Pity you couldn't combine Pinot and Bardet's characteristics into one rider and then you'd have a certain GC contender. If only Bardet could TT and Pinot could descend.
The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Metabolol said:So one could ask is the TDF actually killing French cycling? Has too many eggs been put in the same basket? Or is it just a symptom of the well drying up?
I think he spends so much energy because he fears that otherwise he'll be gapped on the descents, the fear of loosing time on the descents makes him race aggressive.Tonton said:Gosh! I got mixed emotions: great ride, nice podium, but call me greedy I was expecting more. He looked really strong, attacked and responded to attacks, spent a lot of energy that may have cost him in the final 5K. That's racing. Bravo Thibaut.
Tonton said:Gosh! I got mixed emotions: great ride, nice podium, but call me greedy I was expecting more. He looked really strong, attacked and responded to attacks, spent a lot of energy that may have cost him in the final 5K. That's racing. Bravo Thibaut.
Arredondo said:Tonton said:Gosh! I got mixed emotions: great ride, nice podium, but call me greedy I was expecting more. He looked really strong, attacked and responded to attacks, spent a lot of energy that may have cost him in the final 5K. That's racing. Bravo Thibaut.
Moreno dropped him on the San Fermo. 3rd was the best place he could get.
He's not explosive enough to be a real classics contender. That's why Lombardia is his best shot, because that's more for climbers then real classic riders. In Liege, Fleche and Amstel he doesn't stand a chance.
But great perfomance today.
Tonton said:Arredondo said:Tonton said:Gosh! I got mixed emotions: great ride, nice podium, but call me greedy I was expecting more. He looked really strong, attacked and responded to attacks, spent a lot of energy that may have cost him in the final 5K. That's racing. Bravo Thibaut.
Moreno dropped him on the San Fermo. 3rd was the best place he could get.
He's not explosive enough to be a real classics contender. That's why Lombardia is his best shot, because that's more for climbers then real classic riders. In Liege, Fleche and Amstel he doesn't stand a chance.
But great perfomance today.
Agree. The longest, second to last climb suited his diesel style better, the last one was shorter: not his cup of tea. It is his MO, as seen at the TDS or on la Croix de Fer: he takes a while to get going. Yet, on the San Fernando, he dropped all but Moreno, so props to him. His weaknesses are greatly exaggerated: it's in the descent of the Croix de Fer that he won l'Alpe stage, and today he hardly lost any time to Nibali or the Valverde group.
Sure that winning the monuments you mentioned would be very hard for him. But the GDL one day, I think he will.
Hugo Koblet said:Great ride today, he looked really strong. Pinot vs Aru vs Quintana looks like it could be a thing
Hugo Koblet said:Great ride today, he looked really strong. Pinot vs Aru vs Quintana looks like it could be a thing
SeriousSam said:Pinot is in some third tier below Aru/Valverde/Purito though.
ThisHugo Koblet said:He should go to the Giro instead where he'd actually have a shot at winning.