2011 Amgen Tour of California ProTour Squads

[Polish]

With the recent anouncement of a Stupid Hard Giro, it is hard to imagine a TdF contender starting and finishing that race.

Oh well, the Giro's loss is the AToC's gain
However, competition to get in "will be fierce":

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fierce-competition-expected-for-2011-amgen-tour-of-california-places


Here is who I hope the 8 teams will be....

BMC - Cadel/Big George/Phinney
LUX - Andy and Frank/Jens/Fuglsang
Rabo - Gesink
RadioShack - Lance/Jani/Levi/Horner
SKY - Wiggins/Lövkvist
Saxo/Specialized - Alberto/Rasmussen
Garmin - Miller/Christian VdV
Liquigas - Basso

I believe ALL these riders have ridden it before except Alberto

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Phinney rides for BMC next year. Alberto/Rasmussen is clearly subject to change.

 

[Christian]

What about HTC? Technically they're still an American team, right? They could bring Peter Velits, Tejay Van Garderen.

Fuglsang for Team Lux
The Canc for whomever he rides for (or just for himself)
Mick Rogers most likely for Sky
Hincapie for BMC
Lövkvist for Sky

 

[The Hitch]

Correct me if im wrong but though none of the 2010 top 10 did the Giro only 3 of the TDF top 10 (Schleck 2nd Heysdal 7th and Horner 10th) did the TOC last year. OF those, neither Heysdal nor Horner were specifically preparing for the Tour since they were the surprise entrants into the top 10, and Schleck was messing about.

so i dont expect too many of them to be going there for TDF prep. Some might, but races arent essential in May. Its June when that starts.

 

[Christian]

True, Andy and Fuglsang hardly qualified as "fierce competition" last year

I'd like to see Van Garderen have a shot at the GC

 

[Polish]

Phinney rides for BMC next year. Alberto/Rasmussen is clearly subject to change.

oops, that right. I will edit.

 

[ingsve]

SKY - Wiggins

From what he has said Wiggins will most likely be on break during May and will start his Tour preparations in late May early June. They will possibly have Rogers instead though.

 

[Polish]

What about HTC? Technically they're still an American team, right? They could bring Peter Velits, Tejay Van Garderen.

Yes, HTC will get in. Not sure which Team they will bump off the list.

 

[Fowsto Cope-E]

Yes, HTC will get in. Not sure which Team they will bump off the list.

Liquigas-the ToC organizers aren't going to want to put a team in that is sending their "A" team to Il Giro

 

[whittashau]

Liquigas-the ToC organizers aren't going to want to put a team in that is sending their "A" team to Il Giro

Nonsense, Liquigas has a strong enough squad to sustain two different events simultaneously. Plus i'd imagine they'd probably send Sagan again who was one of the stars last year.

 

[Anonymous]

From what he has said Wiggins will most likely be on break during May and will start his Tour preparations in late May early June. They will possibly have Rogers instead though.

I thought we were talking about possible Tour contenders riding TOC???...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

even if the giro field is much weaker it will still be a much much more interesting and enjoyable race than california

btw, last year in california the fireworks had to come from Marc de Maar for crying out loud. Who even remembers the rest?

 

[Arnout]

I am thinking of making a thread for the Vuelta a Murcia, as it proved to be a good prep for the ToC. In october

 

[El Pistolero]

even if the giro field is much weaker it will still be a much much more interesting and enjoyable race than california

btw, last year in california the fireworks had to come from Marc de Maar for crying out loud. Who even remembers the rest?

No **** Captain Obvious!

 

[lucybears]

I believe ALL these riders have ridden it before except Alberto

not many 20 year old riders have done a GT either

 

[Fowsto Cope-E]

Nonsense, Liquigas has a strong enough squad to sustain two different events simultaneously. Plus i'd imagine they'd probably send Sagan again who was one of the stars last year.

Well, sure. But The Tour of California organizers actually think the race matters and would not want to invite a team whose primary goal of the year is the giro

 

[TheDude]

even if the giro field is much weaker it will still be a much much more interesting and enjoyable race than california

btw, last year in california the fireworks had to come from Marc de Maar for crying out loud. Who even remembers the rest?

Agree,
While I will attend a day or 2 of ToC, I will be watching the Giro every day.

 

[Barrus]

Liquigas-the ToC organizers aren't going to want to put a team in that is sending their "A" team to Il Giro

I don't think so, especially if you see that they won one or more stages last year

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

With the recent anouncement of a Stupid Hard Giro, it is hard to imagine a TdF contender starting and finishing that race.

Oh well, the Giro's loss is the AToC's gain
However, competition to get in "will be fierce":

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fierce-competition-expected-for-2011-amgen-tour-of-california-places


Here is who I hope the 8 teams will be....

BMC - Cadel/Big George/Phinney
LUX - Andy and Frank/Jens/Fuglsang
Rabo - Gesink
RadioShack - Lance/Jani/Levi/Horner
SKY - Wiggins/Lövkvist
Saxo/Specialized - Alberto/Rasmussen
Garmin - Miller/Christian VdV
Liquigas - Basso

I believe ALL these riders have ridden it before except Alberto

Rabo will probably be there, they've sponsored the event in the past.

But don't expect gesink there.
He stated his intention to do the tour/vuelta double. So i'm pretty sure May will be his rest period (and training) after the classic season and some short stage racing earlier in the season.

 

[auscyclefan94]

With the recent anouncement of a Stupid Hard Giro, it is hard to imagine a TdF contender starting and finishing that race.

Oh well, the Giro's loss is the AToC's gain
However, competition to get in "will be fierce":

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fierce-competition-expected-for-2011-amgen-tour-of-california-places


Here is who I hope the 8 teams will be....

BMC - Cadel/Big George/Phinney
LUX - Andy and Frank/Jens/Fuglsang
Rabo - Gesink
RadioShack - Lance/Jani/Levi/Horner
SKY - Wiggins/Lövkvist
Saxo/Specialized - Alberto/Rasmussen
Garmin - Miller/Christian VdV
Liquigas - Basso

I believe ALL these riders have ridden it before except Alberto

Evans has never ridden California and I am not sure he will do it next year. Like what Timmy has said about gesink, Cadel's rest period will most likely be during may after the classics and then he may do the dauphine before the tdf.

 

[craig1985]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the race going Pro Tour next year? So I think Liquigas would be riding anyway (their co-sponsor is Cannondale).

 

[whittashau]

Well, sure. But The Tour of California organizers actually think the race matters and would not want to invite a team whose primary goal of the year is the giro

If the race matters having one of the strongest/biggest teams in cycling not appearing doesn't seem like a wise idea.

 

[Marcus135]

I heard from some were that Basso was doing the Gero and doing his own thing throughout the race not the ToC.

 

[Kwibus]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the race going Pro Tour next year? So I think Liquigas would be riding anyway (their co-sponsor is Cannondale).

They won't be Protour in 2011.

As for the status of the 2011 edition, Messick said, “We stay at a UCI 2.HC race for 2011, so it’s our intention to move up to ProTour in 2012. We’re waiting to see which riders end up where before we start deciding which teams we’re inviting for next year. We expect once again we’ll have an exceptionally strong field.”

Source: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010...gen-tour-of-california-on-tap-for-2011_145235

 

[Kwibus]

2011 ToC will be kinda interesting imo. For the first time a real MTF which makes it ofcourse more interesting. I doubt there will be TDF contenders though and if they are there they won't race to compete. May usually is the rest month for TdF contenders. All the other big names should be in Italy.

There will probably be some decent names though.