How good is Ian Stannard?

jonbob78

Having only got into pro cycling in the past couple of years, I just wanted to understand something.

The other day I was out with a mate cycling through Chelford at the same time as there was a time trial running. A saw a fella over my shoulder about 50 yards back and suggested we speed up and try to get on the back of his wheel. No sooner had I said it this chap came flying past at twice the speed we were going, in full Team Sky kit with a nice Pinerello to boot! Turns out it was Ian Stannard.

Obviously he's a pro rider but what would he get out of riding a 'local' time trial? Just a training ride? Would most pros enter these sort of events when not competing at event on the UCI calendar?

I managed to find the results on the internet and he won by over 90 seconds?[/i]

Stuy-b

doing a regular 10 is a good way to gauge form throughout the year.

and in answer to your first question "How good is Ian Stannard?"

VERY!!!

AndyRubio

He broke the course record that day. Rebecca Romero is doing a TT at Levens next Saturday, just a training race we are assured.

patchy

Check out his third place from Kurne-Brussels-Kurne last year. Titanic ride in apocalyptic conditions



He looked like he'd aged 30 years on the podium..

andyrr

In terms of the top continental pros I guess he's somewhere below the very top guys but good enough to get a good contract with Sky so in UK terms he's one of the very best.
Riding a 10TT is a very short race, high intensity but relative low pressure, chance to test himself maybe to see how training is going in a better, competitive environment, than on his own. He'd recover quickly after that and could do a hard ride on all other days that week no problem I'd guess.

a_n_t

Why were you trying to "get on the wheel" of someone racing in a TT? :roll:

Bronzie

He's a local lad (Milton Keynes) and turned up one evening in 2009 to ride the MK Bowl Thursday night crit. My mate (a strong 2nd cat) told me that following Ian was like riding behind a derny and he averaged 29mph for a couple of laps before he had to let him go.

EDIT: was actually 2008 when Ian was still at Landbouwkrediet

rothers_bikeo

For the curious here's the full results from the TT that Ian rode in on 23rd July

http://cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/Default.aspx?&ge482__geka=MoeMaZhZdmGPSYuQ8onYwgAXZDlkUdIJNURFk8E06xxJZDKDHJP_DeP8RsGXPsL91n5p0SOgBh4X1js5-Ak-CvPz-HVPvKCG_Y4hbI5IizhtN8zpK7BgN7ttaEgqt5U-&ge482__gevi=bkosVTEcmXX5ekdECVvBmA&gv484__gvff0=56464&gv484__gvfl0=0&gv676__gvac=2&language=en-GB&tabid=109

celbianchi

a_n_t wrote:

Why were you trying to "get on the wheel" of someone racing in a TT? :roll:

+1, numpties.

inseine

a_n_t wrote:
Why were you trying to "get on the wheel" of someone racing in a TT?


+1, numpties.

I think we should point out that this is not the done thing, without being quite so personal

celbianchi

inseine wrote:

a_n_t wrote:
Why were you trying to "get on the wheel" of someone racing in a TT?


+1, numpties.

I think we should point out that this is not the done thing, without being quite so personal

Fair enough but I can't resist one more dig. Would the OP if watching an athletics meeting feel the urge to catch onto the back of the bunch as the bell sounded in a mens 1500m race?
Or upon passing his local rugger ground decide to take part in the next scrum?

graeme_s-2

celbianchi wrote:

Fair enough but I can't resist one more dig. Would the OP if watching an athletics meeting feel the urge to catch onto the back of the bunch as the bell sounded in a mens 1500m race?
Or upon passing his local rugger ground decide to take part in the next scrum?

They were on open roads. Perhaps they didn't realise a TT was taking place until the rider came past them?

celbianchi

Graeme_S wrote:

celbianchi wrote:

Fair enough but I can't resist one more dig. Would the OP if watching an athletics meeting feel the urge to catch onto the back of the bunch as the bell sounded in a mens 1500m race?
Or upon passing his local rugger ground decide to take part in the next scrum?

They were on open roads. Perhaps they didn't realise a TT was taking place until the rider came past them?

Making such a sensible assumption rather than mine of assuming that they knew there was a race on and decided to sit behind a competitor would not have allowed such 'hilarious' analogys though.

inseine

I agree with you calbianchi, and they did say it was a TT. It's totally numptyish but beginers deserve a second chance

geebee2

I wouldn't ride at all on a road where a TT was taking place ( either direction ) if I could possibly help it. Please give competitors maximum consideration.

jonbob78

Ok, some fair points....but thinking its being blown out of proportion.

Don't really have a choice to avoid the roads, I live in a cul-de-sac and the TT goes on past the end of my road and they are public roads so entitled to use them. Just to play devils advocate car users may argue differently......and having been driving through the village on in my car I have been tail gated on numerous occasions (would this constitute a penalty?)

Having lived here for the past 7 years been fairly curious exactly how fast they were going. I wasn't thinking for one second of getting 'on any ones wheel' for any more than 100 yards, and in no way did I, or would I have hindered anyone's progress.

As for joining in a scrum or the last lap, see your point but no where near as bad!

....and to finish, I do give other cyclists maximum consideration whether in the car or on the bike, TTing or not.

PS......thanks for the info......didn't think I'd end up in the dock for it

celbianchi

jonbob78 wrote:

Ok, some fair points....but thinking its being blown out of proportion.

Of course, is that not what the internet was invented for?

eh

back to the original point and the answer is he is OK, but nowhere near the quality of some of the other GB pros around his age e.g. Dan Martin & Geraint Thomas.

(Yes, yes I know Dan Martin now rides for Ireland but he's really a Brummie)