yaco said:
greenedge said:
yaco said:
A well considered post by GreenEdge - Will add that MS is spending big money on Yates x 2, so it's imperative each target GC in at least one GT per year - Chaves has started riding his bike again in Columbia, but is no certainty to race much in 2019 - The team needs another mountain domestic and has been frustrated by missing out on transfer targets - They also need two more rouleurs and it's such a desperate state that Hayman may ride on in 2019 - You are right there will be pressure on S.Yates to race in Australia in 2019.
Thanks! True, but if that's the case I'd still like to see Adam wholeheartedly support Simon then if he rode the TDF. I think Adam's a great rider, but i've been disappointed by a few of his GT's as of late (last year's Giro had the crash so that was a factor, but at that Vuelta I'd have expected him to be much better. Also this year he cracked at the TDF, though he did tried admirably to stage hunt). I'm just wondering whether his true path is GT's, but I do think he's an amazing rider who has all the tools to go well in GC who can hopefully get back to a top 5 in a GT soon.
In regards to the WT rankings, i feel as if such a schedule would allow for Mitchelton to continue racking up WT points, and if they have a successful race at the TDF there'd be a big points haul that would outweigh targeting two GT's with weaker GC support resulting in both. I also think they'd have the luxury of not having to worry about a lack of points, as evidenced by this year, so can afford to focus on the biggest GT of all.
All these ideal schedules might become moot if Simon does ride the Giro though, but at least he should be considered the favourite in such a race, I can see Kruijswijk riding it, but I think Lopez will go to the TDF and Carapaz might go there too to learn.
It does seem that S.Yates will ride the Giro which will leave the TDF for A.Yates - My view is teams can only have strong squads for two of the GT's, and in fact MS's weakest tour squad was at the Vuelta - I will also add that for some reason the TDF is a bogy race for MS - Anyway MS have some holes in their squad which need to be addressed - They need another quality mountain domestic, need two rouleurs with the retirement of Tuft and Hayman and they need to boost their classics squad - I'll also add that they will have three neo-pros for 2019 and may even have four - Reckon the TDF is the last race where MS will send a strong team - I'll also add they need to target a WT level sprinter - Ackermann and Bennett are out of contract next year BUT their biggest priority is to get Matthews back which was their biggest transfer failing in the last few years.
Can agree with quite a deal of what you are saying but I steer well away from your "prophet of doom" pronouncements over recruitment.
I will agree that the Vuelta line-up didi not read particularly strong on paper but it DID include 2 riders in Haig (most of the race) and AY (later stages) who perforrmed strongly in support of SY. The rest of the team was also sufficiently committed to "doing their bit" and sometimes a little beyond.
As for quality climbing domestique, its hard to know as Chaves' future looks uncertain at this point and does AY have it to be any more than what he has already show over 3 weeks ? Haig will probably get a run over the next 2 years as either the GC man at a GT to which they are not going "all out" OR as B option to a serious campaign. Nieve performed well and one hopes his retention come contract time next year is a key objective. Another clearly established mountain domestique would certainly be nice but, just how many of them are there going around and their pricetags are comensurate with that reality.
Rouleurs ?? If we are talking big engine flatland grunt power; whilst Tuft and Hayman will be missed they aren't necessarily running on empty in this regard. If Durbridge and Bewley are retained, then you also have Hepburn, Joker, Edmondson (seems likely retention) plus the likes of Impey (wide skillset) and both Mezgec & Trentin aren't underpowered and can be called upon if necessary.
Reclaiming Matthews ??? I'd actually be on board with that as he has a wide skill-set and is the brand of classics quick guy that can be largely self reliant and can co-exist with a largely GC focus for GTs. At Sunweb, he is going to run up against the same issue of having to give way or co-exist with GC focus (Tom D). He won't be cheap and the question is .... would he be open to returning ? (even if his parting was on very good terms)
Where I DO take major issue is with your statement of needing a WT level sprinter. A quality classics type fast guy; hell yes and if they're young then all the better but a categorical NO to a straight out bunch kick man reliant on a lead-out train.
What may be interesting in this later part of contract season is whether MS joining the list of GT winning teams may have some impact on the market, especially riders and their managers.