Tour Match Up: Gesink v Van Den Broeck

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He won Montreal last year and finished 3rd in Quebec.

And I know Gilbert will participate. But... nothing is said.

 

[Spine Concept]

Lol? Just to get his *** kicked by a better rider in Canadian races? What a shame.... His talents are suited to the Vuelta.

He actually did pretty good at those Canadian races last year, coming in 3rd in Montreal and winning the one in Quebec - or the other way around. You tend to underestimate him a bit I feel. Though he will probably suck for the rest of the year, it just has not been his season, in football we call that a shocker. Hopefully he can work on the psychological ramifications that his father's passing left him in order to get past this. It's a shame he won't be able to add the white jersey to his collection of wins.

 

[El Pistolero]

He won Montreal last year and finished 3rd in Quebec.

And I know Gilbert will participate. But... nothing is said.

I'm just saying.Gilbert is skipping the Vuelta because his talents are more suited to one day races. Gesink should do the same and start in the Vuelta. I wouldn't mind him winning there and I think he can if he was in tip top shape.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hey he can still win the awesome Tour of Colorado The 5th GT probably

 

[Spine Concept]

I'm just saying.Gilbert is skipping the Vuelta because his talents are more suited to one day races. Gesink should do the same and start in the Vuelta. I wouldn't mind him winning there and I think he can if he was in tip top shape.

It's not that I doubt his abilities, but I think it has been a mental struggle for him all season. Thus, I doubt he would perform up to standard were he to contest the Vuelta. He - and the Rabo squad - probably realizes this as well, hence the forgone Vuelta.

 

[luckyboy]

Sucks he's not at the Vuelta.

 

[Bala Verde]

Hey he can still win the awesome Tour of Colorado The 5th GT probably

All that awesomeness is available here.

http://www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com/

Should be a fun stage race though. CO is beautiful.

Funny because RAB is not listed as a participating team.

 

[taiwan]

What danger? It's a forum, like you said right after the first part of your post. Furthermore, who was hyping? Most opinions in here were based on facts and observations. I think you're barking up the wrong tree here, this belongs in the Tony Martin thread, where the predictions are definitely more unlikely to happen than the speculations in here. I do not think anyone in here said that either Gesink or VDB2 would win the tour, they were both aiming for the last podium spot. That objective is a realistic one. Unfortunately they are both out of contention now due to force majeure, nothing we could have done about it. However, that doesn't mean we won't discuss their chances anymore in the future. That's why this is a cycling forum, where else would we discuss these things?

Yeah, the claims were realistic - I think I had Gesink 4th or something in my top ten - but the amount of coverage these riders get is disproportionate to their chances. I suppose the danger is people getting overexcited about what their homeboy is going to do in the Tour and then being let down harshly if they have bad luck or even just don't perform. There could have been ten guys going for the last podium spot. if you don't fixate yourself on on rider from your country, then you can still enjoy the race when the unexpected inevitably happens. The other danger is that the volume of chat about these guys, if not the content, misleads others about their ability, so the guy you like becomes overrated. I mean the other danger is theat half way through the Tour there's a residual thread about your boy's freshly dead chances, which looks a little daft.

But clearly this is a personal opinion and a lot of people are on the edge of their seats waitiing for the next fantastic adventure of Bauke Mollema, so knock yourselves out.

Actually, what I don't get is that at Podium Cafe which is basically American, there seems to be a pro Rabo slant - they love 'em. Why single them out?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

No Vuelta for Gesink

Telegraaf reports that he decided not to ride the Vuelta, but instead ride the awesome Tour of Colorado (a new race with a lot of climbing), and then Quebec/Montreal (like last year).

I'm slightly dissapointed

meh, I'm not sure I saw him doing anything at the vuelta. The tour would have been taxing.

I'm more or less at the stage of calling this season a write off and hope for a more positive one next year. I know the talent and ability is there.

I probably should have included that I'm all for Kelderman in any race he's in. He's an awesome talent like that . I do not expect him in a GT in his first year as a pro of course.
I am, however, excited about the prospect of Kruijswijk at the tour, no more relying solely on Gesink. That might actually work at the advantage of both of them, taking the pressure off a bit. I rate Kruijswijk higher than Mollema so I'd be more comfortable with the former being co-leader. Maybe I'm getting carried away by his latest Giro performance, but you have to admit he was nothing short of awesome vis-a-vis last year. One has to contemplate where he would have ended in the GC had he not gone on the attack in one of the stages and lost a substantial amount of time after being caught by the peloton. Not only considering the time lost but also the energy spent/wasted by staying in the thinned out lead group.

it would be a shame tho, if mollema, gesink and kruijswijk all did the tour.

Would much rather see one of them give the giro a serious go. In fact I'd like to see kruijswijk have one more go.

Wandering if slagter will get another go at the vuelta after his early exit at the giro.

I am excited to see wilco's level in the WT races tho.

 

[The Hitch]

No Vuelta for Gesink

Telegraaf reports that he decided not to ride the Vuelta, but instead ride the awesome Tour of Colorado (a new race with a lot of climbing), and then Quebec/Montreal (like last year).

I'm slightly dissapointed

Gesink has crossed the Rubicon in this Tour. Hes done too much of it by now to be on top form for the Vuelta.

Hes hurt, perhaps feeling a bit weak mentally and hes likely going to have the entire Tour in his legs by August.

No way is he going to go into the Vuelta at 100% or even 90%

And that means Nibali flying away from Gesink on Angiliru.

Which is a nightmare scenario for yourself.

Your better off watching him beat up on Team Jelly Belly in the Tour of Colorado.

Besides he has to defend his GP Montreal victory.

There's one Polish rider currently at the Tour who's doing better than all Dutch ones.

Wow. I could have changed a lot of avatars by making that bet.

 

[Spine Concept]

Yeah, the claims were realistic - I think I had Gesink 4th or something in my top ten - but the amount of coverage these riders get is disproportionate to their chances. I suppose the danger is people getting overexcited about what their homeboy is going to do in the Tour and then being let down harshly if they have bad luck or even just don't perform. There could have been ten guys going for the last podium spot. if you don't fixate yourself on on rider from your country, then you can still enjoy the race when the unexpected inevitably happens. The other danger is that the volume of chat about these guys, if not the content, misleads others about their ability, so the guy you like becomes overrated. I mean the other danger is theat half way through the Tour there's a residual thread about your boy's freshly dead chances, which looks a little daft.

I'm sorry but I simply disagree with you. The amount of coverage they get is directly proportional to the amount of fans they have on this forum and how much they believe in their riders. What did you expect? Gesink is THE Dutch hope in this tour, same goes for VDB2 for the Belgians. Furthermore, it's kind of odd that you say we fixate on them in a thread that is intended for those very riders. You ought to be happy most of this Gesink and VDB2 talk happens in here and not in unrelated threads. As for the misleading bit, that's tosh. I already mentioned this before, no one in here has given an unrealistic prediction. How is that overrating? We use historical data and observations to gauge their chances. If the ''others'' choose to overrate them it's their own doing. As far as the thread looking a bit silly, that's easily said in hindsight isn't it? Had Gesink or VDB2 ended up on the podium after an epic battle this thread would be genius. The unfortunate events that took out both of them could have happened to any of the contenders, ask Wiggins, Kloden, Leipheimer, Brajkovic, Vino. Everything's 20-20 in hindsight.

But clearly this is a personal opinion and a lot of people are on the edge of their seats waitiing for the next fantastic adventure of Bauke Mollema, so knock yourselves out.

That is indeed a personal opinion, which you are entitled to as we are ours. We choose to talk about them, a lot. As far as Mollema is concerned, there is a mix of genuine expectations - cause he ís talented - and a running joke on this forum where they tend to over-hype him. I assume you can make that distinction.

Actually, what I don't get is that at Podium Cafe which is basically American, there seems to be a pro Rabo slant - they love 'em. Why single them out?

Ask them. It's their website. You don't have to go there if you don't like it.

 

[El Pistolero]

Let's see today if Vanendert is the real deal. Then it's going to be Kruijswijk vs Gesink vs VDB2 vs Vanendert.

 

[Spine Concept]

Let's see today if Vanendert is the real deal. Then it's going to be Kruijswijk vs Gesink vs VDB2 vs Vanendert.

I really hope he is. Would be epic.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Let's see today if Vanendert is the real deal. Then it's going to be Kruijswijk vs Gesink vs VDB2 vs Vanendert.

In a few decades we will remember these men as apart of the pre-wilco era.

 

[Spine Concept]

Gesink has crossed the Rubicon in this Tour. Hes done too much of it by now to be on top form for the Vuelta.

Hes hurt, perhaps feeling a bit weak mentally and hes likely going to have the entire Tour in his legs by August.

No way is he going to go into the Vuelta at 100% or even 90%

And that means Nibali flying away from Gesink on Angiliru.

Which is a nightmare scenario for yourself.

Your better off watching him beat up on Team Jelly Belly in the Tour of Colorado.

Besides he has to defend his GP Montreal victory.


Wow. I could have changed a lot of avatars by making that bet.

As if. Good one.

 

[Spine Concept]

Let's see today if Vanendert is the real deal. Then it's going to be Kruijswijk vs Gesink vs VDB2 vs Vanendert.

I really hope he is. Would be epic.

It's on now.

 

[luckyboy]

And that means Nibali flying away from Gesink on Angiliru.

Maybe 'slowly grinding away' is more apt for Nibali than 'flying away'


Gesink really should've quit the Tour already. Really can't see what he is gaining by carrying on.

 

[Spine Concept]

Maybe 'slowly grinding away' is more apt for Nibali than 'flying away'


Gesink really should've quit the Tour already. Really can't see what he is gaining by carrying on.

Today he was getting bottles for God knows who at the beginning of the last climb. It was a pathetic sight.

 

[theyoungest]

Today he was getting bottles for God knows who at the beginning of the last climb. It was a pathetic sight.

Indeed. That was ridiculous. The only guy who could have used a bottle was Barredo, but Gesink couldn't get back to that group.

Rabo are embarassingly bad in this Tour, heads need to roll for this. Every single rider sucks, hire a decent trainer instead of Louis "riders under my supervision peak on all the wrong moments" Delahaye.

 

[taiwan]

I'm sorry but I simply disagree with you. The amount of coverage they get is directly proportional to the amount of fans they have on this forum and how much they believe in their riders. What did you expect? Gesink is THE Dutch hope in this tour, same goes for VDB2 for the Belgians.

I said disproportionate to their chances.

Furthermore, it's kind of odd that you say we fixate on them in a thread that is intended for those very riders.

As odd as your denying popular fixation on them in a busy thread all about them?

You ought to be happy most of this Gesink and VDB2 talk happens in here and not in unrelated threads.

I am indeed.

As for the misleading bit, that's tosh. I already mentioned this before, no one in here has given an unrealistic prediction. How is that overrating? We use historical data and observations to gauge their chances. If the ''others'' choose to overrate them it's their own doing.

Of course fans are biased towards their favourite riders and tend to exaggerate their abilities. The process of this bias spreading is called "hype", and it's undesirable IMO.

As far as the thread looking a bit silly, that's easily said in hindsight isn't it? Had Gesink or VDB2 ended up on the podium after an epic battle this thread would be genius. The unfortunate events that took out both of them could have happened to any of the contenders, ask Wiggins, Kloden, Leipheimer, Brajkovic, Vino. Everything's 20-20 in hindsight.

You'll concede none of those had as many posts about them in their own threads or any others.

That is indeed a personal opinion, which you are entitled to as we are ours. We choose to talk about them, a lot. As far as Mollema is concerned, there is a mix of genuine expectations - cause he ís talented - and a running joke on this forum where they tend to over-hype him. I assume you can make that distinction.

A statement of the obvious

Ask them. It's their website. You don't have to go there if you don't like it.

...and another. I was explicitly voicing an opinion - I don't see what the neccessity was for this reply. We know what we think. I'll be off then.

 

[Spine Concept]

Great argumentation. What you're giving are opinions, which is subjective, whilst I have given you facts. Looks like we're not the biased ones after all. I've made my point, and it stands. When you are willing to get some objectivity in your posts then we can have a serious discussion. For now those petty one-liners are not worth my time. If you don't like all the talk about these riders than you don't have to be here now don't you? Good riddance.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I said disproportionate to their chances.

Watching both mountain stages, i'm sorry, but i would have no issue claiming JVDB would actually have been one of the main contenders for the WIN, yes, you read that right. Seriously, what a pathetic sight the "favorites" turned out to be. Hell, if Vanendert didn't work his *** off for Gilbert the first half of the tour, he'd actually have a shot at winning this. This has to be very sour for JVDB.

 

[Moondance]

What....?!? No Vuelta.

This stinks to high heaven.

 

[theyoungest]

Watching both mountain stages, i'm sorry, but i would have no issue claiming JVDB would actually have been one of the main contenders for the WIN, yes, you read that right. Seriously, what a pathetic sight the "favorites" turned out to be. Hell, if Vanendert didn't work his *** off for Gilbert the first half of the tour, he'd actually have a shot at winning this. This has to be very sour for JVDB.

Same goes for Gesink, obviously. But neither of them are up there, so who cares.

 

[Spine Concept]

Same goes for Gesink, obviously. But neither of them are up there, so who cares.

Exactly. As far as Vanendert goes, he did a great job today no doubt. However, they shouldn't get too carried away, the favorites did let him go after all. In fact, he said so himself in this post-race interview. Now thát, expecially for taiwan, would be over-hyping. I do hope he shows what he's made of in the Alps. We'll see then if he can really stay with the favorites when they put in a proper attack.