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News in 2021
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 04-05-2021 13:56
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Haha Rovny, I thought the only reason someone would remember his career was picking a fight with Brambilla, but now there's this!
On topic I really agree it's a bad idea, GVA lost a few years in his career after his first Vuelta.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 04-05-2021 15:33
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This article from Ciclismo Internacional (in Spanish) says Ponomar is the youngest Giro starter since 1929: https://www.cicli...esde-1929/
Actually, I wonder how these young phenomena like Pogacar, Evenepoel, Bernal, etc., will react once they reach the age of 27/28, which was when usually these talents would presumably reach their peak... will they ride insanely for an entire decade or will they slump sooner than expected?
Truth be told, the emergence of this pool of talents has made us overlook results from 20/21 year old guys like Jorgenson, van Wilder or Arensman have done recently, and perhaps made us thought why guys like David Gaudu were taking too long to finally explode in an elite level. Honestly, I love following future prospects and watch them develop steadily, and I share some of bbl’s thoughts on this. |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 04-05-2021 16:00
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FreitasPCM wrote:
This article from Ciclismo Internacional (in Spanish) says Ponomar is the youngest Giro starter since 1929: https://www.cicli...esde-1929/
Actually, I wonder how these young phenomena like Pogacar, Evenepoel, Bernal, etc., will react once they reach the age of 27/28, which was when usually these talents would presumably reach their peak... will they ride insanely for an entire decade or will they slump sooner than expected?
Truth be told, the emergence of this pool of talents has made us overlook results from 20/21 year old guys like Jorgenson, van Wilder or Arensman have done recently, and perhaps made us thought why guys like David Gaudu were taking too long to finally explode in an elite level. Honestly, I love following future prospects and watch them develop steadily, and I share some of bbl’s thoughts on this.
I really do think a bunch of these guys will have peaked very early in their careers and be out of the sport's highest level well before 30. The question is if that kind of rapid development and crash would still be worth it if they net a few GT's or monuments. if any of them are still winning 10-15 years from now, it would be a big surprise for me I think.
And I agree with you on Gaudu and other "normal" talents like him. I sometimes get frustrated by McNulty, and I have to remind myself that he's only 23 and that 5 years ago his palmares would be a massive overperformance compared to expectations for someone his age.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 04-05-2021 19:36
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I am with you guys and also think that these talents will burn out sooner than usual was the case. In the end basic physiology only allows for so many peak years. Much like in football, where players are peaking at 20, this also happens in cycling and in the end, they will just decline sooner and perhaps more sharply. Good example are the Colombians that have all dwindled out and where Quintana actually turned into an also-ran.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 04-05-2021 20:27
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Shonak wrote:
I am with you guys and also think that these talents will burn out sooner than usual was the case. In the end basic physiology only allows for so many peak years. Much like in football, where players are peaking at 20, this also happens in cycling and in the end, they will just decline sooner and perhaps more sharply. Good example are the Colombians that have all dwindled out and where Quintana actually turned into an also-ran.
I was thinking of Colombian climbers too. Very often they spring up and contest for a few great years only to burn out pretty early, or so it seems to me. It feels like only Uran has bucked that trends and put together a very long and consistent career together for himself. We'll see if Lopez can do something similar.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| DarkWolf |
Posted on 05-05-2021 06:34
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I don't mind young riders although the chance of them burning out is bigger than ever. But I guess it's a pattern all over the sports, especially popular ones, the demand for quick results without traces of patience, the need to surprise one's competition and get a step ahead of them. This leads to situation where the athletes become cannon fodder, there's no time to properly follow the steps of development, to wait for the consistency in results after the proper investment of time and patience in achieving those. I hardly blame the young riders, if given the chance who would refuse to ride in GT even if one just starts his career. I think most of the situation starts with the teams, with the desire to win now and not worry about what happens later. This piece on the matter is an interesting read (https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...ur-market/).
Also, there's another thing for us fans, from my point of view. Today we are one click away from every possible information on up and coming riders, even juniors. That is good, but it's not that good when I could easily bury a new young rider under the pile of information on the next big thing. In a small way I miss the days when I was watching Pantani ride. Every little piece of information I could gather on him was a joy. Even the bad ones. I was rooting for him through all things, good, bad, satisfaction and disappointment. I believe it is what makes a fan, in a civil manner of course and not the die hard blindness of it. And that is why the situation nowadays causes me worry, I get attached to a young rider and he/she could disappear in handful of years if he/she doesn't perform at the expected or required level anymore. |
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 08-05-2021 12:03
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Weird timing to say this (or not) but Patrick Lefevere has openly told the press that João Almeida will leave Deceuninck at the end of the year.
Which is something I will despise since it’s possible that he will go to UAE.
I will have to change my avatar to a bbl-esque one if this happens.  |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 16:21
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| Shonak |
Posted on 08-05-2021 13:07
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hopefully movistar, enric mas and superman lopez won't cut it for them 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 08-05-2021 13:23
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Typical Lefevre move, this is basicaly giving Remco the green light to take leadership.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 08-05-2021 16:48
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FreitasPCM wrote:
Weird timing to say this (or not) but Patrick Lefevere has openly told the press that João Almeida will leave Deceuninck at the end of the year.
Which is something I will despise since it’s possible that he will go to UAE.
I will have to change my avatar to a bbl-esque one if this happens.
Can't wait for him to ruin his career like Rui did. Not a good move in my books for him. |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 09-05-2021 06:01
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Its quite a shame what happened to Rui Costa but I would probably blame the Lampre management back in the day, that also stayed with UAE for some time.
Are there still a lot of Ex-Lampre folks at UAE btw? UAE started out as a money dumpster set on fire but after the first few tough years they got their act together. I cant see Lampre people being involved in that tbh and would see as the natural reason why they got better, i.e. hiring more competent management and staff
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| roturn |
Posted on 09-05-2021 07:35
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Must admit though that when staying with Quickstep he might more and more lose leadership roles despite his good results.
Alaphilippe, Evenepoel, Vansevenant plus surely couple future talents plus Masnada, Cattaneo. He might have more team support for himself only elsewhere.
Even with UAE he might have proper leadership in most races without Pogacar.
Plus it's always money. In a team of many stars he might not be paid as much as a potential GT podium contender might earn elsewhere. |
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 09-05-2021 12:26
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Shonak wrote:
Its quite a shame what happened to Rui Costa but I would probably blame the Lampre management back in the day, that also stayed with UAE for some time.
Are there still a lot of Ex-Lampre folks at UAE btw? UAE started out as a money dumpster set on fire but after the first few tough years they got their act together. I cant see Lampre people being involved in that tbh and would see as the natural reason why they got better, i.e. hiring more competent management and staff
Rui Costa had the chance to leave 3 or 4 years ago when UAE money took over Lampre, he could have gone elsewhere and maybe stretch his good performances outside Switzerland elsewhere. Guess not speaking English and with a lot of friends and staff at UAE speaking Portuguese and Spanish made him stay there for a long while, and eventually finish his WT (or overall career) there, maybe now as a mentor and a luxury domestique. Only he, Ulissi, Conti and Polanc remain there from the Lampre days (and you can't really say Conti and Polanc, aside from one or two GT decent performances, have been doing well).
I can also agree with roturn's view, it would not be easy to remain at DQT with a leadership role, although Masnada I think might be leaving them as well, but for the beginning of Almeida's career I think it would be a crucial team to develop his racing abilities before departing somewhere else. Not sure if he would do wonders at Movistar (look at Enric Mas) or UAE (always skeptical about this team, and I think they are super stacked atm), but of course this is the Portuguese bias in me speaking.  Of course DQT will prefer developing future Belgian stars like Evenepoel or Vansevenant, save money to bring Peter Sagan, and perhaps that has also weighed on his decision. |
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| ivaneurope |
Posted on 09-05-2021 13:20
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Sam Bennett will also leave DQT at the end of the season - perhaps paving the way for Sagan joining the team since his position in Bora isn't secure either. But is Ralph Denk really going to let his golden goose walk to his chief rival and I don't think any of the riders at Bora will be able to match Sagan's star power. Sure, guys like Buchmann, Ackermann and Schachmann are decent, but they aren't Peter Sagan either
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| df_Trek |
Posted on 09-05-2021 13:54
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Sagan to DQS means that also Jurai and Oss are on the way?
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 09-05-2021 14:19
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According to La Gazzetta rumours, Ackermann is likely to leave Bora, too, whereas both Joao Almeida and Hindley are apparently likely to join Bora. Would be some pretty serious climbing depth with those two, Buchmann, Keldermann and then Kämna and Fabbro. And Sam Bennett might be on the way back to Bora as well, as a replacement for sprints.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 09-05-2021 14:25
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Apparently Bennett can't stay at Quick Step due to budget reasons, which makes me wonder about them getting Sagan. Unless of course it's all about Specialised and they will make a major contribution to the team.
Also I think Bennett will be a nice edition to the list of people who sucked after leaving QS.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 09-05-2021 14:32
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Ollfardh wrote:
Apparently Bennett can't stay at Quick Step due to budget reasons, which makes me wonder about them getting Sagan. Unless of course it's all about Specialised and they will make a major contribution to the team.
Also I think Bennett will be a nice edition to the list of people who sucked after leaving QS.
I highly doubt he'll suck. He was already a very successful sprinter at Bora, one of the best in the world. He's definitely much better at Quickstep because of how great their leadouts are, but I see no reason why he would fall off a cliff by leaving.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 12-05-2021 21:54
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Yeah I also think Bennett is quite a solid signing but he definitely has to go for a big paycheck now. At Quick Step he won't get it unfortunately and as a (legitimate) Maillot Verte winner he is worth a 7-digit sum imho.
He is also a genuinely great guy to follow on twitter btw
Specialized + Sagan combo at Quickstep makes sense. Plus probably Sagan's best chance to remain relevant a la Gilbert in the face of WVA and VDP.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| df_Trek |
Posted on 12-05-2021 22:47
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tbh I don't think Sagan is suited to fit inside the Wolfpack, despite it's his best solution to remain close to the top.
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