Pre-empting Gilbert Bashing.

rick_chasey

OK - cards on the table.

Gilbert won't win anything in the first half on 2012.

I may even go as far to say he won't win anything of note this year.

There - I said it.

I've said before, a rider never has a season like Gilbert did last year twice in a row.

andyp

Rick Chasey wrote:

I've said before, a rider never has a season like Gilbert did last year twice in a row.

How about Kelly?

Between 1983 and 1986 he won at least one monument a season, in 84 and 86 he won two, as well as multiple stage races and stages.

I think you're right about Gilbert. It looks like he's learning that what you do in the winter really matters the hard way.

rick_chasey

andyp wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I've said before, a rider never has a season like Gilbert did last year twice in a row.

How about Kelly?

Between 1983 and 1986 he won at least one monument a season, in 84 and 86 he won two, as well as multiple stage races and stages.

I think you're right about Gilbert. It looks like he's learning that what you do in the winter really matters the hard way.

Pfft. Before I was born. Doesn't count.


No, I appreciate we're over a quarter of the way into the season and he's only got 3 races that matter before he goes and hibernates again for the Tour, but it's a theme I've been using all season - since Strada anyway.

RichN95.

He's not the first person in life to have great success, believe they cracked it, get complacent and then get their butt kicked. It's one of life's oldest stories.

He's still very talented and will probably get it together for the Worlds save his season.

iainf72

Which year was it that Cavendish had a howler of an early season because of teeth and then had a dominating 2nd part of the year with Pip?

rick_chasey

iainf72 wrote:

Which year was it that Cavendish had a howler of an early season because of teeth and then had a dominating 2nd part of the year?

You think this will happen this year?

hangeron

RichN95 wrote:

He's not the first person in life to have great success, believe they cracked it, get complacent and then finish their career throwing ice cubes around on a FlyBe flight to Cardiff. It's one of life's oldest stories.

.

Fixed mun

frenchfighter

Well its all down to these new DMT shoes.

andyp

What an amateur, everyone knows it is all about the Bonts these days.

rick_chasey

FF.

Can you start a thread about pros and their shoes?

I want a Premier League style table - with the previous years' form.

greasedscotsman

Rick Chasey wrote:

I've said before, a rider never has a season like Gilbert did last year twice in a row.

Hasn't Boonen had a pretty good season so far, a bit like the one he had in 2005?

Rick Chasey wrote:

Pfft. Before I was born. Doesn't count.

Think you were born then, so it does count!

rick_chasey

greasedscotsman wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I've said before, a rider never has a season like Gilbert did last year twice in a row.

Hasn't Boonen had a pretty good season so far, a bit like the one he had in 2005?

Rick Chasey wrote:

Pfft. Before I was born. Doesn't count.

Think you were born then, so it does count!

In a row Mr. In a row. His 2006 was good, but nothing like 2005.

skylla

I'll put my neck out and predict he'll win on the Cauberg.

Even though he's quoted as saying about yesterday's ride "“It’s not that I’m hiding during the race, I was exactly in my place.”

Diversion tactics, you see, the whole season up to this Sunday. That's how much Amstel Gold means to him.

In all honesty, I enjoyed watching him so much last year that I really really want him to do well even though for just this race.

rick_chasey

skylla wrote:

I'll put my neck out and predict he'll win on the Cauberg.

Even though he's quoted as saying about yesterday's ride "“It’s not that I’m hiding during the race, I was exactly in my place.”

Diversion tactics, you see, the whole season up to this Sunday. That's how much Amstel Gold means to him.

In all honesty, I enjoyed watching him so much last year that I really really want him to do well even though for just this race.

Presuming you mean Sunday, not the worlds?

S'a big call. I'll put it in the predictions thread.

ddraver

frenchfighter wrote:

Well its all down to these new DMT shoes.

Nah, it's cos he's fat isnt it! Look at that bulge in the zip - could nt possibly be a rumple in the jersey -BEAUCOUP DE FRITES ET BIER PHILLIPE!!!!

greasedscotsman

Rick Chasey wrote:

In a row Mr. In a row. His 2006 was good, but nothing like 2005.

Yeah, yeah, whatever. In my mind I was right.

skylla

Thanks. Yes, this Sunday. It's a big call, but no money will exchange hands, right? Right? oh dear..

rick_chasey

skylla wrote:

Thanks. Yes, this Sunday. It's a big call, but no money will exchange hands, right? Right? oh dear..

Right.

If you get it wrong you'll get some banal/irritating comment from me on the predictions thread.

Humiliating I know.

skylla

Rick Chasey wrote:

skylla wrote:

Thanks. Yes, this Sunday. It's a big call, but no money will exchange hands, right? Right? oh dear..

Right.

If you get it wrong you'll get some banal/irritating comment from me on the predictions thread.

Humiliating I know.

Wasn't expecting anything less, mini-mod. Certainly not now!

andrewjoseph

Different team doctor this year. :twisted:

dave_1

I would love to know what's been going on through his winter. Looks like beer and partying. Or, he's got underlying health problem, or he's changed whatever he's been doing over previous winters...it's 1 of the 3, but which?

MrTapir

andrewjoseph wrote:

Different team doctor this year. :twisted:

fair bit of speculation on the inner ring blog about the change of Gilbert's doctor (last year) now being Boonen's doctor. Also the guy is being charged over Mantova affair or something.

I don't think this is why Gilbert is crap and Boonen is good though. Maybe Gilbert's wife is making him take care of Alan more and he is more tired as a result.

iainf72

He's had tooth problems, and infections with it. He wasn't able to eat properly at an important part of the season and his form has suffered accordingly. I don't think it's a great mystery really.

As for Boonen, he's always good this time of year. He had some luck this year with his form and has capitalised on it. It's not like he's never won P-R, Flanders, E3 or that other chipper before, is it?

dave_1

Gilbert started to mention his teeth problems after a poor month of racing..looks more excuse when it comes out sometime after poor race form first started. Pros do offere excuses from time to time when they can't find the answer.

It took Rominger 8 years to overcome pollen allergies by 1992 and start dominating summer grand tours..

rick_chasey

Either way, just by looking at him you can see all isn't well.

He's not 'playing' with the pedals like we saw from Asmtel onwards. There was a kind of bounce - a spring to his pedal strong that isn't there now. It looks that bit more laboured, even if he is turning at the same rate.