Can Sky be destroyed be in the Tour?

[JRanton]

There are a couple of options to stop sky. On paper i think Saxo and Movistar are the two strongest teams to take them on. Im not to sure about Purito, last year in the vuelta he stayed with Contador for as long as possible which made for great entertainment but I dont know does he have it for the Tour and does he have the team to do it with him. As for Saxo Bank, I have been disapointed by them so far this season. Roche has unfortunately not set the world on fire and his climbing problems in the closing problems have let him down again. I was impressed by Roman in Tirreno when he took the fight to sky on one stage, it showed promise. Are they going to go with Roche, Roman and Rogers or stick with Contadors old reliables that have been with him in his previous wins and know how to get the job done? As for Movistar they have two cards to play in Valverde and Quintana. Throw in Smydt who can sit at the front and set a very good pace and the likes of Rui Costa, Intauxti and they could be a threat. Europcar could do something but it would be a longshot, a stage and top ten more realistic. I think Tejay will end up being the BMC leader. What will the sky team be? Froome, Wiggins, Henao??

Best guess at this point based on what's been reported: Froome, Wiggins, Porte, Kiryienka, Thomas, Siutsov, EBH, Stannard, Eisel

It's not going to be easy to get away from them! Also lucky the TTT is only 25km otherwise the other teams might not see them again until Paris...

 

[Winterfold]

of course
contador and andy in their top form(tourmalet 2010 let's call it) could beat them
also we have europcar and others(even purito). it won't be easy for sky, i still believe that

this - there was no optimistic poll option that didn't include Contador and Schleck so I didn't vote

I am fan of certain riders who ride for Sky, but not so much Sky itself these days.

I want to see some British riders doing well in monuments but this domination of stage races, is at best, a bit boring after the initial crushing attacks, and worst a matter for another part of the forum...

 

[sartoris]

I think it's all decided now, unless his "gasoline" is discovered before the Tour.

 

[Jancouver]

Gesink and Bollema will take it!

... just kidding

 

[The GCW]

The poll is narrow.

Let's see who Garmin Sharp sends.

 

[SeriousSam]

Probably not. Sky seemingly succeeded in turning obscure riders world class climbers and tters. Right now the most likely scenario is the Sky train riding at an average pace everyone but the elite will be unable to hold. Then Froome, the best climber in the world, launches a solo attack leaving everyone on his wake.

 

[happytramp]

Probably not. Sky seemingly succeeded in turning obscure riders world class climbers and tters. Right now the most likely scenario is the Sky train riding at an average pace everyone but the elite will be unable to hold. Then Froome, the best climber in the world, launches a solo attack leaving everyone on his wake.

Serious question. Has anybody figured out how they've been doing this? (I assume if it was just a clinic thing, then other teams would be able to do it too)

 

[Carols]

It's not over until they cross the finish line.....it might need alliances with multiple teams and riders working together, but the train can be broken.

When Sky is out of their element they are vulnerable, see Vuelta 2012 or T-A 2013. TdF 2013 parcours offer more opportunities than 2012 did for it to happen.

 

[willbick]

Serious question. Has anybody figured out how they've been doing this? (I assume if it was just a clinic thing, then other teams would be able to do it too)

Mainly intensive training at altitude on Tenerife and presumably using all the sports science developed by the GB track cycling program. In the absence of PEDs other teams are simply behind with their training techniques and/or cant afford all the staff and fancy gizmos presumably at Skys disposal. They will catch up but it may take a little while.

 

[willbick]

It's not over until they cross the finish line.....it might need alliances with multiple teams and riders working together, but the train can be broken.

When Sky is out of their element they are vulnerable, see Vuelta 2012 or T-A 2013. TdF 2013 parcours offer more opportunities than 2012 did for it to happen.

I think the biggest danger to sky is on the lumpy stages rather than the big showpiece mountain stages

 

[Carols]

I think the biggest danger to sky is on the lumpy stages rather than the big showpiece mountain stages

It could happen just about anywhere, they only seem to have Plan A and can't adjust om the road

 

[willbick]

You dont need a plan B when plan A works that well

 

[Carols]

You dont need a plan B when plan A works that well

Well Vuelta 2012, T-A 2013, Catalunya 2013 seem to indicate differently

 

[Dazed and Confused]

It could happen just about anywhere, they only seem to have Plan A and can't adjust om the road

Thats one of the reasons I think the Giro could be good. There are indeed many more opportunities to do something unexpected. Very hard to control. TdF otoh is a control freak paradise. Ideal for a strong train. ASO simply dislikes surprises, everything should follow the script.

 

[willbick]

Well Vuelta 2012, T-A 2013, Catalunya 2013 seem to indicate differently

i dont think they were out-thought just out-ridden. ok maybe vuelta 2011 (not 2012) they cudda switched to back froome earlier but always easy in hindsight

 

[postmanhat]

If Froome Porte and Wiggins are there, then the others will just be dots in the background

Froome and Porte, some good opportunities for the others' sponsor time

Froome on his own.....

 

[Pippo_San]

Maybe Sky can be beaten, just maybe. But destroyed? All the contrary

 

[Afrank]

It will all depend on the form of the other GC contenders and how they race against Sky. Contador if he managed to improve his current form could definitely do it, but it's not certain what kind of form he can get in since he hasn't been very good so far.
Sky can't be "destroyed," but if the other teams and GC contenders can get in good form, race smart, and maybe collaborate against Sky a little; then they have a chance to beat them.

 

[Richeypen]

Maybe Sky can be beaten, just maybe. But destroyed? All the contrary

My thoughts exactly. Sky will dominate the Tour but the strongest rider will win. That may be Froome, Contador or someone else but there is a big difference between being destroyed and being beaten.

 

[trevim]

I'll try to build my own dream world by saying this: Sky is still to impress me this season.
1) Losing Tirreno to "not-world-class-climber-not-good-TT'er" Nibali?! Come on, you guys can do better.
2) Only 1-2 in Corsica? With that field they should have made much more. At least fill the entire top10. Oh and their train is done: only Kyrienka in the final km.
3) Wiggins lost time to lots of guys in Catalunya. He's done already.
4) Porte? Come on, he's peaking already. He'll be done by the time GT's come around.
5) Classics madness without a leader. Stannard is a beast, Hayman is great, Thomas aiming for Liège (is this a joke already or are we still afraid?), Hagen getting km in for July, Eisel I don't know. 0 wins. What I know is, they haven't found the magic formula for this races yet. Some more equations they need to take in.
6) Colombians on a tight leash. Rebellion now!!!
7) What else?

 

[maxmartin]

I'll try to build my own dream world by saying this: Sky is still to impress me this season.
1) Losing Tirreno to "not-world-class-climber-not-good-TT'er" Nibali?! Come on, you guys can do better.
2) Only 1-2 in Corsica? With that field they should have made much more. At least fill the entire top10. Oh and their train is done: only Kyrienka in the final km.
3) Wiggins lost time to lots of guys in Catalunya. He's done already.
4) Porte? Come on, he's peaking already. He'll be done by the time GT's come around.
5) Classics madness without a leader. Stannard is a beast, Hayman is great, Thomas aiming for Liège (is this a joke already or are we still afraid?), Hagen getting km in for July, Eisel I don't know. 0 wins. What I know is, they haven't found the magic formula for this races yet. Some more equations they need to take in.
6) Colombians on a tight leash. Rebellion now!!!
7) What else?

How do you know Porte is peaking? He and Froom are only building forms for the Tour, just wait and see.

 

[The Hitch]

How do you know Porte is peaking? He and Froom are only building forms for the Tour, just wait and see.

he was joking. Hence the smiley

 

[maxmartin]

he was joking. Hence the smiley

I know. I am being sarcastic, too

 

[42x16ss]

I still see the vastly improved Saxo squad as a huge threat to the Skyborg and Contador will be ready for the challenge. I think that Purito can't win this but he can throw a big spanner in the works and shake up Sky in a similar way Vino and Mayo did to USPS in the '03 TdF. Then there's Movistar, Schleck (if he's ready), Pinot (potentially) and a few others - Gesink, VdB, TJVG. Evans, Menchov and Basso are spent force though.

There aren't many riders who can beat Froome but there's a few who can make him lose if they only race with plan A.

 

[Publicus]

I hope Sky's performance over the last month has put the other teams on notice, they have to up their collective game ACROSS THE BOARD. It's not enough for Contador to be at peak level, but his entire team must effectively be at his level (at least for portions of the race).

Also, here's what I want to know: why hasn't one enterprising reporter asked Michael Rogers about what is different between Sky and Saxo? He's reverted to his pre-Sky form, so there is something different and he should be able to speak to it (assuming, of course, that it is a non-clinical explanation).