BMC 2012 - Dream Team

[El Pistolero]

Sky is a good team, with a lot of depth, good leaders for the classics, stage races and sprints, but I still don't like the team one bit. Don't confuse me saying BMC is a good team with me actually liking them.

I have one favorite team for next year and for all other teams I don't care except for some riders on it.

 

[movingtarget]

Certainly is a shame. Cadel probably has become off as a moody little girl at times though the Grenoble incident was probably an accident. Considering how emotional the whole situation was and all the media it was not surprisng that he may of forgotten to acknowledge him. He seems to praise Mcewen a fair bit which I find odd considering how much of a narcissist he is.

Well we are only getting Rob Arnold's side of the story. Evans interviews are never very revealing it's always awkward and he is obviously someone who likes his privacy. Communication off the bike is not a strength even though he seems friendly most of the time. I don't remember many rivetting interviews with Basso, Contador, Armstrong or the Schleck's either.

McEwen is obviously a showman like a lot of sprinters but his all out honesty even if it is controversial sometimes is always more entertaining and interesting than the by the numbers responses given by many other riders.

 

[Panda Claws]

Latest comments from some BMC riders.

Greg van Avermaet was disappointed with his spring season but was glad to score wins after the summer (Paris-Tours) and hopes that he will continue winning in 2012.

Philippe Gilbert aims to equal his 2011 season but said that he does not feel any pressure. He also said that he could win so much in 2011 because the trust the team gave him and that he is already feeling that same trust with BMC.

Thor Hushovd wants to be good at Milano-Sanremo and Ronde van Vlaanderen but also dreams of winning Paris-Roubaix and he thinks that he just might with his new team.

Alessandro Ballan aims for MSR, RVV, PR and the Giro. He knows that he might have to work for the new big names (Thor and Phil) but hopes that he will still have some freedom now and then.

Cadel Evans has his mind fixed on only one goal: the Tour de France.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Latest comments from some BMC riders.

Greg van Avermaet was disappointed with his spring season but was glad to score wins after the summer (Paris-Tours) and hopes that he will continue winning in 2012.

Philippe Gilbert aims to equal his 2011 season but said that he does not feel any pressure. He also said that he could win so much in 2011 because the trust the team gave him and that he is already feeling that same trust with BMC.

Thor Hushovd wants to be good at Milano-Sanremo and Ronde van Vlaanderen but also dreams of winning Paris-Roubaix and he thinks that he just might with his new team.

Alessandro Ballan aims for MSR, RVV, PR and the Giro. He knows that he might have to work for the new big names (Thor and Phil) but hopes that he will still have some freedom now and then.

Cadel Evans has his mind fixed on only one goal: the Tour de France.

Err. Cadel's goal is the Tour, olympics and then the Worlds.

Well we are only getting Rob Arnold's side of the story. Evans interviews are never very revealing it's always awkward and he is obviously someone who likes his privacy. Communication off the bike is not a strength even though he seems friendly most of the time. I don't remember many rivetting interviews with Basso, Contador, Armstrong or the Schleck's either.

McEwen is obviously a showman like a lot of sprinters but his all out honesty even if it is controversial sometimes is always more entertaining and interesting than the by the numbers responses given by many other riders.

You are right. Evans is always very good with the fans anyway and gives a lot of his time so I did find it hard to believe what Rob said. The fact that Rob likes Cavendish says a lot too.

 

[Panda Claws]

Err. Cadel's goal is the Tour, olympics and then the Worlds.



You are right. Evans is always very good with the fans anyway and gives a lot of his time so I did find it hard to believe what Rob said. The fact that Rob likes Cavendish says a lot too.

Not what he said in the most recent interview. Or the press cut it or he did not say it.

EDIT: It is probably more likely that he means that the Tour is his most important goal and everything else is less important.

 

[AussieGoddess]

Well we are only getting Rob Arnold's side of the story. Evans interviews are never very revealing it's always awkward and he is obviously someone who likes his privacy. Communication off the bike is not a strength even though he seems friendly most of the time. I don't remember many rivetting interviews with Basso, Contador, Armstrong or the Schleck's either.

McEwen is obviously a showman like a lot of sprinters but his all out honesty even if it is controversial sometimes is always more entertaining and interesting than the by the numbers responses given by many other riders.

That interview only put me off Arnold ... not Evans.

Seriously, he comes off as fan trying to bignote himself. "I am such good friends with Robbie, and Baden Cooke gave me his green jersey ... and Cadel used to be great friends with me, but he hurt me boo hoo"

We know Evans has social issues - Arnold of anyone should know that considering how much time he spent with him to write the book.

 

[auscyclefan94]

That interview only put me off Arnold ... not Evans.

Seriously, he comes off as fan trying to bignote himself. "I am such good friends with Robbie, and Baden Cooke gave me his green jersey ... and Cadel used to be great friends with me, but he hurt me boo hoo"

We know Evans has social issues - Arnold of anyone should know that considering how much time he spent with him to write the book.

Hypothetically, where would cycling be or his magazine be in Australia without Cadel? Don't bite the hand that feeds you, Rob. Yeah, he may come off as a little snappy around the media sometimes but towards the fans he is always friendly.

 

[El Pistolero]

Hypothetically, where would cycling be or his magazine be in Australia without Cadel? Don't bite the hand that feeds you, Rob. Yeah, he may come off as a little snappy around the media sometimes but towards the fans he is always friendly.

Why not? It only feeds him indirectly.

 

[greenedge]

McEwans' book was better than Cadels'.

I quite like RIDE magazine though ( especially the TDF preview one ). Australian cycling had been strong even without Cadel 04 Olympics. However form 07-11 Cadel has been the main face of Aussie cycling and with his win this year cycling is a mainstream sport here ( also discussed more )

What is Hincapies' goals for the year???

 

[movingtarget]

McEwans' book was better than Cadels'.

I quite like RIDE magazine though ( especially the TDF preview one ). Australian cycling had been strong even without Cadel 04 Olympics. However form 07-11 Cadel has been the main face of Aussie cycling and with his win this year cycling is a mainstream sport here ( also discussed more )

What is Hincapies' goals for the year???

I have to admit I am a bit underwhelmed by RIDE magazine. The best thing about it is the photos. The quality of the articles disappoint me especially the post Giro and TDF issues. Reading a couple of paragraphs about each stage tells me nothing. You would think they would devote half an issue to the two big stage races but most of it is ads, photos and not very insightful articles. I still buy it but apart from the TDF Preview issue I don't think it's that good.

 

[greenedge]

Yeah i don't like the ads/ bike technology either but my friend does so i show them to him, so he can consider whether to buy some of it. Besides i have only brought 4 ( 2 of them were the TDF previews ) so the experience has not worn off for me.

 

[La Pandera]

I have to admit I am a bit underwhelmed by RIDE magazine. The best thing about it is the photos. The quality of the articles disappoint me especially the post Giro and TDF issues. Reading a couple of paragraphs about each stage tells me nothing. You would think they would devote half an issue to the two big stage races but most of it is ads, photos and not very insightful articles. I still buy it but apart from the TDF Preview issue I don't think it's that good.

I enjoy it for the most part. Especially the photos, bike reviews and the nterviews with various groups of locaol riders about their bikes and the rides that they do (The Bunch and Caffeine Culture I think they're called). One issue they interviewed a group of riders from the San Diego, California area about their rides and bikes.

I kind of wish that they would release 2 different versions each quarter: one for release in Australia with their usually strong Aussie focus and an international version that gives more detail into the races and how their events transpired but without the Aussie slant. I know that is a whole lot to ask but for some reason it bothers me to pick up an issue that is for example, their special Giro issue and find Richie Porte on the cover instead of the rider who actually won the event. Often times there is so much attention on the Aussie's that took part in the events, even if their performances had no bearing on the end result, that the true protaginists are only given scant attention. It is really unreasonabe a wish of course but it would be the perfect cycling mag, for me.

 

[cineteq]

Ready to repeat!

 

[Forunculo]

Ready to repeat!

Well Thor is send to the Giro and Vuelta. Cadel has the power of pick Tour line up.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ready to repeat!

Damn right they are!

 

[greenedge]

I expect each of them to have successful years. They should all go to the Vuelta after the TDF, Gilbert and Evans to prepare for the WC ( unless Evans just wants to go for GC there ) and Thor because he could pick up quite a few transitional stages.

 

[simo1733]

Damn right they are!

Why does Thor look so bad in that kit?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why does Thor look so bad in that kit?

It does make him look somewhat larger.

 

[goggalor]

Ready to repeat!

That's a huge improvement over Phil's horrible Lotto kit, but still not as good as Boonen's.

 

[Panda Claws]

That's a huge improvement over Phil's horrible Lotto kit, but still not as good as Boonen's.

I thought that Lotto kit was awesome.

 

[goggalor]

I thought that Lotto kit was awesome.

I thought the colors were off.

He looks banana flavored.

 

[Panda Claws]

I thought the colors were off.

He looks banana flavored.

Meh, perhaps a little.
But I liked the pattern of the colors a lot more.

 

[goggalor]

Maybe it was mostly the shorts that were bad, and the white helmet. The all red shorts he has now look great.

 

[Mambo95]

Damn right they are!

But they're going to do it in an unusual way.

Phil is going to win the Tour, Thor is going to clean up in the Ardennes and Cadel is going to ride to Roubaix with a growing sense of frustration.

 

[El Pistolero]

I thought the colors were off.

He looks banana flavored.

No, Gilbert has the correct red of the Belgian flag. Boonen had the wrong red.