2014 UCI Road championship teams (Ponferrada, Spain)

[Eyeballs Out]

La squadra azzurra:

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Giovanni Visconti (Movistar)
Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale)
Damiano Caruso (Cannondale)
Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha)
Manuel Quinziato (BMC Racing)

No surprises there I think? One helluva team to make the race hard.

The most likely Italian contenders this year were Pozzato and Gasparotto (assuming Nibali isn't going to be in 100% form as has been suggested)

 

[trevim]

The most likely Italian contenders this year were Pozzato and Gasparotto (assuming Nibali isn't going to be in 100% form as has been suggested)

Neither have shown much this year. Trentin is a similar rider and has shown far more. Maybe they could be in but I like the idea of a younger team without divas like Pozatto. I would take Gaspa though, he was good in Canada.

 

[Akuryo]

The most likely Italian contenders this year were Pozzato and Gasparotto (assuming Nibali isn't going to be in 100% form as has been suggested)

I think they've got their bases covered. Nibali and Aru if it is raced hard and Bennati + Trentin if there is a sprint. Trentin gets fairly well over hills and is a decent finisher out of selected groups. He already won 2 stages in the Tour this way. I would not name him as a favorite against Sagan, Degenkolb, etc. but he should be considered as an outsider with a slim chance. Better than Pozzato on any given day. But I agree that Gasparotto should be in it.

 

[pink_jersey]

For me,Gerrans is the man to beat this year.He can't be dropped on this climbs and in sprint he will beat everyone(I don't expect Kristoff,Bouhanni or Degenkolb to be there).

 

[Flamin]

Too many egos I fear. I doubt they will work as a unit. Part of the charm with the Worlds I know.

Yeah, maybe. I'm very curious to see what their approach will be, since they have 3 cards to play here.

Tommeke is reaching Roubaix shape atm, no doubt, but the course is very hard for him. Gilbert is in poor shape, but Gilbert is Gilbert and the course suits him well. Then GVA, maybe their best shot on paper if we take into account both his good shape and the great parcours. Problem is, he's the anthesis of a killer so yeah, could be interesting.

The most likely Italian contenders this year were Pozzato and Gasparotto (assuming Nibali isn't going to be in 100% form as has been suggested)

Pozzato doesn't deserve a selection at all.. done jack **** all year.

 

[del1962]

Australia Squad

Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge)
Rohan Dennis (BMC) Road Race and Time Trial
Cadel Evans (BMC)
Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge)
Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol)
Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling)
Matt Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge)
Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge)
Rory Sutherland (Tinkoff-Saxo-Bank)

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Neither have shown much this year. Trentin is a similar rider and has shown far more. Maybe they could be in but I like the idea of a younger team without divas like Pozatto. I would take Gaspa though, he was good in Canada.

Not such a bad thing that they haven't done much this year if they are peaking for this event. To me, Pozzato was looking pretty good by the end of the Vuelta and would be a dangerous wildcard that had to be respected by other teams at worst. Visconti ? Based on last week I don't see it

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

He is only 22.He should ride U23 race.

he rides for a wt team

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Serghei Tvetcov,Oleg Berdos (both moldavians) and Andrei Nechita will represent Romania in the road race.

is that even allowed?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Australia Squad

Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge)
Rohan Dennis (BMC) Road Race and Time Trial
Cadel Evans (BMC)
Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge)
Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol)
Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling)
Matt Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge)
Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge)
Rory Sutherland (Tinkoff-Saxo-Bank)

pretty weak team for gerrans

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Not such a bad thing that they haven't done much this year if they are peaking for this event. To me, Pozzato was looking pretty good by the end of the Vuelta and would be a dangerous wildcard that had to be respected by other teams at worst. Visconti ? Based on last week I don't see it

when has pozzato ever done well on a wc?

 

[Eyeballs Out]

when has pozzato ever done well on a wc?

As opposed to the rest of the Italian team ? But anyway he would probably have won when Hushovd won if he'd waited for the sprint rather than trying to get away before

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

As opposed to the rest of the Italian team ? But anyway he would probably have won when Hushovd won if he'd waited for the sprint rather than trying to get away before

pozzato is always a rotten plac ein any italian selection and he's getting worse every year. he won't help any other ride.r he's hated amongst all italian riders and when he loses he's first to blame it on everything but himself on rai tv similar to cunego who nobody likes either

 

[BigMac]

pozzato is always a rotten plac ein any italian selection and he's getting worse every year. he won't help any other ride.r he's hated amongst all italian riders and when he loses he's first to blame it on everything but himself on rai tv similar to cunego who nobody likes either

Good post, Ryo.

 

[sir fly]

is that even allowed?

By nationality, not by citizenship. Similar to Tchmil riding under Belgian flag.

 

[jaylew]

The most likely Italian contenders this year were Pozzato and Gasparotto (assuming Nibali isn't going to be in 100% form as has been suggested)

I thought this was going to be the year Ulissi was in the mix and showed he was ready for longer classics but obviously it hasn't turned out that way.

 

[Der Effe]

Dutch squad:

Dylan van Baarle (Garmin-Sharp)
Stef Clement (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Tom Dumoulin (Giant Shimano)
Wilco Kelderman (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Wout Poels (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Tom-Jelte Slagter (Garmin-Sharp)
Pieter Weening (Orica-GreenEDGE)

 

[qwerty16]

For me,Gerrans is the man to beat this year.He can't be dropped on this climbs and in sprint he will beat everyone(I don't expect Kristoff,Bouhanni or Degenkolb to be there).

Those three you mention have their days when they go really well on hard courses. And how about Sagan?

 

[pablohidalgo7]

Dutch squad:

Dylan van Baarle (Garmin-Sharp)
Stef Clement (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Tom Dumoulin (Giant Shimano)
Wilco Kelderman (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Wout Poels (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Tom-Jelte Slagter (Garmin-Sharp)
Pieter Weening (Orica-GreenEDGE)

Very good riders, but it seems more like the line up for a grand tour, they have to make te race hard, they doesn't have a fast guy, bauke,dumoulin, slagter and wilco kelderman have a decent sprint but only enough to take a top 10 spot in a small bunch.

 

[Samson]

Should be Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis), Gert Jõeäär (Cofidis) and Alo Jakin (BigMat Auber93) for Estonia. No Kangert cause he was sick and lost his form. Not sure who's going to ride the ITT.

 

[jens_attacks]

gerrans to win this.

me to begin therapy.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Dutch squad:

Dylan van Baarle (Garmin-Sharp)
Stef Clement (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Tom Dumoulin (Giant Shimano)
Wilco Kelderman (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Bauke Mollema (Belkin Pro Cycling)
Wout Poels (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Tom-Jelte Slagter (Garmin-Sharp)
Pieter Weening (Orica-GreenEDGE)

So we have a a couple of teams who on paper wants to make the race hard.

Italy
The Duthies
Spain

It all sounds good.

 

[l.Harm]

Very good riders, but it seems more like the line up for a grand tour, they have to make te race hard, they doesn't have a fast guy, bauke,dumoulin, slagter and wilco kelderman have a decent sprint but only enough to take a top 10 spot in a small bunch.

Kelderman and Slagter don't seem to have top form. I'd go for Mollema and Dumoulin as leaders. Rest all in service of them.

 

[theyoungest]

Very good riders, but it seems more like the line up for a grand tour, they have to make te race hard, they doesn't have a fast guy, bauke,dumoulin, slagter and wilco kelderman have a decent sprint but only enough to take a top 10 spot in a small bunch.

Arguably the two best classics specialists, Terpstra and Langeveld, weren't even selected. Roubaix winner and national champion.

 

[l.Harm]

Arguably the two best classics specialists, Terpstra and Langeveld, weren't even selected. Roubaix winner and national champion.

I'd have taken Langeveld at least, always good to have him. Terpstra... idk, don't think the rest of the team likes him that much. And not sure about his form. Same as Boom I guess?