BMC 2012 - Dream Team

[Armanius]

With BMC now confirming the signing of TVG, BMC seems stacked with talent from top to bottom. I'm not sure how the chemistry will be, who will be working for whom, and who is going to race what. But on paper, BMC has so much talent that it seems unbeatable in classics and at least in one or two grand tours. I personally would like to have seen the talent spread around more teams (competition is good). But on the other hand, "dream teams" sometimes have good marketing value, even if they don't necessarily meet the expectations (i.e. Miami Heat in the NBA).

This brings me to the much rumored merger of Radio Shack and Leopard Trek, which would create another "dream team." Or at least a pseudo super team. Would it be good for cycling to have two super/dream teams? Perhaps the creation of two powerhouses can lead to rivalry that would captivate audiences on a larger scale, particularly here in the US. Who knows ... ?

 

[l.Harm]

ACF will be delighted he doesn't have to cheer only for Matthias Frank any more.

 

[Mambo95]

even if they don't necessarily meet the expectations (i.e. Miami Heat in the NBA).

They certainly won't meet your expectations.

They're flashing the money about, but I think there will be better teams across a whole season.

Gilbert and Evans are unlikely to have seasons as good as this one next year.

 

[Armanius]

They certainly won't meet your expectations.

They're flashing the money about, but I think there will be better teams across a whole season.

Gilbert and Evans are unlikely to have seasons as good as this one next year.

I'm hoping they won't meet my expectations. When one team dominates, it's not as entertaining. Unless of course you are that one team!

 

[pmcg76]

I dont like these possible super teams emerging. It could become like Champions League soccer with a few teams dominating everything.
BMC are putting together a team that could win every major race they enter which I dont believe is good to see.

I mean how many GC riders does a team need to defeat Contador or even Evans, if Shack-Leopard merge, we could see a Tour team with 8 former top 10finishers plus Cancellara. Ridiculous.

 

[Greenflame]

I don't think they're such a superteam actually, and defenitely not in the GT's. Evans still doesn't have great climbing domestiques, never mind someone of the level of Szmyd or Navarro. Pinotti will be a welcome addition to this stage racing team, as will Van Garderen. But they still won't be able to dominate a GT. They'll probably be almost as invisible in the Giro and Vuelta as this year, with just Pinotti for a possible top-10 in the Giro as a difference.

For the classics, sure, they're a bit of a superteam there. Evans + Gilbert will be scary in the Ardennes and Gilbert + Hushovd in Flanders will be enough to make Tom and Fabian worry as well.

 

[Eric8-A]

I'm hoping they won't meet my expectations. When one team dominates, it's not as entertaining. Unless of course you are that one team!

The reason why I hate HTC

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But on paper, BMC has so much talent that it seems unbeatable in classics and at least in one or two grand tours.

Unbeatable in "at least one or two" GTs? Seriously?

Evans has finally won the big one - but he'll be 35 next year and the mountain backup is still lacking. Unbeatable in "At least one or two" suggests that you would not be surprised to see them be totally unbeatable in all three GTs.

Unless they sign Contador, that's just not happening.

 

[luckyboy]

Don't think either are superteams really. BMC are strong at the top, but when you look at some of the Swiss and US riders they still have, the team is still going to be lopsided.

 

[ingsve]

Unbeatable in "at least one or two" GTs? Seriously?

Evans has finally won the big one - but he'll be 35 next year and the mountain backup is still lacking. Unbeatable in "At least one or two" suggests that you would not be surprised to see them be totally unbeatable in all three GTs.

Unless they sign Contador, that's just not happening.

+1.

I expect Evans to go the way of Sastre. He will podium one more GC and probably get a couple GC top 10s apart from that but I doubt that he will go on and dominate GTs just because he finally managed to win one.

 

[luckyboy]

Unbeatable in "at least one or two" GTs? Seriously?

Evans has finally won the big one - but he'll be 35 next year and the mountain backup is still lacking. Unbeatable in "At least one or two" suggests that you would not be surprised to see them be totally unbeatable in all three GTs.

Unless they sign Contador, that's just not happening.

Yeah, Contador is the only rider who is a guarantee to bring in a GT win every year.

They're not 'unbeatable' in the classics either. There's Gilbert obviously, and he has some good help with Evans, Van Avermaet etc. Hushovd is by no means a guarantee for a cobbled classic though.

 

[Mambo95]

I expect Evans to go the way of Sastre.

I don't.

I like the saying "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage" **. Sastre is currently on his 26th Grand Tour - and he's been in the top 20 in 17 of those. The poor man has been flogged like a pack animal and he's worn out.

By contrast, Evans didn't even do the Tour until he was 28 and only did two GTs before that (plus a third when he abandoned very early). Horner is similar. He was lightly raced until his mid 30s, so remains competitive at 39.


**Said by probably the most famous archaeologist of the 1930s.

 

[Quixote]

Agree with the "Dream team" acquisitions of BMC...all good moves added to an already strong team. I also, however, like the additions made by Quick Step/Lotto. If Levi signs along with the Tony Martin, P. Velits deals, this could be a fun team to follow in the classics as well as the tours.

 

[Eric8-A]

Yeah, Contador is the only rider who is a guarantee to bring in a GT win every year.

They're not 'unbeatable' in the classics either. There's Gilbert obviously, and he has some good help with Evans, Van Avermaet etc. Hushovd is by no means a guarantee for a cobbled classic though.

The Garmin-Cervelo hype that surrounded them this year will envelop BMC next year

 

[Moondance]

Yes, the Man City of cycling will be very strong next year.

And when Andy Rihs decides he's pumped in enough money to spice up his brand again he'll significantly downscale his (massive) investment just as quickly as he inflated it.

 

[Moondance]

I don't.

I like the saying "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage" **. Sastre is currently on his 26th Grand Tour - and he's been in the top 20 in 17 of those. The poor man has been flogged like a pack animal and he's worn out.

By contrast, Evans didn't even do the Tour until he was 28 and only did two GTs before that (plus a third when he abandoned very early). Horner is similar. He was lightly raced until his mid 30s, so remains competitive at 39.


**Said by probably the most famous archaeologist of the 1930s.

While I agree Sastre has been overused in GTs the past several years dating back to his CSC days, Sastre's early career was relatively mild. Didn't turn pro until he was 25, and always rode conservatively in most of the handful of non-GT races he'd do each year. It was Sastre's call to completely build his career around racing GTs and essentially ignoring all other races.

 

[PCutter]

The Garmin-Cervelo hype that surrounded them this year will envelop BMC next year

+1

And Fabian was apparently unbeatable coming into this years classics too...how'd that work out.

If Contador races next year, there's no such thing as a GT super team

 

[luckyboy]

I like the saying "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage" **. Sastre is currently on his 26th Grand Tour - and he's been in the top 20 in 17 of those. The poor man has been flogged like a pack animal and he's worn out.

He's been in the top 10 in 15, top 20 in 18.

 

[Tank Engine]

ACF will be delighted he doesn't have to cheer only for Matthias Frank any more.

And the forecasting accuracy of dwlstronic (or whatever he's called) will I'm sure show a marked improvement

 

[Eric8-A]

BMC will probably be a GT superteam if Tejay lives up to his expectations.

 

[mulletCobra]

BMC 2012 - Big Jumbled Mess and Heartaches

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Unbeatable in "at least one or two" GTs? Seriously?

Evans has finally won the big one - but he'll be 35 next year and the mountain backup is still lacking. Unbeatable in "At least one or two" suggests that you would not be surprised to see them be totally unbeatable in all three GTs.

Unless they sign Contador, that's just not happening.

this.

bmc are hardly a dreamteam.

Gilbert yes is dominant in the classics.
Evans, yes he won the tour, but it will be difficult winning another GT, certainly unbeatable at 2 GTs is a joke.
TVJG.. yeah, that hardly tops of a dreamteam. There are equally and more talented riders in his age group. A nice signing but nothing too special.
And thor, i like him, but he hasn't won flanders or p-r. These guys arguably still need a winner in these races. There apparently super-cobble team this year were pretty average.

So apart from gilbert. this team doesn't screw domination in any other areas.

 

[hfer07]

So apart from gilbert. this team doesn't screw domination in any other areas.

I want to see how good is Gilbert when Valverde returns & Contador gives a serious go to the Ardennes too......

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Hoping sagan can make some good progress too. Next year probably too soon tho.

 

[Green_&_Gold]

I want to see how good is Gilbert when Valverde returns & Contador gives a serious go to the Ardennes too......

Gilbert. Hushovd & Evans will have a massive season. I dont believe Contador will have a serious go at Ardennes, he will train to peak at the TDF & Vuelta. Velverde wont be as good as he used to as he will be lacking in certain artificial enhancments.