Tour of Oman

[Dekker_Tifosi]

then why cheer for gesink??

Because he has personality. Guts. Obviously.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I like your perseverance. You make a good argument.
I maybe overstated it a little, Gesink isn't horrible at TT, he's just not really good at it.

At least I'm looking forward to the time trial now!

gesink used to be good at itt but since last year has been abysmal in itt, I have doubts wether that has improved now

 

[theyoungest]

then why cheer for gesink??

I assume he's not the kind of personality you would like, no. Which I guess is a compliment. To him.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I assume he's not the kind of personality you would like, no. Which I guess is a compliment. To him.

he has no personality so I don't see your argument unless you think having no personality is anything good.

 

[Moondance]

I think its unfair to say to poor Bobby to say he has 'no personality,' he does. And better the appeal of a down-to-earth farm boy than an arrogant city slicker like Thomas Dekker.

 

[theyoungest]

he has no personality so I don't see your argument unless you think having no personality is anything good.

If your definition of personality is amount of testosterone and moronicness, yeah, I see your point. Gesink is very down-to-earth. And with a good sense of humour. That doesn't appeal to some, it does to me.

 

[boomcie]

Everybody has a personality. Gesink just doesn't have much of it. No biggie.

 

[taiwan]

I think its unfair to say to poor Bobby to say he has 'no personality,' he does. And better the appeal of a down-to-earth farm boy than an arrogant city slicker like Thomas Dekker.

I like GC guys who ride the classics, so Gesink gets my approval.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think its unfair to say to poor Bobby to say he has 'no personality,' he does. And better the appeal of a down-to-earth farm boy than an arrogant city slicker like Thomas Dekker.

I like the last type more.

But Gesink isn't that down-to-earth as he is often written to be. If you read his interviews or listen to what he says he is actually quite ambitious and outspoken about his goals. But what really appeals to me is his racing style. He is always going for it, and always keeps fighting even when seemingly already lost...
You see Gesink a whole season.

Unlike a guy like Jurgen Vandenbroeck who can peak once, and then is average to mediocre the rest of the season. Or worse, Andy Schleck, who doesn't even care about any race than the few he wants to do well in. So lame.

 

[Moondance]

If your definition of personality is amount of testosterone and moronicness, yeah, I see your point. Gesink is very down-to-earth. And with a good sense of humour. That doesn't appeal to some, it does to me.

This is like the 19th time in the last few months that we've practically posted the same thing within a few minutes of each other.... Its becoming slightly scary.

 

[jaylew]

Its a running forum joke. Hushoft. Menschoft. Andrew. Evens.

Don't forget Wigans.

As for the favorites: Gesink and Rodriguez both suck at ITT (but this has already been discussed on the forum). Maybe we should be looking for someone who masters both climbing and time trialing. Someone like Monfort perhaps (not sure about his form though)?

Vino, Fuglsang, Blanco, and Pinotti would fit the bill.

And as for supporting ones fellow countrymen: you don't root for your country in the world cup? Just saying.

Well that's a bit different. You're actually competing for your country, like in the Olympics.

 

[Moondance]

I like the last type more.

But Gesink isn't that down-to-earth as he is often written to be. If you read his interviews or listen to what he says he is actually quite ambitious and outspoken about his goals. But what really appeals to me is his racing style. He is always going for it, and always keeps fighting even when seemingly already lost...

Well, given that he (used to) pay your bills I can understand that.

 

[The Hitch]

Well, given that he (used to) pay your bills I can understand that.

So you and Ruben know eachother?

 

[Moondance]

So you and Ruben know eachother?

Not personally.... But DT's been pretty open that in his job as webmaster he used to also watch over Thomas Dekker's website (which went down approximately 14 minutes after the doping news came out).

 

[The Hitch]

Not personally.... But DT's been pretty open that in his job as webmaster he used to also watch over Thomas Dekker's website (which went down approximately 14 minutes after the doping news came out).

but you guys did make a monetary bet once didnt you?

Gesink has a good sense of humour.

Are you saying he crashes on purpose

 

[theyoungest]

Not personally.... But DT's been pretty open that in his job as webmaster he used to also watch over Thomas Dekker's website (which went down approximately 14 minutes after the doping news came out).

Exactly. Ruben was always the Dekker apologist of this forum. I still don't know if he quite got over the disaster that befell our greasy-haired friend a little less than two years ago

BTW, I've always liked Dekker as well. As long as someone doesn't seem completely stupid, I tend to like them. And that's what Dekker and Gesink have in common: they both seem intelligent guys.

Are you saying he crashes on purpose

A sense of humour doesn't necessarily involve slapstick But then he said during the Tour that he descended like his grandmother in a weelchair, so maybe he's doing it just to entertain us.

 

[Moondance]

but you guys did make a monetary bet once didnt you?

Yes... But we made that bet on this forum, and when he won (damn you Edvald Boasson Hagen for not finishing in the Top-25 in the 2009 Worlds Road Race :shakes fist: ) I sent him an envelope with the agreed bet, which was €10 I believe.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

You'll be happy to know that the money is long gone now Moondance

Exactly. Ruben was always the Dekker apologist of this forum. I still don't know if he quite got over the disaster that befell our greasy-haired friend a little less than two years ago

BTW, I've always liked Dekker as well. As long as someone doesn't seem completely stupid, I tend to like them. And that's what Dekker and Gesink have in common: they both seem intelligent guys.

I've actually seen and spoken Dekker a week or two ago.

No info to give though, we mainly talked about my poker career

 

[Moondance]

Anyway, to get back on topic.

Video of Theo Bos winning stage 2.

 

[Christian]

Or worse, Andy Schleck, who doesn't even care about any race than the few he wants to do well in. So lame.

This thread has got really off topic but at this point I'd like to contribute a little bit:

I think it is a misconception to say that Andy "doesn't care" about races other than the ones he wants to do well in. I believe that frankly, if he could do well in races other than his main goals, he would try his best to get a result. Here are some of the reasons why I think he can only do well a couple times a year:

1) It takes him a long time to get into his best form. Once he's there, he is one of the best. But in order to get there he must slowly build up to it. Fränk has commented on it before, how usually young riders tend to find their form faster then older ones, but with the two of them it appears to be the other way around.

2) He is essentially a stage-racer, most one-day races don't suit him. IMO the only stage-racer that does consistently well (read: wins whatever he enters) throughout the year is Contador. This leaves Andy with the possibility of going into breakaways, which are usually unsuccessful. Last year he was in breakaways in the ToC and Pais Vasco (I think, could have been a different regional Spanish stage race though).

3) Finally, he does not have the mental strength to do well all year long. IMO this was one of the reasons for the Vuelta debaccle: though physically fit, he was mentally exhausted (maybe even depressed as a velonation article suggested) from the Tour and therefore could not concentrate on the racing. Having said this, I do not consider him mentally weak at all - being in his position he probably needs more mental strength than most of us could ever come up with.

To conclude, I would say that, quite understandably, he is usually compared to Contador, but the two appear to be completely different personalities. The fact that Contador wins everything he enters is very good for him (albeit reason for suspicion IMO, but this is not the place and time to discuss this), but one should not measure both by the same standards. It's not that he doesn't care, or doesn't want to do well, it's that he simply can't perform at the same level year round. Others can. This might make him a less exciting cyclist, but then again everyone has to work with what they have, and I think he's making the most out of it!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

2) He is essentially a stage-racer, most one-day races don't suit him. IMO the only stage-racer that does consistently well (read: wins whatever he enters) throughout the year is Contador.

Most one-day races don't suit him? A guy who has a monument win?

Other stage-racers who do consistently well throughout the year:
Evans, Kreuziger, Valverde, Samuel Sánchez, Rodríguez, Vino.

I don't think people expect Andy to be racing hard from February to May and then June to July.

However, they expect something a bit more than 83rd at Tirreno-Adriatico and a stage 2 DNS at the Volta a Catalunya from the early season. There's no shame in not being in form, but Andy doesn't seem to bother trying when he's not in form, which makes having him around pretty pointless from a racing perspective.

 

[The Hitch]

. IMO the only stage-racer that does consistently well (read: wins whatever he enters) throughout the year is Contado

Alejandro Valverde Wins wins and then wins.

Also last year, Scarponi and Purito on top top form from March to October. In Puritos case none stop.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I never expected him to win every race to enter Christian.
But he could at least try to get a decent result. But he doesn't, he finishes 147th at 23 minutes.
Hence -> doesn't care

Look at the amount of top 10 finishes a guy like Rodriguez, Gesink and yes, even Nibali, get...

 

[Anonymous]

Anyway, to get back on topic.

Video of Theo Bos winning stage 2.

Note that its now geo-restricted to Holland.

We can rip it (got loads of dutch proxies) and upload it but weve decided against it. Word ive had is that Eurosport are going to kick off because copies are going on youtube prior to them showing it, so weve ceased putting up any more oman videos before we get copyright claims. (exactly the same happened last year... Oman and Qatar were real issues for putting up video of in 2010 as well, all of last years video got deleted, both mine, wcc's everyones). Its crazy that the ASO is concerned about race video going up on the day of the race, but has done nothing at all to give broadcasters footage on the day of the race. The people who put it online arent trying to profit or anything else, just get race fans pictures to watch. Fricking stupid.

 

[The Sheep]

It's the same video as the one the official site has posted sans the tourist board fluff.