The third men of Belgian cycling

[serfla]

Iljo Kiesse has no equal on the boards and he is rapidly becoming a force on the road too. he has more potential than anyone mentioned so far

Can we talk about potential at 30 years of age?

 

[cineteq]

He won a lot of fans in the Tour of Turkey, and IMHO he showed great strength and fortitude in how he won.

Including me. He also showed a lot a concentration on that stage. Looking forward to seeing this guy next year. Although, I'm not sure if he's the illusive 3rd man of Belgian Cycling. I think it's the guy who ended up 3rd (as fate would have it) in 2012 Giro.

 

[CobbleStoner]

Why do you think that? Apart from six day racing, he didn't proof that much?

I say it half because I love watching him race, and think the Gent 6 is the most important (and best) race of the year, but also because he has a really good sprint and he knows how to suffer hard at the end of a long race. of course he will never be a stage race threat, but realistically, neither are the other '3rd' men of Belgian cycling.
history will also show that he will have more rainbow jerseys, world's podiums, and probably overall victories than anyone else mentioned so far

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Until now he has 0 Rainbow Jerseys, and I don't see him changing that. He's 3 years older than GVA, 4 years than De Gendt, and even 6 years older than Vanmarcke.

He has the same age as Philippe Gilbert! And you're talking about potential?

 

[serfla]

I say it half because I love watching him race, and think the Gent 6 is the most important (and best) race of the year, but also because he has a really good sprint and he knows how to suffer hard at the end of a long race. of course he will never be a stage race threat, but realistically, neither are the other '3rd' men of Belgian cycling.
history will also show that he will have more rainbow jerseys, world's podiums, and probably overall victories than anyone else mentioned so far

Well, then...
What tells you that?

 

[Matthijs]

Until now he has 0 Rainbow Jerseys, and I don't see him changing that. He's 3 years older than GVA, 4 years than De Gendt, and even 6 years older than Vanmarcke.

He has the same age as Philippe Gilbert! And you're talking about potential?

I can see Iljo win a rainbow jersey on the track
How many seasons did Keisse ride on the road?

 

[Pentacycle]

I can see Iljo win a rainbow jersey on the track
How many seasons did Keisse ride on the road?

Apparently Keisse was already 3rd in KBK 2007, so I doubt if he can still progress on the road. He should be a valuable part of the classics team, but you can't realistically expect more.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

potential at 30 years of age is definately possible
erik dekker took until 30y to win really big things

rodriguez a bit earlier but also still late in his career the jump from subtop to star...

 

[the asian]

Currently i'd go with De Gendt.
Vanmarcke and GVA both have the potential to be monument winners though.

If you take career-wise out of those who are still active, will have to go with Devolder for his two lucky Ronde wins.

 

[Praetor]

Devolders wins in the Ronde weren't lucky, they were smart and tactical. It's not like there is a dozen riders who could have easily pulled off the same, had they been Boonen's teammate.

And I think we all know where Dekker got his sudden potential at 30.

 

[theyoungest]

Given that Erik Dekker's hematocrit case was earlier, no I don't know where he got that sudden potential at age 30. The phenomenon of the late bloomer doesn't necessarily have something to do with clinic issues.

 

[El Pistolero]

Given that Erik Dekker's hematocrit case was earlier, no I don't know where he got that sudden potential at age 30. The phenomenon of the late bloomer doesn't necessarily have something to do with clinic issues.

Scarponi also improved after his doping case.

 

[theyoungest]

So you agree with me? Pretty rare.

 

[El Pistolero]

So you agree with me? Pretty rare.

I thought you knew about his Ferrari visit. But I don't necessarily disagree with what you said. He most likely doped for most of his career, but that doesn't exclude the fact that he could've been a late bloomer. Was fighting with mostly equal weapons anyway.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Devolders wins in the Ronde weren't lucky, they were smart and tactical. It's not like there is a dozen riders who could have easily pulled off the same, had they been Boonen's teammate.

He was lucky to be in that position, though. Extremely lucky. They were strong efforts, but we all know he would have won exactly zero times had he not been Boonen's teammate. At least Nuyens battled it out with the top guys.

 

[Echoes]

Dekker E. turned pro in Raas's teams. He's not a late bloomer, he already was seen as an up-and-coming talent. I very well remember his days with Word Perfect. He also was a good flyers under the red flame. Some sort of a Jelle Nijdam/Willy Teirlinck (kind of riders that I really love )


Only you've gotta remember what Van Hooydonck said about Raas's teams. No EPO.

EVH retired in March 1996, disgusted and one year later, the UCI implemented its first blood tests. Everything changed and all of sudden (Raas's) Rabobank started winning again...

 

[Matthijs]

He was lucky to be in that position, though. Extremely lucky. They were strong efforts, but we all know he would have won exactly zero times had he not been Boonen's teammate. At least Nuyens battled it out with the top guys.

With Devolder in another team, Boonen still had Pipo 'the shadow' on his wheel. Devolder could almost as easily use their rivalry as he used the fact that he was teammate of Boonen. Getting away would be a little bit harder, but if he really wanted it, I wonder if Pipo and Boonen really would have chased them with more then 30k to go. Devolder attacked early both times remember.
However, Boonen would have chased him from 20k or something. What happened in that scenario, no one knows. I think Devolder, who was at least the 3rd strongest man in the race both years, used very good tactics and was at least one of the strongest.
The same goes for Nuyens. He was at least one of the best in the race. Racers who maybe where stronger (Chavanel, Cancellara) used lesser tactics so a very derserved win. Other riders couldn't make the jump on the flat to Meerbeke.

 

[serfla]

2008 Ronde van Vlaanderen was Devolder's masterpiece in an epic race.