Which Team would Gilbert choose?

[taiwan]

Don't really even get how Lotto an Omega Pharma can offer a contract, seeing as they don't even exist yet.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Just read this article.. http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8...to-sign-Gilbert-five-teams-in-contention.aspx

"Lampre and Euskaltel also no longer appear to be in the running, leaving Quick Step, BMC, Sky Procycling, Lotto and Omega Pharma."

Guess it must be true since the same news was posted 2 pages back.

 

[boomcie]

Guess it must be true since the same news was posted 2 pages back.

It isn't true. Bad translation from Belgian article.
Lampre and Euskaltel were the only WT teams nót interested in signing Gilbert.

 

[Andy99]

If he goes to sky, maybe we should adopt him as a Brit.

Afterall he's a Walloon, so he's not really Belgian, is he?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It isn't true. Bad translation from Belgian article.
Lampre and Euskaltel were the only WT teams nót interested in signing Gilbert.

I didn't read this article, i was responding to the last part of his post, about the teams still in the running. That much was accurate.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

If he goes to sky, maybe we should adopt him as a Brit.

Afterall he's a Walloon, so he's not really Belgian, is he?

Then nobody is really Belgian i would think.

 

[hfer07]

Quick Step, BMC, Sky Procycling, Lotto and Omega Pharma."

Quick Step, BMC & Omega Pharma are the truly bidders with a serious chance to get him,aside the money aspect-which all five seem to meet. I just have this issue with him going to BMC-don't know why-even if they have a strong battalion for the classics campaign, I cannot see how Evans is going to react to his inclusion-knowing first hand he wants to win in the Ardennes too....

 

[Scansorial]

I think BMC makes the most sense of the 5 that are still in the running. They need a winner and he would get a lot of freedom to ride whatever races he wants to ride.

Sky seems like the worst fit to me.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think BMC makes the most sense of the 5 that are still in the running. They need a winner and he would get a lot of freedom to ride whatever races he wants to ride.

Sky seems like the worst fit to me.

Sky seems a good fit to me.

They don't really have an overly good ardennes squad especially compared to BMC who have quite a few strong riders so I think he would fit in well.

 

[Gloin22]

GVA looks concerned about Gilbert coming to BMC.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-avermaet-concerned-about-bmcs-interest-in-gilbert

 

[auscyclefan94]

GVA looks concerned about Gilbert coming to BMC.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-avermaet-concerned-about-bmcs-interest-in-gilbert

not surprising...it seems that BMC have told him that you'll either put up with Gilbert or get out of the team.

 

[dlwssonic]

not surprising...it seems that BMC have told him that you'll either put up with Gilbert or get out of the team.

it should be that way sadly. because gilbert contributes to the team much more than GVA with his constant wins. As much as I love GVA I would prefer gilbert in the team as compared to GVA. BMC need gilbert.

 

[just some guy]

not surprising...it seems that BMC have told him that you'll either put up with Gilbert or get out of the team.

Having a bad day ??

Quite negative

BMC have reassured Van Avermaet that there will be no problem if Gilbert ultimately does sign for the American team, however Van Avermaet remains dubious.

"I've been told by the team that chances will always be given," Van Avermaet said. "That's fine, but I question that commitment when Gilbert really wants to win. We will just have to see."

So as I have said 3 times now Gilbert next year will not be able to crap without 3-4 other crapping at the same time, GVA being the 2nd most likely to win will be able to got up the road and may have a better chance on winning against lesser riders.

Same with the Hilly classics with Cadel, GVA and Gilbert - most end in a sprint type scenario so if the other 6 team members deliver Cadel, GVA and Phil to the finial hill - and they all go for it, best man wins and maybe 2 in the top 10.

 

[dlwssonic]

GVA, Evans, Gilbert in the ardennes would be one hell of a team. I believe evans will work for gilbert if he must. If gilbert joins BMC, I would really like him to win RVV next year. Anyway didnt GVA kind of play that role in MSR. As ballan was in the favorites group, GVA was allowed to attack.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Having a bad day ??

Quite negative



So as I have said 3 times now Gilbert next year will not be able to crap without 3-4 other crapping at the same time, GVA being the 2nd most likely to win will be able to got up the road and may have a better chance on winning against lesser riders.

Same with the Hilly classics with Cadel, GVA and Gilbert - most end in a sprint type scenario so if the other 6 team members deliver Cadel, GVA and Phil to the finial hill - and they all go for it, best man wins and maybe 2 in the top 10.

No, it is not negative. Greg is dubious about BMC's commitment that he'll get his chances. I agree with him. With Gilbert in the team he won't get many chances as Greg is wanting to become a rider like Phil. He wants his chance to contened for wins in races like Liege and Amstel. BMC and Greg know that won't be the case. It sends a bitg message to Greg about where he stands in the team.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

ahh..
To be honest GVA was probably my favorite bmc signing, I get what he means. I'd much rather see bmc win with someone like GVA. It is never that special when a team you like just buys a prolific winner. I'd personally hate to have Gilbert at one of the teams I like.

GVA, Evans, Gilbert in the ardennes would be one hell of a team. I believe evans will work for gilbert if he must. If gilbert joins BMC, I would really like him to win RVV next year. Anyway didnt GVA kind of play that role in MSR. As ballan was in the favorites group, GVA was allowed to attack.

it's lotto 2 years ago.
GVA will just go into the shadows. Evans if fit will try, but after this year Gilbert will expect leadership everywhere.

I think the problem with GVA and Gilbert was that in the past Gilbert expected GVA to work for him, and GVA wanted and believed he was good enough for more freedom, lotto sided with Gilbert. Understandable that he doesn't like the prospect.

 

[Frosty]

GVA, Evans, Gilbert in the ardennes would be one hell of a team. I believe evans will work for gilbert if he must. If gilbert joins BMC, I would really like him to win RVV next year. Anyway didnt GVA kind of play that role in MSR. As ballan was in the favorites group, GVA was allowed to attack.

BMC had a very strong team in RVV last year, they were the ones who pulled Cancellara. Maybe that will be a factor for Gilbert as he hasnt won that race yet?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

BMC had a very strong team in RVV last year, they were the ones who pulled Cancellara. Maybe that will be a factor for Gilbert as he hasnt won that race yet?

Team work isn't why Gilbert hasn't won it, the race didn't end at the top of a climb (or 2-3 km later) is why.

 

[Frosty]

I think the problem with GVA and Gilbert was that in the past Gilbert expected GVA to work for him, and GVA wanted and believed he was good enough for more freedom, lotto sided with Gilbert. Understandable that he doesn't like the prospect.

Has GVA justified his greater freedom this season? He's 26 now so should be near his peak. Looking at his results, they are good but probably below the results you would expect from a team leader. Maybe another year or two of experience will help with positioning and also strength in the longer races. I agree with the poster above who says that his best chance of winning might actually be for Gilbert to join, ie GVA attacks while everyone is looking at Gilbert and wins the breakaway group's sprint. Can probably get away with working less on the front too.

 

[boomcie]

Team work isn't why Gilbert hasn't won it, the race didn't end at the top of a climb (or 2-3 km later) is why.

Yeah, it isn't his strongest point and he acknowledged this himself already. I can imagine he will want to improve this aspect for the years to come.

 

[Frosty]

Team work isn't why Gilbert hasn't won it, the race didn't end at the top of a climb (or 2-3 km later) is why.

Yeah its always going to be a hard one for him to win as it doesnt play to his greatest strength.

However, this year i think he had some misfortune and ended up having to do a lot of chasing himself, meaning he was more tired by the end. Having a strong team around him should enable him to be in a better position through the race. Its not going to be easy for him to win but a better team would improve his chances.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Has GVA justified his greater freedom this season? He's 26 now so should be near his peak. Looking at his results, they are good but probably below the results you would expect from a team leader. Maybe another year or two of experience will help with positioning and also strength in the longer races. I agree with the poster above who says that his best chance of winning might actually be for Gilbert to join, ie GVA attacks while everyone is looking at Gilbert and wins the breakaway group's sprint. Can probably get away with working less on the front too.

It rarely works out like that, plus the riders dont wanna be with Gilbert on the final climb anyway.

Plus Gilbert will probably lead the chase himself

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Yeah its always going to be a hard one for him to win as it doesnt play to his greatest strength.

However, this year i think he had some misfortune and ended up having to do a lot of chasing himself, meaning he was more tired by the end. Having a strong team around him should enable him to be in a better position through the race. Its not going to be easy for him to win but a better team would improve his chances.

That is no excuse, look what canc and chav did.
If gilbert was tired, they were dead.

But apparently they are talking about moving the finish closer to a climb, so he'll probably win anyway.

 

[just some guy]

taken from the transfer thread ... hard to keep up

it wont be that simple.
Not to mention Gilbert's ego.

All leaders have an Ego, using you skills and brain smart is a different thing.

2 even sometimes 3 leaders is smart for a classics team.

Fabian and his ego this year ment he lost in the bigger classics, showing a 50 km charge on a Wednesday was the dumbest thing Ive seen in years. ego and dumb vs ego and smart riding.

If Gilbert say sign with BMC and GVA in in the break of say Flanders and Gilbert does anything but sit on wheels the Greg should be ****ed, but if GVA gets brought back in the last 20-30kms he can still hang on for a top 10 - and help Phil Go FTW - good team riding.

If the break does not get brought back because everyone is looking at Phil then GVA has a fair chance against other 2 tier leaders FTW and Phil does his thing against the leader - good team riding.

GVA has had a good season but never really looked like a win in any of the classics except maybe San Remo if Fabian did not ride him down. If if and more ifs.

With Phil in the team I believe GVA has more chance of a win then without. Just my Opinion of course.

 

[El Pistolero]

Well, LBL doesn't finish on a climb and he won that one.

I've told this before, but if Gilbert waited for Ballan at the Bosberg one of the 2 would have won it. Cancellara totally cracked there, but could come back because others were chasing a Gilbert and Ballan who were not helping each other.

He can definitely win it next year. If the finish stays in Meerbeke than there will be another climb added 8km from the finish, the Congoberg. If the finish goes somewhere else than the finish will be even hillier and the final harder. I think next year Phil will win the Ronde.