Teams & Riders The official Wilco Kelderman is the new Merckx-thread

[Dekker_Tifosi]

We'll see. He was impressive today, no doubt about it. How will he do on stage 6 though?

I hope he can do as well as on Mt. Baldy. Though in this field that would probably mean 10 places further and an extra minute loss. But maybe still good enough to hold on to top 10 and the white jersey

 

[hatcher]

Yeah, who knows? He's still only 21, so consistency shouldn't be expected. The glimpses are there though.

 

[maltiv]

I hope he can do as well as on Mt. Baldy. Though in this field that would probably mean 10 places further and an extra minute loss. But maybe still good enough to hold on to top 10 and the white jersey

When it comes to comparing California with Dauphine...In California, Durbridge was 21st on the MTF. In Dauphine, Durbridge was dropped by the entire peloton on a 3rd category climb while having yellow. I think that goes to show that the difference between the climbing field in California and the Dauphine is enormous.

But then again, Kelderman's form has clearly improved since then. However, I don't think he'll manage to remain in the top 10 overall.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

When it comes to comparing California with Dauphine...In California, Durbridge was 21st on the MTF. In Dauphine, Durbridge was dropped by the entire peloton on a 3rd category climb while having yellow. I think that goes to show that the difference between the climbing field in California and the Dauphine is enormous.

But then again, Kelderman's form has clearly improved since then. However, I don't think he'll manage to remain in the top 10 overall.

No, I think that goes to show you use a terrible example.
In California, Durbridge went for it as advised by Matt White. Here, they took it easier with him on purpose and told him to let go as soon as he hit real problems.
Also, look at the names were Kelderman finished in California. It's not THAT worse. You overdo it.

But hey, Kelderman is no Norwegian, otherwise we'd know what predict lol

 

[theyoungest]

In California, you always have the strange situation of a few good climbers and then a whole lot of nothing. So the fact that Durbridge got 21st on a mountain finish there doesn't tell us anything. The fact that he lost nearly 4 minutes to Kelderman in 5 kms does.

 

[Ruudz0r]

I think Wilco will do good in the mountains and will be able to take home a top 10 spot in GC.

 

[maltiv]

No, I think that goes to show you use a terrible example.
In California, Durbridge went for it as advised by Matt White. Here, they took it easier with him on purpose and told him to let go as soon as he hit real problems.
Also, look at the names were Kelderman finished in California. It's not THAT worse. You overdo it.

But hey, Kelderman is no Norwegian, otherwise we'd know what predict lol

I was simply comparing the field, and concluding that the difference is big. But it's a valid point that if you look at the 10 best climbers from each race (instead of say, 25) then the difference isn't that big after all. I still believe he'll just drop out of the top 10, but I'd be very happy to be wrong. I've been a fan of Kelderman since his monstrous performance in tour of norway last year when he single-handedly brought back every attack in the last 40 km's and then dropped everyone on the last hill.

I just don't think he's ready to climb with the best on a HC climb, yet...But I guess that makes me an ignorant ******

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If Kelderman can outclimb van Garderen in California (who was 3rd in the Dauphine in his first year). I think he can finish top 17 (which is basically what I just said if you read correctly) in the only mountain stage. It's not exactly a bold prediction

 

[classicomano]

When Kelderman can pull something like this off in the TT I cant wait to see how he fares in the mountains, he s probably much closer to his peak than in California anyway.

 

[Leonardus]

Very impressive TT today, he is still very young but a top 5 here is already possible. He has the climbing skills and a lot of power. Definitly someone to watch.

 

[Kwibus]

I was simply comparing the field, and concluding that the difference is big. But it's a valid point that if you look at the 10 best climbers from each race (instead of say, 25) then the difference isn't that big after all. I still believe he'll just drop out of the top 10, but I'd be very happy to be wrong. I've been a fan of Kelderman since his monstrous performance in tour of norway last year when he single-handedly brought back every attack in the last 40 km's and then dropped everyone on the last hill.

I just don't think he's ready to climb with the best on a HC climb, yet...But I guess that makes me an ignorant ******

I think it's a fair prediction. I don't expect him to climb with the best here as well.
He also surprised himself with this TT. In California he finished 27th and he never rode a TT this long before... actually never a TT much longer than 30km.

He thinks that a possible reason is that he's been always very good during this period of the year. He's obviously still exploring his own abilities.

 

[theyoungest]

I think it's a fair prediction. I don't expect him to climb with the best here as well.

Remember that in Murcia he was in a group with Gesink and Samu Sanchez, before he flatted and crashed on the descent. That was another climb where he more than held his own, and that was in March. I don't expect him to follow the strongest climbers, but a top-10 isn't out of the question.

He also surprised himself with this TT. In California he finished 27th and he never rode a TT this long before... actually never a TT much longer than 30km.

Actually I think the wind picked up in California, he could have done better than 27th. He was one of the later starters, none of them really did great.

 

[Spine Concept]

Thought this was funny.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Hilarious...

*cough*

 

[Spine Concept]

Hilarious...

*cough*

It's ok not to share the same sentiments, don't have to be an *** about it though.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Its hard not be excited about Kelderman. Young, solid TT machine, climbs pretty well. Give him a tour spot please.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It's ok not to share the same sentiments, don't have to be an *** about it though.

hihi, i just really don't think it's funny... but i am amazed by his performance and very curious to see more of him.

 

[Spine Concept]

hihi, i just really don't think it's funny... but i am amazed by his performance and very curious to see more of him.

Fair enough, I didn't think it was hilarious or anything, it just put a smile on my face with the cape and the cliché depiction of a flying superhero. Agreed on his performance though.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Its hard not be excited about Kelderman. Young, solid TT machine, climbs pretty well. Give him a tour spot please.

please no (and he rightly wont). Hate to see youngsters over-doing it, and such a young guy riding a GT. Personally I prefer to see said rider do giro or vuelta first, admittedly I wont mind seeing him in Italy next year

Giro or Vuelta 2013 I suspect.

 

[dlwssonic]

This guy might actually become bigger than sagan

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Pretty good ride today I thought, great learning curve anyway.

8th place and best young rider is a good result.

 

[classicomano]

4 spots better than the legendary Remmert Wielinga in his first Dauphine, a sign of things to come for sure

 

[profff]

remember that tj van garderen was third in his second dauphinee and it does not look like that tj one day will win le tour.

there are young riders doing very well ( the colombians, moreno moser, others will arrive)that will give wilco a hard time

we will see in a near future

remmert wielinga had the best watt/kg ratio in ab test, even better than danielson
great to remember him!!!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

remember that tj van garderen was third in his second dauphinee and it does not look like that tj one day will win le tour.

there are young riders doing very well ( the colombians, moreno moser, others will arrive)that will give wilco a hard time

we will see in a near future

remmert wielinga had the best watt/kg ratio in ab test, even better than danielson
great to remember him!!!

to be fair it was a very friendly TJ course n(aka i dont think he would have come 3rd this year in 10'). And this still remains his best / most promising result.

Wilco's time trial is the head turner for this race. He also climbed pretty well in ToC, so at this point he is making good progress. TJ has hardly progressed really, different riders so we'll see what happens. Point is he (Kelderman) is on the right course at the moment.

Anyway much of this is not relevant, it is to be seen how Wilco (and the likes of Quintana) will recuperate and recover in a three week scenario.

 

[will10]

Not very often would a TT like Wilco's be overshadowed and not be the best performance of the race by a neo-pro Still, hope he can hold onto white, lost some time to Tejay but tomorrow shouldn't be too much trouble.