BMC in disarray?

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greenedge said:
If Thor can do something at the TDF that will salvage his season.
A guy like him can't say he had a decent season just because he won a Tour stage. He'd need a couple, plus something in the Olympics, Vuelta and WC. At least two of those four, with at least one being either the Olympics or the WC.
 
Dec 30, 2011
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hrotha said:
A guy like him can't say he had a decent season just because he won a Tour stage. He'd need a couple, plus something in the Olympics, Vuelta and WC. At least two of those four, with at least one being either the Olympics or the WC.

Yeh but it will still salvage it.

It would go from being disasterous to reasonably awful, but....
 
Froome19 said:
Yeh but it will still salvage it.

It would go from being disasterous to reasonably awful, but....


I would say that at the moment unless Hushovd shows rapid improvement, he won't be at the Tour. All of BMC pulled their weight in the Tour last year but Thor can't even finish a race. BMC have plenty of quality domestiques to choose from even though they may not win a stage. At the moment he would be considered too big a risk re making it to Paris. Not exactly what Evans is looking for. The Tour starts in six weeks or so.
 
movingtarget said:
I would say that at the moment unless Hushovd shows rapid improvement, he won't be at the Tour. All of BMC pulled their weight in the Tour last year but Thor can't even finish a race. BMC have plenty of quality domestiques to choose from even though they may not win a stage. At the moment he would be considered too big a risk re making it to Paris. Not exactly what Evans is looking for. The Tour starts in six weeks or so.

Well he needs to show something in Switzerland, that's for sure. If he doesn't I can't see how BMC could justify having him in their Tour squad.
 
Jul 7, 2009
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El Pistolero said:
Probably, but he was still 14th at Roubaix this year with a crash. Didn't say it was the only reason though. Don't know how much he trained over last winter for example.

He's training with Gilbert in Monaco and obviously things haven't worked out perfectly for them.

Regarding Hushovd's motivation for riding the tour; wasn't he told by media that he was riding the Giro? I think he had planned to stay at home and train during the Giro. Obviously BMC need to work on their communication.

And i think his form was pretty good at Paris - Roubaix. Probably could have been top 5 without the crash.
 
If Thor had not crashed the race would have changed. Ballan might have pulled more to reel back Boonen and Thor could have won a sprint against Turgot. Instead Ballan did not pull and nearly got 2nd ( by sprinting ).
 
Aug 16, 2011
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thehog said:
To many stars in one team?
No tactics?
Not training hard enough thinking wins are forgone conclusion?

Today they were bad. Early days but I didn't like what I saw or heard post race.
Looks like the Hog was right. I think it is safe to say BMC have contributed nothing to the TdF to date, despite the talent on their books.

I am glad TJVG has the white jersey, but no doubt he will have did give it up when Cadel dictates.

Where is Gilbert? Is he out of form or being kept on a rein by BMC, so he takes non of the limelight away from Cadel? Compared to last year, Gilbert looks like a caged animal.

Apart from Gilbert, the only reason the other 7 riders where selected where to support Cadel with all his needs, not on their ability. Its tragic that you have the likes of Ballan, Hushovd, and GVA sat at home, watching TdF on TV.
 
Dec 30, 2011
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Their Tour has gone exactly to plan so far; with Cadel being kept out of trouble and in a good GC position come the mountains and TT.
 
May 23, 2010
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Normandy said:
Looks like the Hog was right. I think it is safe to say BMC have contributed nothing to the TdF to date, despite the talent on their books.

I am glad TJVG has the white jersey, but no doubt he will have did give it up when Cadel dictates.

Where is Gilbert? Is he out of form or being kept on a rein by BMC, so he takes non of the limelight away from Cadel? Compared to last year, Gilbert looks like a caged animal.

Apart from Gilbert, the only reason the other 7 riders where selected where to support Cadel with all his needs, not on their ability. Its tragic that you have the likes of Ballan, Hushovd, and GVA sat at home, watching TdF on TV.

What are you on about????? :confused:
 
greenedge said:
If Thor had not crashed the race would have changed. Ballan might have pulled more to reel back Boonen and Thor could have won a sprint against Turgot. Instead Ballan did not pull and nearly got 2nd ( by sprinting ).

What would have happened, if Thor hadn't crashed, would most likely have been Ballan taken some extra pulls, and Thor wheel sucking the last 60 km:eek: (and as always riding for 2nd:rolleyes:)
 
Normandy said:
Looks like the Hog was right. I think it is safe to say BMC have contributed nothing to the TdF to date, despite the talent on their books.

I am glad TJVG has the white jersey, but no doubt he will have did give it up when Cadel dictates.

Where is Gilbert? Is he out of form or being kept on a rein by BMC, so he takes non of the limelight away from Cadel? Compared to last year, Gilbert looks like a caged animal.

Apart from Gilbert, the only reason the other 7 riders where selected where to support Cadel with all his needs, not on their ability. Its tragic that you have the likes of Ballan, Hushovd, and GVA sat at home, watching TdF on TV.

Yeah, TVG will have to work for Cadel that is a given. I do not see the problem with that.
Philippe Gilbert has actually had a free role in all of the stages, he rode a good prologue, was 4th (won the bunch sprint) on stage 1, did not interfere with the flat bunch sprints on stages 2 and 5 (why should he?). Had a crash on stage 3 (where he would have had a free role) and tried something on stage 4.

Hardly a caged animal, is he? He will only have to work for Cadel on mountain stages I think.

You also say that the hog was right, that there are too many ego's in BMC.
Yet you complain that BMC goes for a team that fully supports Cadel, or in other words: Few ego's in one team.

Also, Ballan can't do anything in a GT (it just does not suit him), Hushovd has been crap all season, and GVA has the Ballan problem (but not as bad).
 
Ballan had his chance at the classics/ the Giro. Hushovd was not in great form and will be riding the Tour of Poland to prepare for the Olympics ( just like Tom Boonen ). GVA will probably do the Vuelta to help him prepare for the WC.

If BMC had all of those riders they would probably not help Cadel because: they could not perform their roles well to help, which would stress him out and they would also be going for stages themselves offering him minimal support.

Most of the riders on the BMC squad were at the TDF last year and helped Cadel win so they deserve a spot again and Cadel as the defending Tour Champion has every right to have the riders he wants at his title defence.

Also why do you think they are going so bad- Cadel has not crashed nor lost time.
 
greenedge said:
Ballan had his chance at the classics/ the Giro. Hushovd was not in great form and will be riding the Tour of Poland to prepare for the Olympics ( just like Tom Boonen ). GVA will probably do the Vuelta to help him prepare for the WC.

If BMC had all of those riders they would probably not help Cadel because: they could not perform their roles well to help, which would stress him out and they would also be going for stages themselves offering him minimal support.

Most of the riders on the BMC squad were at the TDF last year and helped Cadel win so they deserve a spot again and Cadel as the defending Tour Champion has every right to have the riders he wants at his title defence.

Also why do you think they are going so bad- Cadel has not crashed nor lost time.

They have their best team there for Evans. Hushovd could not even finish a race. I think the team and Evans are looking good.
 
Normandy said:
Looks like the Hog was right. I think it is safe to say BMC have contributed nothing to the TdF to date, despite the talent on their books.

I am glad TJVG has the white jersey, but no doubt he will have did give it up when Cadel dictates.

Where is Gilbert? Is he out of form or being kept on a rein by BMC, so he takes non of the limelight away from Cadel? Compared to last year, Gilbert looks like a caged animal.

Apart from Gilbert, the only reason the other 7 riders where selected where to support Cadel with all his needs, not on their ability. Its tragic that you have the likes of Ballan, Hushovd, and GVA sat at home, watching TdF on TV.

I also am not sure what your on about, you must be watching a different race to the rest of us.

Ballan is not a GT Rider, Hushovd has been sick, cant comment about GVA.

Gilbert has been racing for stage wins all week, but without luck, has not been in position to feature in wins. had crash also.

Prior to this GT, he has been sick also, which has affected his classics performace. cant blaim BMC for Phil getting Tooth infection.

Regards


Hugh
 
BMC has selected a very good team to support Cadel and retain the Yellow jersey. They have no conflicts of interest and so have done a great job keeping him out of trouble.
Such a team can't have many riders with a free role whose goal is to win a stage such as Hushovd, GVA & Ballan. They have Gilbert and that is enough.
One should remember that last year both Gilbert & Hushovd rode for teams that didn't have a big favourite for the GC. It's very rare that a team aiming for GC has sprinters or Breakaway specialists as they need all the support for their main man. SKY this year has been an exception and they haven't done a particularly good job of protecting Wiggins.
 
May 5, 2009
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When they released their TdF team selection I couldn't understand it. Should have taken at least Morabito or Tschopp for the mountains, although also these two guys are not on level to be with him during full of a finish climb.

And recent events just confirm it. While BMC did a great job in week 1 to keep Cadel out of crash trouble, Evans is all the time isolated in the mountains. Luckily, TJ was around today.

They'd better hired two decent climbers than Hushovd, particularly considering that they also engaged Gilbert.

But whatever, Andy Rihs has enough money to spend and he keeps on doing this, losing the Tour and losing money with the bike business. If you have the cash, you can do that.
 
What's going on with Hushoovd ????

His whole season is **** poor.

Before Tour de Pologne he said that Olympic Games are his goal and he wants to race hard here and train. So after two hilly and one flat stage he is almost 30 minutes down :/ When in form, all three stages were in reach of victory for him.

I know that Tour de Pologne is not the greatest and most important race, but after such a poor season, he should try somewhere.
 
Jun 22, 2012
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Zam_Olyas said:
Thor's last wind 11 september of last year at tour of britain and Phil G last win also 11 september of last year at wallon. :D

Now that is an awesome stat - I wonder, if and when they finally both get another win, if it will be on the same day - that would be doubly awesome :D