Just read that Taylor Phinney “won the men’s 4-kilometer individual pursuit at the 2009 UCI Track World Championships today with a time of 4:17.631”. If he is only 18 and Lance is 37…that gives him 19 more years of training…
So where does he go from here?
The olympics?
giro, le tour, etc?
What was the previous world record?
goes fast, turns left.
giro, le tour, etc?
Tremendous talent but what indicates he’d be a stage race GC contendor? He may be more of a player in the spring one day classics than a 3 week tour.
Ummm…the “previous” and STILL world record belongs to Chris Boardman…4:11
Taylor set the American record…
That said…Boardman’s record is likely in danger with this kid on the track!
giro, le tour, etc?
Tremendous talent but what indicates he’d be a stage race GC contendor? He may be more of a player in the spring one day classics than a 3 week tour.
Indurain?
Possibly. Indurain was phenomenal for his size, and Phinney is 2 inches taller and already heavier aged 18 and with the likelihood of some more filling out to come. Hopefully he will bide his time and target the events he is best suited to and not be rushed into trying to be the next Armstrong.
Ah, I didn’t read that very carefully! Yes, he certainly has the potential to take Boardman’s record, let’s hope he doesn’t get derailed. He’s a very exciting prospect, I shall continue to watch the Worlds with interest.
Boardman’s record was also set using a “superman” position, so it’s difficult to compare the efforts. Would be great to see Phinney beat the record using a (now) legal TT position, though. If I recall, he had a hard time breaking 4:20 last year. Now, he’s rolled at least a couple 4:15’s so it will be really interesting to see what develops.
I’m also not sure why people think he is going to be a GC threat in grand tours. My guess is that Phinney is too big for extended climbing with people like Contador and should probably be groomed to be a classics rider. I guess it’s the Lance effect…too many people think you have to win the TdF to be considered a great rider.
Indurain?
Cancellara.
I guess it’s the Lance effect…too many people think you have to win the TdF to be considered a great rider.
in the US to the average person it is the TdF or nothing. Most people wouldn’t even know that they even hold other races.
I’m also not sure why people think he is going to be a GC threat in grand tours. My guess is that Phinney is too big for extended climbing with people like Contador and should probably be groomed to be a classics rider. I guess it’s the Lance effect…too many people think you have to win the TdF to be considered a great rider.
He’s still young. A lot could change with him and in the sport.
No question he has great talent and a great engine - genetics clearly can help with this! Where he goes from here is hard to say. I am sure their will be pressure to join a Pro Road team at some point. Where his specialty will be, remains to be seen.
Just read that Taylor Phinney “won the men’s 4-kilometer individual pursuit at the 2009 UCI Track World Championships today with a time of 4:17.631”. If he is only 18 and Lance is 37…that gives him 19 more years of training…
So where does he go from here?
Some gold medalists recommend Bong Rips and “grow” operations.
Bradley Wiggins became a TT specialist on the road and still stuck with pursuiting. Vandevelde switched completely to road and became a general team motor, developing into a GC rider at the tail end of his career. Both have been successful and Taylor could chose either path.