KlapperKnop Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 Give credit where it is due .... JL is really impressing for his first tour .... and yet we as South Africans are not giving the support he deserves! Yes Robbie Hunter has been at international scene for a while; but JL is making me and South Africa proud!!!
Willehond Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 There are two threads on the site about JL, so you can't say we're not supporting hijm. Quite the contrary. He is doing very well for a newby. Not as well as other new guys like Laurens ten Dam, but very well nonetheless. He sure has done us proud.
wisecrack Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 Respect where respect is due :-) Seeing him climbing in the mountains amongst some of the best climbers in the world makes me proud indeed. Would love to see how he develops over time. Oh and did I mention he hails from PE?
linnega Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 He is doing as well as could be expected. Perhaps the perceived lack of support is more because expectations were unfairly high. He is after all no Riccardo Ricco or Andy Schleck but certainly showing that he has a bright future and is already a very good pro, better than all but one other South African riding at the moment.
GT oke Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 well done to JL for riding with the best climbers on the tour!!!
Rhodent Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 we say that JL is no andy schleck or riccardo ricco - he doesnt need to be to be one of the best. these guys are future winners...but not everyone can be. look at jens voigt, no tour wins, but he's still seen as one of the greatest champions the sport has ever seen. my feelings - JL, looked after properly, will go further than anyone thinks he can, and a lot further than Robbie Keep up the good work JL!!!!Rhodent2008-07-14 13:13:39
KlapperKnop Posted July 14, 2008 Author Posted July 14, 2008 Why comparing with riders such as Ricardo and Andy ... I mean here we have a Kimberly cyclist doing his "dream" tour (first ever) and is doing very well in my books .... Ricardo just came off the Giro d Italia (2nd); comeon wait n see what JL is going to develop into ... to me miles better that RH!
Willehond Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 Not fair comparing Robbie and JL. One is a sprinter the other a climber. Completely different animals
KlapperKnop Posted July 14, 2008 Author Posted July 14, 2008 There are two threads on the site about JL' date=' so you can't say we're not supporting hijm.[/quote'] Sorry Willehond that I did not see the 2 threads ... and surely was not going to do a search either ...
linnega Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 we say that JL is no andy schleck or riccardo ricco - he doesnt need to be to be one of the best. these guys are future winners...but not everyone can be.Wasn't a criticism - just a statement of fact. I do believe JL will do well - probably not as accumulate as good a palmares as Voigt - but well enough to be considered SA's best all-round cyclist in a couple of years. BTW - I compared him to Schleck and Ricco because they are also youngsters, and also rookies at the Tour.linnega2008-07-14 13:23:30
Rhodent Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 Not fair comparing Robbie and JL. One is a sprinter the other a climber. Completely different animals but success can still be measured in terms of where they get to.... ie robbie is an incredibly well known rider respected by his peers in the peloton... JL still needs to get there that said...success breeds success.... so JL doing so well in this tour is setting him for bigger things
KlapperKnop Posted July 14, 2008 Author Posted July 14, 2008 Not fair comparing Robbie and JL. One is a sprinter the other a climber. Completely different animals Fair comment Willehond ... but at the start of the tour; most radio stations sports bulletins were around RH only ... no mention of JL ... my comment about JL superceding RH is as an overall cyclist JL is going 2 better ... There is just so much hype around RH in SA... just my 5c
Willehond Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 OK make it three: SA boy'tjie in TDF break!!!John-Lee @ TdFJohn-Lee AUGUSTYN & The Mountain Stages
Willehond Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 Not fair comparing Robbie and JL. One is a sprinter the other a climber. Completely different animals Fair comment Willehond ... but at the start of the tour; most radio stations sports bulletins were around RH only ... no mention of JL ... my comment about JL superceding RH is as an overall cyclist JL is going 2 better ... There is just so much hype around RH in SA... just my 5c Sorry I am not in SA, so I am only commenting about what I see on the Hub. Saying that though it makes sense that Robbie gets all the attention, the guys is a stage winner and the team captain and well known world wide. He deserves the spotlight. JL is still young, but even here in Holland he is getting exposure in newspapers and I saw some photos of him on cyclingnews.com where they mention him personally. A sign that he is being noticed.
KlapperKnop Posted July 14, 2008 Author Posted July 14, 2008 Willehond ... no arguement about RH being in the spotlight as he is known to the international arena ... but hell .. SA has their 2nd cyclist in a prestige event which I would think that JL should also get the same exposure here in SA as RH!!!
Willehond Posted July 14, 2008 Posted July 14, 2008 OK, JL should definitely get some attention, but I promise you that in Belgium Tom Boonen gets all the attention and Devolder nothing and Tom isn't even in the Tour!!! Same thing in Holland, everyone is talking about Thomas Dekker not being in the Tour and Laurens ten Dam is getting no attention despite being an excellent newby. Hey, that's just like JL. See, you need to earn your stripes first...
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