Tour Match Up: Gesink v Van Den Broeck

[Bavarianrider]

Gesink is simply too soft for the Tour, so i am picking JvB

But they'll both finish behind Tony M anyway

 

[El Pistolero]

Me saying Robert is a better climber than VDB is being snarky against him?

The only thing I'm questioning here is his bike handling skills over a course of 3 weeks. It doesn't matter if VDB had zero wins. You don't need to have a win to finish in front of Gesink at the Tour. Just look at last year.

 

[theyoungest]

Same denial the Dutchies have for Boom at the classics

Huh? It's mostly the Belgies who need a nemesis, and thus take Boom, because he used to be their nemesis in some B-list sport.

First thing Gesink has to proof to me is that he can get through a GT without falling.

He's done that once already

 

[Franklin]

Completely agree.

But I've always been bearish on Boom. In theory he has a masses of promise, but the best he can hope for, and he needs a lot of luck with this, is to end up in sort of George Hincapie territory. A few good wins here and there in other races, and a podium or two, but no big marquee classics wins.

I'm sorry but he's nothing like Big George. I'm not even sure where you get that crazy idea.

first of all they are quite different where Lars actually has a lot of punch (he wins Prologues)

At 22 winning Dutch Championship, 23 winning a GT stage, 25 winning the prologue of P-N. Look at George's first three years and say the same thing again.

I'd reserve judgement about Lars a bit longer, he's rather young

 

[jobiwan]

Im seeing some nice factions emerging here.

Gesink - Moondance, Timmy, Ruben, youngest, Havets, Kwibus a few others.

JVDB- Pistrollero, Michael, Buffalo Soldier (boomcie?, thirteen)

Samu Sanchez- The Hitch, NV Pachi, (Ferminal, Libertine Seguros?)

Evans- ACF,dlwssonic, Sporzchick (if she finds her way) back, Tuarts, blaxland, bicing, greenedge a few others.








Soler - Ryo Hazuki

Any other takers?

I like everybody, I am an equal-opportunity rooter.
But I do root for Baby Schleck

 

[jobiwan]

As for the poll, TGBM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!












Seriously though, Gesink is the choice by a mile.

 

[Franklin]

Me saying Robert is a better climber than VDB is being snarky against him?

Yes, because well, picking JvdB over RG is amusing to say the least. It's picking the naive guy over someone who actually wins races. Also this being more climbing centric... all you can hope for is that RG falls.

Seems your own faith in JvdB is rather limited.

You guys finally get someone who can get over a molehill... and he lack any real racing instinct. I feel for you

The only thing I'm questioning here is his bike handling skills over a course of 3 weeks.

I know, just like JvdB with his TT bike?

 

[Flamin]

Gesink has more natural climbing ability and probably still a bigger margin of improvement than VDB2.

But Jurgen will be better than last year too, having built his entire season around the Tour again. Also, he's carrying the experience of being the team's leader and he'll know better how to handle the pressure from the annoying Belgian media now. The presence of Gilbert and Greipel will be good for him too, to take a bit more of the pressure off.

Close call anyway. In the future, I'd say Gesink, now I don't know.

 

[Barrus]

Same denial the Dutchies have for Boom at the classics

First thing Gesink has to proof to me is that he can get through a GT without falling. Hence my vote.

I doubt many Dutchies expected Boom to really have a significant role in the classics, it was clear that Boom would not yet be able to cope with the distance of these races.

Anyway, provided that there are no strange mechanicals or injuries/crashes I need to say that I see a good chance for Gesink to come out of top of these two riders

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

As a Belgian, I have to vote VDB.
Although Gesink is so much more talented, that even might happen...

 

[DenisMenchov]

I am neutral about their nationalities, because I m not Dutch nor Belgian, but I must say that JVDB is clearly the better cyclist. Considering he is better TTer, and that he can stay upright, he will place higher than Gesink, also his climbing style is much much better than Roberts. I don t like his yo-yo style of getting dropped every time the pace goes up. On the other hand Jurgen is always close to the front and reacts to attacks.

Yes he doesn t have a pro victory, but who would be insane to let him in a break??? Also he only peaks for the TOUR while Gesink has more peaks in a season.

Both Omega and Rabo are doing a great job and have good squads so it will be interesting but I ll say that JVDB beats Gesink by 3 minutes and finishes on podium.

 

[Havetts]

Oehh, I smell a bet thread being bumped .

 

[DenisMenchov]

The sad thing is that I rate Jurgen higher than the Belgians

 

[hrotha]

I am neutral about their nationalities, because I m not Dutch nor Belgian, but I must say that JVDB is clearly the better cyclist. Considering he is better TTer, and that he can stay upright, he will place higher than Gesink, also his climbing style is much much better than Roberts. I don t like his yo-yo style of getting dropped every time the pace goes up. On the other hand Jurgen is always close to the front and reacts to attacks.

Yes he doesn t have a pro victory, but who would be insane to let him in a break??? Also he only peaks for the TOUR while Gesink has more peaks in a season.

Both Omega and Rabo are doing a great job and have good squads so it will be interesting but I ll say that JVDB beats Gesink by 3 minutes and finishes on podium.

Wow.
First of all, I don't think Van den Broeck is a better TTer. Have you seen Gesink this year, or any other year except for 2010? He's pretty decent.
Then you're saying having more than one peak somehow makes Gesink a worse rider than Van den Broeck, just because Jurgen sacrifices his whole season for a chance to be in the top 5 again. Maybe Van den Broeck only peaks for the Tour because he'd be otherwise a very average rider?

 

[maltiv]

I am neutral about their nationalities, because I m not Dutch nor Belgian, but I must say that JVDB is clearly the better cyclist. Considering he is better TTer, and that he can stay upright, he will place higher than Gesink, also his climbing style is much much better than Roberts. I don t like his yo-yo style of getting dropped every time the pace goes up. On the other hand Jurgen is always close to the front and reacts to attacks

...D_T, where art thou? This guy needs a Gesink-TT lesson!

 

[theyoungest]

I am neutral about their nationalities, because I m not Dutch nor Belgian, but I must say that JVDB is clearly the better cyclist. Considering he is better TTer

WTF? No way he is a better TTer than Gesink.

and that he can stay upright

Except of course for his famous crash in the TTT

I don t like his yo-yo style of getting dropped every time the pace goes up. On the other hand Jurgen is always close to the front and reacts to attacks.

Clearly you've only ever watched the Tour? Take a look at this, for instance. Or look up any mountain stage from the Vuelta 2009.

 

[vcampbell]

As a non belgian Van den Broeck. He will be a beast at the Tour. Gesink? He will do a Menchov@Giro

 

[DenisMenchov]

Wow.
First of all, I don't think Van den Broeck is a better TTer. Have you seen Gesink this year, or any other year except for 2010? He's pretty decent.
Then you're saying having more than one peak somehow makes Gesink a worse rider than Van den Broeck, just because Jurgen sacrifices his whole season for a chance to be in the top 5 again. Maybe Van den Broeck only peaks for the Tour because he'd be otherwise a very average rider?

OK, I havent put it right. Jurgen is better cyclist in July, therefore he will finish higher in the Tour.

I wonder what does it take to a become good rider if an average can finish 5th (4th)in the Tour ?

 

[Franklin]

Considering he is better TTer,

Perhaps, perhaps not... this season it seems RG is quite adept at his TT.

and that he can stay upright

Like on his TT bike

, he will place higher than Gesink, also his climbing style is much much better than Roberts.

I would say you are about the only one actually thinking JvdB is a better climber. As you actually said "much, much" I do have to wonder about your bias.

I don t like his yo-yo style of getting dropped every time the pace goes up. On the other hand Jurgen is always close to the front and reacts to attacks.

It becomes a bit more clear now.... you only watched last years TdF where Robert was the domestique. Because had you seen the Vuelta's he participated in you would think differently.

Yes he doesn t have a pro victory, but who would be insane to let him in a break???

Insane statement ahoy. Yes, insane. This logic would mean that no climber/GT specialist would ever win a stage. I'm sorry, JvdB just doesn;t win stages because he lacks the ability... be it punch or smarts.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I would say you are about the only one actually thinking JvdB is a better climber. As you actually said "much, much" I do have to wonder about your bias.


.

No I never sad he is better climber, just that his climbing style is better



EDIT: Yes watched 2009 Vuelta, the one where Gesink crashed (again).

 

[theyoungest]

No I never sad he is better climber, just that his climbing style is better

Personally I don't think either of them has a great style on the bike, but okay.

 

[Havetts]

EDIT: Yes watched 2009 Vuelta, the one where Gesink crashed (again).

Infact it was Mosquera who fell and took Gesink with him.

 

[DenisMenchov]

Infact it was Mosquera who fell and took Gesink with him.

To be honest I don t remember that fall, but I remember that Gesink was good 2nd before that, no?


Just to be clear I m no Gesink hater, in fact i used to like him.

 

[Bavarianrider]

By the way, does anyone know how much these two guys weigh? Offical dates on homepages are often not true. They are both roughly 1.86m aren't they?

 

[Moondance]

By the way, does anyone know how much these two guys weigh? Offical dates on homepages are often not true. They are both roughly 1.86m aren't they?

The 68k for Gesink and 69k for Van Den Broeck is what was on Wikipedia. Therefore I imagine they are very much wrong