kadtagenero wrote:
Well, Urán came to Bogotá last month to ride with people in a place called "Alto de Patios", there were thousands of people... Im a lawyer and had to join him earlier because of an advertising campaign, but he invited me to ride that they, so I could talk to him for like 4 hours because he also invited me and my little brother to lunch... is a really kind person... thats why I feel I can tell you guys this things...
About Lopez, that's different, i dont know him at all, but here (colombia) he gets interviewed 3 times a day minimun, so we have lots of info about him all day...
Betancur is a joke... Ag2r will trust him the leadership next year... I think it's a mistake, but hey... its not my money... so its up to them... Finally, Chaves, Nairo and Arredondo are having a nice quiet race, so We'll wait and see what happens...
Im a bit dissapointed about Yates, I was hoping he did better, but maybe in a next race he'll have a nicer performance...
Wow, that seems nice. I follow Urán on twitter and he indeed seems like a VERY nice guy, saw a lot of photos of him with the columbian footballers etc. And by the way, whats up with the sport in Columbia in the moment, seems to be talent everywhere.
And yeah, Betancur is somewhat a joke. But let me say this: If I was Lavenu, I wouldn't pass up on Betancur. He is simply too talented. You can teach how to train, eat, sit in the peloton, time trial, programming, dieting etc. But one thing you can't teach is talent which Betancur has plenty of, probably even as much as Nairo, he just excels at something differently. They just need to get him on track so I actually applaud their decision and as Betancur said: You dont find many guys as me on Ag2R who actually win races.
kadtagenero wrote:
Well, Urán came to Bogotá last month to ride with people in a place called "Alto de Patios", there were thousands of people... Im a lawyer and had to join him earlier because of an advertising campaign, but he invited me to ride that they, so I could talk to him for like 4 hours because he also invited me and my little brother to lunch... is a really kind person... thats why I feel I can tell you guys this things...
About Lopez, that's different, i dont know him at all, but here (colombia) he gets interviewed 3 times a day minimun, so we have lots of info about him all day...
Betancur is a joke... Ag2r will trust him the leadership next year... I think it's a mistake, but hey... its not my money... so its up to them... Finally, Chaves, Nairo and Arredondo are having a nice quiet race, so We'll wait and see what happens...
Im a bit dissapointed about Yates, I was hoping he did better, but maybe in a next race he'll have a nicer performance...
Yatsey came here only for 1) experience 2) stage hunting ala Barguil 2013.
Chaves was the plan for GC from the off and Yatsey for stages.
Riis123 wrote:
I dont know why I have never asked you before, but why do you dislike the dutch riders and Belkin? You have never seemed particular fond of them, which truth to be told, I understand since they aren't exactly the most interesting riders to watch GT wise (Kelderman might be the exception here..)
because they seem to think that one team that's consist of 90% off all the countries best riders is a good idea. seeing how arguable the best dutch rider never went down the Rabobank road (Terpstra) and that the riders that have left Rabobank/Belkin have been doing surprisingingly well (T-J Slagter as only example, he was the first smart enough to leave that team) I expect Mollema, Boom to preform much better next year. the way they got rid of my favorite cyclist also isn't helping (Rasmussen, Sánchez, Gárate). The Netherlands also had like a million talents that never got anywere. Kelderman is the first to actually prove that he was worth being called a talent.
Your favorite riders were all suspects in dope cases and very suspicious. Also Belkin was always a Dutch sponsor and THE dutch team, so yeah it's not weird they want a lot of dutch riders in it. I don't see what's wrong with that.
TimoCycling wrote:
Your favorite riders were all suspects in dope cases and very suspicious. Also Belkin was always a Dutch sponsor and THE dutch team, so yeah it's not weird they want a lot of dutch riders in it. I don't see what's wrong with that.
so suddenly Rabobank had a change of heart and send Michael away and forced the spaniards to do nothing for a year, the spaniards that were basically the saviors of the '12 '11 '09 tour?
I don't see a problem with a lot of dutch riders, I have a problem with a lot of the best riders in it. if the team does bad, there is nobody that can takeover to save the points The Netherlands need for the worlds.
Michael was a doper and you know it, I was sad at that time aswell but you have to be realistic. L.L. Sanchez was suspicious aswell, so no wonder he left as they wanted to freshen up the image. Only Garate I liked him aswell, don't know what happened there exactly, they are being vague about it.
And about the best riders: they don't HAVE TO ride for Belkin you know, they are free to accept others as you have seen by now. It's not like they force them to sign or anything...
I don't see the reason why I should explain myself further. I was asked why I dislike them. I gave my reason and explanations. having a discussion (which I feel is leading to now) would only result in you trying to change my opinion and me repeating myself and I doubt many are interested in that.
But I think what Luigi referred to was the way they threw him out. They KNEW about the whereabout issues, but if I remember correctly it was when an Italien commentator mentioned that he had seen him in Italy preparing for the Tour (and not in south america as he had proclaimed, was it Columbia?) that hell broke lose and they felt forced to withdraw him.
Not a discussion at all, just giving you my view on your reasons .
@Riis: they claimed they didn't know about it, but probably they knew indeed. Who knows what happened there. I cheered for him a lot when he was in the yellow jersey, remember him finishing solo in the yellow jersey, but I was pretty young back then so I don't remember too well.
Those few days in the Pyrenees (To Plateau de Beille, Loudenvielle and Aubisque) ranks ranks higher than the Alps of 2011 for me, says a lot. Contador repeatedly attacking, Rasmussen desperately trying to follow his wheel. Good shit. You should go watch it.
However, I guess we are getting outta line here. Tomorrow should be suited well for a break, I dont know whether Movistar will give up the jersey. If I know Valverde right, he would like to keep the jersey, Im pretty sure. But it all depends, maybe Orica would be interesting in keeping it all together if the break is manageable, who knows.
Oh, and by the way, I dont where to put this, so imma put it here: My friend and I had a discussion about Valverde today after his stage win: I know this sounds biased (I am definitely biased), but I proclaimed that Valverde has been the best rider in the last decade.
I guess it depends a lot on how you weight different parameters. He mentioned Boonen, Cancellara, Contador and Evans.
If Valverde won the Tour maybe, but I think there are better GC riders, but he is a complete one with a great sprint aswell. I don't know, hard to say who's best really. I'd say Contador as GC rider was better than him. But in other aspects not ofc. You can't compare that.
Riis123 wrote:
Oh, and by the way, I dont where to put this, so imma put it here: My friend and I had a discussion about Valverde today after his stage win: I know this sounds biased (I am definitely biased), but I proclaimed that Valverde has been the best rider in the last decade.
I guess it depends a lot on how you weight different parameters. He mentioned Boonen, Cancellara, Contador and Evans.
No way Valverde has been the best rider in the last decade. He might have been one of the best all rounders in the last decade, but he hasn't got the most of his 'talent'.
He has won La Fleche Wallone x 2 , LBL x 2, 1 x Vuelta, is that about it? He has been very consistent, but if we talk about THE BEST I need to see some more overall victories in races or victories in classics
Present:
Tinkoff-Saxo - AG2R - Colombian riders
Past:
Francisco Mancebo - Illes balears - Carlos Sastre - Kelme - Robbie McEwen
I mean in terms of being able to produce big results year in and year out in big races and quite a few stage wins (Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana, Basque Country, the Ardennes San Sebastian and nice wins in Romandie and Dauphine and various of other smaller races in Spain (Ruta del Sol, Murcia) and of course his various attempt in the WC with a lot of good placing, but never victory, I feel like he has been the best.
But yeah, its hard. Evans' consistency and wins in TdF and WC should also count a lot.
Riis123 wrote:
Oh, and by the way, I dont where to put this, so imma put it here: My friend and I had a discussion about Valverde today after his stage win: I know this sounds biased (I am definitely biased), but I proclaimed that Valverde has been the best rider in the last decade.
I guess it depends a lot on how you weight different parameters. He mentioned Boonen, Cancellara, Contador and Evans.
No way Valverde has been the best rider in the last decade. He might have been one of the best all rounders in the last decade, but he hasn't got the most of his 'talent'.
He has won La Fleche Wallone x 2 , LBL x 2, 1 x Vuelta, is that about it? He has been very consistent, but if we talk about THE BEST I need to see some more overall victories in races or victories in classics
Vuelta á Espana: 10 stages (including 2 team time trials), 3th, 4th, 2th, 6th, 1th, 2th and 3th overall. Worst position 6th.
Tour de France: 3 stage wins (Courchevel against Armstrong, opening stage in 2008 and yellow jersey and stage to Peyragudes), 6th, 5th, 8th and 4th overall.
Romandie: 2 stage wins 3rd, 4th, 1th, and 9th overalll.
Dauphine: 2 stage wins, 7th, 1th, 7th and 1st overall.
Other stage races: 1th Catalunya, 9th Tour de Suisse, 2th Tour Down Under, 3x GC wins Andalucia,1th Meditareneen, 2x 1th Burgos, 1th Comunidad Valenciana, 2x 1th Primavera
Classics wins: x2 Liege, 2x Flèche Wallone 2x San Sebastian.
. 
