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Fun analysis of sprinting
Last Post 11/14/2018 02:18 PM by Orange Crush. 2 Replies.
Author Messages
79pmooney

Posts:3180

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11/14/2018 12:06 PM
Peter Sagan's biography; the excerpt in Velonews. 

https://www.velonews.com/2018/11/road/book-excerpt-peter-sagan-on-sprinting_481186

Wouldn't help me much.  I could have followed all his advice and still watch nothing happen as I fire the afterburners.  (When I fire my afterburners, they take me literally, give me a quiet curse and find another employer.)

The guy is a force, as big as the mighty Eddy, just very different.  Doesn't have the "I can grind anybody down" mindset, but his long P-R win shows he can do the extended effort.  Unlike Eddy, he has bike skills the likes of which have never been seen on a road rider of his caliber, ever.  Like Eddy, can win in an incredibly wide range of scenarios.  Like Eddy, is a force beyond just physical abilities.  Unlike Eddy, a fun guy to be around and a great magnet for a sport that often takes itself too seriously (and that desperately needs exactly him in this era).

I usually want another rider to win, but I cannot feel too bad if my favorite loses out to someone that classy.

Ben
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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11/14/2018 01:49 PM
Merckx was an excellent bike handler, too. He raced on the track all winter and dropped adversaries on descents. Merckx was a better climber and TTer.
You might find quite a few roadies with bike handling skills in Sagan’s class. It’s almost necessary to be a successful field sprinter. Sagan’s combination is special.
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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11/14/2018 02:18 PM
van der Poel probably matches Sagan as bike handler and all-round talent. He's currently national champ in cross, road and MTB. Has an excellent sprint as well, which he showed in road nationals. Found a gap in sprint that wasn't there, just like Sagan does in his better sprints.

There's some nice bike handling photos in this spread:
https://cyclingtips.com/2017/11/mathieu-van-der-poel-is-most-talented-bike-racer-on-planet/

Neither of them are like Eddy. Different eras different characteristics.

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