"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Taylor Phinney - 2" off Bradley Wiggins

Remember when Boonen was the rage of Belgium as a kid and the whole cycling world knew he'd be a star even if he half-assed his way through the early years.

Phinney and his genes have just done a pursuit ride less than 2" off Wiggins at a World Cup in China (4:24!).

For those that don't know, he's still only 17 and is Junior World's TT champ this year.

This is just huge for USA cycling's future.

I look forward to him wearing some Maillot after a few prologues in 5-10 years.

That kid is going to roll some people when he gets some miles in his legs.

Fourth in the finals but only just over 1 second down.

Badass.

Add to the fact that this is maybe only his 6th or 7th time pursuiting.

4.24 is good, very good, but comparing Phinneys time to Wiggins is irrelevant at this time of the year. Wiggins is in the middle of his off season and will likely ride 4.15 in Beijing.

4.24 is good, very good, but comparing Phinneys time to Wiggins is irrelevant at this time of the year. Wiggins is in the middle of his off season and will likely ride 4.15 in Beijing.

Still, hand it to a kid with a bright future even if this IS true.

Still, hand it to a kid with a bright future even if this IS true.

I did. I said 4.24 was very good. Taylor Phinney is a gun. But what I said is true. I don't go around questioning you about Dr stuff, so shut up. :p;)

Wiggins is out of season and can ride 4.20 standing on his ear. He'll go 4.15 at the Games. To compare Phinneys time to an out of season Wiggins is not fair to the world and olympic champ. The only way Wiggins will loose the gold medal at Beijing is if a bus accidently gets onto the velodrome and runs over him. Wiggins and to a lesser extent McGee (if he gets his health back) are so far ahead of the rest its hilarious.

What makes you so sure Phinney is at the top of his game? It has been almost four months since he won Junior Worlds TT.

Taylor won the US Pursuit title with a 4:38.413 this past October, his first track race ever. Now he's already knocked 14 seconds off that in two months. You're nuts if you don't think he's got some headroom in there too. Once he figures out how to pace himself he will be showing Wiggins a clean pair of heels at the 2009 Worlds.

Yeah, Taylor is out of season too, and he's on a steep climb up the ranks right now.

Wiggins and to a lesser extent McGee (if he gets his health back) are so far ahead of the rest its hilarious.

There's a man by the name of Fabian, that is considering trying out the pursuit, who might have something to say about this.

Remember when Boonen was the rage of Belgium as a kid and the whole cycling world knew he'd be a star even if he half-assed his way through the early years.

Phinney and his genes have just done a pursuit ride less than 2" off Wiggins at a World Cup in China (4:24!).

For those that don't know, he's still only 17 and is Junior World's TT champ this year.

This is just huge for USA cycling's future.

How long was the Junior TT?

Either way I'm impressed, but it would be impressively eclectic if the guy's world class at both 5:00 and 60:00. Almost scary at 17.

How long was the Junior TT?

Either way I'm impressed, but it would be impressively eclectic if the guy's world class at both 5:00 and 60:00. Almost scary at 17.

28-kilometer course - 37 minutes, 28.10 seconds

How long was the Junior TT?

Either way I'm impressed, but it would be impressively eclectic if the guy's world class at both 5:00 and 60:00. Almost scary at 17.

He is.

He beat the broze rider in the TT by around 25 seconds.

How far do you think he can go? I've never heard of an 18 year old or any U23 rider winning a World Cup.

I'm sooo jealous of this kid. But I'm sure he knows that the rest of world feels that way. lol. Actually, I don't envy him as much since he probably does have a lot of pressure on him.

How far do you think he can go? I've never heard of an 18 year old or any U23 rider winning a World Cup.

I'm sooo jealous of this kid. But I'm sure he knows that the rest of world feels that way. lol. Actually, I don't envy him as much since he probably does have a lot of pressure on him.

Was Armstrong 22 or 23 when he won the World Championship?

That kid is going to roll some people when he gets some miles in his legs.

He did grow up riding some of the tours his parents hold in Europe, he's got some miles, lead group when he was 11-12 if I remember reading correctly. Heck of a nice way to prepare them legs, long easy miles through europe in your early teens.

Still, yeah, not so bad for your second year racing. drip drip drip with sarcasm.

Was Armstrong 22 or 23 when he won the World Championship?

I beleive LeMond was 2nd at 21 and won at 22.

This kid is so fast. So damn fast. I cannot tell you how fast he is. And he's a total highschool goof off the bike too, great guy, but he comes off as young as he is, which makes his talent even more annoying

Would be fun to ride with a youngster like that. Has the world by the ass, and doesn't even know it.

Would be fun to ride with a youngster like that. Has the world by the ass, and doesn't even know it.

He may be fast and young, but he's not stupid.

He may be fast and young, but he's not stupid.


I don't mean stupid by that comment, just everything is ahead of you rather than much of it being behind like many of us (as riders anyway).

I don't mean stupid by that comment, just everything is ahead of you rather than much of it being behind like many of us (as riders anyway).

You said he has the world by the ass and doesn't know it. I was just saying that he does in fact know it.

You said he has the world by the ass and doesn't know it. I was just saying that he does in fact know it.

And im saying that at 17 there is no way you really know it.:)

And you would be wrong.

What makes you so sure Phinney is at the top of his game? It has been almost four months since he won Junior Worlds TT.

Taylor won the US Pursuit title with a 4:38.413 this past October, his first track race ever. Now he's already knocked 14 seconds off that in two months. You're nuts if you don't think he's got some headroom in there too. Once he figures out how to pace himself he will be showing Wiggins a clean pair of heels at the 2009 Worlds.

He'd want to have improved, because 4.38 is rubbish. Theres easily 20 Australians who can ride a 4.38 4000m pursuit and we aren't even at the top in individual pursuiting at the moment. 4.24 is more like it, its world class. I never said Phinney wasn't going to improve some more, but he's not going to improve in leaps and bounds from a 4.24. Any improvements will be incremental.

There's a man by the name of Fabian, that is considering trying out the pursuit, who might have something to say about this.


On what basis do you work that out? Wiggins can and has ridden a 4.15. He's now four years older, faster, stronger, more experienced, and is technically perfect on the track. All that versus an admittedly strong man, but one who has never raced a track bike before. Road TT speed does not always translate well to the IP, and vice-versa. Cancellara will be focusing on the road TT at Beijing and the pursuit is only a side bet.

Wiggins is focusing only on the pursuit. And when he gets the gold he'll be 'Sir Bradley'.

How far do you think he can go? I've never heard of an 18 year old or any U23 rider winning a World Cup.



It happens all the time.

There's a man by the name of Fabian, that is considering trying out the pursuit, who might have something to say about this.


I think there is a fair amount of difference between a TT and a 4k pursuit. No doubt FC will be pure class if he makes the switch, but ability in one does not guarantee ability in the other. But that said it's a match up I pay big money to see and not one I'd like to call before the event.

Phinney who? Never heard of him.

Is he Canadian?

Looks it.

I think there is a fair amount of difference between a TT and a 4k pursuit. No doubt FC will be pure class if he makes the switch, but ability in one does not guarantee ability in the other. But that said it's a match up I pay big money to see and not one I'd like to call before the event.

Not saying an 8k is a 4k, but this isn't the worst evidence I've seen:

1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 8.50 (53.7 km/h)
2 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0.13
3 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.23
4 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
5 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.25
6 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne 0.26
7 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0.30
8 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.31
9 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 0.32
10 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
11 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
12 José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.33
13 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval - Prodir

I did. I said 4.24 was very good. Taylor Phinney is a gun. But what I said is true. I don't go around questioning you about Dr stuff, so shut up. :p;)

Wiggins is out of season and can ride 4.20 standing on his ear. He'll go 4.15 at the Games. To compare Phinneys time to an out of season Wiggins is not fair to the world and olympic champ. The only way Wiggins will loose the gold medal at Beijing is if a bus accidently gets onto the velodrome and runs over him. Wiggins and to a lesser extent McGee (if he gets his health back) are so far ahead of the rest its hilarious.

Deal. Shutting up now. :D:D:D

I should also point out that, for a big TTer on the road, he is VERY, VERY smooth and does surprisingly high revs.

Deal. Shutting up now. :D:D:D :lol:

Phinney's performance was impressive, although I'm not convinced he will be showing Wiggins a clear pair of heals in the near future. But with Phinney and Ben King, I think USA cycling will be in good shape.

Phinney's performance was impressive, although I'm not convinced he will be showing Wiggins a clear pair of heals in the near future. But with Phinney and Ben King, I think USA cycling will be in good shape.

By the time Phinney is 21, Wiggens won't be any competition. As long as you don't consider a little over 3 years the near future, you are probably right.

Phinney's performance was impressive, although I'm not convinced he will be showing Wiggins a clear pair of heals in the near future. But with Phinney and Ben King, I think USA cycling will be in good shape.

except that in the pursuit, if you are showing someone your heels, you are actually losing! ;)

Young Phinney will crush them all like tiny bugs under his Sidis. The kid's got the best bike racer genetics EVER. Look up his parents' collective bicycle racing resume some time. It's scary.

Young Phinney will crush them all like tiny bugs under his Sidis. The kid's got the best bike racer genetics EVER. Look up his parents' collective bicycle racing resume some time. It's scary.

Mehh. You seppos will build him up to be the SOLKI (Son of Lance - Khrist Incarnate) and his head will explode thus forcing him to seek out Ben Cousins to offer spiritual guidance on his path to a higher plane of coke addiction.

Meanwhile back on planet earth William Walker will dominate the grand tours....:D

Mehh. You seppos will build him up to be the SOLKI (Son of Lance - Khrist Incarnate) and his head will explode thus forcing him to seek out Ben Cousins to offer spiritual guidance on his path to a higher plane of coke addiction.

Meanwhile back on planet earth William Walker will dominate the grand tours....:D

Silly skeptic. You'll see.

Young Phinney will crush them all like tiny bugs under his Sidis. The kid's got the best bike racer genetics EVER. Look up his parents' collective bicycle racing resume some time. It's scary.
I'd honestlly love to see him do well.

But to your point, I have just two words...Axel Merckx

But to your point, I have just two words...Axel Merckx

Axel's mother won an Olympic gold medal in cycling?

Huh.

Guess I learn something new every day.

Young Phinney will crush them all like tiny bugs under his Sidis. The kid's got the best bike racer genetics EVER. Look up his parents' collective bicycle racing resume some time. It's scary.

I think Lance has better "bike racer genetics" than Taylor. Oh, but look at the palmares of his parents. Zilch.

Axel's mother won an Olympic gold medal in cycling?

Huh.

Guess I learn something new every day.

Ah, yes, the boycotted 1984 Olympic games. I believe that was also before pros were allowed to race at the Olympics.

I think Lance has better "bike racer genetics" than Taylor. Oh, but look at the palmares of his parents. Zilch.

You're arguing up a tree here.

The point is that Taylor without a whole lot of formal competition has blazed onto the scene, both on the road (Junior TT worlds) and on the track.

Look up the velonews interviews with him and his dad. Until a year or two ago Taylor didn't even ride competitively. He played soccer like a lot of American kids. And he seems like he's got his head screwed on properly.

He DOES have a genetic advantage. That's not a bad thing and I think many on this board recognize that both his mother and father have contributed, seeing as they both raced at the highest levels and won.

Will Taylor be the "Next Lance." No, just as Lance was not the "Next (insert name)." He'll be the first Taylor Phinney and blaze his own path. We're all just along for the ride.

Who's to say Lance's genetics are better? Taylor is certainly more accomplished than Lance was at 17, and Axel wasn't on the same planet at that age.


Ah, yes, the boycotted 1984 Olympic games. I believe that was also before pros were allowed to race at the Olympics..

Are you serious? Either the stab at her accomplishments is a joke, or you my friend are quite dumb.

1976
August 3-4, 1976 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in 3,000 Meter Individual Pursuit, Northbrook Illinois.

August 14-15, 1976 - National Road Championships, USA - 1st place, Louisville Kentucky.

1977
1977 - Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place.

July 19-24, 1977 - Red Zinger, stage race in USA - 1st place on the final GC.

July 27, 1977 - National Time Trial Championships, USA - 3rd place, Seattle Washington.

July 31, 1977 - National Road Championships, USA - 1st place, Seattle Washington.

August 2-6, 1977 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in 3,000 Meter Individual Pursuit, Marymoor Velodrome, Redmond Washington.

August 2-6, 1977 - National Track Championships, USA - 3rd place in Match Sprint (200 Meters), Marymoor Velodrome, Redmond Washington.

September 3, 1977 - World Road Championships, Venezuela - 2nd place, San Cristobal.

1978
July 8-15, 1978 - Red Zinger, stage race in USA - 3rd place on the final GC.

July 26-30, 1978 - National Road Championships, USA - 3rd place, Milwaukee Wisconsin.

1979
August 1-2, 1979 - National Time Trial Championships, USA - 2nd place, Wautoma Wisconsin.

August 1-5, 1979 - National Road Championships, USA - 1st place, Milwaukee Wisconsin.

August 7-12, 1979 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in 3,000 Meter Individual Pursuit, Northbrook Illinois.

1980
1980 - Colorado Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place on the final GC.

1981
1981 - Self Magazine Cycling Circuit, USA - 1st place.

June 26-July 5, 1981 - Colorado Classic, stage race in USA - 1st place on the final GC.

August 3-5, 1981 - National Time Trial Championships, USA - 1st place, Bear Mountain New York.

August 3-9, 1981 - National Road Championships, USA - 1st place, Bear Mountain New York.

August 11-16, 1981 - National Track Championships, USA - 2nd place in 3,000 Meter Individual Pursuit, Trexlertown Pennsylvania.

August 11-16, 1981 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in Points Race, Trexlertown Pennsylvania.

1981 - World Road Championships, Czechoslovakia - 3rd place, Prague.

1982
1982 - National Track Championships, USA - 2nd place in 3,000 Meter Individual Pursuit, Kenosha Wisconsin.

1982 - National Track Championships, USA - 1st place in Points Race, Kenosha Wisconsin.

1982 - World Track Championships, Great Britain - 2nd place in 3,000 Meter Individual Pursuit, Leicester.

1982 - Coors Classic, stage race in the USA - 1st place in stage 3.

1982 - Coors Classic, stage race in the USA - 1st place on the final GC.

1983
1983 - World Track Championships, Switzerland - 1st place in 3,000 Meter Individual Pursuit, Zurich.

1983 - Omloop Van De Loiret, France - 3rd place.

1984
May 26, 1984 - East Coast Cycling Circuit, USA - 1st place, Allentown.

May 1984 - Tour of Nutley, USA - 1st place.

May 1984 - Central Park Circuit, USA - 3rd place, New York City.

June 1984 - Lowenbrau Pepsi Grand Prix, USA - 1st place.

June 1984 - U.S. Olympic Road Trials, USA - 2nd place in road race, Spokane Washington.

June 1984 - U.S. Olympic Road Trials, USA - 2nd place time trial, Spokane Washington.

July 11, 1984 - World Road Championships, Spain - 1st place, Barcelona.

July 13, 1984 - Tour of Colorado, stage race in USA - 3rd place in prologue, Flaggstaff Mountain.

July 14, 1984 - Tour of Colorado, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 1, Rocky Mountain National Park.

July 15, 1984 - Tour of Colorado, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 2, Vail Village Criterium.

July 17, 1984 - Tour of Colorado, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 4, Grand Junction Colorado National Monument.

July 20, 1984 - Tour of Colorado, stage race in USA - 1st place in stage 7, Morgul to Bismark.

July 29, 1984 - Olympic Games, USA - 1st place in the road race, Los Angeles.

yeah, every so often someone comes along who blows everyone else out of the water.
reminds me of Secretariat...

It will be interesting to see what happens in the years to come with this kid.

If you edit out all the domestic results you get:

September 3, 1977 - World Road Championships, Venezuela - 2nd place, San Cristobal.

1981 - World Road Championships, Czechoslovakia - 3rd place, Prague.

1982 - World Track Championships, Great Britain - 2nd place in 3,000 Meter Individual Pursuit, Leicester.

1983 - World Track Championships, Switzerland - 1st place in 3,000 Meter Individual Pursuit, Zurich.

1983 - Omloop Van De Loiret, France - 3rd place.

July 11, 1984 - World Road Championships, Spain - 1st place, Barcelona.

July 29, 1984 - Olympic Games, USA - 1st place in the road race, Los Angeles.


Remove track and amateur competition and you get:

September 3, 1977 - World Road Championships, Venezuela - 2nd place, San Cristobal.

1981 - World Road Championships, Czechoslovakia - 3rd place, Prague.

1983 - Omloop Van De Loiret, France - 3rd place.

July 11, 1984 - World Road Championships, Spain - 1st place, Barcelona.


Compare that to the palmares of a truly world class racer and you might notice the difference. I'm not even talking about Longo but even someone like Van Morsel.

I hate to break it to you but Taylor is not the first person to be born to two primarily national caliber cyclists.

The true test of world class genetics is world class results. That's why it's a safe bet to say that those who have produced world class performances have world class genetics (Armstrong, Boardman, etc.).

I know on BF people like to clamp on to heroes like limpets and defend them vigorously and even irrationally.

July 11, 1984 - World Road Championships, Spain - 1st place, Barcelona.

There wasn't a womens road race nor an amateur road race at the world champs in Barcalona in 84 as it was an Olympic year. That should probably read track championships.