- Jun 7, 2011
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That's not the same really. Surely you didn't expect him to win stage 1 or 2 either, because he was in form, did you? So why expect him to win on a climb where you would expect a bunch sprint?
Bar Adam Yates, O'Connor is probably the best climber here, certainly given the form he has already shown. So if he then wins on a climb, even one that usually doesn't provide huge gaps, is not that surprising.
Btw O'Connor's win was pretty similar to Vingegaard's, when the latter was still reasonably unknown. Attacked on pretty much the same spot as he did, clearly Ag2R have done their homework. That team has made progress over the winter, also tactically.
- Dec 28, 2010
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Considering his team worked during part of the climb, him losing 15 seconds on the main group of favourites at the finish was quite disappointing.
He was their protected rider and finished just inside the top-20. He's just not that good of a climber, but he keeps trying.
- Apr 30, 2011
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It has been won in a bunch sprint once the past 4 years now.
- Sep 12, 2022
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I don't agree with comparing a flat stage and a TT with a climb of 19km's at 5%. Sure it could've ended in a bunch sprint, but that's not necessarily always the case. I personally didn't expect him to win, but I get that other people might saw this coming. Or at least an attempt would've been made.
- Aug 29, 2009
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- 7,142
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yeah, Foss yesterday said that this is the perfect climb for him, and he wants to give it a go. So apparently the team believed in him.
In the end, he finished just inside the Top 20, 8 seconds behind his team mate. So I really struggle to see how this is a good sign as well.
- Aug 29, 2009
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yeah, that's what it looked like to me as well. There's no one here who could have followed that move, or will be able to do so on Sunday. Ag2R is just on another level at the moment.
- May 14, 2009
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- Jun 7, 2011
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That he might be the best climber here is completely besides the point. This is not a stage where climbers put time into each other. Not even the best climbers in the world. Big groups in the last hundreds of meters, riders like Ganna only losing seconds instead of minutes. So again, him "as a climber" winning here, was about as expected as Foss "as a TT'er" winning the WCC ITT. Simply because every half decent climber was still there in the final kilometer, and of all the climbers, there are plenty who were more likely to win due to being better punchers or sprinters. There is a big difference between "not surprising" and "expected".
See my response to theyoungest. None of this makes him the expected winner on THIS mountain/finish. This wasn't Jebel Hafeet.
- Oct 21, 2012
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- 3,212
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Not sure they 'believe' in him, but given the mess Ellingworth seemed to making of the team and transfers, he was probably worth a punt. And increasingly, it seems moving away from Jumbo is a preferred option for mere mortals to get opportunities. 9th at the Giro in 21 suggests he can climb. Though I seem to remember that was the year a lot of GC hopefuls crashed?
He was my favorite to win the stage - He did an exceptional ride to drop Wellens in Murcia and when he did a good ITT that my belief stronger - One thing about O'Connor is he is prepared to attack to win - I don't think he is as suited to Jaleel Haleef and is not my favorite for that stage.
Cookster15
Moderator
- May 14, 2011
- 6,204
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- 23,180
Nice to see O'Conner in good form. Hopefully he can make that form stick in a grand tour this season. Hasn't done much since 2021 TdF.
- Jul 10, 2012
- 2,219
- 1,978
- 14,680
I would be very tense if I were a DS depending on Vine to deliver the goods. Rest of the team needs to form a flying V in front of him for the rest of the race.
- Apr 8, 2023
- 5,628
- 6,566
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So we have 3 flat sprint stages to look forward to. Hope we don't get more nasty crashes.
- Dec 28, 2010
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I'm not a huge believer in Foss the climber either, but riding for him in this race isn't the same as making him GC leader for grand tours or anything.
Considering he was high up in GC after the time trial, it clearly makes sense to try to protect that GC placing as well as possible, even if they don't believe he is the next Vingegaard. Especially with the rather weak field and suitable mountain stage (on paper) for a guy who hung on to achieve a top 10 in the Giro. It's not like they have much better options here that were sacrificed for him.
- Feb 21, 2019
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Great team attack from AG2R. O'Connor looking really good this year after his impressive Vuelta a Murcia win. Van Eetvelt surprised me a bit with his third place.
A shame that Yates had to abandon but Vine looked good as well, its going to be an interesting fight with O'Connor on Jabel Hafeet.
A shame that Yates had to abandon but Vine looked good as well, its going to be an interesting fight with O'Connor on Jabel Hafeet.
- Jul 10, 2014
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- 28,180
Talk about an overreaction and ignoring context.
It is just this race... who else on the team, that they have sent, has the best chance to do something here for GC? Taking the ITT and overall route into account as well.
- Oct 30, 2023
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I agree. But the competition still might not be up to the task. Clearly Ben Oconner should be a reckoning force, but Vine was able to claw back losses today on his own. Looked pretty darned good.
- Oct 30, 2023
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Not remembering the crash is a big old no no. This will take some time to deal with.
- Oct 30, 2023
- 5,315
- 8,201
- 16,180
Foss does have a teammate up the road ahead of him.
I just see Foss as a chrono specialist. This has value to a team.
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