Battle of the Super Domestique - tour 2011

[just some guy]

Following on from the Giro - http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=13299


Really disappointing Giro for the Super Mountain Domestiques will they perform better

Thanks to Jens_attacks and El pistolero for the pictures

 

[just some guy]

Will Evans Have any help ? From Amaël Moinard , Steve Morabito ,T.O.I - The other Ivan- Ivan Santaromita

How will the Rabo go at helping Gesink.

Will VDB2 do his own as usual ?

 

[dlwssonic]

Its all about his benevolent highness TGBM

 

[Midnightfright]

Is that last picture in the ts post implying Baby Schleck is albies super-dom? If so that's controversial

 

[canyonball]

How will the Rabo go at helping Gesink.

Ok, I noticed this on Tour of California, but I though it was my eyes...that's some groove going on there...

As for the topic, Chris Anker Sorensen...enough said.

 

[Tuarts]

 

[Kwibus]

pictures of rabo riders

Gesinks main helpers will be Niermann on the flat and Garate in the mountains. I don't think Garate will be the last helpers of Gesink in the mountains. That will probably be Mollema or LL Sanchez, but as far as I know Niermann and Garate are the guys that protect and guide Gesink.

 

[just some guy]

Ok, I noticed this on Tour of California, but I though it was my eyes...that's some groove going on there...

As for the topic, Chris Anker Sorensen...enough said.

 

[Lanark]

Popovych hasn't been a super domestique since 2005.

It will be an interesting battle between Saxo and Leopard. Saxo looks weaker on paper, but most thought the same about their Giro team, and last year's Astana team as well.

If the Tour de Suisse is any indication, I think Monfort will be one of the best domestiques this Tour.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

LTD historically has been a very good domestique.
Gesink has a very good team behind him this year.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Popovych hasn't been a super domestique since 2005.

It will be an interesting battle between Saxo and Leopard. Saxo looks weaker on paper, but most thought the same about their Giro team, and last year's Astana team as well.

If the Tour de Suisse is any indication, I think Monfort will be one of the best domestiques this Tour.

Post-Giro didn't change my opinion really.

 

[Lanark]

Post-Giro didn't change my opinion really.

It wasn't a brilliant team, but in for example the Gardeccia stage, Contador was the only one with any domestiques left (until Rodriguez' attack).

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Maybe I am wrong, But I think having a strong team is more important at le tour. I think unlike the giro (not suggesting I support these actions) a lot more teams try to bring their best here. A weaker team is more likely to be exposed here.

 

[Jan the Man]

Sylvester Szmyd
Chirs Anker Sorensen
Maixme Monfort
Laurens Ten Dam
Fabian Cancellara

 

[auscyclefan94]

Will Evans Have any help ? From Amaël Moinard , Steve Morabito ,T.O.I - The other Ivan- Ivan Santaromita

Not sure about Moinard but if Morabito has strong form I believe he could top 20 on gc. Ivan is starting to come into form.


rabobank has the most all round team for the gc candidates.

 

[gilbertador]

Saxo is by far the strongest team in the mountains, nothing can compete with Chris anker Sorensen, Richie Porte, Nicki Sorensen, Daniel Navarro and Jesus Hernandez

As usual shleck talking smack that he has a stronger team overall, on the flat? yes overall not in a million years

 

[just some guy]

Saxo is by far the strongest team in the mountains, nothing can compete with Chris anker Sorensen, Richie Porte, Nicki Sorensen, Daniel Navarro and Jesus Hernandez

As usual shleck talking smack that he has a stronger team overall, on the flat? yes overall not in a million years

Andy does not think so -

Schleck also maintains that his team is stronger that Alberto Contador’s Saxo Bank-SunGard line-up, which he thinks may feel the effects of its endeavours at the Giro d’Italia.

“The way I see it is that maybe Contador has the motor to do a Giro-Tour de France double, but I don’t think that his teammates do,” Schleck said. “We’ll see how they are in the mountains. I don’t think that all the riders on the team who were with him on the Giro have his motor. With us, nobody did the Giro. From a team point of view, I have an advantage on him. I don’t think it, I’m certain of it.”

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/andy-schleck-the-tour-starts-at-luz-ardiden

 

[Havetts]

Saxo is by far the strongest team in the mountains, nothing can compete with Chris anker Sorensen, Richie Porte, Nicki Sorensen, Daniel Navarro and Jesus Hernandez

As usual shleck talking smack that he has a stronger team overall, on the flat? yes overall not in a million years

Seeing you are called Gilbertador I can assume we can take your comments with a grain of salt. Richie Porte hasnt shown anything in the mountains this year and I wonder how he is even going to do something.

Sure Contador has the best mountain domestiques but Andy has got Frank to domestique if needed. If Andy can take the first place, I doubt he wants to take Frank with him when he would fail if he did take Frank with him.

 

[theyoungest]

Seeing you are called Gilbertador I can assume we can take your comments with a grain of salt. Richie Porte hasnt shown anything in the mountains this year and I wonder how he is even going to do something.

Sure Contador has the best mountain domestiques but Andy has got Frank to domestique if needed. If Andy can take the first place, I doubt he wants to take Frank with him when he would fail if he did take Frank with him.

I think Gilbertador is right. Andy and Fränk could potentially be a formidable duo, but behind them the strongest rider is Monfort, and I don't see him tearing the field apart like Dani Navarro could last year. CA Sorensen is also a stronger climber than Fuglsang and Monfort.

If Mollema takes up the role of super-domestique, all joking aside, he's potentially the strongest mountain helper in the Tour.

 

[Frankieboy]

Saxo is by far the strongest team in the mountains, nothing can compete with Chris anker Sorensen, Richie Porte, Nicki Sorensen, Daniel Navarro and Jesus Hernandez

As usual shleck talking smack that he has a stronger team overall, on the flat? yes overall not in a million years

Chris Anker will be a important helper. But Porte didnt show much in the giro, and will probably be tired after that race too. The same goes for Navarro and Hernandez about the tired part. Nicki Sørensen is not a climber, but more for the flat and early in the climbs.

Leopard has Fuglesang (two top 4 overall in Tour de Suisse, and 6th in dauphine libere 2009), Monfort (11th overall vuelta 2007, and very strong this year with top ten overall in Paris-Nice and Tour de Suisse), Gerdemann (winner of this years Tour of Luxembourg - 11th in the TOC and 16th overall giro last year - in the form of his life).

For me, leopard has the strongest team in the tour in the mountains, with 3 very capabable helpers in addition to andy and fränk.

 

[lancaster]

the way i see it, the level of control shown every year by USPS was unnecessary.

if as a GC contender you decide that only position/jersey matters at the final standing and are prepared to lose the jersey in the first couple of weeks then the workload on your team is greatly reduced.

the first hour (or so) is very hard, as they ensure that only the right break goes up the road. cant be big enough to put 30 mins (against team wishes) or time for a favorite.

got to be able to chase back after a mech and keep leader fed.

TTT must be competent.

in the mountains team must be able to slim peleton to size where rivals don't have enough help to put your leader under pressure.

basically, if you deliver your leader to last climb with the group of 10 favourites and no favourites up the road and not many domestiques left. job done.

for AC, IB and AS they all have strong enough teams to do that and once the big boys start going toe to toe on mountains there won't be help around.

(if GC hope pops, it's nice to have someone pace them)

basically, all of the hopes have teams strong enough to let them win if they're the strongest in the race. If you're fourth strongest and have the best team, you'll still need to get lucky.

 

[dlwssonic]

Saxo is by far the strongest team in the mountains, nothing can compete with Chris anker Sorensen, Richie Porte, Nicki Sorensen, Daniel Navarro and Jesus Hernandez

As usual shleck talking smack that he has a stronger team overall, on the flat? yes overall not in a million years

LOL richie porte isnt a climber anymore. dani navarro and hernandez havent showed anything at all this year and they will be tired from this giro. But maybe navarro will have good form. nicki sorensen isnt a climber. however CAS would be strong as usual. But I believe fuglsang, montfort will be just as strong as him.

 

[Cimber]

Leopard has Fuglesang (two top 4 overall in Tour de Suisse, and 6th in dauphine libere 2009)

Fuglsang will as always disappoint in the toughest mountains, but never-the-less Leopard ofc has a great team.

Andrew got a point about alot of SBS having done the Giro. Will be interesting to see how they perform in the Tour. Danny should be on form as he was a shadow of his former self in the Giro.

 

[Publicus]

LOL richie porte isnt a climber anymore. dani navarro and hernandez havent showed anything at all this year and they will be tired from this giro. But maybe navarro will have good form. nicki sorensen isnt a climber. however CAS would be strong as usual. But I believe fuglsang, montfort will be just as strong as him.

I think you are right that Navarro and Hernandez haven't shown anything this year like last year, especially in the Giro. Which makes me think they have a lot left in the tanks. And if I recall correctly Porte was always coming in with the autobus during the first couple of weeks of the Giro. I'm not as convinced as you and Andy of the superiority of Leopard Trek. It could play out as you I suggest, but I think there is a good chance that it won't.

 

[Ferminal]

One of the "big four" from Radioshack, after the pecking order is settled.

(really I'm just hoping to see one of the baldies helping Klöden).