Awesome German Guys- André Greipel
What a stud. I would not have guessed he was going to be the first man up the Koppenberg. When the field is going warp speed to get good position for the tight right turn at the base of the Koppenberg, it takes some special legs to get there first. André bolted well before that turn and had enough daylight between himself and everyone else to have a little daylight left by the top. He does have the legs. Doing it in the German road race champion jersey only adds to the stud factor.
When Greipel, the sprinter, does this or Tony Martin, the time trial champion does that, it gives me hope. These Germans, they have the cycling spirit. Being a great sprinter or a great time trialist may be their strength but these guys are great cyclists, period. Give them a race and great cyclists can do great things.
The Gorilla was never going to win the Ronde with that move but he was going to keep himself at the front for his teammates after the Koppenberg. Twenty-one year old Lotto-Soudal teammate Tiesj Benoot, who finished 5th, must have been inspired to go a little further into the pain cave with a cyclist like André working for him.
I really like Greipel, here in Milano at the last Milano Sanremo.
@Pedale.Forchetta
What’s not to like? He’s awesome on the bike, comes across as a top guy and manages to routinely get under Cav’s skin, regardless of the result . His performance up the Koppenberg was beyond impressive and as for those guns…
@gilly in addition, if you have the chance to see him in person you will discover how agreeable he his with the fans.
He may not have been going to win the thing, but finishing 15th is nothing to be sneezed at!
He was my pick for GW, unfortunately for him the weather didn’t give him a chance to cash-in his preparation and form. Based on his solid rides so far he seems to have targeted the Spring Classics this season, but he just hasn’t had the luck you need as a sprinter in spring. I hope he can manage his form as the year progresses and pick up some results – it’ll be hard once Cav and Kittel get going. You’ve got to respect him for taking on the spring. Rather than just targeting the pure sprints and managing his calendar to maximise wins (regardless of their significance), he’s taking the more difficult path and pursuing rides of substance – I don’t think you can’t underestimate how tough the spring programme is for a guy like Greipel – yes he’s powerful, but it would have taken a lot of hard work to build the endurance required to adapt that power to the longer distances.
Sorry – should read “I don’t think you can underestimate how tough…”
Also – there’s a lot to like about Lotto Soudal. They animate races with attacking tactics, and they also seem to have sense of style – they’ve not followed the boring black kit trend and their paired back, almost retro jerseys are my favourites of the current bunch. It’s rare that teams have panache, but they seem to be one of the rare exceptions. It’d be brilliant if they could also get some more results as reward. In pure depth and quality terms they’re a little behind EQS, Sky, but sometimes panache can make up for what pedigree might be missing from the start-list.
@dyalander
Plus, they have Campagnolo and Adam Hansen.
Their new Ridley frame looks nice too.
With Kittel out of Sheldeprijs, surely the Gorilla is odds on.
@Mikael Liddy
If he were racing he might well be odds on.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/scheldeprijs-2015/preview
@paolo well yeah, that’s probably one pre-requisite…
For some reason I didn’t like him at first. Then, the more I saw and the more I read he became one of my favorites. The big man was German national hill climb champion as a junior. I mean, come on! How can you not like that?
Greipel was amazing to watch in Flanders. His multiple efforts on the front and pushing the pace made it that much more fun to watch.
Greipel, Degenkolb, Kittel and Tony Martin are bringing cycling back into the right direction in Germany. The TdF will also be once again shown on public TV, which makes a big difference.
@dyalander
Spot on assessment, reminds me of Thor Hushovd a few years back. He quickly realised that his sprinting days were gone when Cav came along so he started focussing on amassing points for primes and placings as well as nicking solo stage wins. Remember that epic solo across the Col D’Aubisque while wearing the Rainbow Jersey. I think it was Jeremy Roy who had made the early escape and there was an incredible aerial shot of Hushovd visibly upping the pace once he was in his sights. It really was like hunter vs prey, really awe inspiring stuff. He recorded 98 kmh descending the Aubisque.
@1860
100% agreed. If the German media don’t embrace their current crop of riders: Greipel, Martin, Degenkolb, Kittel, Burghardt ey al, then when? I’m pretty sure they run clean and you have a nice range of characters and personalities to boot.
@wiscot
The USA would be lucky to have a group like that. FFS, we got nothing! No monuments, no big studly hardmen, no Spring Classics riders. Balls.
With guns like these, how can you be anything but awesome? (You’ll note I did not choose to use the photo of Heir Greipel and Robert Forstemann’s quads where they dropped trow in the Olympic village. Tighty-whities aside, someone was seen wearing compression socks).
@Ccos
Incredible.
Makes me as a half german proud… unfortunately my guns are nowhere near the gorillas.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/01557/cycl_main_1557588a.jpg
Oh yes, I went there.
Greipel showed us some new riding talent in the Ronde, for sure. Who knew such a fast finisher could also lead over all those climbs?
Yep, Lotto is looking good and the new bikes in black look great in contrast to their colorful, slick kit. Also, can we talk about Benoot? The lad came in 5th on Sunday, has been riding well all season…and the dude is a full-time college student!! That’s amazing. There are undergrads in my neighborhood, those fucks are too lazy to even take out their garbage! When is this guy finding time to train?!
Shitdamnit, the poor bastards in the Vuelta Pais just climbed up 28%…and at the top there are grates in the road NOT turned 90*, meaning their tires could slip through. Call the fuckin’ DPW and get those dicks out there to turn ’em!
Second pass on the Kwaremont this year. Stud value 10/10.
The Gorilla was at it again yesterday, killing it on the front over the pave…here’s what that looks like afterwards.
@Harminator
Awesome shot. Awe inspiring guns.
I have the sudden urge to do some squats… or at least get on my bike and ride up a grade in the big ring.