Tony Martin to win classics?

[Thomsena]

First of all - sorry if this has already been brought up in on of the many Tony Martin threads.

Since Tony has proven himself to be only a decent climber lately you would think that a change in the season plans could suit him? Could he be a podium candidate for a P-R, Flanders, Gent–Wevelgem? Tony is like Fabian a machine, tank, a train... What should be the main reason why Tony should fail this when Fabian is in his right element when riding the classics - They are very similar riders in many ways.

On the other hand, I guess, - He's no slave for Cavendish anymore so we might see a different Tony in the mountains.

 

[Ferminal]

I think he lacks a killer asset which makes him a natural winner of road stages. It seems TTs and TT heavy stage races are his forte.

 

[taiwan]

I've thought that before - considering that Cancellara is the best classics rider, and both Wiggins and Millar have been able to turn in impressive performances in P-R and RVV respectively at first attempt (I believe), why couldn't Martin and Grabsch have ridden the classics for HTC? Their squad could have done with strengthening (I know Goss won MSR, but it's a different race).

 

[saganftw]

ullrich was same machine in TT as cancelara or martin,he also never won classic (i think,to lazy to check)...he has the power but i think he lacks toughness and kick to drop everyone

 

[Ferminal]

ullrich was same machine in TT as cancelara or martin,he also never won classic (i think,to lazy to check)...he has the power but i think he lacks toughness and kick to drop everyone

He won gold in the Sydney RR, but that was more a 3 man TTT.

Oops you mean Martin

He's shown nothing in hilly classics.

 

[saganftw]

He won gold in the Sydney RR, but that was more a 3 man TTT.

Oops you mean Martin

He's shown nothing in hilly classics.

no i meant ulrich never won a classic...and by classic i mean april classic not olympic road race

 

[El Pistolero]

ullrich was same machine in TT as cancelara or martin,he also never won classic (i think,to lazy to check)...he has the power but i think he lacks toughness and kick to drop everyone

He won the Vattenvall when it was still considered prestigious(due to the World Cup) in a pretty impressive fashion.
And.... The Olympic road race

 

[El Pistolero]

no i meant ulrich never won a classic...and by classic i mean april classic not olympic road race

He podiumed some hilly classics. Won the Giro dell' Emilia as well.

 

[saganftw]

He podiumed some hilly classics. Won the Giro dell' Emilia as well.

but still no sign of him in P-R,flanders or gent-wevelgem which are the races OP is aiming for when he s comparing him to cancelara

thb i doubt tony can win either hilly or northern classics,if he drops weight he can probably pull a wiggins and go for top 10 in GTs

 

[El Pistolero]

but still no sign of him in P-R,flanders or gent-wevelgem which are the races OP is aiming for when he s comparing him to cancelara

thb i doubt tony can win either hilly or northern classics,if he drops weight he can probably pull a wiggins and go for top 10 in GTs

Don't think Ullrich ever gave them a serious try. I think he would make a better classics specialist than a GT contender giving his problems with his weight he had sometimes.

Tony is not explosive enough for hilly classics. Perhaps Roubaix and the Ronde now that he is with an experienced Belgian team I hope to see him in some Belgian races at least. Like the Ronde van België and the Driedaagse van de Panne.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I don't thonk that he's punchy enough to win classics. He's sprinting ablity is also average at best. So it will always be difficult for him to win from a small group. Of course with a little luck anything is possible.

 

[taiwan]

I don't thonk that he's punchy enough to win classics. He's sprinting ablity is also average at best. So it will always be difficult for him to win from a small group. Of course with a little luck anything is possible.

True in order to win he'd have to directly copy Cancellara's technique of attacking from tens of kms out. Might be not a little annoying for the swiss.

Maybe he could simply ride his break companions off his wheel. Not the top guys though.

 

[Duartista]

There must be a reason why he's never been seen as cobbles guy though. Maybe he isn't a very good bike handler - wasn't it him who caused the Frank Schleck crash in the 2010 TDF?

 

[dlwssonic]

Remember tony martin for 2011 LBL

 

[TourOfSardinia]

To take the low countries' classics vould the Panzerwaggon need to add Blitzkrieg to his armament ?

 

[just some guy]

To take the low countries' classics vould the Panzerwaggon need to add Blitzkrieg to his armament ?

Funny

and not going to happen until he loses some of ITT motor.

So not till 2013 at the earliest and probably a year after as Ferminal said

ITT,TTT and week longs with a long ITT be a good career for T Martin

 

[maltiv]

I think Tony Martin could win RVV or P-R. Sure, he will have to get away solo, but so does Cancellara and Tony Martin won't be even nearly as marked.

 

[Arnout]

There must be a reason why he's never been seen as cobbles guy though. Maybe he isn't a very good bike handler - wasn't it him who caused the Frank Schleck crash in the 2010 TDF?

He is a rather appalling bike handler. It isn't as bad as it was, but he used to lose contact on every downhill.

 

[Midnightfright]

Remember tony martin for 2011 LBL

If Tony Martin Top 10s in AGR, FW or LBL next year I wear an avatar of your choice for a year. He has almost zero punch.

 

[Parrulo]

maybe martin simple can't ride the cobbles? only a select few can ride the cobbles at a top level. nothing has ever pointed out that martin can do it.

he also is nowhere near a good enough climber to even challenge the hilly classics, not GT's.

he should just stick with 1 week races and time trialling.

 

[maltiv]

If Tony Martin Top 10s in AGR, FW or LBL next year I wear an avatar of your choice for a year. He has almost zero punch.

I seem to remember Tony Martin attacking the peloton on the flat in Tour de Romandie in the final kilometer. Vinokourov only won the stage because he wheelsucked Martin all the way to the finish. But anyone who can pull of such an attack has some punch at least.

 

[theyoungest]

If Tony Martin Top 10s in AGR, FW or LBL next year I wear an avatar of your choice for a year. He has almost zero punch.

He says 2011. Tony M went for LBL this year, and it didn't go so well. Which is probably why you don't remember.

I think he could be quite a good cobbles rider, but he might lack a bit of technique and positioning skills. Wasn't he the one who took down Fränk Schleck on the cobbles stage in the Tour last year?

 

[Parrulo]

He says 2011. Tony M went for LBL this year, and it didn't go so well. Which is probably why you don't remember.

I think he could be quite a good cobbles rider, but he might lack a bit of technique and positioning skills. Wasn't he the one who took down Fränk Schleck on the cobbles stage in the Tour last year?

ya bavarianrider was hyping martin for a top 10 in lbl against the entire forum but he barely made the top 100(exaggerating here i think)

 

[Gloin22]

ya bavarianrider was hyping martin for a top 10 in lbl against the entire forum but he barely made the top 100(exaggerating here i think)

He finished 52 at Liège - Bastogne - Liège and 89 Flèche Wallonne

 

[Parrulo]

He finished 52 at Liège - Bastogne - Liège and 89 Flèche Wallonne

doesn't really show any winning potential does it?