2015 Tour de France Start List

[Anderis]

Stetina was good last year. Sometimes the last man with TJ in mountains IIRC.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re:

Stetina was good last year. Sometimes the last man with TJ in mountains IIRC.

He was also important to Hesjedal's Giro win. He's the kind of solid, low profile, climbing domestique most teams would be glad of.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

Meaningless distinction. Most WT sprints are a piss poor level. There's only the Tour and occasionally the Giro with a serious level of competition consistently. No one wins against top fields before July in sprinting.

Last year he didn't finish a Tour stage so there's no reference. Year before that he was ill with a crap lead-out and won 2 stages. Year before that he won every stage his insulting 'Team'Sky support let him near. Year before that (and the 3 before that) he swept the board near as damn it.[/quote]

Well, often the top guys race each other at the Giro, sometimes at Qatar, occasionally at some random little race. But, yes I basically agree. WT status has little connection to how good a sprinting field is. And 16 wins is just fine as a pre Tour tally for anyone. There's no reason to think that Cavendish is anything but the hot favourite for every flat sprint stage. That's his specialty and only Kittel has really shown the ability to compete with him. And Kittel has been woeful all year.

 

[Jagartrott]

Re: Re:

Guessing you two paid no attention to the only race they both rode where Cav had Andre covered.

What do you mean - Turkey?
They never went head to head there.

Are you really inspired by Cavendish's form? Perhaps he can surprise, but his wins this season were not nearly as dominant as they were a couple of years ago. Many of his wins this year were actually won against a mediocre sprinting field, such as in the ToC.

 

[neineinei]

Kozonchuk, Guarnieri, Haller, Paolini, Kristoff, Rodriguez, Machado, Caruso, Losada

https://twitter.com/katushacycling/status/613988891784298496
http://www.katushateam.com/en/media/team-katusha-for-tour-de-france-2015

 

[barmaher]

So the below team for Katusha. I know very little about Kozonchuk, in spite of the fact that he has done multiple GTs. A bit of an underwhelming team in my opinion. I know Spilak and Trofimov and Moreno and Belkov and Zakarin were all expected to miss out, but it leaves the team looking light this season I think.

Kozonchuk
Guarnieri
Haller
Paolini
Kristoff
Rodriguez
Machado
Caruso
Losada

 

[Christian]

Re:

Lol..leg injured...that's just press excuse..

BMC managment and Gilbert had a big fallout.

“It’s hard to motivate yourself when you have no insight into your program,” Gilbert told Het Nieuwsblad. “Do they want me there? I have heard nothing.

“I’m not a neo pro anymore,” said Gilbert, who will turn 33 on the Tour’s second stage on July 5. “I have nothing more to prove, especially after my two stage victories in the Giro. They refuse to show me that confidence. I am fresh after the Giro, I climbed better than ever without having to overdo it.

Interesting, thanks for sharing! Does Gilbert have contract for next season?

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

Cavendish is hardier.

Cavendish hasn't impressed at all this season. He was nowhere again in Switzerland.
I'm curious if he'll be competitive here. He seems to lack that edge/eagerness he used to have. He shouldn't have gotten those kids yet - they drop your testosterone level.

Yeah I agree. I wouldn't even be surprised if Greipel or Kristoff are able to beat Cav in a flat sprint.

Yes they could, but he's already beaten both this season, despite not being WT. I think Its a big Tour for Cav, he needs a couple of stages and I think he will get them.

I know. My point is that compared to a full-powered Kittel (which we wouldn't see this year), Cavendish is beatable and human.

And that's what I like about him. It's not given that he will he the sprints against the rest. I think the 2015 version of Kristoff is equal to Griepel and very, very close to Cav in terms of speed.

 

[Velolover2]

Meh. Why are they replacing Moreno with a Russian (Kozontchuk)? New team for him next year?

In the Vuelta last year, the trio (Caruso, Moreno, Purito) was still there when there was 15 riders left. I can't see Machado fill that role. Especially not on the steep hills where Moreno always has been an excellent lead-out man for Rodríguez.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

So the below team for Katusha. I know very little about Kozonchuk, in spite of the fact that he has done multiple GTs. A bit of an underwhelming team in my opinion. I know Spilak and Trofimov and Moreno and Belkov and Zakarin were all expected to miss out, but it leaves the team looking light this season I think.

Kozonchuk
Guarnieri
Haller
Paolini
Kristoff
Rodriguez
Machado
Caruso
Losada

It's not that bad, good support for Kristoff, that could also help Purito in sprint stages with crosswinds and on the cobbles. Dani Moreno not riding th Tour is the bigger problem, now he only has Machado, Caruso and Losada in the mountains.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Re:

So the below team for Katusha. I know very little about Kozonchuk, in spite of the fact that he has done multiple GTs. A bit of an underwhelming team in my opinion. I know Spilak and Trofimov and Moreno and Belkov and Zakarin were all expected to miss out, but it leaves the team looking light this season I think.

Kozonchuk
Guarnieri
Haller
Paolini
Kristoff
Rodriguez
Machado
Caruso
Losada

Interesting that Kozonchuk (11 GTs), Guarnieri, Haller and Losada (11 GTs) have never ridden the TdF before.
Machado and Caruso have only tried it once.

 

[Gigs_98]

I think Katusha just doesn't believe in purito, otherwise he would stand in the front on this picture.
Btw, its funny that haller rides the tour because the Österreich Rundfahrt already confirmed haller will ride in austria.

 

[Velolover2]

In the final group of 30 riders in the mountains, do you think that Rodríguez will have any men left? I mean, it's a very strong peloton this year. I'm fearing that he will be isolated quite early.

I don't even know who is the strongest climber, Moreno or Caruso?

 

[Arredondo]

I think Caruso, Losada and Machado is perfect company for Purito. He isn't the favorite to win the Tour, so 3 really good riders in service for him in the mountains should be enough.

With guys like Froome, Contador and Quintana, it's logical their teams are build around them. But Kristoff, who is riding such a great season, deserves a lead-out train.

And still, guys like Paolini, Guarnieri and Haller can also help Purito in the flat stages (with possible wind).

 

[Velolover2]

I think Katusha just doesn't believe in purito, otherwise he would stand in the front on this picture.
Btw, its funny that haller rides the tour because the Österreich Rundfahrt already confirmed haller will ride in austria.

I agree with that. I think they are going for stage wins rather than GC.

I think Kristoff is allowed to ride for himself most of the time. He is there to win the cobbled stage, not to help Purito.

 

[Arredondo]

Re:

In the final group of 30 riders in the mountains, do you think that Rodríguez will have any men left? I mean, it's a very strong peloton this year. I'm fearing that he will be isolated quite early.

I don't even know who is the strongest climber, Moreno or Caruso?

Caruso will be there without a doubt. He is much better in the high mountains then Moreno. Caruso will be the key player for Purito this Tour. I think Caruso will still be there when they are only 15 guys left on any particular mountain.

 

[Arredondo]

I think Katusha just doesn't believe in purito, otherwise he would stand in the front on this picture.
Btw, its funny that haller rides the tour because the Österreich Rundfahrt already confirmed haller will ride in austria.

I agree with that. I think they are going for stage wins rather than GC.

I think Kristoff is allowed to ride for himself most of the time. He is there to win the cobbled stage, not to help Purito.

You really think they won't go for GC?

They have a guy who won Pais Vasco this year, and will finish in the top-5 without bad luck. And he is, together with Pinot, the only guy who can finish on the podium purely based on their own strenght.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

I think Caruso, Losada and Machado is perfect company for Purito. He isn't the favorite to win the Tour, so 3 really good riders in service for him in the mountains should be enough.

With guys like Froome, Contador and Quintana, it's logical their teams are build around them. But Kristoff, who is riding such a great season, deserves a lead-out train.

And still, guys like Paolini, Guarnieri and Haller can also help Purito in the flat stages (with possible wind).

But we all agree that Kristoff is not going to help Purito on the cobbles? It will a chaotic scenery and I think Kristoff wants to win the stage.

 

[Miburo]

I think Katusha just doesn't believe in purito, otherwise he would stand in the front on this picture.
Btw, its funny that haller rides the tour because the Österreich Rundfahrt already confirmed haller will ride in austria.

I agree with that. I think they are going for stage wins rather than GC.

I think Kristoff is allowed to ride for himself most of the time. He is there to win the cobbled stage, not to help Purito.

You really think they won't go for GC?

They have a guy who won Pais Vasco this year, and will finish in the top-5 without bad luck. And he is, together with Pinot, the only guy who can finish on the podium purely based on their own strenght.

LMAO no they're not. Only based on luck they can. Don't get ahead of yourself

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

I think Caruso, Losada and Machado is perfect company for Purito. He isn't the favorite to win the Tour, so 3 really good riders in service for him in the mountains should be enough.

With guys like Froome, Contador and Quintana, it's logical their teams are build around them. But Kristoff, who is riding such a great season, deserves a lead-out train.

And still, guys like Paolini, Guarnieri and Haller can also help Purito in the flat stages (with possible wind).

But we all agree that Kristoff is not going to help Purito on the cobbles? It will a chaotic scenery and I think Kristoff wants to win the stage.

No, of course not. Kristoff deserves to fight for the win in that stage. Paolini will help Kristoff i think.

But someone like Guarnieri or Haller could wait for Purito and help him if he's in trouble. And if not, he can just follow wheels. That should be fine.

 

[Miburo]

True purito is an expert in following wheels

 

[Arredondo]

I think Katusha just doesn't believe in purito, otherwise he would stand in the front on this picture.
Btw, its funny that haller rides the tour because the Österreich Rundfahrt already confirmed haller will ride in austria.

I agree with that. I think they are going for stage wins rather than GC.

I think Kristoff is allowed to ride for himself most of the time. He is there to win the cobbled stage, not to help Purito.

You really think they won't go for GC?

They have a guy who won Pais Vasco this year, and will finish in the top-5 without bad luck. And he is, together with Pinot, the only guy who can finish on the podium purely based on their own strenght.

LMAO no they're not. Only based on luck they can. Don't get ahead of yourself

No, he can. We have to wait if Contador is recovered from the Giro. And Nibali could have some bad days. You never know.

I don't say the chance is big he will finish on the podium, but he's got a chance. He's a great climber by himself, and the route is just great for him.

 

[Velolover2]

Re: Re:

I think Caruso, Losada and Machado is perfect company for Purito. He isn't the favorite to win the Tour, so 3 really good riders in service for him in the mountains should be enough.

With guys like Froome, Contador and Quintana, it's logical their teams are build around them. But Kristoff, who is riding such a great season, deserves a lead-out train.

And still, guys like Paolini, Guarnieri and Haller can also help Purito in the flat stages (with possible wind).

But we all agree that Kristoff is not going to help Purito on the cobbles? It will a chaotic scenery and I think Kristoff wants to win the stage.

No, of course not. Kristoff deserves to fight for the win in that stage. Paolini will help Kristoff i think.

But someone like Guarnieri or Haller could wait for Purito and help him if he's in trouble. And if not, he can just follow wheels. That should be fine.

Well, he is lucky that the cobbles are a lot easier this year. And I hope Caruso will be there when there are at least 20 guys left. He needs a strong team with him (and a lot of rain if he is going to podium again).

 

[Hakkapelit]

I'm not to familiar with Machado, is he known to be a trusted domestique or is there a risk he saves himself for his own abitions?

 

[May0maniac]

At least with Kristoff, Paolini, Guarnieri and Haller they should be able to ride a decent TTT. I think that Kristoff will be allowed go for the stage win on the cobbles, even if I have to say that he's not the top favourite on the Roubaix cobbles, it's not the RVV. The rest of the team will probably help Purito on the cobbles.