Radio Wales Interview With G
I caught a bit of this interview when I got in the car last night but can't find a link. The interviewer showed an unusually high knowledge of cycling by BBC standards and was asking G if he sees his future as a stage race rider or Classics specialist. G's answer was that he sees this season as his last where he can do a bit of both and that he is working on his climbing (and TTing which he apparently doesn't do any specific training for at present) with a view to going down the stage racing route. Personally I'd rather see him concentrate on becoming a Classics specialist as I can't see him being anything more than a super domestique at the big stage races but then I would have said the same of Wiggins 6 years ago so who knows.
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Hard to know what his true GT capabilities are, given last years TdF was probably the first time he went in without any plans at some stage after to get back to the track. In 2011 he was 31st in the TdF having lost a chunk of time waiting for Wiggins when BW went down (& subsequently out).
Then last year he was riding in support of Froome with a cracked pelvis, when any half-sane person whould have been back at home - so I guess he certainly has the mindset to suffer through.
He looked to be climbing pretty well at Andalucía recently as 2nd last man (in the Sky train, not on the road...)
His big problem ref stepping up in GTs may not be himself but the ambitions of Peter Kennaugh, who looks like he could be very good all round and has the same pursuit background. And that's assuming Porte eventually leaves because he wants a leaders role in the TdF and Sky are backing Froome.0 -
Actually, and surprisingly, Kennaugh's TT'ing has been no great shakes. He's having to work on it more this year as he definitely wants to become a stage racer. G's better than li'l Pete right now.
One of the most unfortunate things about G's crash in the 1st stage last year was that we didnt get to see how he would have done as Froome's 3rd man - but we did get a glimpse of it beforehand at the Dauphine. On the flip side it gave PK a chance to show what he's capable of.
G's 27. It is crunch time re classics vs stage racer.
As for leadership chances...well, who'd have foreseen in Aug 2012 that Wiggins would be unlikely to be leader for a GT again after 2013? And Froome's back problems might turn out to be something he's going to have to manage throughout his career but which that could flare up at any time. Future leadership opps in that team may not be restricted to just 1 or even 2 guys.0 -
Richmond Racer wrote:Actually, and surprisingly, Kennaugh's TT'ing has been no great shakes. He's having to work on it more this year as he definitely wants to become a stage racer. G's better than li'l Pete right now.
One of the most unfortunate things about G's crash in the 1st stage last year was that we didnt get to see how he would have done as Froome's 3rd man - but we did get a glimpse of it beforehand at the Dauphine. On the flip side it gave PK a chance to show what he's capable of.
G's 27. It is crunch time re classics vs stage racer.
As for leadership chances...well, who'd have foreseen in Aug 2012 that Wiggins would be unlikely to be leader for a GT again after 2013? And Froome's back problems might turn out to be something he's going to have to manage throughout his career but which that could flare up at any time. Future leadership opps in that team may not be restricted to just 1 or even 2 guys.
All good points. I'd assume (without checking) that Geraint has done a fair bit more road TTing for Sky than PK. Always hard to assess where their TTing is at unless they are leading / in contention during a stage race, as they probably won't be flat out all the time.0 -
Dont get me wrong, I'm sure PK can improve a heck of a lot - and he's in the perfect team to do that. But I think there's enough evidence to say that G's the better tester right now.
If you take the Giro 2012 as example. Both were riding it as their last race before lock-down on the track in the lead-up to London. In the opening TT G came 2nd behind Phinney, PK 66th. G came 2nd in the final stage's TT too (PK had to abandon on st 17).0 -
Richmond Racer wrote:Dont get me wrong, I'm sure PK can improve a heck of a lot - and he's in the perfect team to do that. But I think there's enough evidence to say that G's the better tester right now.
If you take the Giro 2012 as example. Both were riding it as their last race before lock-down on the track in the lead-up to London. In the opening TT G came 2nd behind Phinney, PK 66th. G came 2nd in the final stage's TT too (PK had to abandon on st 17).
Good stuff - thanks. PK looks like he loves absolutely burying himself up the climbs a la Ventoux stage last yr. Be good to see a fully fit Thomas able to do the same on the biggest stages.0 -
No doubt its unrealistic nostalgia for the 70s and 80s, but I'd like to see G try both. Top 10 in his first Flanders, 2nd in the Roubaix stage of the 2011 tour and winner of junior Paris Roubaix, I reckon he has some unfinished business in the spring classics. Maybe Mr Kelly should have a quick word to set him in the right direction...0
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So...do you guys think he has the mindset to be a genuine winner? Have to say i'd resigned myself to him being happy as a super-domestique rather than shouldering the burden of being team leader and all that comes with it (a la Bassons, Jens Voight etc). He always seems happiest as a Team member to me (TP, TTT)We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
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ddraver wrote:So...do you guys think he has the mindset to be a genuine winner? Have to say i'd resigned myself to him being happy as a super-domestique rather than shouldering the burden of being team leader and all that comes with it (a la Bassons, Jens Voight etc). He always seems happiest as a Team member to me (TP, TTT)
I think underneath that ultra laid-back demeanour, G's got quite a steely determination
He was a bloody good individual pursuiter. Set the 2nd fastest time ever (at the time) over 4k, in a World Cup in 09. Beat Wiggins OR from Beijing in the process.0 -
He said he was enjoying his first experience of the leader spot in P-N. I guess you don't get to have all those wins on the track without being a driven person and I'm pretty sure you don't ride 3 weeks in the Tour without having the necessary mental attitude. Getting the opportunity will be difficult though, at the moment he is behind Froome, Porte, Henao and possibly Wiggins and Pete in terms of team leadership which is why I thought the Classics route might be his preference.
We know he can climb a bit but we don't know whether he could do it as a team leader in the 'group of der big favourites' and it instinctively feels like he should be a good time triallist (I was really surprised when he said he doesn't train on his TT bike). I guess we will know a bit more about his potential by the end of the week.
If I was in his shoes I'd be worrying too much about what accusations would get thrown around if I were to win a major stage race without having been in the top 10 every year since my 18th birthday.0 -
I remember Brailsford saying in an interview at the 2013 TDU they see G as being in a Wiggins-esque position within the team in the next 2-3 years. So they must see him as a potential team leader.0
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He will never win grand tour. He just does not have enough talent.
He has a decent engine but he's not in the same league as the Big GC contenders.
He's like a hard working midfield player, where as the top guys are the Messi's and Ronaldo's who have buckets of natural talent and are just much better.
G will not be the first British born tour winner,,, IMO0 -
DL1987 wrote:I remember Brailsford saying in an interview at the 2013 TDU they see G as being in a Wiggins-esque position within the team in the next 2-3 years. So they must see him as a potential team leader.
They seem to. It's the last year of his current contract as it happens.0 -
Richmond Racer wrote:DL1987 wrote:I remember Brailsford saying in an interview at the 2013 TDU they see G as being in a Wiggins-esque position within the team in the next 2-3 years. So they must see him as a potential team leader.
They seem to. It's the last year of his current contract as it happens.
It's not inconceivable his future doesn't lie with Sky.
Personally, I think he would have been a classics contender already if he'd been at a team that was focussed on that.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
No tA Doctor wrote:Richmond Racer wrote:DL1987 wrote:I remember Brailsford saying in an interview at the 2013 TDU they see G as being in a Wiggins-esque position within the team in the next 2-3 years. So they must see him as a potential team leader.
They seem to. It's the last year of his current contract as it happens.
It's not inconceivable his future doesn't lie with Sky.
Personally, I think he would have been a classics contender already if he'd been at a team that was focussed on that.
EDIT: absolutely, he might sign with another team, no guarantee he's going to stay with Sky.
But re your comment re being a classics contender already if he's been at another team: what other team would have tolerated his training and time out for the track from 2010-12?0 -
DL1987 wrote:I remember Brailsford saying in an interview at the 2013 TDU they see G as being in a Wiggins-esque position within the team in the next 2-3 years. So they must see him as a potential team leader.
Does that mean he will end up scared to descend in the rain and throw out a load of insulting remarks or will they get him to try and suck on to Froome's wheel in order to win the weak weak weak tour if ever is going to win it.0 -
Richmond Racer wrote:No tA Doctor wrote:Richmond Racer wrote:DL1987 wrote:I remember Brailsford saying in an interview at the 2013 TDU they see G as being in a Wiggins-esque position within the team in the next 2-3 years. So they must see him as a potential team leader.
They seem to. It's the last year of his current contract as it happens.
It's not inconceivable his future doesn't lie with Sky.
Personally, I think he would have been a classics contender already if he'd been at a team that was focussed on that.
EDIT: absolutely, he might sign with another team, no guarantee he's going to stay with Sky.
But re your comment re being a classics contender already if he's been at another team: what other team would have tolerated his training and time out for the track from 2010-12?
That was obviously my point ;-) OPQS wouldn't have let him, but he'd have Roubaix in his palmares already. ;-)
:oops:Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
rayjay wrote:DL1987 wrote:I remember Brailsford saying in an interview at the 2013 TDU they see G as being in a Wiggins-esque position within the team in the next 2-3 years. So they must see him as a potential team leader.
Does that mean he will end up scared to descend in the rain and throw out a load of insulting remarks or will they get him to try and suck on to Froome's wheel in order to win the weak weak weak tour if ever is going to win it.
I'm not sure this thread needs Sky-baiting, rayjay. It was doing quite well as a discussion of Thomas.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0 -
He may have to move teams as Porte and Froome are not going anywhere and are a lot better than G in GTs. He would be a better classics and stage winner rider imo.
Funny that at 27 he is still able to have the luxury of being a non specialist. At his age Contador had won four Grand Tours. I hope Sky dont cotton wool Dombrow and a couple of others for the next five years.
Nice guy with great legs - I like him. It would be nice to see him having to flex them in anger in an environment where he needs to get results to merit his salary.Contador is the Greatest0 -
Don't worry about Dombro, Frenchie, he's on the 2nd year of his 2 year contract and I predict that he's going to sign for...BMC...for next year0
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Referring to a sportsperson by their initial(s)
Stop it.
Stop it now.“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0 -
Exceptions made if the motivation is laziness or an inability to spell“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0
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Richmond Racer wrote:Don't worry about Dombro, Frenchie, he's on the 2nd year of his 2 year contract and I predict that he's going to sign for...BMC...for next year
Really? How come? I'm not sure I will be too happy about that move! Dead-end street for talent at times and although I like Pinotti, the fact they have him as performance director now is making things a greater numbers game. See here:
http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2014/ ... ty-of.html
http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2014/ ... l-and.htmlContador is the Greatest0 -
TailWindHome wrote:Referring to a sportsperson by their initial(s)
Stop it.
Stop it now.
Better than Gerainty or Thomassy
Or god forbid Gez___________________
Strava is not Zen.0 -
frenchfighter wrote:He may have to move teams as Porte and Froome are not going anywhere and are a lot better than G in GTs. He would be a better classics and stage winner rider imo.
Funny that at 27 he is still able to have the luxury of being a non specialist. At his age Contador had won four Grand Tours. I hope Sky dont cotton wool Dombrow and a couple of others for the next five years.
Nice guy with great legs - I like him. It would be nice to see him having to flex them in anger in an environment where he needs to get results to merit his salary.
To be fair I don't think Geraint would try to compare himself with Contador and he has earned his keep as a domestique. He is fortunate to ride for a team that benefits from the success of the GB team so probably hasn't been pushed as much on the road as most pro teams would have done but I'm inclined to agree he would be better concentrating on Classics. I'm not sure he has what it takes to be a leader but hope to be proved wrong.0 -
TailWindHome wrote:Exceptions made if the motivation is laziness or an inability to spell
Or when it's the person's commonly accepted nickname
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Thomas came , 10th [I think] at Flanders, but never getting near the win.
He has not stepped up in to the top echelon of riders and IMO at his age he should have already made the breakthrough.
Luck more than talent will be needed for a big win in the classics ,,, IMO0 -
No tA Doctor wrote:rayjay wrote:DL1987 wrote:I remember Brailsford saying in an interview at the 2013 TDU they see G as being in a Wiggins-esque position within the team in the next 2-3 years. So they must see him as a potential team leader.
Does that mean he will end up scared to descend in the rain and throw out a load of insulting remarks or will they get him to try and suck on to Froome's wheel in order to win the weak weak weak tour if ever is going to win it.
I'm not sure this thread needs Sky-baiting, rayjay. It was doing quite well as a discussion of Thomas.
Especially having just served time for constantly de-railing threads.0 -
TailWindHome wrote:Referring to a sportsperson by their initial(s)
Stop it.
Stop it now.
Oh stop, Panda hater
:P0
