Where is Denis Menchov?

[Angliru]

Menchov is overated for the TDF"I mean if we where talking about the Giro or Vuelta i would consider him to be a favourite.But no way in the TDF.The difference being the field varies from each race to the other,meaning with all the best riders available the TDF is what all the strongest riders aim for.How many times has Menchoz already ridden the Tour?and still no overall wins'Yes Cadel did win the TDF at an older age than most,but Menchov definantley is no Cadel Evans.(ex World Road Champion)and never will be'(classics winner)

I recall many of us, myself included, saying before Evans' WC and Tour wins that he and Menchov were similar and that as such Evans should have had at least one grand tour victory under his belt. At the time he was having success in week long stage races and was showing well in the Ardennes.
I can't see how Menchov is overrated if you simply look at him as a grand tour specialist. In that specialty he has a better record than everyone (active riders) with the exception of Contador.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Menchov is overated for the TDF"I mean if we where talking about the Giro or Vuelta i would consider him to be a favourite.But no way in the TDF.The difference being the field varies from each race to the other,meaning with all the best riders available the TDF is what all the strongest riders aim for.How many times has Menchoz already ridden the Tour?and still no overall wins'Yes Cadel did win the TDF at an older age than most,but Menchov definantley is no Cadel Evans.(ex World Road Champion)and never will be'(classics winner)

He is talked about because of this years route.

Edit: hrotha and Angry lou have already mentioned it and said it much better than me.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Last time he rode the Tour he was officially 2nd, the guy who finished above him but who was removed from the records won't ride and the course couldn't be less suited to the guy who was officially 1st. Last week of last year's Vuelta proved Menchov can still have it, if he bothers. He's very much a top favourite until he proves otherwise.

Evans' WC and FW wins have little to do with his GT palmares, and in that regard Menchov doesn't lose to him.

Couldn´t have said it better, 100% agree!

 

[rzombie1988]

I hope Denis is spending time reading up on ways not to lose time in the first two stages of the tour because if he does, he's looking at a podium minimum on the tour and possibly a win if he attacks.

 

[The Chicken]

After Cadel in 2009 and 2010 it was easy to right him off too. Loads of people myself included were saying GT days were over, focus on 1 weeks and classics, or at the very least not the tour.
Menchov as mentioned was next best in 2010 and smoked all the contenders in the final time trial.
Cadel 2009, 2010 GTs, 29th Tour 3rd Vuelta, 5th Giro and 25th Tour,
Menchov 2010, 2011 GTs, 2/3 tour, 40 Vuelta, 7/8 Giro, 5th Vuelta.

Not too much difference one might say, why do people think he might win? Cadel did.

Just like to add that I didn't write Cadel off for the 2011 Tour - I backed him to win @ 33-1 for a nice £1k win myself, cheers Cadel!

 

[The Chicken]

I hope Denis is spending time reading up on ways not to lose time in the first two stages of the tour because if he does, he's looking at a podium minimum on the tour and possibly a win if he attacks.

I don't think he even needs to attack. He can just be his normal consistent, boring, anonymous self and win the Tour without even winning a stage. You heard it here first!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Menchov has moved his training to Sierra Nevada. He will return for the TdF.

 

[The Chicken]

Menchov has moved his training to Sierra Nevada. He will return for the TdF.

He's not racing again until the TdF?? lol WTF. Well, I suppose he'll be fresh at least...

 

[blaxland]

Last time he rode the Tour he was officially 2nd, the guy who finished above him but who was removed from the records won't ride and the course couldn't be less suited to the guy who was officially 1st. Last week of last year's Vuelta proved Menchov can still have it, if he bothers. He's very much a top favourite until he proves otherwise.

Evans' WC and FW wins have little to do with his GT palmares, and in that regard Menchov doesn't lose to him.

Agree hrotha regaurding last years vuelta,but the vuelta doesnt have the same class of riders that the tour does'nor did the giro when he won.The comparison between menchov and Evans in regaurd to classics wins is meaning having good results outside the Grand Tours.Totally agree that Evans GT palmares is nowhere near as long/sucessfull as Menchov's"I guess only July will tell if he"The Pope"is back or not?

 

[blaxland]

I recall many of us, myself included, saying before Evans' WC and Tour wins that he and Menchov were similar and that as such Evans should have had at least one grand tour victory under his belt. At the time he was having success in week long stage races and was showing well in the Ardennes.
I can't see how Menchov is overrated if you simply look at him as a grand tour specialist. In that specialty he has a better record than everyone (active riders) with the exception of Contador.

As i just stated to hrotha "Menchov does have a better GT Palmares compared to evans."and yes i was one of those posters that said Evans should have at least one GT victory under his belt"I think him being overated is in regaurd to not winning the grandest of tours the TDF"but maybe that will change this year?????

 

[movingtarget]

After Cadel in 2009 and 2010 it was easy to right him off too. Loads of people myself included were saying GT days were over, focus on 1 weeks and classics, or at the very least not the tour.
Menchov as mentioned was next best in 2010 and smoked all the contenders in the final time trial.
Cadel 2009, 2010 GTs, 29th Tour 3rd Vuelta, 5th Giro and 25th Tour,
Menchov 2010, 2011 GTs, 2/3 tour, 40 Vuelta, 7/8 Giro, 5th Vuelta.

Not too much difference one might say, why do people think he might win? Cadel did.

I would put Evans three podiums in the TDF up against Menchov's grand tour record. Either we have seen the best of Menchov or what ? It's been a while since he looked good in a grand tour. Two years. The way I look at is will Menchov make time on Evans and Wiggins in the mountains ? I have my doubts. Schleck's form in the mountains could decide the race winner if he can break up the lead group. If one of the better TT riders can manage to go with him, it's race over. If Schleck is mediocre and the attacks in the mountains are neutralised by a group, it just becomes a shoot out in the TTs with Menchov, Wiggins and Evans.

 

[will10]

I would put Evans three podiums in the TDF up against Menchov's grand tour record. Either we have seen the best of Menchov or what ? It's been a while since he looked good in a grand tour. Two years. The way I look at is will Menchov make time on Evans and Wiggins in the mountains ? I have my doubts. Schleck's form in the mountains could decide the race winner if he can break up the lead group. If one of the better TT riders can manage to go with him, it's race over. If Schleck is mediocre and the attacks in the mountains are neutralised by a group, it just becomes a shoot out in the TTs with Menchov, Wiggins and Evans.

Vuelta 2011 3rd week.

 

[The Hitch]

I would put Evans three podiums in the TDF up against Menchov's grand tour record. Either we have seen the best of Menchov or what ? It's been a while since he looked good in a grand tour. Two years. The way I look at is will Menchov make time on Evans and Wiggins in the mountains ? I have my doubts. Schleck's form in the mountains could decide the race winner if he can break up the lead group. If one of the better TT riders can manage to go with him, it's race over. If Schleck is mediocre and the attacks in the mountains are neutralised by a group, it just becomes a shoot out in the TTs with Menchov, Wiggins and Evans.

Menchov has 2 tour podiums as well.

 

[airstream]

Vuelta 2011 3rd week.

Uh, there was nothing special. He was usual. Being on the level of 5-6 best climbers in the Vuelta is not being good for Menchov.

 

[Angliru]

Uh, there was nothing special. He was usual. Being on the level of 5-6 best climbers in the Vuelta is not being good for Menchov.

That's difficult to guage since he was riding in support of Cobo at that point.
His form had improved significantly though from the earlier stages.

 

[RHRH19861986]

To be honest, concerning Cadel, though his palmares already today makes him a legend, and though I like him as a person due to his unusual aprroach to many things, I still have problems with regarding him as the world class
rider, the legend, he certainly is by paper.
I think Cadel is the slightly better one day rider, Menchov the slightly better GT rider, but both at quite the same level.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Topic title suggests Menchov is still a cyclist? Menchov is 34 and enjoying his last year as a rider and enjoying the many roebels he is getting at Katoesja. Or are we to believe he is a contender for the Tour or Vuelta? Don't think so, or maybe he has a Katoesja trick on his sleeve grazie a Torsten Schmidt and Massimo Besnati?

 

[Angliru]

To be honest, concerning Cadel, though his palmares already today makes him a legend, and though I like him as a person due to his unusual aprroach to many things, I still have problems with regarding him as the world class
rider, the legend, he certainly is by paper.
I think Cadel is the slightly better one day rider, Menchov the slightly better GT rider, but both at quite the same level.

Cadel is a far better one day rider than Menchov. I'd rate them about even in the grand tours though with maybe the sligtht edge going to Cadel due to his Tour win and Tour podiums.

 

[jens_attacks]

menchov said he was feeling like in 2009 giro in the last week of vuelta 2011,rocket in his asz.and i believe him.
we'll see him in the second week of the tour no doubt.

 

[gustienordic]

Cadel is a far better one day rider than Menchov. I'd rate them about even in the grand tours though with maybe the sligtht edge going to Cadel due to his Tour win and Tour podiums.

Menchov also has GT victories... but Cadel I would give the edge to, at least right now... plus he has a team that is completely loyal to him (well minus gilbert & thor)

 

[The Chicken]

Found him! Well, sort of - he's on the Dauphine start list. Be interesting to see how he goes, esp. in the TT.

 

[cycladianpirate]

Found him! Well, sort of - he's on the Dauphine start list. Be interesting to see how he goes, esp. in the TT.

Can't quite understand why so many look to the Dauphine as an indicator for le tour. If one-week stage racing was a guide to GT success, then Wiggins would be a shoo-in for TdF. In my opinion it isn't and Wiggins isn't.

I'm not saying that Menchov is a sure thing, but when the bookies are offering Wiggins at 3s and Menchov at 20s, I know where my money is going....

 

[Gloin22]

Can't quite understand why so many look to the Dauphine as an indicator for le tour. If one-week stage racing was a guide to GT success, then Wiggins would be a shoo-in for TdF. In my opinion it isn't and Wiggins isn't.

I'm not saying that Menchov is a sure thing, but when the bookies are offering Wiggins at 3s and Menchov at 20s, I know where my money is going....

Both are wastes of money to bet on imo

 

[hfer07]

Found him! Well, sort of - he's on the Dauphine start list. Be interesting to see how he goes, esp. in the TT.

not surprised by that- He'll do a minor test in the mountains-perhaps a decent ITT and that's it. Hope the time away on training was worth spending, because this is his very last chance to win the Tour-there is not better suited parcours for him awaiting.....

 

[cycladianpirate]

Both are wastes of money to bet on imo

You're probably right - but where's your money??