He lost most time on the climb, which is simply to steep for him (parts of 20% today). After that, he only won time since the 7km checkmark
In the final 13km he won back 11 seconds on Evans and 7 seconds on Contador. For me, that's more than good for a 23 year old
Guido Mukk wrote:
well at least I will support Kirchen..he is one of my favorite riders after last year TdF..Even Ruben's 3 years back statistic dont scare me..
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
You are on the spot. The Amstel climbs are indeed too short.
LBL and Lombardia are his favourite classics I think. They suit him better than Amstel (too short too explosive). But Gesink will also be team leader in Fleche Wallone by the way
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
Guido Mukk wrote:
well at least I will support Kirchen..he is one of my favorite riders after last year TdF..Even Ruben's 3 years back statistic dont scare me..
hi
I told you so Kirchen is nowhere
Yeaah..you got me this time.. (this Kirchen hope was.."wild shot" anyway)..but this is real good to see you back..realy.
Yup. If Dekker will play a role in Fleche Wallone, it will be like last year, some attacks before the Muur de Hoei
But it will be hard to win a classic, he's still only 23, but at least he said he'll go for it. It would be great to win a classic at this age. Not even Boonen or Valverde were that young
Hopefully the races will be like they've been so far this season, less controlled and more chaotic, which would mean more chances for Dekker and everyone else.
I really don't want to see a repeat of the past few years' controlled races.
"Oh look, a 25 guy final sprint won by Valverde or Cunego. how exciting" Edited by issoisso on 12-04-2008 19:52
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
I hope exactly the same. I don't understand the fact that they wait so long either...
In Amstel Gold there are only hills, there is almost no flat at all. They could make the race so much harder and nicer if there were more attacks. I mean, every 5/10km there is a hill to climb!!!!
You know, not just because I'm a dutchie, but I really think Dekker has a good chance for a Top5 in TdF, in mountains, he may lose some time but he could also go with Cunego,Schleck,Evans,Contador etc. without losing time, and then in the Time trials, he could really make it all good, as you see now,, in a hard Mountain Time Trial, he only lost 5 seconds, which is pretty nice, I think Evans will win this years TourdeFrance.
But if someone knows a rider who probably will end above Dekker, please tell me, maybe I'm forgetting someone, Cunego could be good in TdF, but will lose too much time in the TT's, same for Soler , maybe his Dekker's team mate Menchov? If he will ride like last years Vuelta he has a chance, because last 2 years(he won both vueltas), he did the TdF first and then the Vuelta, now he does Giro and then TdF, he might be good now in TdF, he wasnt any good last year..
robert_psv wrote:
You know, not just because I'm a dutchie, but I really think Dekker has a good chance for a Top5 in TdF, in mountains, he may lose some time but he could also go with Cunego,Schleck,Evans,Contador etc. without losing time, and then in the Time trials, he could really make it all good, as you see now,, in a hard Mountain Time Trial, he only lost 5 seconds, which is pretty nice, I think Evans will win this years TourdeFrance.
But if someone knows a rider who probably will end above Dekker, please tell me, maybe I'm forgetting someone, Cunego could be good in TdF, but will lose too much time in the TT's, same for Soler , maybe his Dekker's team mate Menchov? If he will ride like last years Vuelta he has a chance, because last 2 years(he won both vueltas), he did the TdF first and then the Vuelta, now he does Giro and then TdF, he might be good now in TdF, he wasnt any good last year..
Menchov seems to have finally realised he needs to ride a GT to be in good shape for the second one. Same with Sastre.
And to show how important the right preparation for each specific individual is important, it's the difference between 2005 Landis and 2006 Landis. Between 2006 Evans and 2007 Evans. Between Heras in the Tour and Heras in the Vuelta. etc.
That said, they both went all out at last year's Vuelta, and it's been many years since someone went full-out at the Vuelta and didn't suck at the Tour the next year (think Valverde at last year's tour, Heras at most tours, I could name a bucketload of examples), so I'm not sure they'll do that well.
My point being that Dekker has to wait for Menchov to falter before he can even think of being team leader. The white jersey might be his, however.
Edited by issoisso on 13-04-2008 08:11
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
The interesting about this Tour - like last year - is that pretty much everyone will have a chance. Contador, Klöden and the rest of the Astana team are out, Rasmussen is out, Basso and all the Puerto-dopers (or, well, some of them) are out. We're left with the Ferrari-people, meaning Evans, Menchov and, and .. whoever may surprise us at the Tour. I'm sure we will see some breakthroughs this summer
(And for the first time in 3-4 years I'm not on summer holiday (in a foreign country) during the Tour -- at all! )
Ruben wrote:
I hope exactly the same. I don't understand the fact that they wait so long either...
In Amstel Gold there are only hills, there is almost no flat at all. They could make the race so much harder and nicer if there were more attacks. I mean, every 5/10km there is a hill to climb!!!!
There are too many riders per teams, making it easier to control the field. Add to that that the best riders on hills are usually quite fast in case of a sprint (Valverde, Cunego, Bettini, etc.), none of them really has much interest to attack from far.
Ruben wrote:
I hope exactly the same. I don't understand the fact that they wait so long either...
In Amstel Gold there are only hills, there is almost no flat at all. They could make the race so much harder and nicer if there were more attacks. I mean, every 5/10km there is a hill to climb!!!!
There are too many riders per teams, making it easier to control the field. Add to that that the best riders on hills are usually quite fast in case of a sprint (Valverde, Cunego, Bettini, etc.), none of them really has much interest to attack from far.
But there are also a lot of riders who don't have that sprint, or at least a lesser sprint, and who have to attack. And they don't do that too often enough.
Too bad Boogerd didn't want to continue, he could've made the race hard for his teammates, but ok, if it isn't for himself, Boogie doesn't do anything. He was a selfish bastard, but you have to be selfish as cyclist.
robert_psv wrote:
You know, not just because I'm a dutchie, but I really think Dekker has a good chance for a Top5 in TdF, in mountains, he may lose some time but he could also go with Cunego,Schleck,Evans,Contador etc. without losing time, and then in the Time trials, he could really make it all good, as you see now,, in a hard Mountain Time Trial, he only lost 5 seconds, which is pretty nice, I think Evans will win this years TourdeFrance.
But if someone knows a rider who probably will end above Dekker, please tell me, maybe I'm forgetting someone, Cunego could be good in TdF, but will lose too much time in the TT's, same for Soler , maybe his Dekker's team mate Menchov? If he will ride like last years Vuelta he has a chance, because last 2 years(he won both vueltas), he did the TdF first and then the Vuelta, now he does Giro and then TdF, he might be good now in TdF, he wasnt any good last year..
Menchov seems to have finally realised he needs to ride a GT to be in good shape for the second one. Same with Sastre.
And to show how important the right preparation for each specific individual is important, it's the difference between 2005 Landis and 2006 Landis. Between 2006 Evans and 2007 Evans. Between Heras in the Tour and Heras in the Vuelta. etc.
That said, they both went all out at last year's Vuelta, and it's been many years since someone went full-out at the Vuelta and didn't suck at the Tour the next year (think Valverde at last year's tour, Heras at most tours, I could name a bucketload of examples), so I'm not sure they'll do that well.
My point being that Dekker has to wait for Menchov to falter before he can even think of being team leader. The white jersey might be his, however.
Surely Andy Schleck is a better bid for the white jersey than Dekker is. Andy is way ahead of Dekker in the mountains, which he proved in the Giro last year, while Dekker hasn't proven anything in the GT mountains yet. Dekker is surely a better TTist, but when in peak condition Andy is also very capable of doing a good long time trial. But it all depends on their rider schedules. Andy's biggest goal of the season is the Olympics, so maybe he won't be at his peak during Le Tour, but maybe Dekker won't be either if his main focus is on helping Menchov, which it surely is.
You are underrating Thomas Dekker and overrating Andy Schleck.
But that's ok for a Schleck fan.
You are going to be suprised in the Tour with that opinion
Kirchen is nowhere
Contador was very strong, impressive!
