jamesdak 

I bow my head in shame properly chastised.

Obviously I don't hang out here or I'd know. Still it seems so silly to discuss performance of anyone without the factor that can't be talked about being a valid part. It's too ingrained in the sport. But no worries, I'm gone!

TCR Rider

When Tejay first came on the scene I had high hopes for him. Hate to say it but my hopes just never panned out. Oh he's a solid rider for sure but has never shown any sign of breaking into the top tier.
He doesn't seem to handle adversity well. I remember a few years ago, I could be wrong but I think it was the Tour of California, he was leading in the GC but he had a sub par TT and lost the jersey. He was acting like a petulant child after the stage and really had no class. I still see that now when he gets interviewed after a bad performance. Just comes off as snarky to me.
Makes you wonder why BMC hired Porte as co-leader. After today's stage Porte has come back from his time deficit from the mechanical he suffered and is now 20 seconds and a place ahead of Tejay in the GC. Seems to be a recurring pattern of fading later in Grand Tours.

vfrjo

I came by tonight to start this very thread, but I was too late. TJ seems to be able to keep up with the big dogs, almost. I was hoping he would jump up and go today, then he started going backwards. Still a great rider, but it just doesn't look like he'll ever be able to do better than "almost", in the tdf anyway.

CrankyOne

With Porte now ahead of him (though like Tejay he seems always to have a bad day, perhaps the tire was it this year) I'm guessing Tejay's days as team leader will be limited in the future. Very sad about that.

gsa103

I'm not sure about that. Most of these races have ~15 teams, and Tejay definitely seems like a top 15 GC rider, so he can probably get a spot for a few more years.

In those races where the top 5 riders aren't competing like Tour of Cali, USA Pro Challenge, etc he can compete and win. Perhaps targetting the TdF is not the best strategy for him (or his team). Clearly even BMC was hedging their bets a little when they hired Porte.

09box

I agree with everybody thinking he has the best American rider card in his corner. I think he is mid pack in the TDF spread. Don't get me wrong he is a good rider and fun to watch but he has some stiff competition to contend with.

Pemetic2006

Tejay lost 18:00 mins on Wednesday's stage.
Oh well - maybe he can get a stage win now.

bikecrate

I didn't have time to post, but I was going to ask how many people here thought he would crack after rest day 2. Now we know.

KBentley57

"I felt like TJ after a rest day" is now a phrase I use to tell my wife I got dropped on a ride. And she understands.

Tundra_Man 

Bummer. Sad to see him drop 18 minutes like that.

I've never met Teejay personally, but I'm friends with a lot of his family so that gives me an excuse to root for him.

alathIN

This is my impression. TVG is a top 10 guy, but just a fraction of a percentile behind the very top.

Honestly, right now it seems like Froome is the only one who doesn't fit that category.

TCR Rider

Maybe it's time for Tejay to talk to Levi about how to put a Grand Fondo together.

patrickgm60

Yes, Teejay is currently sitting in third place - on his team. : /

GreenAnvil

Didn't TJ finish 5th on the Tour? You don't finish 5th if you don't have a bit more than noodles. Remember, Froomey was 25 when he joined Sky in 2010. He finally turned the corner in 2012 at 27 (TJ's current age) and won his first Tour in 2013 at 28............

Yeah, I'm naive but I'll still root for the best we've got at the moment. Who knows? Maybe a change of scenery can help him break through like it did Froome? Maybe not the Tour but perhaps the Giro or Vuelta or even a podium or two? I'd feel pretty happy for him if he could achieve that.

PepeM

He is most definitely not 'mid-pack.' I still think he should give the Vuelta a proper go next year and then take it from there.

TCR Rider

Well he continues to drop like a stone. He was supposed to take it easy in the TT yesterday and look for a stage win. Today he finished 31:28 behind Bardet in 122nd place. In the GC he's 58:46 back in 27th place.
Maybe if they only had one rest day he could do something.

DiabloScott

Or a cannabis club like Floyd's of Leadville

CrankyOne

Well, there's always next year...

Bauhaus1

I think he should focus on a one week stage race like Dauphine. The first week of this year's TDF he did great then collapsed. Instead of saving his energy in races like Paris-Nice and Dauphine he should give it his all to win one of those even if it leaves him with nothing for the big one. He just doesn't seem to have the endurance for a 21 day tour.

Scarbo

+1

He looks almost anorexic--like a supermodel or something. I don't know how tall he is, but he seems to be a tall guy; and he is skin and bones. Not healthy.

Pemetic2006

Perhaps Tejay will give the Vuelta a try this year. Froome is.

Bauhaus1

Along with Quintana and Contador so says cycling news:
Froome, Contador, Quintana set the stage for another memorable Vuelta a Espana | Cyclingnews.com

brianmcg123

Yes.

TeJays biggest enemy is himself. He always looks for the negative in every day. Just listen to his interviews.

Doc V

Something has drastically changed with his physiology or what he is doing on the rest day is not working for him. I say this because he was able to finish in the top 5 twice which is no small feat but now cannot even finish the third week in the top 50. He may be loosing too much weight in hopes of competing in the mountains but it hurt his performance.

I agree 1 week races seem more aligned with his physiology.

Pemetic2006

I saw that shortly after I posted. Supposedly NBCSN is carrying the Vuelta this year but that probably means they'll show a recap after it's over.