You are right with the criteria you use. But Evenepoel undoubtedly has other strengths, such as daring to attack (as Pogacar has). Once he has a lead, he is difficult to catch back. If the big three work together to crack Evenepoel, he will indeed not have a chance. But it remains to be seen whether Vingegaard, probably not yet 100%, will take the initiative (to chase Evenepoel). And the relation between Vingegaard and Roglic ? Hm... I'm not sure. And Pogacar, having made hughe impression during the Giro..... I think Vingegaard and Roglic will stay in the wheel of Pogacar... at least the first part of the Tour.
You are right with the criteria you use. But Evenepoel undoubtedly has other strengths, such as daring to attack (as Pogacar has). Once he has a lead, he is difficult to catch back. If the big three work together to crack Evenepoel, he will indeed not have a chance. But it remains to be seen whether Vingegaard, probably not yet 100%, will take the initiative (to chase Evenepoel). And the relation between Vingegaard and Roglic ? Hm... I'm not sure. And Pogacar, having made hughe impression during the Giro..... I think Vingegaard and Roglic will stay in the wheel of Pogacar... at least the first part of the Tour.
Vlasov? Come on Matxin... I think you're a better cycling analyst than that. Anyone with a minimum of cycling vision and analytical skills knows that in 3 weeks and specially in mountain stages with a great expenditure of kilojoules Vlasov is clearly below even Hindley (and Ayuso,Both Yates, Carlos, Carapaz, Mas, Maybe Bernal , etc.)
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Vlasov is a gc rider for a Vuelta with lots of unipuerto stages, not for the Tour or a proper Giro.
But “Big 4” is mental construct and will reflect what people think “big” means, and perhaps also what country one lives in. There’s no doubt in my mind that Remco is one of the Big 4 in terms of media attention and fan interest, even if GT palmares don’t match the others.
Folks may argue about what constitutes a Triple Crown in bike racing, but the parameters are narrower because they (wins) are tangible.
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Media and fan attention yes, just like Anthrax was part of the big 4 because they were among the top 4 Thrash Metal bands when it came to record sales.😉
Jokes aside, I get why people put him in that conversation.
Everyone agrees Roglic was easily winning 2022
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Can't wait for mountain goat Vlasov to do a frome sestriere raid on cime de la bonette
- Nov 16, 2013
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Yes, he should just say that he'd swat him away like a fly and complain he would even have to play the match
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No. But there's a lot of room between that and what Nadal would always say.Yes, he should just say that he'd swat him away like a fly and complain he would even have to play the match
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Yet you'd have to really dislike him in order to have a problem with it (and mock his accent while at it).
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No, and no.
In fact, in tennis circles it's probably Nadal fans who meme his English the most, because his quotes stand out a lot and it's all in good fun.
And you may remember I've made jokes about Nibali speaking a full 2 words of English himself.
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Alright but I also remember how you mocked his injuries as if they obviously were nothing, which I'm entirely sure is a major misinterpretation on your part.
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Well I hate Rafael Nadal. There, I said it.
I loved Roland Garros when I was a kid (Gustavo Kuerten!) & then Nadal came along & made it the most dullest thing ever. All his victories were equally cr*p in my mind & I cheered for all the victims he executed in every one of his finals with the vain hope they'd somehow pull off a miracle.
Now imagine in cycling if someone won the TdF half of 14 times? It would be... sh*t. And it was sh*t, actually.
It's also why I'd always cheer against anyone who gives 'dominatrix' serial winner vibes in any sport, i.e. winning stuff a million times (& people inexplicably supporting that for xyz reasons) just doesn't appeal to me, at all. We need suspense, drama, 'unexpected' outcomes. That's what makes sport glorious. Not supermen.
I loved Roland Garros when I was a kid (Gustavo Kuerten!) & then Nadal came along & made it the most dullest thing ever. All his victories were equally cr*p in my mind & I cheered for all the victims he executed in every one of his finals with the vain hope they'd somehow pull off a miracle.
Now imagine in cycling if someone won the TdF half of 14 times? It would be... sh*t. And it was sh*t, actually.
It's also why I'd always cheer against anyone who gives 'dominatrix' serial winner vibes in any sport, i.e. winning stuff a million times (& people inexplicably supporting that for xyz reasons) just doesn't appeal to me, at all. We need suspense, drama, 'unexpected' outcomes. That's what makes sport glorious. Not supermen.
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So nice of Zverev to do the same for this year‘s 1st round, great tribute to Rafa.
Matxin in disguise sat on a random roadside in Tinges for the last month waiting for Jumbo Visma riders like
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Yates and Almeida will probably work in the peloton, on the mountains. I don't believe Ayuso will be doing that. They will protect him, and launch him before Pogacar to make pressure on the other teams.
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I wasn't talking about a scenario like that. If ayuso attacks previously, his own teammate will not chase him.
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It's like the Tennis big 4, then Remco is Andy Murray in this analogy please don't kill me @Red Rick
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I'm still hoping that Soler is there and goes off in the break as he is wont to do.
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