The annual ***** rating for world T sprinters

inseine

If it's a list of their current position in the hierarchy of sprinters, Cav really needs a couple of wins in california to keep his place. He's not won anything of note since last years Tour (I realize he has different goals this year).

andyp

Joelsim wrote:

Yep I agree, but we saw in MSR, where only inexperience and nerves stopped Gaviria winning in his maiden race.

He will win loads of GT stages, he will also win several classics and semi-classics including MSR, and I think Flanders and Lombardia too.

Lombardy? Really? If he's going to be competitive there then he can kiss goodbye to winning GT stages as a sprinter.

I think everyone accepts that he has a lot of talent, but it needs more than that to be a consistent big race winner like Cavendish, Greipel and Kittel. Gaviria may go on to eclipse them, but at this point in time, when he's never even started a GT, I'll reserve judgement.

smithy21

I can see why people say it but I am not totally buying into Kittel as the 5 star sprinter. He is only that if the criteria is based on a pan flat 160km stage. Any bumps near the end and he is toast. I think he is a lot easier to get rid of than Cav was in his prime.

Wheelspinner

[Frenchie mode] All sprinters are just wheelsuckers. Meh. [/Frenchie mode]

iainf72

smithy21 wrote:

I can see why people say it but I am not totally buying into Kittel as the 5 star sprinter. He is only that if the criteria is based on a pan flat 160km stage. Any bumps near the end and he is toast. I think he is a lot easier to get rid of than Cav was in his prime.

He's not so good on the hills, but he's improved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQyrLcbCVNo

For me, in a straight up sprint, no one is beating him, therefore he's a 5* sprinter. If you want to add in "getting over tough terrain" etc, then Greipel is the best sprinter.

Mad_Malx

^agree with this. pity about his puncture today.

RichN95.

Watch the overhead of today's Giro stage and you see what separates the 4/5 star sprinters from the others. Speed and great decision making. Only the big three have that at the moment (although I'd like to see Kittel freelancing a win).

rick_chasey

got a link?

I had to do some work .

RonB

Steephill has the 4km to go video from Eurosport. They could've made more of the helicopter cam, but you should get the gist.

rick_chasey

Cheerz.

Greipel folded the wing mirrors in on that one.

ridgerider

Suddenly the invincible Kittel seems SO last week...

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