Tour Match Up: Gesink v Van Den Broeck

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Gesink looked better today but I still cant see him bringing it.

 

[Moondance]

I think the real threat to Gesink now is that Rabo change tactic and try to support Lulu for the GC. Rabo would be colossally stupid not to try Lulu for the GC at least, especially given the much thinned herd going for the podium, and the lack of assurances that Gesink's apparent recovery today will continue. He'll certainly be freed up at this point.

By the way, stock in Lulu's season skyrocketed in just one afternoon. Just goes to show how quickly an entire season can be turned around

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I suspect they will play both cards or try to,
no way will they give up on gesink.

Luz Ardiden both will be protected I guess.
Mollema, Barredo and LTD have thier work cut out for them. the whole team does really.

 

[theyoungest]

What a difference a day makes.

 

[auscyclefan94]

What a difference a day makes.

He was good, but he's going to have a tough time to stay up there.

 

[Moondance]

Wow... This sheds some new light on Gesink's struggles on Saturday's stage. It was his late father's birthday, would've been 52. Poor kid.

 

[Ramira]

Wow... This sheds some new light on Gesink's struggles on Saturday's stage. It was his late father's birthday, would've been 52. Poor kid.

Yeah, just saw it too. That definitely explains his mental struggles. Just hope he'll be able to use tomorrow to get better both mentally and physically.

 

[Ramira]

Just saw the post-race interview Gesink gave today. He seems to be feeling a lot better, he might be pretty good again by thursday. I'm thinking with all the drop outs he might well end up top 5 in the end.

 

[Alberto Attack]

Really sucks the VDB crashed im a fan of his. I think he could of improved again from last year, il miss him in the mountains.

 

[will10]

Problem for Wiggins is he doesnt rate his own Dauphine win himself. For him The TDF is the only race in world cycling.

Not true, he was exceptionally pleased to win the overall if you go back and read the interviews.

 

[The Hitch]

Not true, he was exceptionally pleased to win the overall if you go back and read the interviews.

Well i saw him say a few days ago that it was nothing more than preperation for the Tour, besides when asked in the online interview about a year ago whether the Giro is important he said not really only Tour matters, even Dim was disapointed with that answer and of course Henderson said that Paris Nice was bigger than the Giro as it went through same regions as Tour and Sky only talk about Tour all year round, and Wiggins Dauphine win recieved little coverage even on Sky Sports News so i kind of did get the idea that they dont care for much besides Tour.

Sorry if I was wrong and also sorry for the long sentence.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Robert Gesink

What are the extent of his injuries? I didn't see him today but he basically finished in the front. What are the chances that with the rest day he can still ride well in the mountains.

 

[luckyboy]

Probably would've been best to post this in the Gesink vs VDB thread.

 

[The Hitch]

From what ive read he doesnt have injuries but felt really bad and said he was about to withdraw from the Tour yesteday, then felt good again today.

 

[Arnout]

It was his fathers birthday yesterday. Journalist on Dutch TV told that was part of the reason of yesterdays lacklustre performance and morale.

 

[luckyboy]

From what ive read he doesnt have injuries but felt really bad and said he was about to withdraw from the Tour yesteday, then felt good again today.

He has back bruising doesn't he? Or he did have.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Probably would've been best to post this in the Gesink vs VDB thread.

My bad. So I guess we don't really know how he will perform.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

From what ive read he doesnt have injuries but felt really bad and said he was about to withdraw from the Tour yesteday, then felt good again today.

no he does have injuries.
He has a bruised back and hasn't been able to generate power.
And thus cannot react to accelrations very well.

He still has this, but is recovering slowly.

 

[luckyboy]

I had a feeling that this year he would make a leap in performance. I think he's already lost too much time to podium but he can still perform well if he recovers from his injuries somewhat.
Sucks that the crashes have ****ed the GC race up.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I'm gutted for VDB2. It's never good to see a rider to crash out of a race, not to mention the most important race of the year.

I will say this though, some posters in here - they know who they are - were acting as though Gesink did not do enough to keep himself from taking a tumble and that VDB2 was a God on his bike and as a consequence has not, and will not fall off. As I mentioned before, it is a matter of luck in the end. Today has proven that, emphatically. I hope this shifts their perspective on this and that they can start thinking rationally before coming here and spewing their self-righteous babble. This is the most dramatic tour I have witnessed.

I take it you are talking about me. This doesn't change anything though. Chances of crashing or losing time by getting held up by a crash are a lot bigger if you ride further back. It's as simple as that and this goes for everyone, not just JVDB or Gesink. It however does not mean you can't crash when riding in the front. This was the only point i was making. There also doesn't seem to be any footage about the actual crash, so we can't really comment on that.

Anyway, JVDB won't be riding the Vuelta, the injuries are too severe. He won't be riding for 2 months according to the team doctor, eliminating all hope to ride the Vuelta.

Maybe he should reconsider riding only the TdF next time.

Soooo... anybody up for a topic TGBM vs Kevin De Weert?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I had a feeling that this year he would make a leap in performance. I think he's already lost too much time to podium but he can still perform well if he recovers from his injuries somewhat.
Sucks that the crashes have ****ed the GC race up.

yeah it is really annoying.

I doubt he will get to his best here.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

From what ive read he doesnt have injuries but felt really bad and said he was about to withdraw from the Tour yesteday, then felt good again today.

What were you reading? Or did you have something in your eyes while reading??

He is heavily bruised all over and therefore had/has serious lower back problems/pain.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

What were you reading? Or did you have something in your eyes while reading??

He is heavily bruised all over and therefore had/has serious lower back problems/pain.

I assume google translate or something is giving people wrong indications

The team seems in high spirits atm. Gesink said this ride did him good.
Hopefully he can bounce back, but I remain skeptical.

 

[Parrulo]

i hope 1 rest day + 2 conservatively ridden stages (i doubt the peloton will take a lot of risks till the mountains now) are enough for gesink and contador to recover. those 2 are needed so we can have a better show

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

i hope 1 rest day + 2 conservatively ridden stages (i doubt the peloton will take a lot of risks till the mountains now) are enough for gesink and contador to recover. those 2 are needed so we can have a better show

one can hope. as it stands andy could run away with it. he might even tow his brother with him

what a dream start for leopard