is not a bad sprinter also as witnessed in RVV and Deutschland Tour, but today he lacked the acceleration to go with Gilbert who had the benefit of jumping from behind.

I hope Politt continues this pattern of development, as he is a welcome addition to the fight against the evil Steppers

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

I think he's the next Cancellara. Could easily be dominating the classics in the next few years.

The riding style looks like it imo.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

I think he's the next Cancellara. Could easily be dominating the classics in the next few years.

He might be in the same league as Bettiol, Van Aert, Asgreen... who knows, but i wouldn't expect he'll be "dominating" the classics just yet. There is also van der Poel, Sagan (not dead yet), Alaphilippe, Jungels...

 

[spalco]

What really impressed me is that the way he approached the race looked very mature. He's obviously not equal to Gilbert, Stybar, Sagan, etc. on palmares but he raced like an equal on the road yesterday without being intimidated or anything. He tried to make the race, not just follow. Great talent for sure.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

What really impressed me is that the way he approached the race looked very mature. He's obviously not equal to Gilbert, Stybar, Sagan, etc. on palmares but he raced like an equal on the road yesterday without being intimidated or anything. He tried to make the race, not just follow. Great talent for sure.

Yeah, this is what stood out to me as well. He actually initiated the two most decisive moves in the race - where twice only Gilbert could go with him.

And the way he just rode Sagan and Vanmarcke off his wheel on that penultimate cobbled sector was really Cancellara-esque. No change in cadence of bike position, just suddenly pulling clear. Even Gilbert struggled for a while to close the gap.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

I just love how he's so easy to recognise when he's riding full-gas. He does something with his mouth that makes his teeth very visible.

At one point he looked like he was going to eat Gilbert, which he didn't. What's eating, Gilbert?

I think that's against the rules.
Then again, there may not actually be an article in the UCI rulebook stating that Eating the competition is prohibited according to article so-and-so.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

I just love how he's so easy to recognise when he's riding full-gas. He does something with his mouth that makes his teeth very visible.

At one point he looked like he was going to eat Gilbert, which he didn't. What's eating, Gilbert?

I think that's against the rules.
Then again, there may not actually be an article in the UCI rulebook stating that Eating the competition is prohibited according to article so-and-so.

Well, but doesn't national laws still apply during bike races? Of course not those pertaining to traffic, but otherwise.

You could probably also interpret the "play sportingly" rules in a way that is not unifiable with a rider devouring his rivals.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Re:

I just love how he's so easy to recognise when he's riding full-gas. He does something with his mouth that makes his teeth very visible.

He's the next Boogerd then

 

[Mayomaniac]

I remember seeing him doing well in Le Samy in 2016, that was the first time that I realized that he had the potential to be great on cobbles and that he was more than your typical German TT specialist.

 

[Gigs_98]

What really sets him apart from someone like vanmarcke is that I think he has the engine to finish off attacks. That's one of the most underrated skills among classics specialists that you not only have to drop everyone on the cobbles but need to stay away. Like on the cobbles themselves I take peak vanmarcke over peak Terpstra any day of the year but as a package I think terpstra is the better rider for cobbles classics

 

[MartinGT]

I've enjoyed watching him the last few years and seeing him progress.

Like RedHeadDane said, that gurn LOL

 

[Cance > TheRest]

I also think he needs to become more selfish and uncompromising if he is to become the new Cancellara. I could not help but notice how satisfied he was after losing that sprint to Gilbert. Maybe he is too much of a nice guy to truly become a great leader like Cancellara was. Just my (very superficial ofcourse) observation. I have no idea how he is on the team.

 

[RedheadDane]

Or maybe he's a 25-year-old making his first Monument podium, and behind a guy like Gilbert.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

This one was a long time coming. Strong ride today.

 

[MartinGT]

Chuffed for him. I hope he can take a cobbled one day.

 

[Mayomaniac]

A well deserved win for an awesome rider.

 

[Leinster]

It's probably too early to talk about this, but 4 starts at Roubaix, in order; DNF, 27, 7, 2. And clearly he has good form this year.

Bora leadership will be an interesting topic at the start line in Compiegne.