Tour Match Up: Gesink v Van Den Broeck

Page 32 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.

Who will finish higher in the Tour de France?

  • TGBM!!!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    0
Whole 2011 I have the feeling he is not the same anymore.

End of 2010 I thought he finally reached the top. Montreal and Emilia 2010 he really was a winner. Overflowing with confidence.

Since his dad died I don't know. Always so unsure... blew a sure victory in Tirreno by not being there mentally. Then had to get away for a week.
Good result in basque country but not convincing... below average ardennes week.

Then the build up to the Tour seemed well, uncharecteristic Dauphine for him (not going for GC). Weird Dutch national championships, with again an unexpected reaction.

And in the Tour he is mentally unrecognizable compared to earlier years. It's not the first time he has bad luck, but everytime, even when he was riding with a huge hole in his knee (vuelta 09) and a broken ulna (last years TDF) he always stayed positive no matter what.
But now he sounds and acts so negative and frustrated all the time. It's like he finally hit the 'limit' what he can take mentally and is now a wreck, both physical and mentally.
 
khodder said:
If you are riding in 20th and the first guy goes down, you have less time to react and possibly avoid/at least stay upright than if you are riding 50th.

It works both ways. There is just as much chance the guy next to you loses control and crahses into you if you are riding in the top 20 of a 5 wide Peloton or if you are riding 100th in the 4 wide peloton.

The only reason race position matter is not becasue of liklihood of accidents it is the possible outcome of those accidents. See being held up by a crash and losing a minute plus as opposed to those at the front who were in front of the crash.

Except that the chances are a lot smaller that the first guy (or guys) go(es) down simply because they can see what's ahead. Again, let's take the example of Armstrong: never fell except in a mountain stage climb. He always rode at the front of the peleton. You call this luck? Of course it has nothing to do with luck. Last year was the first ever tour he didn't ride in the front and what happened? Indurain wins 5 tours in a row, i'm sure he was lucky as well?
 
Jun 22, 2009
10,644
2
0
theyoungest said:
This is a different situation of course, but all season long it's seemed like our country's best cyclist doesn't really like what he's doing. Which is a pity. Maybe it's time for a sabbatical.

I have been worried about this also.
A rest might be wise. I think he really needed a good result here, just for his confidence.

Like DT mentioned, since his dad's death he has not seemed the same. It has been a difficult year for Gesink. Hopefully he can pull through I guess.
 
Jun 22, 2009
10,644
2
0
Parrulo said:
what gesink really needs is to man **** up.

what a wimp

:D

more or less he needs to find motivation again.

a shame this was gesink's last chance before the wilco express hits the pro peloton ;)
 
cineteq said:
Following your own special logic, I guess Soler needs to man up too :confused:
wh-double-facepalm.jpg
 
The Hitch said:
Gesink seems ok. He has yet to lose a second after his crash. Ive been accused of being dramatic with dismissing my guy when he lost real time so i think some of the posters on this thread deserve a similar title. The mountains are still a long way away. Even if he loses big time tomorow hell still be a lot better off than many others.

Come back to me when he is 2 minutes 30 down on his rivals.

I'm was the one calling you dramatic :D
I haven't said a word in this thread for ages though, but by now I don't think Gesink is a podium contender anymore. It would be a miracle if he didn't lose a ****load of time today.

This won't make me dramatic in the way that everything doesn't matter anymore. That's how you sounded the first days after Sammy lost time :)

I will enjoy the Tour with or without Gesink in the top10. Allthough I'm a bit sad that we lost out so many GC contenders so far. And I'm not counting Gesink yet as he's just over a minute down.
 
killswitch said:
Garate could go for KOM, TGBM for white jersey, Lulu can get in breaks and make the top ten like last year, Barredo also for breaks...

Garate has a fractured bone in his arm. His injury is worse than Gesinks. I think the only reason he's still riding is that he's very dedicated to supporting Gesink in the mountains. Once Gesinks steps down I expect Garate to do the same.
 
The Hitch said:
Looks like we are both screwed. At least Gesink has another 10 years of TDF left in him. This was Samus last chance.

Allthough you never know. I mean Horner is still getting better ;)
The chances of him getting worse are ofcourse bigger. Do you know if Sammy will ride the Vuelta?
 
Kwibus said:
Allthough you never know. I mean Horner is still getting better ;)
The chances of him getting worse are ofcourse bigger. Do you know if Sammy will ride the Vuelta?

No he wont ride the Vuelta. Which is extremely ironic.

The reason Samu is eliminated before the race starts at the Tour is because his team is so weak and yet he cant ride the Vuelta because his team is too strong - Anton and Nieve are reserved for that one.

But will probably ride next years Giro. If he can manage peak for that hed surely be the favourite (Basso Contador and Schleck will probably go for the Tour)
 
Jun 22, 2009
10,644
2
0
The Hitch said:
No he wont ride the Vuelta. Which is extremely ironic.

The reason Samu is eliminated before the race starts at the Tour is because his team is so weak and yet he cant ride the Vuelta because his team is too strong - Anton and Nieve are reserved for that one.

But will probably ride next years Giro. If he can manage peak for that hed surely be the favourite (Basso Contador and Schleck will probably go for the Tour)

I have a feeling nibbles does tour next year and basso does the giro again.

I was thinking maybe gesink should try the giro + vuelta next year. Stay away from the chaos and build his confidence again. Ofc Rabo wouldn't allow that i bet .
 
Gesink and Rabo get some money and exposure for him being in White. If hes feeling that bad maybe hes only staying in the race as long as he is in white?

Kelly suggests maybe crash didnt effect Gesink too much and he wasnt on form. Not my opinion, just repeating what he said.
 
Mar 10, 2009
7,268
1
0
The Hitch said:
Gesink and Rabo get some money and exposure for him being in White. If hes feeling that bad maybe hes only staying in the race as long as he is in white?

Kelly suggests maybe crash didnt effect Gesink too much and he wasnt on form. Not my opinion, just repeating what he said.

Van Poppel yesterday said a similar thing. He questioned Gesink's Dauphine performance (not going for GC, 'softpedalling' some stages) and his national championship performance. He also thought that he might not have been in peak form.
 
Mar 10, 2009
7,268
1
0
Dekker_Tifosi said:
I could be a real **** and get all the quotes back, like DM would do. But I won't

I feel very sad for Van den Broeck, who just like Gesink prepared this Tour for months... all in vain.
This is total BS

A whole year down the drain. That's why I think these guys should take advantage of their form when they have it, like in the Dauphine. Look at Wiggins, he crashed out, but at least he still has that win.

The TdF is such an overriding goal for riders, it is farcical.
 
Jun 22, 2009
10,644
2
0
The vuelta organizersmyst be somewhat thrilled tho. :p
That race looks a lot mote mouth watering then a week ago. Assuming all the riders go.