JTL

Richmond Racer

OCDuPalais wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Interview:
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12943 ... eason.aspx

Cheers for that - I'd been wondering why we hadn't heard much from JTL himself re the Worlds...

It's no great surprise that it was "lights out" for him on the last time up the Cauberg, but then it was for pretty much everyone: and many of them have plenty of experience of riding those distances...

Is there no way Sky can shoe-horn him into the squad for il Lombardia (don't tell me Dave isn't looking into it)?

I've done a quick review and I reckon Dave could switch Richie Porte and JTL - similar frame and haircut, JTL just has to say 'G'day mate' a few times

symo

OCDuPalais wrote:

symo wrote:

Yeah its nice to see him getting the press attention.

However more importantly he is on the cover of the MDCC newsletter HUBBUB for his ToB win, which I think we all agree is a bit more impressive.

Just in time for MDCC, what with Hunt retiring... Always got to have Devonian in the continental pro ranks: thems the rules.

To be fair though it is not as if there is a dearth of talent at MDCC at the moment. Hopefully we will see more of the MDCC juniors filtering through in the next few years.

Tom Butcher

I reckon JTL is being a bit hard on his own tactics there - sure with hindsight he should have just sat and followed Gilbert and just maybe he'd have got in there with Valverde and EBH if he had - though I'm not sure he would. As it was though he gave himself a very outside chance of the win - at one point it looked as if the Contador/Voeckler group had an outside chance of staying away and if it had who knows - there weren't many in there clearly more explosive than him.

I'd hope that he remains an attacking rider in the style of Voeckler rather than one who plays the percentages as Sky/GB have a tendency to do - you can win either way but if you want to make a name for yourself I think a bit of flair helps.

philbar72

Tom, he's not really recognised as a great sprinter though so would he not have fallen away at the end shurely?

Richmond Racer

Another post-Worlds interview with JTL, including an account of his first ticking-off from Cav...

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/a ... E2%80%9D-0

Pross

Interesting that he doesn't appear to see himself as a proper climber! I'd like to see him going for the Ardennes classics where his attacking style is less likely to be reigned in by the Sky management.

Richmond Racer

Pross wrote:

Interesting that he doesn't appear to see himself as a proper climber! I'd like to see him going for the Ardennes classics where his attacking style is less likely to be reigned in by the Sky management.

the Ardennes classics would tie in with the noises coming from Brailsford...

ContrelaMontre

Signed for Sky confirmed today. I hope they're targetting Amstel Gold.

squired

Good luck to him at Team Sky. Lets all hope he has a great 2013 and doesn't just end up as a domestique. With signings like JTL and Dombrovski Sky have a few new interesting faces to follow next season.

ocdupalais

Interested to hear how he gets on with cobbles...

Now we've got the "untested over 220km" thing out of the way, as a long-shot, I'm thinking the 'bergs of Flanders...

It'll be like a Devon training ride for him, just not as hard...

dave_1

On one level, I think it is a great someone can jump from nowhere to be at JTL's level BUT I've followed many success stories and am fatigued by these stories too as many of them end in disappointment for followers. Where was he at 22 , 24?

Mad_Malx

MTBing, ill and then studying, I believe.

Richmond Racer

Dave_1 wrote:

On one level, I think it is a great someone can jump from nowhere to be at JTL's level BUT I've followed many success stories and am fatigued by these stories too as many of them end in disappointment for followers. Where was he at 22 , 24?

to answer literally: at 22 he'd been diagnosed with Espstein-Barr virus and had packed in cycling to go to uni; at 24 he was back riding on the domestic season but the team folded mid-year.

If something dodgy comes to light, OK, but until then I'm giving benefit of the doubt

dave_1

Mad_Malx wrote:

MTBing, ill and then studying, I believe.

there's always illness when it comes to cyclists. I shouldn't have even asked

graeme_s-2

2005
1st GP de Rocheville
3rd Des Boucles Catalanes
2008
1st Overall - Totnes - Vire Stage Race
1st Stage 3

Then he jacked in racing for a couple of years after his illness.

ocdupalais

Dave_1 wrote:

On one level, I think it is a great someone can jump from nowhere to be at JTL's level BUT I've followed many success stories and am fatigued by these stories too as many of them end in disappointment for followers. Where was he at 22 , 24?

Why aren't you bothered about what he was doing when he was 23?
His story up to now is fairly well documented - he hasn't come "from nowhere".

Can you not allow yourself to be excited by the prospects for a rider without feeling a personal affront if it doesn't work out?

Richmond Racer

Before he was diagnosed with the lurgy, he had a more-than-decent first pro season in 05 - according to trusty Wiki, podiums in all of his 10 races including 1 win.

I guess it all comes down to whether you take the guilty-until-proved-innocent line with every rider who bursts onto the big stage, or whether you're prepared to give the benefit of the doubt and hope that it doesnt end up being misplaced.

symo

Do not start on one of MDCC's finest.

Richmond Racer

....and mostly importantly Symo vouches for him

LangerDan

Richmond Racer wrote:

I guess it all comes down to whether you take the guilty-until-proved-innocent line with every rider who bursts onto the big stage, or whether you're prepared to give the benefit of the doubt and hope that it doesnt end up being misplaced.

A little from Column A, a little from Column B......

dave_1

OCDuPalais wrote:

Dave_1 wrote:

On one level, I think it is a great someone can jump from nowhere to be at JTL's level BUT I've followed many success stories and am fatigued by these stories too as many of them end in disappointment for followers. Where was he at 22 , 24?

Why aren't you bothered about what he was doing when he was 23?
His story up to now is fairly well documented - he hasn't come "from nowhere".

Can you not allow yourself to be excited by the prospects for a rider without feeling a personal affront if it doesn't work out?

No.

ocdupalais

Dave_1 wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

Dave_1 wrote:

On one level, I think it is a great someone can jump from nowhere to be at JTL's level BUT I've followed many success stories and am fatigued by these stories too as many of them end in disappointment for followers. Where was he at 22 , 24?

Why aren't you bothered about what he was doing when he was 23?
His story up to now is fairly well documented - he hasn't come "from nowhere".

Can you not allow yourself to be excited by the prospects for a rider without feeling a personal affront if it doesn't work out?

No.

ilm_zero7

great news he has signed for Sky - a future classics winner surely?

rick_chasey

OCDuPalais wrote:

Dave_1 wrote:

OCDuPalais wrote:

Dave_1 wrote:

On one level, I think it is a great someone can jump from nowhere to be at JTL's level BUT I've followed many success stories and am fatigued by these stories too as many of them end in disappointment for followers. Where was he at 22 , 24?

Why aren't you bothered about what he was doing when he was 23?
His story up to now is fairly well documented - he hasn't come "from nowhere".

Can you not allow yourself to be excited by the prospects for a rider without feeling a personal affront if it doesn't work out?

No.

Outstanding gif.

10 chasey points for that.

inkyfingers

Everybody else might as well just retire.

I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on. His ride at the Worlds impressed me a lot actually, quite impressive to make it to the sharp end of that sort of race at your very first attempt.

andyp

I agree.

I think some of the hype on here earlier in the year was ridiculous, with some people claiming he'd win the Worlds, especially given that most of his wins this year have come against second class opposition or at a time when the big names of the sport are not in form. But his performance at the Worlds was impressive and I look forward to seeing how he fares next year, especially in the Ardennes, which would seem to suit him best.

I still think he's carrying a bit of excess weight, but I'm sure Sky will address that.

DeadCalm

Millar is a fan:

David Millar ‏@millarmind
I think @J_T_Locke may be my favourite new cyclist, proper character, old school. The way cyclists should be.

ocdupalais

DeadCalm wrote:

Millar is a fan:

David Millar ‏@millarmind
I think @J_T_Locke may be my favourite new cyclist, proper character, old school. The way cyclists should be.

I'm taking that at face value.

Any spoilers who come in with a cheap comment that in any way refers to "old school" and/or "The way cyclists should be" with a derogatory side-swipe at dopers, potential dopers, Sky riders, soon-to-be Sky riders, the olden days, Tom Simpson, Jacques Anquetil, Jimmy Saville, etc, can fuKc off.

In my mind, what spurred Millar to that remark was the sight of JTL smacking Miss Paignton 1978 on her bikinied bottom whilst stubbing his B&H out on the hapless Stannard's (Bernie Bresslaw's) lunch box. Then, with a Sid James cackle, he sets off on a 140 mile ride around Dartmoor...




Ian's not sure what to think...

DeadCalm

OCDuPalais wrote:

DeadCalm wrote:

Millar is a fan:
In my mind, what spurred Millar to that remark was the sight of JTL smacking Miss Paignton 1978 on her bikinied bottom whilst stubbing his B&H out on the hapless Stannard's (Bernie Bresslaw's) lunch box. Then, with a Sid James cackle, he sets off on a 140 mile ride around Dartmoor...

I never thought he meant anything else...

Richmond Racer

For the JTL fans....exclusive from the ground-breaking news outlet 'This is South Devon'..

http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/bette ... story.html

Looks like Tour of the Algarve will be his first race