Howard Kveck wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "Kenny" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Tom Kunich wrote:
> > > Err Kelly finished fourth and so he was a contender? Last year
> > > Francisco Mancebo finished fourth. Do you consider him a contender?
> >
> > Leipheimer never made it to the top-5 at the Tour and this year he is
> > considered as one of the main tour contenders; (however a step lower
> > than JU and IB). According to many even Georgie has a chance and he
> > never ended in the top 10.
> > If a guy who ended 4th isn't even considered as a contender, then who
> > is? And what if he Kelly did it the Armstrong-way: focus on the Tour,
> > 35 race days a year. Don't you think he could make it to the podium
> > then?
> >
> > Kenny
>
> Obviously a rider's chances as a "contender" change year to year, based on
> several factors (who's racing, the course, etc.) As for Boonen being one for a
> GT win, I don't think it'll happen based on comments he's made regarding how
> long he thinks he'll be racing. He'd need to do a lot of work to change several
> aspects of his riding, and I don't think he has time to effectively do that
> before he quits racing (assuming he finishes when he said he thinks he will).
>
I was talking about Kelly, not Boonen. Boonen will never ride a good
classement general in a GT. Everybody should know that. I think he is
smart enough to continue doing what he's good at right now: classics.
The only evolution i expect him to make is winning less bunch sprints
but becoming competitive in Liege or Lombardy and maybe a 1-week stage
race like the Tirreno.