The Americans In 2015
04-15-15, 11:07 PM
#26
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Some guys were mentioning Phinney above.
BMC hopeful Phinney returns to racing 'before end of summer' - VeloNews.com
BMC hopeful Phinney returns to racing 'before end of summer' - VeloNews.com
Ochowicz remains hopeful Phinney can resume his place at the elite of the peloton. At 24, Phinney was emerging as a major U.S. star, the kind of rider who could have fan and media interest in any race he started.
There are no guarantees, and Phinney is at a crossroads, but Ochowicz was quick to shoot down suggestions that Phinney’s career could be over.
“Nobody’s made that [possible retirement] official. Those are just rumors. In the end, it will be up to him, and how does he feel about his progress. About his ability to be able to race at this level,” Ochowicz said, just moments after Paris-Roubaix finished.
“This is his race [Roubaix], this is where he belongs,” Ochowicz continued. “I’d like to have him come back to race some time before the end of the year, so he can do a strong winter program, and then he can start thinking about Flanders and Roubaix [in 2016]. It’s important that he races before the end of the year for that purpose.”
Read more at BMC hopeful Phinney returns to racing 'before end of summer' - VeloNews.com
There are no guarantees, and Phinney is at a crossroads, but Ochowicz was quick to shoot down suggestions that Phinney’s career could be over.
“Nobody’s made that [possible retirement] official. Those are just rumors. In the end, it will be up to him, and how does he feel about his progress. About his ability to be able to race at this level,” Ochowicz said, just moments after Paris-Roubaix finished.
“This is his race [Roubaix], this is where he belongs,” Ochowicz continued. “I’d like to have him come back to race some time before the end of the year, so he can do a strong winter program, and then he can start thinking about Flanders and Roubaix [in 2016]. It’s important that he races before the end of the year for that purpose.”
Read more at BMC hopeful Phinney returns to racing 'before end of summer' - VeloNews.com
04-16-15, 05:49 AM
#27
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Some guys were mentioning Phinney above.
BMC hopeful Phinney returns to racing 'before end of summer' - VeloNews.com
BMC hopeful Phinney returns to racing 'before end of summer' - VeloNews.com
What a real shame. So much potential that might never be realized. I think he would have been the spring classics rider America has been looking for. I hope he still can be, but it sounds pretty iffy at best right now.
I wonder how he's holding up psychologically?
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04-16-15, 09:44 AM
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I didn't get the impression of it being 50/50 from Ocho, more that it's a "how the rider himself copes with it" situation, ie, physically he can definitely get back, but it'll be a long hard road, and not everyone can have the focus to get there.
"How's he holding up?" is definitely the bigger question than "how's his leg doing?"
"How's he holding up?" is definitely the bigger question than "how's his leg doing?"
05-20-15, 09:49 AM
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Well, we're about a third of the way into the season, and so far, only 2 wins for Americans.
That's 2 victories with 20 pro riders, the lowest percentage of any country with wins.
To be honest, IMHO, TJ is our one real sure hope to pick up a few wins. Maybe Farrar gets a couple, if he can get support. Talansky? I have no idea what to make out of "the pit bull". Phinney is still not racing. Lawson Craddock? Not there yet. Joe Dombrowski? John Murphy, he was close in Cali.
What do you think, to pessimistic?
That's 2 victories with 20 pro riders, the lowest percentage of any country with wins.
To be honest, IMHO, TJ is our one real sure hope to pick up a few wins. Maybe Farrar gets a couple, if he can get support. Talansky? I have no idea what to make out of "the pit bull". Phinney is still not racing. Lawson Craddock? Not there yet. Joe Dombrowski? John Murphy, he was close in Cali.
What do you think, to pessimistic?
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05-20-15, 10:21 AM
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Tyler Hamilton is the only American winner of ANY monument. It's not so much that they're Americans ... it's that they're NOT Italian/Belgian/Dutch/French
05-20-15, 10:31 AM
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I'd guess that Kelly would trade at least 3 or 4 of his 9 monument wins for just one of Greg and Lance's 3 rainbow jerseys.
05-20-15, 10:44 AM
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Hincapie stood on the podium at both Flanders and Roubaix too.
I was going to posit that American sponsors care more about the big stage races than the Monuments, but most of the Americans in Europe aren't on American sponsored teams anymore.
I'd say Phinney is probably the next best hope for a Monument win, Craddock could maybe do it in a couple years too.
05-20-15, 11:32 AM
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Kelly's basically Belgian anyway.
The thing with one-day races is a lot of it comes down to luck (and tactics) on the day too. Hincapie missed out on a few chances at Roubaix due to punctures, crashes etc. Bauer (ok, Canadian, but a lot of the same factors hold true) had a similar record to George at Roubaix. Kelly never won Flanders (2nd 3 times) which you'd think would be the perfect race for him. No Spaniard or Brit has ever won Roubaix, no German or Australian has ever won Lombardy.
Some day, an American will come along who'll be able to dominate classics a la Boonen or Cancellara on the cobbles, or Argentin or Gilbert on the hilly roads, and will end up winning 5 or 6 of them (but will somehow miss out on MSR or LBL, despite being on the podium 3 times). Then for a while American cycling fans will be all about the one-day cycling and forget that the Tour even exists, except when said classics expert also wins a green jersey.
The thing with one-day races is a lot of it comes down to luck (and tactics) on the day too. Hincapie missed out on a few chances at Roubaix due to punctures, crashes etc. Bauer (ok, Canadian, but a lot of the same factors hold true) had a similar record to George at Roubaix. Kelly never won Flanders (2nd 3 times) which you'd think would be the perfect race for him. No Spaniard or Brit has ever won Roubaix, no German or Australian has ever won Lombardy.
Some day, an American will come along who'll be able to dominate classics a la Boonen or Cancellara on the cobbles, or Argentin or Gilbert on the hilly roads, and will end up winning 5 or 6 of them (but will somehow miss out on MSR or LBL, despite being on the podium 3 times). Then for a while American cycling fans will be all about the one-day cycling and forget that the Tour even exists, except when said classics expert also wins a green jersey.
07-29-15, 12:51 PM
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I was just looking at the pro standings so far this season, and it isn't looking very good for the Americans.
Besides the veterans, TVG and Talansky who are in the top 50, and Danielson and Farrar in the top 250, all of our younger riders are 400 or much further below. They've scored few points, and honestly, they have seemed invisible in the peloton this season. Not sure where promising guys like Busche, Craddock, Dombrowski or Howes have been. I don't think I've seen them at all this season.
But all is not lost, we are still a lot better than Iran and Algeria!
Besides the veterans, TVG and Talansky who are in the top 50, and Danielson and Farrar in the top 250, all of our younger riders are 400 or much further below. They've scored few points, and honestly, they have seemed invisible in the peloton this season. Not sure where promising guys like Busche, Craddock, Dombrowski or Howes have been. I don't think I've seen them at all this season.
But all is not lost, we are still a lot better than Iran and Algeria!
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08-01-15, 10:43 AM
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Encouraging news about Phinney and Stetina..
Phinney, Stetina to return to racing in Tour of Utah | Cyclingnews.com
Phinney, Stetina to return to racing in Tour of Utah | Cyclingnews.com
08-01-15, 12:26 PM
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Encouraging news about Phinney and Stetina..
Phinney, Stetina to return to racing in Tour of Utah | Cyclingnews.com
Phinney, Stetina to return to racing in Tour of Utah | Cyclingnews.com
I'll be looking forward to seeing them on the road again...
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08-01-15, 12:52 PM
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What is the dominate form of road racing in America? I seem to recall it being a whole lot of criteriums. Is there a lot of point to point single day road racing?
08-01-15, 01:31 PM
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For local races, I'd say crits are more popular, at least in Arizona as it's hard to get roads closed for proper road racing, there's still a few big ones here though; Tour of Tucson and Tour of Scottsdale. Not sure how it is in other places.
08-02-15, 06:02 AM
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Interesting that not much changed since Oct 2014.
His abandon tells me he has a long way to go.
It could be some time before he gets back to where he was a few years ago (having a bit of experience with dislocated hips and broken legs). Hopefully he can make it through 2016 without slamming into anything or getting taken out by a motorbike.
Maybe I'm overly skeptical, but assuming he doesn't retire, I think Horner is still the best hope for next year.
Maybe I'm overly skeptical, but assuming he doesn't retire, I think Horner is still the best hope for next year.
08-02-15, 09:26 PM
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08-02-15, 11:37 PM
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Dombrowski had his surgery and perhaps can fulfill the promise he had, as a climber with so much potential that got Sky to sign him.
08-03-15, 04:47 AM
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08-03-15, 05:02 AM
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I guess Danielson is out of the equation for a while...
Tom Danielson tests positive for testosterone | Cyclingnews.com
Tom Danielson tests positive for testosterone | Cyclingnews.com
08-03-15, 06:04 AM
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My only fear for him is that he won't be fully recovered for the Veulta, and he'll have the same kind of race Contador had in the TDF...
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08-03-15, 03:17 PM
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08-04-15, 08:51 PM
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Well, Phinney is back with a bang. Good to see!
08-05-15, 08:09 AM
#48
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It's amazing he can still ride, let alone race.
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