What foes TJ need to do take the next step?
Last Post 07/27/2014 01:28 PM by Michael Carbajal. 6 Replies.
Author Messages
Ride On

Posts:537

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07/26/2014 04:56 PM
He is good all around , he is young. What does he need to work on ? Seems like he needs to work on his climbing kick. He needs to be able to drop guys.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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07/26/2014 05:48 PM
That and consistency.

He climbs like TT'er. Needs to be able to respond to attacks OR he needs to be able to set a strong enough pace that he can burn guys off his wheel.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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07/26/2014 05:50 PM
This is the thing (the kick); IMO the next step is out of reach for him, as it is (was)for the likes of VdB, Mollema etc and about 10 other guys of similar caliber. All hugelly talented and they can follow for a long time but when push comes to shove they get dropped. They will never win a GT.

I've said for about last 10yrs Valverde was wasting his time trying to make a mark on Tour. Its a step too far. TJ is young but I am seeing a crop of young guns of greater talent.
ChinookPass

Posts:809

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07/26/2014 08:04 PM
TJ might have placed higher if there were 2 TTs or a TTT.

His weaknesses are definitely following attacks in the mountains and staying off the ground in the first week. One key to racing is improving your weaknesses. He can't expect to climb the rankings if he doesn't and he will soon be overtaken by some younger, slicker horse.

He's a step or two behind the podium guys at any rate and the tour has the best terrain for him (fewest stupid steep climbs). I think 5th place is about the farthest he will go unless the top guys fail to finish like this year.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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07/26/2014 10:01 PM
I first thought " what does he need to do?" was a rhetorical question, but this isn't a doping thread.
jmdirt

Posts:775

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07/27/2014 12:17 AM
TVG just needs to Keep working at it.

The dopers set up skewed expectations that we as fans have to get past. Fan also have to avoid the "if they win they are doped. if they don't win they are (pick one) weak, washed up, overrated, wheel sucker, can't climb, can't attack, have bad days, head case...

He may never win a GT (I hope he does), but most cyclist never reach the level to even contend for a GT so he's well ahead already.
jookey

Posts:197

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07/27/2014 01:28 PM
Ironically, I think TJ needs to improve his time trialing. Don't lose too much time on the climbs and thrash the TT. He did pretty well this year considering that there was not much TTing. If you cannot drop everyone on the climbs, be right with then, or limit loses. Be close enough for the TT to make a difference.


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