Thomas de Gendt Discussion Thread

[Frosty]

It's not just deviding and multiplying. If De Gendt took 8 seconds on Hesjedal in 30k (all of which he took in the last kilometres), that doesn't mean he would only take 16 seconds in 60k. He wouldn't have taken enough time had it been a 40k TT, but 50k... might well have been enough. But we'll never really know, will we.

Yeah i know that, but 8 seconds and 1 min 39 seconds are quite a difference. And yes we'll never know, if the TT had been longer then maybe he wouldnt have been allowed so much time the previous day.

PS: the distance was 28.2 kilometres, not 31.5.

Cool, just going with what Cyclingnews said.

 

[webvan]

Nice to see a new name emerge in a GT, makes it more exciting, hope it won't be like Froome though. De Gendt really has a particular build, super muscular, closest I can think of is Cunego?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

At least it's good to see De Gendt himself is much more down-to-eart & realistic than some of you (and a lot of the Belgian press)

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Nice to see a new name emerge in a GT, makes it more exciting, hope it won't be like Froome though. De Gendt really has a particular build, super muscular, closest I can think of is Cunego?

Ullrich?

 

[cineteq]

True perhaps but i think we can say based on today's performances that an extra 20km wouldnt have resulted in de Gendt winning the Giro.

Guys, you also forget that if the ITT would've been longer most likely he would've been reeled in sooner in Stelvio. Life/Cycling is not linear.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He's aiming for a top 10 spot in the Vuelta. Seems like a smart thing to do. He was aiming for a top 20 spot in the Giro, so...

 

[Frosty]

Guys, you also forget that is the ITT would've been longer most likely he would've been reeled in sooner in Stelvio. Life/Cycling is not linear.

Yeah, thats what i said in another post

 

[El Pistolero]

Yeah, thats what i said in another post

That's assuming cyclists are smart. You assumed wrong. Every single year real climbers underestimate the "time trial" climbers. Every single year.

 

[maxmartin]

Merckx comment on De Gendt

http://translate.google.com/transla...lad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=9I3QKIMO

 

[Frosty]

That's assuming cyclists are smart. You assumed wrong. Every single year real climbers underestimate the "time trial" climbers. Every single year.

Good thing i didnt say that they definitely would have chased longer/harder then isnt it

 

[cineteq]

He's changing disciplines

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF20120604_00172623

 

[maxmartin]

One reason I like De Gendt is his men voice
what is wrong with Evans, Contador and quite a few others' voice? just feel weird
Maybe too much training at young age can cause that

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I like his (east)Flemish accent when speaking English.

Don't forget Museeuw, he always was and will be the "soprano" of the peloton. (although Evans comes close, indeed)

 

[vcampbell]

One reason I like De Gendt is his men voice
what is wrong with Evans, Contador and quite a few others' voice? just feel weird
Maybe too much training at young age can cause that

It's a bit about a language itself. For example I have not heard too much spanish people with a manly voice. When my brother speaks spanish, then his voice is changing too.

Evans... actually he is another story

 

[maxmartin]

did not know Thomas raced so much last year, must have huge engine and recover well, impressive

The top three of the kilometres and days raced in the last 365 days of racing are:

1. Thomas De Gendt (41st): 16,578km raced and 105 days raced
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (68th): 15,976km raced and 102 days raced
3. Ian Stannard (104th): 15,807km raced and 95 days raced

 

[Caruut]

did not know Thomas raced so much last year, must have huge engine and recover well, impressive

The top three of the kilometres and days raced in the last 365 days of racing are:

1. Thomas De Gendt (41st): 16,578km raced and 105 days raced
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (68th): 15,976km raced and 102 days raced
3. Ian Stannard (104th): 15,807km raced and 95 days raced

Stannard has spent at least 14,000 of those km on the front.

 

[Marcus135]

Stannard has spent at least 14,000 of those km on the front.

Probs same with De Gendt in the break

 

[maxmartin]

eating fries and not gunning for GC in vuelta after all

smart don't think this vuelta suits him well

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/de-gendt-set-for-olympics-and-vuelta

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

eating fries and not gunning for GC in vuelta after all

smart don't think this vuelta suits him well

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/de-gendt-set-for-olympics-and-vuelta

Not going for GC and aim for a couple of stages aye? Where have i heard that before? Right, two weeks prior to his 3rd place in the Giro
I think he should try to go for a GC with a fitting preparation. That way he will know better how he compares on steeper climbs. He could always pick one or two mountain stages, but that won't be the same. And if he doesn't finish in the top 10, so be it.

 

[gustienordic]

Not going for GC and aim for a couple of stages aye? Where have i heard that before? Right, two weeks prior to his 3rd place in the Giro
I think he should try to go for a GC with a fitting preparation. That way he will know better how he compares on steeper climbs. He could always pick one or two mountain stages, but that won't be the same. And if he doesn't finish in the top 10, so be it.

10 char

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Straight from the horse's mouth... De Gendt will focus (more) on GT from now on. Thinks he can win a GT... maybe not the TDF but he thinks Giro or Vuelta might be possible. He'll start training in the winter specifically with GT's in mind.

For those who speak Dutch, you can see a series of video interviews with him: http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/Tour/120717_TDF_De_Gendt

UPDATE: In the Sporza talkshow during the TDF, Vive le Vélo, De Gendt again said he would ride the Vuelta for a stage win (not GC), because he doesn't want to go too deep since he wants to be good for the Worlds. Though if he is still close to a top 10 spot somewhere in the second week, he might change his mind and go all out for the GC.

 

[maxmartin]

Straight from the horse's mouth... De Gendt will focus (more) on GT from now on. Thinks he can win a GT... maybe not the TDF but he thinks Giro or Vuelta might be possible. He'll start training in the winter specifically with GT's in mind.

For those who speak Dutch, you can see a series of video interviews with him: http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/Tour/120717_TDF_De_Gendt

UPDATE: In the Sporza talkshow during the TDF, Vive le Vélo, De Gendt again said he would ride the Vuelta for a stage win (not GC), because he doesn't want to go too deep since he wants to be good for the Worlds. Though if he is still close to a top 10 spot somewhere in the second week, he might change his mind and go all out for the GC.

De gent is in the tour visiting friends and teammates, he is going to focus on Tour next year(skip giro). He and Johny think TOP 5 in the tour is a reachable objective.

 

[theyoungest]

UPDATE: In the Sporza talkshow during the TDF, Vive le Vélo, De Gendt again said he would ride the Vuelta for a stage win (not GC), because he doesn't want to go too deep since he wants to be good for the Worlds. Though if he is still close to a top 10 spot somewhere in the second week, he might change his mind and go all out for the GC.

Sounds pretty similar to his Giro approach. I.e. he'll go for GC, but doesn't want the pressure.

 

[SafeBet]

Sounds pretty similar to his Giro approach. I.e. he'll go for GC, but doesn't want the pressure.

I guess some pressure will come anyway since he podiumed the last GT he rode

 

[Pentacycle]

This year he could have been around Van Garderen.(they have a similar climbing style and TT)

If De Gendt specifically trains for the mountains he could already be on the podium next year. If he's 2-3 kgs lighter by next year he'll be one of the best climbers around. The only thing that's holding him back is Vacansoleil's minimum of 50 pre-Tour race days and weak TTT. Also as soon as you start expecting things from Vacansoleil(since this year's early spring) they tend to fail.(classics, Tour etc.) We'll see what the pressure from the media does to him in the Vuelta.

De Gendt doesn't know what his limits are, but his focus should be finding out on which terrain he can really excell, and if he can cope with the pressure from the team/media, being a team leader.