Warren Barguil Discussion Thread

[Bolder]

He's back!

It was a pretty nice finish, to come from the back of the group.

I don't think it's a stretch to say that Alaphilippe or Bardet would have creamed that field...but they weren't there, and he was. So, chapeau.

 

[Alexandre B.]

 

[Mayomaniac]

Re:

#realdeal

All aboard the hype train!

Sign me up already, I'm on the Wawamania hype train!

 

[King Boonen]

Re: Re:

#realdeal

All aboard the hype train!

Sign me up already, I'm on the Wawamania hype train!

Hopefully not a one way ticket to disappointmentville!!!*









*probably a one way ticket to disappointmentville

 

[Bolder]

He seemed genuinely moved to win the jersey, and CN article notes that he almost quit cycling a few times. I still think he shot himself in the foot by leaving Sunweb, especially under such acrimony. He's not really going to be a GT podium contender -- although he has definitely shown in the past that he can climb with the best -- but i just would have thought he'd have more support on a WT team.

 

[Leinster]

I didn’t think there was much acrimony when he left Sunweb..?

 

[Bolder]

Re:

I didn’t think there was much acrimony when he left Sunweb..?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sunweb-send-barguil-home-from-vuelta-after-disagreements-over-tactics/

 

[Forever The Best]

I like Barguil, but it was obvious his performance level was gonna decrease after leaving Sunweb (Sunweb 2017 was ridiculously strong; Dumoulin, Barguil, Kelderman all showing huge performance levels) (to Fortuneo, especially).
I hope he gains his 2017 form, but it will be impossible at Fortuneo so it's pointless. Anyways nice win.

 

[Leinster]

Re: Re:

I didn’t think there was much acrimony when he left Sunweb..?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sunweb-send-barguil-home-from-vuelta-after-disagreements-over-tactics/

I had completely forgotten that and only remembered the stage wins and polka dot at the Tour.

 

[RedheadDane]

I hope he'll go for dots again.

 

[jmdirt]

If you scroll back though this thread you'll see that I'm not a fan of WB. I appreciate his emotion on the podium because that means that it truly means something to him (not that it doesn't mean something to most champs crying or not). He should stage hunt and go for dots again.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

I hope he'll go for dots again.

Yes why not ?

 

[fuiers]

Re: Re:

I hope he'll go for dots again.

Yes why not ?

It will be interesting KOM race if Alaphillippe wants to win it again and Barquil looks to be in better form than last year. Then theres that possibility that Ciccone will have something so say about it.

 

[Alexandre B.]

He attacked too far from the summit today, but his form is luckily good enough to target a stage win and the final top-10 in GC.

 

[yaco]

I'm surprised that he hasn't tried for the KOM - Even when out of form last year he still finished 2nd in the KOM competition - Strange tactics.

 

[search]

well, the KOM competition basically has not started yet. There are more than 200 points available in the Alpes, and Wellens probably won't get many of them.

 

[yaco]

Re:

well, the KOM competition basically has not started yet. There are more than 200 points available in the Alpes, and Wellens probably won't get many of them.

Except he is too close in GC to be allowed in a break away.

 

[staubsauger]

I didn't want to make my notorious polka dot jersey post again, but I'm glad y'all also took notice of this weird tactic. Currently Barguil goes for a minor top 10 placement, instead of the polka dot jersey and stage wins. Which is kinda weird as it's the except opposite of what the Breton stated after his succeful 2017 Tour de France. His climbing actually looks good enough in difference to last year.

On the other hand, except for the Tourmalet there were no big points avaliable so far. At least not from the breakaway group. So the Alps look more suitable to a breakaway attempt to hunt for HC points!

Eventually he attacked on the Tourmalet to show himself and see if the other favorites would react. So at least he tried a little test balloon that could've played out with a little luck.

 

[yaco]

It seems like he is riding for GC - The only way he can get the polka dots is if he is in rare form next week and no breakaway's succeed.

 

[tobydawq]

He will ride Paris-Roubaix this year! I am very excited about that because I will never forget how well he rode on the cobbles in the 2018 and especially the 2015 Tours. In the latter, he was almost riding in the front five on every pavé.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He will ride Paris-Roubaix this year! I am very excited about that because I will never forget how well he rode on the cobbles in the 2018 and especially the 2015 Tours. In the latter, he was almost riding in the front five on every pavé.

Yes, but the regular PR hotshots have a different role when riding a cobbled PR-like stage in the TDF. Most of them have to babysit their GC leader. Not only is such a TDF stage always a LOT shorter, but the specialists aren't always present or able to ride for their own account. It's certainly interesting, but i wouldn't exactly expect to see him in the final.

 

[tobydawq]

Yes, but the regular PR hotshots have a different role when riding a cobbled PR-like stage in the TDF. Most of them have to babysit their GC leader. Not only is such a TDF stage always a LOT shorter, but the specialists aren't always present or able to ride for their own account. It's certainly interesting, but i wouldn't exactly expect to see him in the final.

Of course, but I think he is probably the GC rider who can surprise the most, given that the expectations of him would be smaller than they would of Thomas, Nibali, Fuglsang or Valverde, and because cobbles and Barguil don't exactly sound like a good cocktail.

But you're right, Quintana for example was also in the same time on both occasions and it's not like I would have high expectations for him.

Barguil just seemed so impressive back in 2015, so I'm glad he tries it out.