2011 - Criterium du Dauphine - Stage 3: Grenoble 42.5 km ITT

[greenedge]

EBH and Degenkolb? Are you on crack?

With Degenkolb i was, but EBH came 3rd. Nice rider by Martin. i think a lot of TDF riders have to check their form ( Gesink, Samu, Basso and maybe Cadel if he has already peaked/ falling down )

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Can he afford himself to tank a race like the Dauphiné in order not to compromise that? .

Yes, he can. He'll do what his team tell him. It's quite simple - a top 10 in the Tour, which is a very realistic aim, is worth much more to his sponsors than winning the Dauphine.

Wiggins is a big name in the UK. A Wiggins-less team would be a disaster for his sponsors, given that their target market is in the UK.

 

[ferryman]

Yes, he can. He'll do what his team tell him. It's quite simple - a top 10 in the Tour, which is a very realistic aim, is worth much more to his sponsors than winning the Dauphine.

Wiggins is a big name in the UK. A Wiggins-less team would be a disaster for his sponsors, given that their target market is in the UK.

Maybe, but the pre Tour hype and coverage will be tenfold if he were to win the Dauphine.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

With Degenkolb i was, but EBH came 3rd. Nice rider by Martin. i think a lot of TDF riders have to check their form ( Gesink, Samu, Basso and maybe Cadel if he has already peaked/ falling down )

When would he have peaked ?

Since no one else is doing it I'd like to point out that my boy Ben Hermans did a great job and nicely places 9th in the GC after today.

Not very eager to see how he's going to kill himself again for Janez...

EDIT: it was his birthday today as well.

Hermans was impressive! I was amazed he beat Ghyselinck to be honest

 

[Mambo95]

Yes, he can. He'll do what his team tell him. It's quite simple - a top 10 in the Tour, which is a very realistic aim, is worth much more to his sponsors than winning the Dauphine.

Wiggins is a big name in the UK. A Wiggins-less team would be a disaster for his sponsors, given that their target market is in the UK.

I'm not so sure that their long term target market is the UK. Everyone knows who Sky are in the UK. But wouldn't they like Sky+ HD boxes in homes from Moscow to Madrid and Brussels to Bucharest?

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe, but the pre Tour hype and coverage will be tenfold if he were to win the Dauphine.

Exactamundo.

 

[The Hitch]

I'm not so sure that their long term target market is the UK. Everyone knows who Sky are in the UK. But wouldn't they like Sky+ HD boxes in homes from Moscow to Madrid and Brussels to Bucharest?

They can have Canal + boxes instead. Though i hear sky have a market in italy which makes me wonder why they disrespect the Giro.

But BSkyB can find a very nice niche for themselves as the cycling company in the Uk. Like Rabo in Holland. The Road team is only part of that you have Sky rides and other sponsorships. It doesnt cost them much and as long as they are at all the races, its a success for the company.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

We have a comedy club? Why was I not informed? I feel left out.

I perform every day, you only perform occasionally.
Give up your life!

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't have a clue what Sky is actually. Well it probably is a TV company or something by looking at comments on this forum, but never heard of them before they came into cycling. And I live what? 60 miles away from the UK?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

doesn't matter the weather... what changed is the wind. Look at Kadri' performance: 1st check point 65th, last 15th

Exactly.

Btw bull**** that Martin had better weather conditions, just another wrong interpretation of Martins words, he only said he had tailwind.

But the late (last 30) starters had even more tailwind after the 1st check point. You can see it in the evolution of their times.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Which means the wind in the first part was in their (the guys who started later) disadvantage... which means the wind didn't play a big role.

Oh my god are you serious? Yes when the wind in the first 15km is worse than the early starters and the wind is better in the last 27km I'm sure it didn't play a role

 

[The Hitch]

I don't have a clue what Sky is actually. Well it probably is a TV company or something by looking at comments on this forum, but never heard of them before they came into cycling. And I live what? 60 miles away from the UK?

Sky in this country today is roughly the equivalent of what the "Communist Party of the Soviet Union" was in the Soviet Union.

 

[LugHugger]

I don't have a clue what Sky is actually. Well it probably is a TV company or something by looking at comments on this forum, but never heard of them before they came into cycling. And I live what? 60 miles away from the UK?

There you go, that's the power of advertising.

Btw, no way Wiggins tanks from yellow to stay fresh for the tour. A Dauphine would be massive for Sky. Wiggins is never winning the Tour, it's all about Cavendish for the British market.

 

[The Hitch]

There you go, that's the power of advertising.

Btw, no way Wiggins tanks from yellow to stay fresh for the tour. A Dauphine would be massive for Sky. Wiggins is never winning the Tour, it's all about Cavendish for the British market.

If Sky had that kind of insight and fair mindedness they would never have said that they expect to win the Tour with a British rider by the time Wigo turns 34.

 

[LugHugger]

If Sky had that kind of insight and fair mindedness they would never have said that they expect to win the Tour with a British rider by the time Wigo turns 34.

Agreed. That does seems a little, ahem, misguided? It's embarrassing to hear Brailsford attempt to wriggle out of that quote as hyperbole. Although he never specifically said that Wiggins would win it as far as I know.

 

[Anonymous]

If Sky had that kind of insight and fair mindedness they would never have said that they expect to win the Tour with a British rider by the time Wigo turns 34.

Theyve retracted that ambition now. The aim of the team is purely "to aim to win the tour de france within five years"

 

[gilbertador]

Sky in this country today is roughly the equivalent of what the "Communist Party of the Soviet Union" was in the Soviet Union.

Biggest load of rubbish ive ever heard, you can detest sky all you like but they only control tv the intelligent people that matter will interpret this how they please, they have the ignore option when it comes to sky, frankly there coverage is very good thats why they have developed into the market leader and aquired a large stake in the market

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Just looking back through the results today

Moncoutie 30th @ 3:02

That must be close to a TT PB. Maybe he can get a top 10 here

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

There are worse things in the world.
Like riding your race bike on a flat rear tyre for 23km, and as added extra on normal clothes.

 

[The Hitch]

Biggest load of rubbish ive ever heard, you can detest sky all you like but they only control tv the intelligent people that matter will interpret this how they please, they have the ignore option when it comes to sky, frankly there coverage is very good thats why they have developed into the market leader and aquired a large stake in the market

Relax. It was clearly a joke.

And I wasnt talking about their "ability to brainwash people " or whatever but rather their power.

I was using hyperbole and ott comparisons (very frequently used on here) to point out to Pisti that the company is very very big.

Though I dont have as high an opinion of the company as you do, (love the team) but thats a totaly different topic.

There are worse things in the world.
Like riding your race bike on a flat rear tyre for 23km, and as added extra on normal clothes.

What are you responding to.

The quote button comes in handy sometimes

 

[auscyclefan94]

With Degenkolb i was, but EBH came 3rd. Nice rider by Martin. i think a lot of TDF riders have to check their form ( Gesink, Samu, Basso and maybe Cadel if he has already peaked/ falling down )

Fair enough.

Cadel said on his blog that the winds were a bit higher for the later starters but he still has a bit of work to do.

 

[Mambo95]

Theyve retracted that ambition now. The aim of the team is purely "to aim to win the tour de france within five years"

It was only for the press anyway. And I think it was only stated as the 'ultimate goal'. People who cling to that as basis to knock Sky clearly don't understand soundbites.

However, I do think that a Brit will win the Tour for Sky. (It may take 10-15 years though)

 

[euanli]

Give it ten

 

[Mambo95]

Give it ten

He'll only be 25/26 by then. I'll give him a couple more years grace.

 

[Parrulo]

He'll only be 25/26 by then. I'll give him a couple more years grace.

lol poor guy in 10 years he will be competing against rafael reis at the top of his game. i pitty the guy you are talking about.