Teams & Riders Tom Dumoulin discussion thread

[kiszol]

Re:

Tbh I think he is dead exhausted and ride's Velon purely because he must. If he didn't he wouldve ended his season I'm pretty sure

After what he achieved he has every right to end his season now or do whatever races he still want to do. It's very possible that he must ride the Hammer series, but maybe he wouldn't ride Lombardia even if mustn't.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

Tbh I think he is dead exhausted and ride's Velon purely because he must. If he didn't he wouldve ended his season I'm pretty sure

After what he achieved he has every right to end his season now or do whatever races he still want to do. It's very possible that he must ride the Hammer series, but maybe he wouldn't ride Lombardia even if mustn't.

Like Spekenbrink and Kemna ever cared for what anyone deserved. The horse will ride what it's told to ride, because the team's sponsors demand it.

With a smile, of course.

 

[kiszol]

Well, sure you are right, but if Spekenbrink and Kemna are smart they won't overburden Dumoulin with sponsor duties. He have to do a few for sure.

 

[Vesica]

Re:

Tbh I think he is dead exhausted and ride's Velon purely because he must. If he didn't he wouldve ended his season I'm pretty sure

Dumoulin himself stated that he's looking forward to ride in Hongkong.

https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/dumoulin-en-groenewegen-teamcaptains-in-hammer-series-hong-kong/
(durch article, but the message is the one I said above)

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Tbh I think he is dead exhausted and ride's Velon purely because he must. If he didn't he wouldve ended his season I'm pretty sure

After what he achieved he has every right to end his season now or do whatever races he still want to do. It's very possible that he must ride the Hammer series, but maybe he wouldn't ride Lombardia even if mustn't.

Like Spekenbrink and Kemna ever cared for what anyone deserved. The horse will ride what it's told to ride, because the team's sponsors demand it.

With a smile, of course.

Exactly.

I never understand why people take quotes at face value when they wouldn't say the opposite if it were true.

 

[dacooley]

hilarious fact is right now through a series of 2nd and 4th places tom has pretty much become the best rider in the world imo.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He was on Dutch TV stating he really wants to go TDF next year and also have a peak in the hilly classics if that is the case. However he did not want to confirm that as a definite because he still says if he doesn't like the TDF route he still might decide differently.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

He was on Dutch TV stating he really wants to go TDF next year and also have a peak in the hilly classics if that is the case. However he did not want to confirm that as a definite because he still says if he doesn't like the TDF route he still might decide differently.

Also talked of how tough it was to do 2 GTs in a row, so it seems it's only the Tour for 2019.

 

[Blanco]

Re:

hilarious fact is right now through a series of 2nd and 4th places tom has pretty much become the best rider in the world imo.

Best no, one of the best yes.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't really think there's any 'best rider' in the peloton right now. But if I'm forced to choose, I'm definitely leaning toward Dumoulin.

 

[rick james]

Aye he’s the best if you consider being the runner up the best

 

[Red Rick]

Best doesn't equate to most succesful.

 

[staubsauger]

Re: Re:

He was on Dutch TV stating he really wants to go TDF next year and also have a peak in the hilly classics if that is the case. However he did not want to confirm that as a definite because he still says if he doesn't like the TDF route he still might decide differently.

Also talked of how tough it was to do 2 GTs in a row, so it seems it's only the Tour for 2019.

Just heard it in the news on SLAM! as well, sounds like pragmatic decision-making IMHO!

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Best doesn't equate to most succesful.

True. Which is why Sagan beyond doubt has been the best rider for the last many years.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Re: Re:

Best doesn't equate to most succesful.

True. Which is why Sagan beyond doubt has been the best rider for the last many years.

If there's a rider around who, in the previous 4 years, has won 3 Tours, a Giro and a Vuelta, in addition to a couple of other GT podiums, by default, they're pretty much the world's best rider, almost regardless of the results of any other rider and how much they're disliked on this forum. That's pretty legendary form, almost for any era. Hell, just a few months ago, he held all GT titles simultaneously.

 

[Red Rick]

Not by default, but it takes some serious domination in other races to stand up to that.

It depends on what period where talking, but Froome probably tops the list this decade.

Although actually if we count 2010 then I think there's a solid case for Nibali.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah Nibali won all GT's + monuments like MSR and Lombardy.

Froome is more of a, sorry to say, 1 trick pony. His wins at GT's and stage races only. And he didn't even do a solid top 10 in a one day race that matters

 

[tobydawq]

I was just going by Red Rick's admission that the best rider doesn't need to be the most successful.

Nibali has probably been close to the most successful rider of recent years but especially since he stopped being relevant for 80% of the season, he is IMO quite far from claiming the honours of being the best, ability-wise, rider in the peloton.

To me, that's Sagan because he can win on so much different terrain and he is always the reference point of any race he rides (with the recent Worlds as a very rare exception).

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Yeah Nibali won all GT's + monuments like MSR and Lombardy.

Froome is more of a, sorry to say, 1 trick pony. His wins at GT's and stage races only. And he didn't even do a solid top 10 in a one day race that matters

Never mind solid top 10s, does he even have any top 10s in one day road races?

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

I was just going by Red Rick's admission that the best rider doesn't need to be the most successful.

Nibali has probably been close to the most successful rider of recent years but especially since he stopped being relevant for 80% of the season, he is IMO quite far from claiming the honours of being the best, ability-wise, rider in the peloton.

To me, that's Sagan because he can win on so much different terrain and he is always the reference point of any race he rides (with the recent Worlds as a very rare exception).

I don't discount Nibali cause in the biggest races he really does bring it everywhere he can. Minor stage races are the least relevant for me if we're talking best rider in the world. Now this year Nibali is kinda nowhere but if he say podiums Tour and Worlds he's up there.

Best 3 riders of the year are Froome, Dumoulin and Yates for me.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

I was just going by Red Rick's admission that the best rider doesn't need to be the most successful.

Nibali has probably been close to the most successful rider of recent years but especially since he stopped being relevant for 80% of the season, he is IMO quite far from claiming the honours of being the best, ability-wise, rider in the peloton.

To me, that's Sagan because he can win on so much different terrain and he is always the reference point of any race he rides (with the recent Worlds as a very rare exception).

I don't discount Nibali cause in the biggest races he really does bring it everywhere he can. Minor stage races are the least relevant for me if we're talking best rider in the world. Now this year Nibali is kinda nowhere but if he say podiums Tour and Worlds he's up there.

Best 3 riders of the year are Froome, Dumoulin and Yates for me.

What if Valverde wins Lombardia?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I don't really think there's any 'best rider' in the peloton right now. But if I'm forced to choose, I'm definitely leaning toward Dumoulin.

Dumoulin, Sagan, Froomey, Valverde - comes down to who you like the best I think. Then you have Thomas, Yates, Greg etc.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well in recent times I haven't seen much riders who did 2 GT's (both on podium) + WC TTT, ITT and RR (2x on podium and 4th) so that makes it one of the best riders in this season. But you can't say the best, because it's missing the win. With a bit better judgment in tactics and a shade more luck he could've won at least 2 of them

For me the best rider was Valverde because he did 2 GT's in a row, while also contending for the win in 1, and actually winning the worlds straight after. Plus ofcourse a *** load of wins in the spring.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

I was just going by Red Rick's admission that the best rider doesn't need to be the most successful.

Nibali has probably been close to the most successful rider of recent years but especially since he stopped being relevant for 80% of the season, he is IMO quite far from claiming the honours of being the best, ability-wise, rider in the peloton.

To me, that's Sagan because he can win on so much different terrain and he is always the reference point of any race he rides (with the recent Worlds as a very rare exception).

I don't discount Nibali cause in the biggest races he really does bring it everywhere he can. Minor stage races are the least relevant for me if we're talking best rider in the world. Now this year Nibali is kinda nowhere but if he say podiums Tour and Worlds he's up there.

Best 3 riders of the year are Froome, Dumoulin and Yates for me.

What if Valverde wins Lombardia?

Then he takes it for me

 

[shalgo]

Re: Re:

Yeah Nibali won all GT's + monuments like MSR and Lombardy.

Froome is more of a, sorry to say, 1 trick pony. His wins at GT's and stage races only. And he didn't even do a solid top 10 in a one day race that matters

Never mind solid top 10s, does he even have any top 10s in one day road races?

2007:
8th, Tour du Doubs (1.1)
2008:
3rd, Giro dell'Appennino (1.1)
2009:
4th, National Championships Great Britain R.R.
9th, GP Nobili Rubinetterie - Borgomanero (1.1)

As far as I can tell, none since then.