Tim Wellens thread

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

He couldn't even beat Van Avermaet on the uphill finish in Strade Bianche, why on earth would he think he can win FW by waiting for the final ascent of the Mur de Huy?

Yeah because Valverde would easily beat GVA if they would come to the final ramp of strade bianche together...

Valverde also couldn't beat him on a semi-mountainous course in the biggest one-day race there is,so that shouldn't surprise you. Greg is one of the last true classics specialists, together with Gilbert.

Well you were the one who said that if Wellens can't even beat GVA on the final SB ramp, how could he think that he could beat Valverde on the Mur de Huy. I agree that Wellens doesn't really have a chance on the Mur but the example with Strade Bianche simply doesn't work since Valverde was beaten in that finale by GVA as well.

 

[Kwibus]

http://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/280069/wellens-kampt-met-warmteallergie-maar-weigert-attest.html

Apparently Wellens is suffering from heat allergy. Getting a rash all over his body (my gf used to have this too) and ofcourse a body that can't compete when it's hot. Well this obviously not surprising since Wellens is always suffering at the back when it's hot.

What I really like though is that this can be treated by a TUE, but Wellens refuses to use TUE's as he thinks that's 'clean' and he wants clean cycling.

I admire this attitude. He could legally use a medicine that helps him perform in the heat and most likely enhance his performance a bit as well, but he doesn't do it.

Conclusion is that Wellens will avoid races that can be expected to be in hot weather and will most likely race the Giro every year from now on together with spring classics. Also the september and october where also always performs well will be his targets.

 

[Gigs_98]

It's a bit sad that the giro is basically the only race where he can perform well. Anyway, I hope he will have a good autumn again and get his spring shape back.

 

[Fergoose]

His attitude may be commendable but if I was his DS and knew that completely acceptable, non-performance enhancing medical intervention could alleviate his symptoms I'd be pretty mad at him. He is paid to do a job. His stance also unfairly casts aspersions on other riders who legitimately use the TUE process.

If it is team policy then that is entirely another matter.

 

[Kwibus]

Re:

His attitude may be commendable but if I was his DS and knew that completely acceptable, non-performance enhancing medical intervention could alleviate his symptoms I'd be pretty mad at him. He is paid to do a job. His stance also unfairly casts aspersions on other riders who legitimately use the TUE process.

If it is team policy then that is entirely another matter.

In an interview I saw after I posted this he said that it's not even certain that the cortisone TUE will help against this heat allergy and it's not even certain he will get a TUE for it, but because it's not certain it will help he doesn't even want to try it.
So reading between his words it seemed to come down to that if there was a TUE that 100% worked against his allergy then he probably use it, but since it's all just vague and more just a wild shot that could potentially help him he doesn't want to do it.
He also said that if someone is not healthy he better should take rest instead of racing, which indeed is common sense.

 

[Fergoose]

Thanks, that position makes a lot more sense to me if he has not had a clear diagnosis and suggested treatment. I take it back Tim!

 

[Gigs_98]

I couldn't care less about the new chinese WT race but still, Wellens has now won a WT stage race for the 4th year in a row. Not exactly the most prestigious ones but that's still pretty impressive.

 

[Billie]

12 wt wins in his career now.

Costa has 16
LL Sanchez 16
De Gendt has 12
Thomas 6
Stybar 8
Spilak 8

All guys who are neither top end climbers or guys with a great sprint at the end.

Albasini has 18 but most of those were sprints.

 

[roundabout]

Re:

12 wt wins in his career now.

Costa has 16
LL Sanchez 16
De Gendt has 12
Thomas 6
Stybar 8
Spilak 8

All guys who are neither top end climbers or guys with a great sprint at the end.

Albasini has 18 but most of those were sprints.

Wellens has more than 12 if secondary jerseys are counted, De Gendt has less than 12 if only stages and GC are counted.

 

[Breh]

-Mallorca
-Ruta del Sol
-Omloop (!)
-Paris-Nice
-Catalunya
-AGR, FW, LBL
-Giro without GC ambitions
No Tour.

Probably Poland, Eneco and Canada into WC where he will probably get a free role. His contract ends in 2018 aswell.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

-Mallorca
-Ruta del Sol
-Omloop (!)
-Paris-Nice
-Catalunya
-AGR, FW, LBL
-Giro without GC ambitions
No Tour.

Probably Poland, Eneco and Canada into WC where he will probably get a free role. His contract ends in 2018 aswell.

No strade bianche? I hope he'll get in a lot of breaks in the giro and wins a few stages since that seems to be the only gt where he can do that.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Its very hard if not impossible to do really well in Paris-Nice after Bianche. SB is a perfect race for Wellens and the only reason he is has scheduled P-N ahead of T-A must be because he believe that P-N generally has the better route for him, which it definitely has. Much easier to go top-10 or even 5 in that race for a rider like him, generally, but it obviously depends on the route and startlist as usual.

 

[Breh]

Benoot is riding T-A. They have to keep Wellens and Benoot separated.

That said, I hope Lotto has a somewhat decent season. Their spring was terrible last year. But with Greipel aging, Valls and Gallopin leaving,.. I kinda fear for them. Benoot has to win something this year aswell

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re:

Benoot is riding T-A. They have to keep Wellens and Benoot separated.

That said, I hope Lotto has a somewhat decent season. Their spring was terrible last year. But with Greipel aging, Valls and Gallopin leaving,.. I kinda fear for them. Benoot has to win something this year aswell

They did manage to sign Campenaerts who recently finished third on the Belgian Beer mile championships (look it up).

 

[Samamba]

Wellens wil win the Omloop!
In exactly one week he will be dropping everyone on the Muur

 

[Velolover2]

Is he going for the GC in Paris-Nice? He should target more one-week races.

He could win a race like Pais Vasco.

 

[Gigs_98]

If he keeps this shape he could have one hell of a spring. The one big problem Wellens has is that basically all big races that suit him are before June which means that it's very hard to peak for all of them. He is strong in the one week stage races in spring, in the belgian cobbles classics, the Ardennes classics, SB, MSR, and the Giro is basically the only gt he is good for. Wellens basically needs one 4 month long monster peak from February to May. After that the only good WT races for him are Tour de Pologne, BinckBanck and the Canadian Classics and although those are the races he has been most successful at, these WT races are just not the same kind of calibre as the ones in spring.

 

[Samamba]

Re:

Is he going for the GC in Paris-Nice? He should target more one-week races.

It's his first real goal so he probably will, but I fear that Saturdays MTF will be too long for him.

 

[hfer07]

Wellens ready to challenge Don Alejandro in Fleche Wallonne? :surprised:

 

[HelloDolly]

Wellens ready to challenge Don Alejandro in Fleche Wallonne? :surprised:

Not really but LBL shoudl be a good bet

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Wellens ready to challenge Don Alejandro in Fleche Wallonne? :surprised:

Not really but LBL shoudl be a good bet

He bought property in Huy, so he could train there almost everyday. Only problem is that he recently moved to Monaco

 

[Samamba]

Wellens ready to challenge Don Alejandro in Fleche Wallonne? :surprised:

Not really but LBL shoudl be a good bet

He bought property in Huy, so he could train there almost everyday. Only problem is that he recently moved to Monaco

He will come back to Belgium if he decides to stay at Lotto. If he decides to sign with another team for next year he'll stay in Monaco.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

José Been claimed he extended untill 2020 today. However, I have to say that José Been is about as trusthworty as Fox News.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Wellens will hope for a cool period in the Ardennes than and preferrably with rain

Anything too sunny and warm and he's cooked

 

[movingtarget]

Wellens ready to challenge Don Alejandro in Fleche Wallonne? :surprised:

Not really but LBL shoudl be a good bet

Yeah underrated rider but not explosive enough to win the Fleche not on the inevitable hill climb sprint anyway.