Critérium International 2013 - May contain spoilers

powerbookboy

Milton50 wrote:

inseine wrote:

JTL has already proved that he can cut the mustard (Worlds anyone?) and there'd be loads of name calling if he came into the Pro Tour ranks kicking everyones backside. I think he'll be fine when the time comes.

Was going to bring this up in the face of all the "oh, looks like JTL can't cut it at this level" remarks.

He was five seconds behind Gilbert (and ahead of people like Nibali, Gerrans, and J-Rod) after 6 hours of hard racing.

I don't know what kind of shape he'll be in for the Ardennes classics but if he doesn't show well in them it won't be because he hasn't got the talent to ride at this level.

When you look at his physique he's not exactly mountain goat design. He's a stocky little beast, more suited to short, sharp, nasty digs than long drags up gradients.

Unless he radically alters his body shape he's not going to be anything more than a powerful domestique in Grand Tours. An what's wrong with that? Nothing. His body is more suited to stages that suit rouleurs, or the Classics.

The focus on GT riders ignores the talents of people who can beast it day in day out throughout the season at gawd knows what Watts, and lionises those physiological freaks who happen to have the right power to weight ratio just because they don't end up with gert big muscles when they stress them.

Sorry if that makes no sense, bit pissed...

Yellow Peril

Just watched that. Great race. Good decision from Sky and Porte in particular to let Froome go. He had the explosive pace and was able to take it up a notch. I think that secured Pote's second place whereby if they had continued the tempo approach other attacks could heve cost them the race.

Haven't read all of this thread but I was saddened to see Evans in such poor shape. Do you think he has lost his mojo or is he ill?

RichN95.

Yellow Peril wrote:

Haven't read all of this thread but I was saddened to see Evans in such poor shape. Do you think he has lost his mojo or is he ill?

He's most likely in decline, but he went well in Oman, so there's life in the old dog yet.

(Having said that, I have fairly recently predicted that he's won his last race as a pro)

powerbookboy

Yellow Peril wrote:

Just watched that. Great race. Good decision from Sky and Porte in particular to let Froome go. He had the explosive pace and was able to take it up a notch. I think that secured Pote's second place whereby if they had continued the tempo approach other attacks could heve cost them the race.

Haven't read all of this thread but I was saddened to see Evans in such poor shape. Do you think he has lost his mojo or is he ill?

Last year he was said to be carrying a virus through much of the season, which could explain his relatively poor performances. Or simply age. He's been killing himself for a number of years now, it may just have caught up with him. Or he's lost his "edge". Either way, it's a shame to see, but time waits for no man.

Wiggins will be the same within a few short years...

slim_boy_fat

Porte has his say on twitter.

'@richie_porte: so people have questioned @chrisfroome yesterday... It's called tactics and worked so well he won stage and GC #tactics #teamwork #nuffsaid'

Yellow Peril

It's a shame. A few year's ago I didn't care for him, he was whingey and precious, the Rainbow jersey was the making of him and he became a real hero with some real gutsy riding.

Looking forward to TJVG, Talansky, Porte, Froome and suchlike in the GT's this year.

Pross

RichN95 wrote:

Yellow Peril wrote:

Haven't read all of this thread but I was saddened to see Evans in such poor shape. Do you think he has lost his mojo or is he ill?

He's most likely in decline, but he went well in Oman, so there's life in the old dog yet.

(Having said that, I have fairly recently predicted that he's won his last race as a pro)

I tend to agree with this and think the best thing he can do now is take TJVG under his wing in the Tour. There doesn't appear much point in blowing TJ's chances of a high finish by nominating Cadel as leader based on current form.

Richmond Racer

Evans is trying to convince himself, I think

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/evans-c ... -de-france

Macaloon

Richmond Racer wrote:

Evans is trying to convince himself, I think

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/evans-c ... -de-france

Thought Boardman's commentary about life in an uncomfortable elite sports environment was revealing. No way Cadel would be wondering if riding for Sky.

frenchfighter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... f45QUTDang

Nice video from RadioShack with two appearances from Sky...big LOL

greasedscotsman

They have to tell him to take it easy on the descent? :shock:

Richmond Racer

Macaloon wrote:

Richmond Racer wrote:

Evans is trying to convince himself, I think

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/evans-c ... -de-france

Thought Boardman's commentary about life in an uncomfortable elite sports environment was revealing. No way Cadel would be wondering if riding for Sky.

And Evans is only going to get more and more irascible in/with the media in the run up to the Tour. As others have said, you cant keep clinging to the 'I've won it before so should be leader' if it was 2 years ago, you've got a team mate whose outperforming you and your form has you TT'ing with Andy Schleck as your neighbour, results-wise.

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=if45QUTDang

Nice video from RadioShack with two appearances from Sky...big LOL

That's quite funny, nothing like a good bit of banter between friendly rivals.

Makes me want to go to Corsica, looks stunning. Shame about the murder rate though.

frenchfighter

Doesn't look like the Sky guys even acknowledged their existence to me.

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

Doesn't look like the Sky guys even acknowledged their existence to me.

Too busy plotting world domination.

Richmond Racer

inkyfingers wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Doesn't look like the Sky guys even acknowledged their existence to me.

Too busy plotting world domination.

*cackles from top secret underground lair*

Macaloon

Richmond Racer wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

Doesn't look like the Sky guys even acknowledged their existence to me.

Too busy plotting world domination.

*cackles from top secret underground lair*

The bots are running prototype AIs. Personality modules come with the production release being readied for Tour.

Refreshing self-deprecatory sense of humour from whoever released that video.

vino2012

Rick Chasey wrote:

vino2012 wrote:

Frenchfighter gets WAY too much attention on these forums, all noise but very little substance to what he says.

You have WAY too many accounts. Was your old one banned?

No, I had one previous account Vino2007, couldn't recall the password and my associated e-mail account was disabled by bt internet. Used to really enjoy this forum from 2007 but in the last 12 months, it's stained by big egos, tiresome posts and vitriol responses.

frenchfighter

Guess who has come on board in the last twelve months and it will explain the reason for the problems on this forum. I shall name no names but there are two in particular that have started posting hundreds of posts of nonsense, uselessness and anger. They are beginning to get the message though and have backed off. I have stopped interacting with them or even reading their posts quite a while ago.

Here is a Vino photo for you:

No_Ta_Doctor

frenchfighter wrote:

Guess who has come on board in the last twelve months and it will explain the reason for the problems on this forum. I shall name no names but there are two in particular that have started posting hundreds of posts of nonsense, uselessness and anger. They are beginning to get the message though and have backed off. I have stopped interacting with them or even reading their posts quite a while ago.

Though not to the point where you stop moaning about them, or derailing every thread with Sky-baiting, apparently.

BTW - the "name no names" but then do your best to identify them thing is an insidious little bit of nastiness much beloved of tabloid journalism.

frenchfighter

LoL. Go and tweet them up and talk shite about me to make yourselves feel better.

inkyfingers

This tosspottery isn't doing anybody any favours.

frenchfighter

Neither is your commenting on it.

I just react I dont initiate. You are lucky I don't bite on everything they say.

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

Neither is your commenting on it.

I just react I dont initiate. You are lucky I don't bite on everything they say.

Fair point, I just get so frustrated with interesting threads developing into petty squabbles.

frenchfighter

I don't disagree with you which is why I try and only comment here and there. Luckily there are enough threads without the annoyance to make this forum a no go. It is the best forum out there imo.

No_Ta_Doctor

frenchfighter wrote:

I just react I dont initiate.

You do though. As you did above.
I think we'd all enjoy this forum more if nobody did.

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

It is the best forum out there imo.

Even with the silliness i'd agree with that. It's the only cycling forum I go near.

frenchfighter

No tA Doctor wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

I just react I dont initiate.

You do though. As you did above.
I think we'd all enjoy this forum more if nobody did.

He tried to call me out earlier. I didn't respond. He mentioned about a change in the forum in the last 12 months - I have noticed this and told him the reason why and posted a great photo for people to enjoy. If you have an alternative hypothesis or something I will enjoy, let me know. If not cheers and enjoy the TT.

ddraver

vino2012 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

vino2012 wrote:

Frenchfighter gets WAY too much attention on these forums, all noise but very little substance to what he says.

You have WAY too many accounts. Was your old one banned?

No, I had one previous account Vino2007, couldn't recall the password and my associated e-mail account was disabled by bt internet. Used to really enjoy this forum from 2007 but in the last 12 months, it's stained by big egos, tiresome posts and vitriol responses.

Nah, we ve always baited you about your Vino Love...

Squaggles

I like reading your posts frenchfighter but you have strong opinions on certain things so you shouldn't be at all surpised if people react to that