2024 Pro thread

[Karvalo]

I got five grand that says this Blummenfelt guy NEVER wins the TDF.

and watch how fast some of our more vociferous contributors don't line up for that action.

Who in their right mind would? It'd be like betting five grand that tomorrow the sky will be green. Of course he's never going to win the Tour, he's too big and too old, it's not exactly a Nostradamus level prediction.

[Karvalo]

Giro winners in the past 10 years include such GC threats as Jay Hindley, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Tom Dumoulin and Richard Carapaz or past their prime big names that are just there to collect starting money or because there's someone better at their team that's going to be the main captain at the Tour like Roglic, Froome, Contador and Nibali. Just look at this year's results after Pogacar. It's a bunch of frauds and retirees in terms of GC talent.

Carapaz podiumed the Tour. Dumoulin podiumed the Tour. Roglic doesn't fit any of your categories until after the emergence of JV. Froome was the reigning 4 time Tour champion and still had to pull out the ride of his life to win. Contador was in his multiple Tour winning prime when he won and when he 'won' the Giro. Nibali won the Tour in one of the most dominant performances ever. It's not a great list to demonstrate how poor the average level is.

[Requiem84]

Blummenfeldt wants to win the TdF. The last TdF Roglic finished was 2020.

He crashed out in
'21
'22
'24

And he wasn;t going to win any of them. He was going to win all the GTs he didn't crash out of and went on to win... because he won them.

Impressive you know he wasn't going to win '21 and '22. 2 years he was the clear team leader for TJV.

The Vuelta and to a lesser extent the giro face much less stress in the peloton.

You think? Geraint Thomas managed to win the Tour, but crashed out of several Giro's he was favourite for.

How many Grand Tours did Pogacar or Vingegaard crash out of? Statistically, Roglic is one of the worst crashers there is among GC riders. Talking about Geraint Thomas, he and Luke Rowe mentioned in their podcast pre Tour that they didn't expect Roglic to do as well as the other three because he's widely known in the peloton as a crasher.

He started at '23. Blummenfeldt starts at 30. It will be insanely tough for him to get on an acceptable skill level.

He started at 23 from no bike racing background at all, finished his first GT 3 years later in his first season at WT level, finished his first Tour the next year, and his first Tour as a genuine GC contender the year after that. Which (if the physical performance side of it wasn't a pipe dream) would be bang on schedule for Blummefeldt even if you make no allowance whatsoever for his huge bike riding headstart.
[/quote]

I saw Blummenfeldt on the road bike at the Olympics triathlon. There's a lot of work to be done for him.

Again, nobody is saying it will be impossible. But it will be insanely difficult. I am hoping he will do good as it will be quite the story.

[Karvalo]

Impressive you know he wasn't going to win '21 and '22. 2 years he was the clear team leader for TJV.

Pog beat him clean in '20 and was a much stronger rider all season in '21. In '22 it is simply not true that he was the clear team leader. He was the publicly declared co-leader with JV, who went on to show himself to be stronger than Roglic has ever been. Anything's possible, but honestly what are the chances?

How many Grand Tours did Pogacar or Vingegaard crash out of?

Did we not spend months upon months discussing how much Pogacar's performance last year was crash affected? Did we not just do the same thing this year with JV?

[spokenwords]

after Pogi at the Tour now we have another possible generational race at the Olympics with Remco. Amazing stuff. What a time to be a fan, and have internet with live feeds.

[chorus88]

[Requiem84]

Impressive you know he wasn't going to win '21 and '22. 2 years he was the clear team leader for TJV.

Pog beat him clean in '20 and was a much stronger rider all season in '21.

You sure you watched '21? Prior to the TdF that year Roglic beat Pogacar in a one week race (Tour de Basque) by over a minute.

The only other race they rode together that year prior to thr TdF was LBL where Pogacar won. So prior to the TdF that year the battle was fully on.

And even a Vingegaard before his peak could crack Pogacar on the Ventoux. '21 was a huge chance for redemption for Roglic.

How many Grand Tours did Pogacar or Vingegaard crash out of?

Did we not spend months upon months discussing how much Pogacar's performance last year was crash affected? Did we not just do the same thing this year with JV?
[/quote]

So the answer is zero. Compared to Roglic who crashed out at least 4 times and injured himself countless times in races he finished. Even in The Giro he won he suffered for days due to another crash.

Sure, he can still win Vuelta's. But he diminishes his chances significantly cause he will often fall.

As mentioned - the entire peloton puts him lower in the hierarchy. Not only physically, but also just because of riding skill. And who knows better, you or Geraint Thomas? .

[spokenwords]

did Remco have a flat? or did he have another high anxiety moment where he thought he had a flat, but didnt? or what?

[EugeneC]

did Remco have a flat? or did he have another high anxiety moment where he thought he had a flat, but didnt? or what?

He just loves the drama.

Jokes aside, amazing ride of him. He was clearly the strongest.

[CustomMetal]

He reminds me of Novak D. A great athlete, I just can't like him and find him a whiny little bitch. Still an amazing athlete though

[robbosmans]

did Remco have a flat? or did he have another high anxiety moment where he thought he had a flat, but didnt? or what?

Yeah was pretty clear

[maquisard]

I didn't use to like Remco, but then he did the LRCP with Benji and Patrick and came across as open and likeable. He speaks his mind, a bit like Vingegaard, and doesn't have the cheeky Tik Tok / Insta personality that Pogacar does. I prefer the Remco and Vingegaard style to be honest.

Incredible ride today - was lost for words watching it. Remco has truly come of age this year.

[Karvalo]

He reminds me of Novak D. A great athlete, I just can't like him and find him a whiny little bitch.

Remember - no radios. He had no idea how much time he had to spare before the chasers came flying past while that bike was coming off the roof. But Ok, I'm sure you'd have handled the pressure much better

Now imagine being Remco and having that finish line photo with the Eiffel tower backdrop hanging on your wall for the rest of your life? Kid done good!

[Karvalo]

.

[CustomMetal]

He reminds me of Novak D. A great athlete, I just can't like him and find him a whiny little bitch.

Remember - no radios. He had no idea how much time he had to spare before the chasers came flying past while that bike was coming off the roof. But Ok, I'm sure you'd have handled the pressure much better

Now imagine being Remco and having that finish line photo with the Eiffel tower backdrop hanging on your wall for the rest of your life? Kid done good!

Didn't just mean today, in general feel he, like Novak, doesn't come across as well as his peers to win over the crowd