what are we entitled to expect from Roman Kreuziger?

[The Hitch]

I know he is just 24, and it's not "hate"

Just the simple fact that he is as good now, as he was 2 years ago

2 years ago he won the Tour of Suisse.
HE HAS NOT IMPROVED FROM THAT LEVEL.

That's why we are doubting him. And if you read correctly, NOBODY IS WRITING HIM OFF. We are all saying he is 24 and might make another jump later in his career.

Thank you

I dont know about you but I rate the tour of romandie. TDS is a tdf prep race. Tour of Romandie is one of those stage races which top guys not entering the giro look to improve their palmares, exposure, uci points etc. If you look at the last few winners - Hamilton, Botero, Evans, Dekker, Kloeden Roman and Valverde - f**k what the uci says.

I dare say that probably ranks up there as one of the best recent winner lists for any race outside a gt.

 

[jaylew]

I heard he went into business after his career and did very well out of it.

Yeah, seems like articles on Kreuz are always talking about how wealthy his family is.

Just did a quick search and there were several mentions of it. Here's one:

"As for myself, I cycle for the love of the sport, I don't need to make a living of it. Financially, our family is fine." The Kreuzigers are reported to be quite wealthy, which means that the second-best young rider of the 2008 Tour de France isn't desperate to succeed for financial reasons.

 

[The Hitch]

I dont think the lack of financial motivation means much. If you look at many endurance and extreme sports , the participants are often in the former and always in the latter born of wealth. I always struggled to see why this was the case. Perhaps its boredom and the seeking of adventure, the thrill of winning. The nuts who do race accross america, the iron man triathletes- all come from rich backgrounds. People in their 40s and 50s (many on this forum) addicted to inflicting huge pain on themselves by doing triathlons, lEtape de Tours, climbing Mont Ventoux.

And in this thing of ours, look at Lance. I would say he came from a pretty comfortable background. But even if you dont take that view, you cant look at his comeback and say that this was someone who needed money. Its not about the money. Maybe if they come from the famine stricken areas of kenya and etheopia like the marathon runners, there is additional motivation - survival for oneself and family. But frankly i dont think someone who just wants extra money to move house will be able to put themselves through the pain of being in the red all day long.

 

[paveton]

that's not true at all, his dad was a cyclist as well and I doubt he's millionaire, defintely not from cycling

That is true. As Mrs John Murphy said, his dad went into business (initially gas stations, then real estate, for instance http://www.hotelrankl.cz/en/) after his career and did well

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

ok thanks, like kessler then, who's dad was also very rich that's why he never bothered to return after his doping suspension

 

[paveton]

ok thanks, like kessler then, who's dad was also very rich that's why he never bothered to return after his doping suspension

I dont think so, he wasn't BORN INTO a rich family (1986 - it was still under Communism), so he is not spoiled brat. Actually he is very motivated, determined and single-minded.

 

[paveton]

He has stopped progressing since 2 years.
Ofcourse, it's dangerous to predict anything because he could still make a later age 'jump', look at f.ex Vandenbroeck.

But for now I don't see him as a future GT winner. Mainly because he stopped improving for 2 years

13th in 2008 x 9th in 2009 despite much stronger field and gastric flu during 2nd week. Maybe small, but this IS progress.

...And if you read correctly, NOBODY IS WRITING HIM OFF...

If you read correctly, at least ttrider is - "...he will never win or even top without considerable luck, he simply hasnt got the class"

 

[jaylew]

You really get the impression people (generaly, not necesarily you) have it out for some riders, and are fanboys of others when Richie Porte is touted as the next big thing cos he fluked a day or 2 in the mr through a breakaway, while a slightly younger rider, with vastly superior palmares is labelled a future domestique because he had 1 bad season.

Of course Roman has the better palmares; he's been riding with the big boys for 5 years. Porte wasn't even a cyclist back then, he was a triathlete. I think the excitement re: Porte is because he is a neo-pro and didn't even start racing until he was 21. Besides, you know how it is - when someone comes out and puts up big results in their 1st year(Sagan, EBH) they get heaped with praise because there is more of an unknown-sky's-the-limit factor. Fair or not, Kreuz has been around awhile so people believe they have a better idea of what to expect from him.

In other words, I don't really think you'd get the majority of the people on this forum saying Porte will have the better pro career when it's all said and done, but more people are excited by his potential at the moment because he's a rookie and Kreuz at least appears to be on a bit of a plateau and there's always a fear of 'Popo Syndrome.'

 

[boardhanger]

He has stopped progressing since 2 years.
Ofcourse, it's dangerous to predict anything because he could still make a later age 'jump', look at f.ex Vandenbroeck.

But for now I don't see him as a future GT winner. Mainly because he stopped improving for 2 years

Stopped improving?. I'd say more a marked man? The only issuse I have with him is he offered cash to Phillip Deigan to win the Vuelta stage from Deigan last year, seen clearly on tele aswell

 

[python]

funny people talk about rk family fortunes as the reason for his lack of results...

i mean theoretically yeah it sounds interesting but lemond was born into a multimillionaire family and kessler and so many others...

rk lack of performance lately is not rooted in his dad's bank account. i think it's in his head and the very competitive roster his former team possessed. he was out of place and role with so much talent in one team. vino will fix his head.

 

[Gcraenen]

What can you expect? for the next few years: Suisse, California, Romandie, Settimani etc.. Then some serious wind tunnel time and dropping 5-8 kilos, after that, who knows? Good luck to him and Astana, as to all the valiant men who entertain us so!

 

[Gcraenen]

... and the valiant women of course. Oh, that reminds me: I havent had my daily fix of the "babes on bikes" thread yet. Be right back.

 

[peloton]

funny people talk about rk family fortunes as the reason for his lack of results...

i mean theoretically yeah it sounds interesting but lemond was born into a multimillionaire family and kessler and so many others...

rk lack of performance lately is not rooted in his dad's bank account. i think it's in his head and the very competitive roster his former team possessed. he was out of place and role with so much talent in one team. vino will fix his head.

+1

Really like this one.

 

[fatandfast]

Astana is a death nail for him. This team will pull out after the slightest disappointment. They have had issues with non performance before. When he has no big results the UCI will be banging pans to get cash out of these aszbags. Enjoy baby blue will done after this year. Roman and Vino will sell a 1000 kits worldwide and no TV station will step up to cover anything they ride. In the US they just got Miche status

 

[hfer07]

Roman Kreuziger just obtained the chance to become a sole leader that he was looking for-I don't see any reason at all for him not to develop his full potential with Astana-the rest is up to him to raise his game and claim what is being promised in his future..

 

[python]

Astana is a death nail for him. This team will pull out after the slightest disappointment. They have had issues with non performance before. When he has no big results the UCI will be banging pans to get cash out of these aszbags. Enjoy baby blue will done after this year. Roman and Vino will sell a 1000 kits worldwide and no TV station will step up to cover anything they ride. In the US they just got Miche status

sorry but can't say more than this is a stupid post.

 

[peloton]

Astana is a death nail for him. This team will pull out after the slightest disappointment. They have had issues with non performance before. When he has no big results the UCI will be banging pans to get cash out of these aszbags. Enjoy baby blue will done after this year. Roman and Vino will sell a 1000 kits worldwide and no TV station will step up to cover anything they ride. In the US they just got Miche status

you have to be kidding?

 

[Ryaguas]

vino will fix his head.

I think the same! Next year We will see a more attacking Kreuziger with much more freedom...! and if he doesn't attack Vino will be there to kick his a$$ so hard...

In the US they just got Miche status

mmmm US is not the top of the world you know...

 

[hrotha]

sorry but can't say more than this is a stupid post.

You mean you know what the hell he's talking about? I commend you.

 

[karlboss]

wtf is miche status?

 

[jaylew]

Astana is a death nail for him. This team will pull out after the slightest disappointment. They have had issues with non performance before. When he has no big results the UCI will be banging pans to get cash out of these aszbags. Enjoy baby blue will done after this year. Roman and Vino will sell a 1000 kits worldwide and no TV station will step up to cover anything they ride. In the US they just got Miche status

I'm not sure what the rest of your post means at all but I can tell you they'd be lucky to sell 100 of those horrid kits.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

In the US they just got Miche status

Wtf is US?
________
AMATEUR XXX VIDS

 

[Ryaguas]

Wtf is US?

mmm US? US? US? US? mmmmm lets check Wikipedia... mmmmm nop... no US in wikipedia... Well I guess that """US""" is nothing important...

 

[step23]

I have seen many times how people change their minds here. Take Cadel as an example. Many posters thought that his star is fading and then comes this 2010 season. He's on top again and he is shining. Funny. Weak Astana was another thread - TdF 2010 was the answer. There was also Vino and his comeback. I mean it all depends on Roman himself. I just doubt that being 24 he cannot improve further. Personally I was impressed seeing his DL performance. Life has many ways. Good luck Roman!

 

[karlboss]

I have seen many times how people change their minds here. Take Cadel as an example. Many posters thought that his star is fading and then comes this 2010 season. He's on top again and he is shining. Funny. Weak Astana was another thread - TdF 2010 was the answer. There was also Vino and his comeback. I mean it all depends on Roman himself. I just doubt that being 24 he cannot improve further. Personally I was impressed seeing his DL performance. Life has many ways. Good luck Roman!

I don't see Cadel has silenced his critics. Many suggested he give away the GT's or at least the tour de france as goals. 5th in a soft field for the Giro and 26th in the tour. Great year yes, great in GT GC's no.

Nothing would surprise me from kreuziger, I'd like to see him ride support at the Tour for a real contender, and contest maybe the Vuelta for the win. he is only 24 after all. At the tour I think he has been better and better, just the field has also.