The 100th Edition Of The Tour de France: Chirps, Opinions, News, Updates.

[jcza]

Awesome pics dangle

 

I saw that if Jens is offered a contract then he will be back next year.

[Wyatt Earp]

Awesome pics dangle

 

I saw that if Jens is offered a contract then he will be back next year.

 

More than anything ,I would like to see Jensie back

[jcza]

More than anything ,I would like to see Jensie back

 

Fully agree and I'd rather have him on my team than Frank Schleck

[Wez-O]

The end?

 

The end of an icon!

['Dale]

 

The end of an icon!

 

His performance this year suggests there's another year of PRO cycling in those legs.

 

Lets see

[Wyatt Earp]

Excuse me, but wasn'd Bradley wiggins a track cyclist of note before he "changed" into a GC contender? Took him 2 years, but he did it.

 

Edit: Oops, sorry, i see this was discussed.

 

Yes, as discussed and TW put it quite nicely.

I think Sagan's coach can do well to withdraw those claims.

 

Here is where Sagan lies.

Sprinters are winners, they thrive on winning, they thrive on the podium, this guy even more so thrives on constant attention too.

Most Sprinters become like pornstars, Cipolini being a very classic example.

 

Most of them also get forgotten.

Win the LeTour once and you will remembered for life.

Lets take Erik Zabel, the real king of the green jersey, most people new to the sport wont even know who he is/was.

 

Why am I rambling on.

For Sagan to become a GC contender (if he had that ability) he would have to lay behind him the podium and glitz and glamour he so badly craves for.

he would have to become a bottom feeder with the climbers.

I am willing to bet he will not be prepared to do this.

 

The Le Tour was very exciting this year and was a climbers race, so I predict even hillier tours in time to come with more 'climbing TT's'

 

So three problems fro Sagan at the moment.

His hunger for the podium.

His ability to ride a good TT and climb well for an entire week (this I strongly doubt he has, even with years of coaching)

The LeTour is not going to get any easier for a guy who is already on the back foot.

[Wez-O]

His performance this year suggests there's another year of PRO cycling in those legs.

 

Lets see

I would have thought he was still good for a few more tours, but upon watching his post race interview it seems he won't be back

Watch this and see what you think?

 

http://www.bicycling.com/video/jens-voigts-final-tour-de-france#/video/all

[jcza]

Yes, as discussed and TW put it quite nicely.

I think Sagan's coach can do well to withdraw those claims.

 

Here is where Sagan lies.

Sprinters are winners, they thrive on winning, they thrive on the podium, this guy even more so thrives on constant attention too.

Most Sprinters become like pornstars, Cipolini being a very classic example.

 

Most of them also get forgotten.

Win the LeTour once and you will remembered for life.

Lets take Erik Zabel, the real king of the green jersey, most people new to the sport wont even know who he is/was.

 

Why am I rambling on.

For Sagan to become a GC contender (if he had that ability) he would have to lay behind him the podium and glitz and glamour he so badly craves for.

he would have to become a bottom feeder with the climbers.

I am willing to bet he will not be prepared to do this.

 

The Le Tour was very exciting this year and was a climbers race, so I predict even hillier tours in time to come with more 'climbing TT's'

 

So three problems fro Sagan at the moment.

His hunger for the podium.

His ability to ride a good TT and climb well for an entire week (this I strongly doubt he has, even with years of coaching)

The LeTour is not going to get any easier for a guy who is already on the back foot.

 

Sagan is not a pure sprinter like Zabel, Cippo or Petacchi. His hunger for the podium should inspire him not prevent him. Anyway we're not going to agree on this. I think he can become a GC contender, others don't. Only time will tell.

 

Remember what Ulrich said - there are many lean riders in the peleton but not many GC winners (when asked about his weight)

[Eldron]

Yes, as discussed and TW put it quite nicely.

I think Sagan's coach can do well to withdraw those claims.

 

Here is where Sagan lies.

Sprinters are winners, they thrive on winning, they thrive on the podium, this guy even more so thrives on constant attention too.

Most Sprinters become like pornstars, Cipolini being a very classic example.

 

Most of them also get forgotten.

Win the LeTour once and you will remembered for life.

Lets take Erik Zabel, the real king of the green jersey, most people new to the sport wont even know who he is/was.

 

Why am I rambling on.

For Sagan to become a GC contender (if he had that ability) he would have to lay behind him the podium and glitz and glamour he so badly craves for.

he would have to become a bottom feeder with the climbers.

I am willing to bet he will not be prepared to do this.

 

The Le Tour was very exciting this year and was a climbers race, so I predict even hillier tours in time to come with more 'climbing TT's'

 

So three problems fro Sagan at the moment.

His hunger for the podium.

His ability to ride a good TT and climb well for an entire week (this I strongly doubt he has, even with years of coaching)

The LeTour is not going to get any easier for a guy who is already on the back foot.

 

Nail on the head stuff here.

 

Physically I think the guy can become a GC rider - he isn't a "pure sprinter", he can half climb, he can half TT - given the right programme I think he has the genetics and physical ability.

 

Mentally I think it's a different story. Wyatt has covered it pretty well. GC riders are slow killers - Sagan is a inyourfacewithaknifebitch kinda killer.

 

That said - he may develop the right mind - he is still young...

[Wyatt Earp]

Sagan is not a pure sprinter like Zabel, Cippo or Petacchi. His hunger for the podium should inspire him not prevent him. Anyway we're not going to agree on this. I think he can become a GC contender, others don't. Only time will tell.

 

Remember what Ulrich said - there are many lean riders in the peleton but not many GC winners (when asked about his weight)

 

You seriously need to look at Ullrich and his condition when he raced the tour.

Also it could help you and perhaps even help you understand yourself better when you realise how different cyclists and people are.

I hope for Sagans sake he is a pure sprinter because he certainly won't be a GC contender in any grand tour.

Perhaps something like tour of Mauritius.

['Dale]

 

 

Yes, as discussed and TW put it quite nicely.

I think Sagan's coach can do well to withdraw those claims.

 

Here is where Sagan lies.

Sprinters are winners, they thrive on winning, they thrive on the podium, this guy even more so thrives on constant attention too.

Most Sprinters become like pornstars, Cipolini being a very classic example.

 

Most of them also get forgotten.

Win the LeTour once and you will remembered for life.

Lets take Erik Zabel, the real king of the green jersey, most people new to the sport wont even know who he is/was.

 

Why am I rambling on.

For Sagan to become a GC contender (if he had that ability) he would have to lay behind him the podium and glitz and glamour he so badly craves for.

he would have to become a bottom feeder with the climbers.

I am willing to bet he will not be prepared to do this.

 

The Le Tour was very exciting this year and was a climbers race, so I predict even hillier tours in time to come with more 'climbing TT's'

 

So three problems fro Sagan at the moment.

His hunger for the podium.

His ability to ride a good TT and climb well for an entire week (this I strongly doubt he has, even with years of coaching)

The LeTour is not going to get any easier for a guy who is already on the back foot.

 

Cool analysis, Wyatt Earp.

 

I reckon he's born to be an excellent one day specialist as he's demonstrated.

He's a power sprinter and that is where he thrived last year with those huge wins on those punchy finishes.

 

About his character, he's flamboyant and I'm cool with that.

About his antics and wheelies, it is entertaining for most fans by far.

A breath of fresh air.

He is 'one' with his bike - a rare phenomenon.

 

GO SAGAN

 

I think his coach was enthused and proud when he said that in an interview, but it was not well considered.

['Dale]

GCs are so won in the high mountains.

And TTs.

Sculpting Sagan into a serious TTer - definitely possible.

Sculpting him into a top climber - eish! Dunno.

[Wyatt Earp]

Cool analysis, Wyatt Earp.

 

I reckon he's born to be an excellent one day specialist as he's demonstrated.

He's a power sprinter and that is where he thrived last year with those huge wins on those punchy finishes.

 

About his character, he's flamboyant and I'm cool with that.

About his antics and wheelies, it is entertaining for most fans by far.

A breath of fresh air.

He is 'one' with his bike - a rare phenomenon.

 

GO SAGAN

 

I think his coach was enthused and proud when he said that in an interview, but it was not well considered.

 

Don't get me wrong.

I think and I have said that he is an exceptional sprinter.

I won't take his ability and achievements away from him.

 

He is just not mu cup of tea, I am more of an old school traditionalist, so the breath of fresh air stuff doesn't gel with my passion for the sport.

[jcza]

You seriously need to look at Ullrich and his condition when he raced the tour.

Also it could help you and perhaps even help you understand yourself better when you realise how different cyclists and people are.

I hope for Sagans sake he is a pure sprinter because he certainly won't be a GC contender in any grand tour.

Perhaps something like tour of Mauritius.

 

I'll wait & see, to suggest Tour of Mauritius is an insult. You know that Sagan is not a pure sprinter. He won the green jersey because he was the most consistent rider and not the fastest sprinter.

['Dale]

GCs are so won in the high mountains.

And TTs.

Sculpting Sagan into a serious TTer - definitely possible.

Sculpting him into a top climber - eish! Dunno.

 

His talent is beyond doubt.

His motivation to succeed is solid.

His ability to inspire and lead a team is proven.

[Wyatt Earp]

I'll wait & see, to suggest Tour of Mauritius is an insult. You know that Sagan is not a pure sprinter. He won the green jersey because he was the most consistent rider and not the fastest sprinter.

 

That in itself is an insult to my intelligence

I rate him as a sprinter, nothing more and nothing less.

I was sitting with a bunch of Germans in a pub when it was said that he could be a GC contender, they are probably still pissing themselves.