2012 Weakest World Tour Team

[woodenswan]

Woet Poels is going to Gadret the Giro and Marco Marcatto will win a classic and set up lots of sprint wins for Bozic.

well Bozic is out appearently.. otherwise: amen to that
they'll have quite a number of good strong riders who are certainly capable of winning. i hope they'll have more luck next season.
it was a pity Poels didnt go for stage wins instead of the gc. could have done a Taaramae.

what's up with Mosquera?

 

[The Hitch]

well Bozic is out appearently.. otherwise: amen to that

Where is he going?

what's up with Mosquera?

Sacrificed for Contador I think. Will get a 2 year ban probably (- the 1 hes already served I guess).

 

[woodenswan]

Where is he going?

Astana. would have been a lil crowded with Van Hummel and Feilu anyway i think

 

[Matthijs]

Vacansoleil-DCM is my choice.

Skil-Shimano, Europcar, FDJ, Cofidis. All possible new world teams seems to be stronger than Vacasoleil-DCM

stronger than Vacansoleil? come on
Vacansoleil has a lot strong guys who get a lot of minor results. Actually they do not so bad in smaller races, no big wins though. It's not the best team, but the teams you mention aren't winning Milan sanremo every year eather...

Skil is just sprints in small races lately, but young riders with grow potential. Europcar is voeckler and rolland. It's not likely voeckler has another season like this. I hope he is trying the Ardennes seriously but he has to race and win in France too much because the rest of the team sucks.
FDJ and Cofidis are not bad teams, but no big names eather. I think those france teams focus so much on french races which the rest of the world ignores, so all their decent riders aren't focussing on the topraces enough.

 

[Matthijs]

We need some more Italians at the Ronde van Vlaanderen again. Marcato would be a fine addition. Wondering if Farnese Vini will get an invite at the Ronde, but that's a bit off topic

As for Wout Poels, he really needs to stop thinking about riding a good GC. He doesn't have it in him and never will(he'd be a Cunego 2011 at best). I hope he focuses on the classics even though he already said he wants to improve in Grand Tours.

I'd like wout Poels to win AGR!!! the giro and 3x lombardia

They probablly ignore Pipo for al his wheelsucking on Gilbert all those races

 

[luckyboy]

FDJ/GreenEdge/1T4I/Europcar. Whoever gets in out of those.

 

[El Pistolero]

I'd like wout Poels to win AGR!!! the giro and 3x lombardia

They probablly ignore Pipo for al his wheelsucking on Gilbert all those races

Notice how I said Cunego 2011

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Vacansoleil-DCM is my choice.

Skil-Shimano, Europcar, FDJ, Cofidis. All possible new world teams seems to be stronger than Vacasoleil-DCM

no way.
Leukemans, Poels, Hoogerland, marcato, carrara, feilliu, devolder, de gendt, ligthart, ruijgh, westra, Larsson etc.
A team who constantly gets amongst it. True no real big names, but they hold thier own. And have some very promising youngsters.

Woet Poels is going to Gadret the Giro and Marco Marcatto will win a classic and set up lots of sprint wins for Bozic.

i hope poels does the giro. Would suit him I believe.

As for Wout Poels, he really needs to stop thinking about riding a good GC. He doesn't have it in him and never will(he'd be a Cunego 2011 at best). I hope he focuses on the classics even though he already said he wants to improve in Grand Tours.

lol @ you making this summary from one GT. The guy was excellent in the first 2 weeks. But faded because Vacansoleil have problems with regards to balancing season program. He had a very heavy season, like hoogie in the past couple seasons.

But if you see his performances -in his first gt btw, at the age of 23- on the toughest mountains in the vuelta -angriliu anyome? - it is impossible to say he is not a good climber. puncheurs-only don't come 2nd on angriliu.

He was far better then your boy, speaking of whom I wonder if he managed to do such on his first GT... oh wait nope.

stupid to make judgements after one GT, when the signs were really positive. I was of the opinion he was more of a hilly guy before the vuelta also (still probably is his best terrain...) but after the vuelta I'd be an idiot not to see the climbing ability. Plus he is not bad in the tt at this stage of his career.

Yeah, I think we can write him off, after just having finished 17th in his first GT

He faded away towards the end, because Vacansoleil don't know how to give a young rider a non-overloaded race schedule.

+1

But how much of an example is the Vuelta with their mountain stages of only 1 mountain and all the rest flattish? It also had a lot of punchy finishes. Rebellin could also climb well from time to time, but he chose for a career in the classics. Smart choice IMO.

If he does it in the Giro or Tour I'll take my words back.

I hope he tries the giro, not the sort of rider I see getting much success in the tour to be honest.

 

[gustienordic]

Well lets compare Vac., Skil, Greenedge, & Europecar

Vac - easily strongest: Feillu is a great sprinter, he may not be as fast as Kittel or Degenkolb, but he is constantly up there. Van Hummel is another great sprinter. Leukemans, Marcato, Westra, Poels, Devolder, & De Gendt are all great attackers. De Gendt & Larsson are both great in the ITT as well. (according to NICOSIX, they are 10th for next year, right after Quickstep & Movistar.)

Greenedge - 2nd: Goss, obviously great sprinter. Greenedge has quite a few good riders, but to me, there is hardly any variation in the type of rider they have signed. So many sprinters (or former sprinters) and NO climbers. They should make things interesting however. (NICOSIX has them 14th, right after Astana)

Europcar - 3rd: Voeckler, Rolland, Charteau, Kern. All great riders. Kern & Rolland can climb, Voeckler can attack like crazy, and somehow Charteau just sometimes gets lucky. They don't have much of a sprinter though... Chavanel? They do makes things exciting though. (NICOSIX has them 20th, mostly from Voeckler's points though)

Skil - I really don't understand the hype... Kittel & Degenkolb are both great, but they really don't have anyone else...Dumoulin & Geniez both have a few points, but thats about it. I don't see them as very competitive. (NICOSIX has them at 23rd, behing Colnago... I don't think there is any hope for them)

 

[danjo007]

saxo is 1 seriously crap team - especially when their only half decent (cheat) is busted

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

saxo is 1 seriously crap team - especially when their only half decent (cheat) is busted

half decent definition: best GT'r of the generation.

And let us wait until the verdict until we here you bs labelling.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well lets compare Vac., Skil, Greenedge, & Europecar

Vac - easily strongest: Feillu is a great sprinter, he may not be as fast as Kittel or Degenkolb, but he is constantly up there. Van Hummel is another great sprinter. Leukemans, Marcato, Westra, Poels, Devolder, & De Gendt are all great attackers. De Gendt & Larsson are both great in the ITT as well. (according to NICOSIX, they are 10th for next year, right after Quickstep & Movistar.)

Greenedge - 2nd: Goss, obviously great sprinter. Greenedge has quite a few good riders, but to me, there is hardly any variation in the type of rider they have signed. So many sprinters (or former sprinters) and NO climbers. They should make things interesting however. (NICOSIX has them 14th, right after Astana)

Europcar - 3rd: Voeckler, Rolland, Charteau, Kern. All great riders. Kern & Rolland can climb, Voeckler can attack like crazy, and somehow Charteau just sometimes gets lucky. They don't have much of a sprinter though... Chavanel? They do makes things exciting though. (NICOSIX has them 20th, mostly from Voeckler's points though)

Skil - I really don't understand the hype... Kittel & Degenkolb are both great, but they really don't have anyone else...Dumoulin & Geniez both have a few points, but thats about it. I don't see them as very competitive. (NICOSIX has them at 23rd, behing Colnago... I don't think there is any hope for them)

I can't believe Europcar is considered as such a weak team. That is beyond belief. Europcar have quality riders and that are easily forgotten.

saxo is 1 seriously crap team - especially when their only half decent (cheat) is busted

Minus contador from that statement then I agree. I hope you change the "half decent" art of that statement.

 

[theyoungest]

Skil - I really don't understand the hype... Kittel & Degenkolb are both great, but they really don't have anyone else...Dumoulin & Geniez both have a few points, but thats about it. I don't see them as very competitive. (NICOSIX has them at 23rd, behing Colnago... I don't think there is any hope for them)

Dumoulin is an espoir, so the fact that he's already their 3d or 4th strongest rider in terms of points is a bit sad, actually.

no way.
Leukemans, Poels, Hoogerland, marcato, carrara, feilliu, devolder, de gendt, ligthart, ruijgh, westra, Larsson etc.
A team who constantly gets amongst it. True no real big names, but they hold thier own. And have some very promising youngsters.

Calling them the weakest WT team isn't a stretch: they are actually the weakest team, in terms of WT points. They do however score points in the Europe tour.

 

[luckyboy]

Well lets compare Vac., Skil, Greenedge, & Europecar
..................

No way Europcar are weaker than GreenEdge. Probably about equal.
Kittel will probably end up better than GE's strongest rider too.

 

[Matthijs]

Dumoulin is an espoir, so the fact that he's already their 3d or 4th strongest rider in terms of points is a bit sad, actually.


Calling them the weakest WT team isn't a stretch: they are actually the weakest team, in terms of WT points. They do however score points in the Europe tour.

That's true, but I think having WT-status is much more important than having WT-points. A lot of Europe tour races are equally important or bigger than the minor WT races. Even the UCI does not use the WT points list but a combination with europe tour points. And in combination lists vacansoleil is much higher because they have a good record in HC races I think.

 

[Michele]

 

[Captain_Cavman]

saxo is 1 seriously crap team - especially when their only half decent (cheat) is busted

I agree with the criticisms of this post, the words are in the wrong order

Only decent half busted cheat

 

[L'arriviste]

I agree with the criticisms of this post, the words are in the wrong order

Only decent half busted cheat

Post of (my) day. Genius!