Blanco-Belkin

[Vino attacks everyone]

Brajkovic is not really a top 10 rider in GTs

Yes he is. His top level is very high, he got a problem keeping it for 3 weeks, but when he is not sick or injured he can climb with the best, on a good day (se Dauphine 10)

 

[RHRH19861986]

But Nibali improved each year and Gesink has actually been getting worse. I was talking about now, not 5 years ago. Gesink might have been a future GT winner 5 years ago, but now I don't consider him one anymore. Now I consider him one of the many riders who can get a top 10 in a GT, usually without being visible much.

Gesink is still only 26 or 27. GT peak age is 28 to 33. circa.

I won´t name Pereiro, because 2006 was so special, but Sastre and Evans left deep impressions in me: it showed that you can be written off for years, but if ONE year everything fits, also these riders can win a TdF. That´s also possible for Gesink.

For the sport and for the Tour, I think that´s good. We have to forget the Lance years (7 wins in a row), maybe it takes a long time before a new Merckx, Hinault, Indurain shows up. Not even Contador has become the predicted Tour dominator for years.

As I said, that´s good. Why not have a series of TdF winners like e.g. Evans, Wiggins, Froome, Nibali, van Garderen, Gesink, and so on? Gesink is still in the race for the Tour victory, at some time in his career.

 

[classicomano]

I wonder if they'll give Graeme Brown a new contract.

 

[Gloin22]

He's been there long time.

Surely loyalty is a very good trait to have in team ?

His only one I think.....

 

[burning]

I wonder if they'll give Graeme Brown a new contract.

Is this some sort of joke?

Considering the fact that they picked Bobridge (He had a 1 top 160 result in Giro, and he's an alcoholic) ,he might get a new contract

 

[RHRH19861986]

Brownie certainly will get a new contract... As far as I know, he always gets one year contracts, and finally always stays. They complained about him and wanted to get rid of him a thousand times, but in the end, he always survived.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Looks like I may have to replace some of the old electronics in the house.

Chapeau Belkin. Welcome to the jungle.

 

[Pippo_San]

Old habits won't change. I smell fail.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Old habits won't change. I smell fail.

I smell you, from here!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I can't help but think if Dutch riders want to do well, they need to ride for Sky, Katusha, Tinkoff, Movistar, Omega Pharma, Astana. Riders who move to these teams have progressed really well. All the best Dutch riders are still at blanco, going nowhere. Except terpstra, who doubled his CQ points going to OPQS after one year. These other teams must know something about training that Blanco don't.

I'd love to see some of the riders leave blanco. Hopefully there are some changes anyway.

 

[pastronef]

Old habits won't change. I wish fail.

mmm, maybe you mean the word in bold

 

[brilleaben]

I once had a Belkin router. Worked perfectly at managing slow speeds.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I once had a Belkin router. Worked perfectly at managing slow speeds.

I work for a cable company, lots of people with belkin routers behind their modems... most of them are the cause of trouble not a fan of the brand itself. But ok. I'm biased because I have to deal with the complaints

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I wonder if they'll give Graeme Brown a new contract.

Not after they find out he's pregnant.

 

[movingtarget]

I'd love to see some of the riders leave blanco. Hopefully there are some changes anyway.

There will have to be changes. The problem is they often make the wrong choices. Belkin may not have the patience of Rabobank.

 

[theyoungest]

There will have to be changes. The problem is they often make the wrong choices. Belkin may not have the patience of Rabobank.

There already have been changes. The current management is significantly different from last year, and completely different from 4 or 5 years ago.

But if you exist so long as a team, with the same name, everything you've ever done can and will be used against you I don't see anyone criticizing BMC for some decisions by Phonak back in the day.

Is this some sort of joke?

Considering the fact that they picked Bobridge (He had a 1 top 160 result in Giro, and he's an alcoholic) ,he might get a new contract

Rabobank (the sponsor) were desparate for Aussies. That's why they picked Bobridge, since Matthews left. Obviously if they were looking for talent they would have looked elsewhere.

 

[movingtarget]

There already have been changes. The current management is significantly different from last year, and completely different from 4 or 5 years ago.

But if you exist so long as a team, with the same name, everything you've ever done can and will be used against you I don't see anyone criticizing BMC for some decisions by Phonak back in the day.


Rabobank (the sponsor) were desparate for Aussies. That's why they picked Bobridge, since Matthews left. Obviously if they were looking for talent they would have looked elsewhere.

I don't blame them for signing some of the young Aussies. But of course when they are young you can never tell whether they will live up to their potential and none of the Aussies have so far. I don't know how many Dutch riders are in their current roster. Maybe not as many as I thought but we have seen how well teams go when selecting riders based on nationality. Did not work for Euskadel and maybe it's time they looked for alternatives to riders like Gesink which is not easy when the best GC riders are usually signed up quickly.

 

[the asian]

I was confidently awaiting the end of Raboblanco Surprised that they have found a new sponsor. It seems this is a new trend. American comurope sponsoring cycling teams.

Anyway, hope they will have a much more international presence in the team/

 

[theyoungest]

I was confidently awaiting the end of Raboblanco Surprised that they have found a new sponsor. It seems this is a new trend. American comurope sponsoring cycling teams.

Anyway, hope they will have a much more international presence in the team/

This I don't get. Rabobank have always had a big international presence. Freire, McEwen, Menchov, Flecha, Sorensen, Leipheimer... currently about 40% of their riders are 'foreign'.

 

[manafana]

cyclings still big business in the dutch, belgium area easy way to promote business, if i had big business in those markets it would interest me over sponsoring a football team.

 

[42x16ss]

There already have been changes. The current management is significantly different from last year, and completely different from 4 or 5 years ago.

But if you exist so long as a team, with the same name, everything you've ever done can and will be used against you I don't see anyone criticizing BMC for some decisions by Phonak back in the day.


Rabobank (the sponsor) were desparate for Aussies. That's why they picked Bobridge, since Matthews left. Obviously if they were looking for talent they would have looked elsewhere.

TBF Bobridge still holds the IP world record on the track, there is some talent there. Even if he is a 23y.o. with Rheumatoid arthritis who likes to cut donuts in strip club car parks after a few drinks

 

[brilleaben]

Hell, Bobridge could become a Tour winner. His cycling career has a Wiggins direction.

 

[Gloin22]

Hell, Bobridge could become a Tour winner. His cycling career has a Wiggins direction.

No it doesn't ?? When did Wiggins caught such bad ilness?

 

[brilleaben]

No it doesn't ?? When did Wiggins caught such bad ilness?

Well, you can throw a little Froome into the mix also. Could become a nice Skyborg.

 

[maltiv]

No it doesn't ?? When did Wiggins caught such bad ilness?

Bobridge is excellent on the track, can't climb at all and has alchohol problems. Just like Wiggins at that age.