A big waste? It would take him a couple of years to turn himself into a grand tour contender and even then I don't think he could ever do better than a podium. So he would be wasting the best years of his cycling career to be sub top in something while he's already shown he's world class in one day classics. I'd really hate to see him continue down this path and I do feel his team is directing him a little bit. Jumbo is clearly a grand tour team.
Pro Cycling 2021
- Thread starter RobinLFC
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Hmm, maybe you guys are right. I think it comes from my personal preference on following the Grand tours more than one day races. I agree that Roubaix is bigger than winning a one week stage race but the 3 GTs are above everything for me. To be fair, for WVA to be competitive in them they`d probably have to go back to including way longer ITTs than in previous years and even then he wouldn`t win it if Pogacar doesn`t fall off a cliff first. But still, I`d like to see him go for it once even if its just a top 5 finish.
But yeah, the smarter way is to focus on what he`s strong already I`ll give you that. It`s probably also because I`m not Belgian that I don`t rate these races on trashy surface too much. You guys most likely take detours on your commute to work to get in some extra cobbles while I start cursing immidiately when I accidentally take a wrong turn in Berlin and find myself on cobblestones
I fecking hate riding on cobbles!Hmm, maybe you guys are right. I think it comes from my personal preference on following the Grand tours more than one day races. I agree that Roubaix is bigger than winning a one week stage race but the 3 GTs are above everything for me. To be fair, for WVA to be competitive in them they`d probably have to go back to including way longer ITTs than in previous years and even then he wouldn`t win it if Pogacar doesn`t fall off a cliff first. But still, I`d like to see him go for it once even if its just a top 5 finish.
But yeah, the smarter way is to focus on what he`s strong already I`ll give you that. It`s probably also because I`m not Belgian that I don`t rate these races on trashy surface too much. You guys most likely take detours on your commute to work to get in some extra cobbles while I start cursing immidiately when I accidentally take a wrong turn in Berlin and find myself on cobblestones
But yeah as Belgians we probably rate one-day classics way higher than any other nation in the world. Winning the Tour de France is objectively the greatest achievement in cycling but I just don't see it as anywhere near realistic in his case, he's just not built right for it. If a Belgian is going to win that in the coming decade, it has to be Evenepoel, not van Aert.Tweet
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Five more years of Evenepoel at Quick-Step. Looks like Lefevre found his new sponsors or extended his existing ones.
Anybody watch Scheldeprijs just now?
Not quite worked out if Bennett was meant to lead Cav out or if Cav was to do as he pleased. Either way, quickstep made a mess of it to let Philipsen win.
Yep. Absolutely chuffed for Jasper, he's the best friend of my brother in law so met him quite a few times - great lad.
Not sure about the Quick-Step tactics. They'd be mad to think Cavendish would be able to take over from Bennett when Bennett only goes 300m or so from the finish line. They simply got outclassed by the manoeuvre of Alpecin-Fenix, class work by De Bondt and Rickaert.
Yeah that’s what confused me about quickstep, did Bennett just go too late or was he trying to deliver Cav to 100/150m out and Alpecin out maneuvered them?
As a Manxie, it’s just nice to see Cav towards the pointy end again tbh. Always enjoy a bunch sprint, but get so much more excited when Cav is involved, even if wins are unlikely these days.
Would've loved a Cav win too here, the circle would've been complete for him if he did.
I think Bennett was going for his own luck, otherwise he would've overtaken Morkov a lot earlier. Then when he wanted to go he was hindered by Rickaert and Philipsen so when he finally had the space the finish line was way too close and Cavendish never had a chance.
Anyone watching Basque country? Pogacar and Roglic so effortly above the rest its hilarious Basically Pogacar attacks, Roglic the only one able to follow but then doesn`t properly pull, everything comes back together, Pogacar attacks rinse repeat.
Slovenian open championship world tour 2021
Basically Pogacar attacks, Roglic the only one able to follow but then doesn`t properly pull, everything comes back together, Pogacar attacks rinse repeat.Slovenian open championship world tour 2021
Clears it up a bit...
Sam Bennett on his second place finish: "We were running out of numbers. Not the result we wanted but at least we had two riders on the podium. It was nice on the echelons, quite enjoyable but then on the circuit we went too easy and the first effort to get going again was hard. When you’re going to sprint again your muscles aren’t warmed up and I couldn’t kick hard."
Asked about Deceuninck-QuickStep's tactics, where Cavendish was on Bennett's wheel rather than part of the lead-out, Bennett said: "I was doing my own sprint and then Mark was on the wheel to see what result he could do. And if he could come around, he’d come around. I just focused on my own race."
Asked about Deceuninck-QuickStep's tactics, where Cavendish was on Bennett's wheel rather than part of the lead-out, Bennett said: "I was doing my own sprint and then Mark was on the wheel to see what result he could do. And if he could come around, he’d come around. I just focused on my own race."
"Sam was the sprinter and I was sweeper," says Cavendish. "We had to leave it a little bit late and then when we went, we probably ran out of guys a little bit early. Michael had to back off a little bit and the other guys came from the right. It was kind of cross-tailwind from the left. Just as I was going. Sam kind of went to go on the left where it kind of closes and Philipsen was coming from the right. I was watching it from behind and I just had to back off to let Sam get out of there. I think he’s got the strongest legs of any sprinter at the minute. I backed off to try to let him out, but it didn’t quite work out."
Last Basque Country stage is brilliant. Roglic and Pogacar both tempo riding in seperate groups
I guess hoping for a Jakobsen stage win is above expectations, but happy to see Cavendish win as well after 3 years 
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Incredible awareness to get into that gap 100m from the finish, and strong ending to overtake Philipsen like that. Great sprint.
That’s what we like to see!
Back to back. Don’t think Cav will ever compete at the top again, but there’s plenty of wins out there for him this year.
Today looked quite easy from what I’ve seen.
Today looked quite easy from what I’ve seen.
Cavendish suddenly can't stop winning. Three now!
Pidcock 
Fecking hell, didn’t expect that.
Think the Amstel will be a task too much for Van Aert. 27x hills today with 15kg heavier than Pidcock clearly took its toll at the end, and Sunday will be even heavier with harder competition.
Fecking hell, didn’t expect that.Think the Amstel will be a task too much for Van Aert. 27x hills today with 15kg heavier than Pidcock clearly took its toll at the end, and Sunday will be even heavier with harder competition.
It's a fantastic victory for Pidcock, still only 21. Once he improves in the longer classics in the coming years, he's going to be a huge threat. Van Aert hasn't look right all year in my opinion and I don't really give him a chance in the Amstel. Should just rest and work towards his next goals.Pidcock
Think the Amstel will be a task too much for Van Aert. 27x hills today with 15kg heavier than Pidcock clearly took its toll at the end, and Sunday will be even heavier with harder competition.
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Interesting. I don't think he needs the Dauphiné to be ready for the Tour, so hopefully he'll be fully fresh at the start and can keep his peak form until the end (for a change
).Nice trio up front in Amstel Gold race right now. Schachmann should attack with 1-2km to go and hope that Pidcock and WVA look at each other and are worried to do the chasing work.
Also, you Belgian guys have incredible high expectations regarding Wout, the guy makes constantly top 3-5 splits but you`re only satisfied when he wins
Also, you Belgian guys have incredible high expectations regarding Wout, the guy makes constantly top 3-5 splits but you`re only satisfied when he wins
feck thats close
First look says Pidcock but the only picture that matters does seem to say Van Aert (the one they’re showing on the phone).
Fecking hell this is close
Fecking hell this is close
Nicely set up for the final 20km......
One of the most boring big races of the year. Finish is always great though.
Ohhhh Alaphilippe
Roglic is so damn nice. I'd be so pissed!
Nice to see Alaphilippe winning, he looked a bit off in recent weeks. Roglic needs to work a bit on his timing on these uphill finishes, he often gets mugged at the end.
Dumb question, but how would you rank the Grand Tours, 1 week races, monuments, one day races etc in order of importance?
I think Tour de France is probably the pinnacle, followed by Giro and Vuelta (or is it Vuelta then Giro, no idea), followed by the monuments but then I have no clue where/how to rank the other races. Is there a point system in cycling, prestige, monetary reward for some races over others?
I think Tour de France is probably the pinnacle, followed by Giro and Vuelta (or is it Vuelta then Giro, no idea), followed by the monuments but then I have no clue where/how to rank the other races. Is there a point system in cycling, prestige, monetary reward for some races over others?
Tour
Ronde / Roubaix / World Championships
La Doyenne / San Remo / Strade
Giro / Lombardia
Vuelta / San Sebastian / Gent-Wevelgem
E3 / Omloop / Flèche Wallonne / Amstel / ...
Something like that would be my order. But it depends on the person in question of course. Like today is of less (if at all) importance to Roglic who'd have the Tour by far and away at #1, but this week is way more important for someone like Alaphilippe who knows he can't win the Tour (although being French it's different for him as well).
Maybe the three Grand Tours would be 1, 2 and 3 if you ask a starting rider which races he'd like to win if he had unlimited potential, but for me the Ronde and Roubaix carry a very big importance as well, and competing in the rainbow jersey for a year is a unique and great experience.
It's basically the WC, Grand Tours and the very big one-day races though. 1 week races like the Dauphine, Switzerland, Paris-Nice, Tirreno, BinckBank, ... are "nice to haves" but they're never the main goal of riders before the season starts. Let alone the lesser known ones like Belgium, Turkey, Poland, Germany when they still had one, Algarve, Catalunya, ...
Ronde / Roubaix / World Championships
La Doyenne / San Remo / Strade
Giro / Lombardia
Vuelta / San Sebastian / Gent-Wevelgem
E3 / Omloop / Flèche Wallonne / Amstel / ...
Something like that would be my order. But it depends on the person in question of course. Like today is of less (if at all) importance to Roglic who'd have the Tour by far and away at #1, but this week is way more important for someone like Alaphilippe who knows he can't win the Tour (although being French it's different for him as well).
Maybe the three Grand Tours would be 1, 2 and 3 if you ask a starting rider which races he'd like to win if he had unlimited potential, but for me the Ronde and Roubaix carry a very big importance as well, and competing in the rainbow jersey for a year is a unique and great experience.
It's basically the WC, Grand Tours and the very big one-day races though. 1 week races like the Dauphine, Switzerland, Paris-Nice, Tirreno, BinckBank, ... are "nice to haves" but they're never the main goal of riders before the season starts. Let alone the lesser known ones like Belgium, Turkey, Poland, Germany when they still had one, Algarve, Catalunya, ...
Thanks Robin!
There is an official UCI points system but it's basically meaningless. I can't find the list at the moment (I've looked, it seems well hidden), but the commentators over here were talking about how there are a couple of races in Canada that give the same amount of points as the monuments for example. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense. In any case, these points determine the UCI world ranking, which no one truly cares about either. I believe Roglic is leading that at the moment, which seems about right.
Great win for Alaphilippe today. For Liège on Sunday I'm still leaning towards Roglic though. It's a much tougher race, less about punch and timing and more about endurance. Roglic is super strong in those types of races.
Great win for Alaphilippe today. For Liège on Sunday I'm still leaning towards Roglic though. It's a much tougher race, less about punch and timing and more about endurance. Roglic is super strong in those types of races.
23 years since Michele Bartoli for a back to back winner, would be some achievement!
I expect a super motivated Pogacar though, especially given that he couldn't participate today and how close it was last year. Agreed that Sunday is much more suited for Roglic than the puncher's arrival on the Muur today.
Why was UAE disqualified from the race on Tuesday?
Surely Strade isn’t above Lombardia? Rest of the list I kind of agree with.
edit: World Championship slightly above Ronde and Roubaix too for me.
They had to withdraw because of a positive Covid test if yourr talking about Fleche Wallonne yesterday....
I'd put Strade right up there, it's such a unique race with the white roads of Siena and that incredible finish up the Piazza Del Campo. I look forward to this one day race more than any other (one dayer)
Tour
Giro
World Champs
Vuelta
Strade
Roubaix
Il Lombardia
Paris Nice
Flanders
Liege-Baston-Liege
Just my personal favourites.
You like Paris-Nice more then Flanders? Even as a Dutchman that feels like blasphemy let alone the Belgians in this thread!
Yeah that's what I was referring too.
Interesting - do we know if it was an actual rider, or someone on the support team that tested +ive
The list was purely from my POV, so very subjective... Lombardia is a monument for historic reasons but it's always so late in the season, even after the WC when everyone is already on the way down. It's no one's "goal" so to speak imo. Maybe I'm just not in cycling mode anymore by the time it's there. The Strade is relatively new but already has mounted itself to some sort of mythical status. You also get riders there going from classic ones like Van Aert, hill specialists like Alaphilippe, and big guns like Pogacar and Bernal wanting to be there and competing at the front of the race. It has everything for me to even overtake San Remo and Luik-Bastenaken-Luik.
WC above the Ronde and Roubaix is probably correct too yeah from an objective POV. Ronde and (especially) Roubaix are just my favourite races (or days tbh
) of the year.I also do enjoy the Strade more then Lombardia. Was talking more in terms of prestige although you can see the top cyclists want to win Strade badly already.The list was purely from my POV, so very subjective... Lombardia is a monument for historic reasons but it's always so late in the season, even after the WC when everyone is already on the way down. It's no one's "goal" so to speak imo. Maybe I'm just not in cycling mode anymore by the time it's there. The Strade is relatively new but already has mounted itself to some sort of mythical status. You also get riders there going from classic ones like Van Aert, hill specialists like Alaphilippe, and big guns like Pogacar and Bernal wanting to be there and competing at the front of the race. It has everything for me to even overtake San Remo and Luik-Bastenaken-Luik.
WC above the Ronde and Roubaix is probably correct too yeah from an objective POV. Ronde and (especially) Roubaix are just my favourite races (or days tbh
For me personally it’s Ronde > Roubaix but that’s the Holy Week for sure.