mashjaja wrote:I think the problem is that he has always been billed as the "next lance," and he hasn't generally been the one shouting that. He just wants to ride as best he can and, like horner, he seems plagued with bad luck. Mic rogers and stuey seem to have that problem, too. So everyone expected tommy to be the "next and coming," and when he yes, for sure, failed to meet that hype, we've felt let down repeatedly.
Well the hype hasn't helped him but he's also done some good things in the states to use as his launching pad but nothing. That hill climb in Colorado he's got the record on (I think), much like Tyler's in Mass. record but he's yet to move up out of the shadows in Europe.
Maybe its better to look at him as a super-domestique--about the same skill level as vdv--and not try to compare him to lance. It has always seemed for me, though, that's its those around him doing most of the boosting and not him himself.
When I'm back on my computer tomorrow night, I can add some of the more-interesting things I learned in researching for the still-waiting interview.
Maybe just domestique, the super can come later. Didn't Millar's recent interview in CycleSport also cover his humbling and learning to be a good domestique cast any influence on Tommy D?
In reading I see some analogy between Millar and Tommy D, not the doping but expectation and hype. Millar also was touted as the next great Brit Rider and was being groomed to be that. Of course he hit a snag or self imposed his snag but the outcome is similar to Tommy D. Both are destined to be domestiques if they can realize it or Tommy D can realize it, Millar has. Sure Millar still has a jab at a win here and there but he knows all to well all the cards have to go his way to actually win, his attempts are what still classify him as a good rider. His post race analysis is very spot on. When will we see Tommy D do the same?
that's some serious BAD luck for Vande Velde...sad