Praetor said:
It seems that the Dutch have been specialising in peaking in the u23 category the last decade. Very few can make the complete transition to full blown big names. Even Gesink and Mollema remain just below the top.
Winning Paris-Roubaix U23 just says f.ckall about your potential for the pro version.
Kozontchuk won that race. He isn't even a cobbles rider. You think he peaked too early? Lol.
Yes, Kelderman is promising, but then again, so were pretty much all of them in their first years. Perhaps he's the one who change it all, otherwise Rabo is doing something seriously wrong.
No. It's just that everyone who shows some stage racing potential is considered the next Tour winner, in Holland. Kelderman, or Gesink, or Mollema weren't as good as some of the hyping Dutch would have had you believe. That's not their fault, or Rabobank's. It's the Dutch "build 'em up, tear 'em down" mentality (which you eagerly partake in). Both Gesink and Mollema are currently in the top-10 of the Vuelta. You probably want them to win the race before you're satisfied.
maltiv said:
Might just be because the Rabobank continental team are pretty much already living like pros when they're u23. Thus they have a huge advantage in the u23 ranks, but little room to improve once they enter the elite.
Not that it's a disadvantage per se, but it just makes it seem as if they're more talented than they actually are.
The kids at Rabo Conti are semi pros, with a job or study next to their cycling careers. I don't think it's very different from other development teams, certainly the bigger ones like Jayco or Chipotle.
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