Who will be bigger?

[Christian]

Phinney. Time trial powerhouse for the future. So also potential to win 1 week flat races.

Yeah but Eneco Tour is about as big as it gets in that area ...

 

[theyoungest]

Most of those guys (assuming the 'talents' you refer to are the likes of Gesink, Kreuziger, Dan & Tony Martin, Fuglsang, TGBM, Peter Velits and others) are also 2+ years older than Tejay. Don't expect him to compete with 25 year olds.... yet.

Look at what the Schlecks, Kreuzigers, and Gesinks of this world did at Tejay's age... podiuming at the Giro, winning the Tour de Suisse, that sort of thing.

 

[roundabout]

Yes, but it was a 3rd year as professionals for them.

 

[The Hitch]

Look at what .... did at Tejay's age... .

Schleck

podiuming at the Giro

yep

Kreuziger

winning the Tour de Suisse

yep

Gesink

Dont blame me. You should know better than to put Gesink there

And before i get 10 responces in 2 minutes, yes Gesink is now better than Kreuziger, and will probably end up winning 10 TDFs etc etc etc

 

[hrotha]

Well, Gesink hadn't really won anything, but he was 4th in PN, 4th in FW, 4th in DL and 7th in the Vuelta, among other rather decent results, which I guess beats a 3rd in DL and a 2nd in Turkey. Yes I know you were just joking about the Dutch Mafia but just in case someone doesn't know Gesink well enough, there it is.

Van Garderen has shown potential, but nothing extraordinary yet.

 

[The Hitch]

Well, Gesink hadn't really won anything, but he was 4th in PN, 4th in FW, 4th in DL and 7th in the Vuelta, among other rather decent results, which I guess beats a 3rd in DL and a 2nd in Turkey. Yes I know you were just joking about the Dutch Mafia but just in case someone doesn't know Gesink well enough, there it is.

Van Garderen has shown potential, but nothing extraordinary yet.

Dont forget 2nd in Poland. A good performance in the heart of europe is a great indicator of a future champion. Contador won a tt there while the same age.

On a serious note, this doesnt really matter much. Its probably good for both tj and Bobby that they dont have as good palmares as Kreuziger at age 22. I mean All the way up until this year Roman had a way better palmares than his temamate vinne AND is a year younger. But all of a sudden Roman is struggling and Vinnie is winning GTs.

 

[joy118118]

TJ's father is a dutch, going to USA and marrying there. Tj lived in Netherlands before turning a pro. Now he lives in Lucca. He described his Dutch was 'fluently but not native'. He said it in his interviews IIRC. 


 

[blaxland]

I think Taylor Phinney will end up having the better Palmares....He can TT and Ride Cobbles well.

 

[Ferminal]

Phinney.

TJVG should be great, but will he win the TdF?

Phinney should be winning classics, prologues and time trials... on numbers alone he should be "bigger", even if TJVG wins the Vuelta or something.

 

[JA.Tri]

A "Classics" type versus a "GT" type is analagous to comparing apples and oranges...how do you compare? Does 1 Tdf = 5 Classics???

I anticipate that they will both perform well with TP probably collecting many more wins than TJ.

Personally I will give a "GT" rider more "accolades" than a "Classics" but that is probably pure bias .

 

[JRTinMA]

A "Classics" type versus a "GT" type is analagous to comparing apples and oranges...how do you compare? Does 1 Tdf = 5 Classics???

I anticipate that they will both perform well with TP probably collecting many more wins than TJ.

Personally I will give a "GT" rider more "accolades" than a "Classics" but that is probably pure bias .

Really? I would go the other way, props go to the classic riders. 1 monument = 3 GT, 4 if its Giro's. 2 to 1 on classics.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm shocked, SHOCKED I SAY, to see you jumping on the Phinney bandwagon. I have no idea what caused this...



So Bring Me Cancellara miss out on The Canc, thereby remaining Bring Me Cadel, and all of a sudden Phinney is the next Canc anway, right?

Trust me it is not about BMC or CE. His palmares already at his age is impressive. You cannot deny that. Tejay van Garderen? Come on! A good dauphine, finished 35th at la vuelta but what other results suggest that he will be awesome? Phinney looks far more formidable rider

 

[JA.Tri]

Really? I would go the other way, props go to the classic riders. 1 monument = 3 GT, 4 if its Giro's. 2 to 1 on classics.

Understood. This discussion demonstrates the difficulty in comparing. For instance how much kudos do you give a Classics rider for riding out of his skin in a GT as a "SuperD"?

A GT rider needs everything to go well just to finish a GT in a reasonable placing...And then does three Stage wins in a GT equate to 1 Classic???

 

[Marcus135]

Tejay for sure he will be a good GC and classic rider i think, i dont phinney will be GC at all and wont quite reach the very top in one day races.

 

[theyoungest]

Dont blame me. You should know better than to put Gesink there

Come on, at age 21 he rode everyone bar Evans off his wheel on the Mont Ventoux. You don't need to be a consigliere to notice that.

 

[Christian]

Really? I would go the other way, props go to the classic riders. 1 monument = 3 GT, 4 if its Giro's. 2 to 1 on classics.

I was also thinking of the general public, who mainly follows the TdF and has no idea what Paris-Roubaix is. In that sense I can see Van Garderen becoming more famous than Phinney, if he can pull off a 5th at the TdF for example. Of course a win at PR would be much more important but the TdF gets much more exposure, especially in the US

 

[theyoungest]

Really? I would go the other way, props go to the classic riders. 1 monument = 3 GT, 4 if its Giro's. 2 to 1 on classics.

You mean that to you, winning one monument is the same kind of accomplishment as winning 3 GTs

 

[Clemson Cycling]

Don't forget Tejay can TT as well. He finished 2nd and 4th at the two time trials at in the Dauphine. They are both have the talent to be very sucessful riders and only time will tell how they turnout. Tejay is the best potental GC threat America has and Phinny has the potental to be the best classics threat the US have ever produced. I also wonder how good a rider Ben King is going to develop into as I think he has the talent to be very good as well.

 

[The Hitch]

Really? I would go the other way, props go to the classic riders. 1 monument = 3 GT, 4 if its Giro's. 2 to 1 on classics.

OH OOOOOHHHH OH!!!

Calm down now.

1 monument = 4 Giros

I know its a matter of personal opinion, but you sure that isnt a tad unfair?

There are 5 monuments a year, there are 3 gts. It is possible to ride and compete all 5 monuments, as 1 days dont tire you out like weeks in the mountains. Sure most riders will have trouble competing in all monuments but some riders can.

It is not possible to ride and compete 3 gts. Sastre did it but didnt compete in any. Its become almost impossible, possibly impossible, to compete 2 gts where one is the Tour.

A Gt involves being on top form day after day after day, no faults allowed. Once it reaches the mountains it involves hour after hour of excruciating pain, body on its limit, big risk to health etc.

Moreover it is possible to win a monument, with a bit of luck, the right break, tactics giving the domestique who was supposed to tire out the pack, victory in a classic. Far more difficult for a non favourite to win a GT. Impossible for a non favourite to win the 3 gts needed to under your logic match the monument. Arroyo isnt going to get 3 Laquillas, and he couldnt even take full advantage of the first one.

And do you really think that Ballan with his 1 monument is worth more than a Menchov - 2.75 gts (under your Vuelta = 3, Giro = 4 calculation)?

Is Stijn Devolders 2 RVVs better than COntadors 5 gts?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

A GT also involves a bit of luck in the 'who decides to ride' department, especially Giro and Vuelta

I mean, Cunego and Nibali won GT's. Meh.

 

[The Hitch]

A GT also involves a bit of luck in the 'who decides to ride' department, especially Giro and Vuelta

I mean, Cunego and Nibali won GT's. Meh.

But Cunego has also won 3 Lombardias and an Amstel Gold.

Thats 3 gts each for the Lombardias. Thats 9 gts. add the giro its 9.75 + the 2 gts from Amstel Gold, and hes a 11.75 time GT champion.

11 time gt champion if you dont include the Giro.

Your surprised that someone with a score of 11 managed to win 1 giro @ a score of 0.75 ???

 

[Christian]

Its become (...) possibly impossible to compete 2 gts where one is the Tour.

Quote of the day right there

 

[The Hitch]

Quote of the day right there

Well, possibly your guy Schleck can make the possibly impossible possible.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I disagree anyway. Menchov did in 2008, top 5 in both Giro and Tour.
And Rodriguez was top 10 in both Tour and Vuelta this year

 

[Christian]

Well, possibly your guy Schleck can make the possibly impossible possible.

"The place where the possible and the impossible meet ... the possimpible."

- Barney Stinson