End of the classics season, Teams thus far.

[karlboss]

Here are a look at the current world rankings

World Rankings
http://www.uciprotour.com/templates/BUILTIN-NOFRAMES/Template3/layout.asp?MenuId=MTYwNzk&LangId=1

CQ rankings
http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/cqRankingTeam.asp?current=0&year=2012

Who's doing better than expected, worse than expected on expectation, picked up a bargain in the transfer season, and threw away money?

 

[Fetisoff]

Well, as for "throwing away money" I'm afraid this will become another "BMC in disarray" thread.

A "bargain" has definitely been Freire

 

[Afrank]

A couple riders who have done worse than expected: Hushovd, Gilbert (might be able to salvage his classics season tomorrow), Renshaw (his new sprinter status hasn't worked out so far), Farrar (hasn't been able to make a big impact in many sprints yet).
as for teams: Rabobank (only 4 wins so far), BMC obviously (not a whole lot of wins yet), saxo bank.

riders who have done better than expected: Albasini, Westra, Gasparotto

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

I really liked Omega Pharma so far. Active on all races, classics or stages. Highlight of the season.

 

[dlwssonic]

BMC is doing okay. Their at 6th now by the end of today it will be 5th or 4th.

 

[dlwssonic]

after the classics movistar and RSNT will be on the rise. Greenedge and katusha will be falling.

 

[dlwssonic]

Garmin is very disappointing in the uci ranking.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Shouldn't we wait for LBL to finish to judge the teams, ie the thread is 24 hours early methinks

 

[karlboss]

Shouldn't we wait for LBL to finish to judge the teams, ie the thread is 24 hours early methinks

Wait 10 hours and then post then

RSNT took a huge blow when Cancellara crashed, but their classic season could be resurrected tonight all things considered.
Their stage racers have been underperforming in my mind. Look at the line up and apart from Horner what have they done? They do know that the Tour team is only 9 riders, so there's no point having 30 peaking for it.

 

[The Hitch]

Colombia coledeportes have been very underwhelming. Henao too actually. Hopefully will turn that around tomorrow in the Giro. In fact Betancur has been the only Colombian that has impressed me, shame he cant show his stuff in the Giro.

Teamwise you just have to give it to Liqui. They always produce. Yeah OPQL have dominated the season but bellow them Liqui have probably been the creme of the crop MSR podium, AGR podium, TA win with 2 stages and Sagan has probably won 1 or 2 other things ive forgotten about. And the thing is we say this time and time again.

And their main event is just about to come. Hopefully they will make it 10 in 10 with the 9.

Also Greenedge. MSR win Catalunya win FW podium.

On the down side AG2R yes but that will turn around for them with the Giro superteam (ie Dupont and Gadret and maybe Nocentini if he is doing it)

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Colombia coledeportes have been very underwhelming. Henao too actually. Hopefully will turn that around tomorrow in the Giro. In fact Betancur has been the only Colombian that has impressed me, shame he cant show his stuff in the Giro.

Teamwise you just have to give it to Liqui. They always produce. Yeah OPQL have dominated the season but bellow them Liqui have probably been the creme of the crop MSR podium, AGR podium, TA win with 2 stages and Sagan has probably won 1 or 2 other things ive forgotten about. And the thing is we say this time and time again.

And their main event is just about to come. Hopefully they will make it 10 in 10 with the 9.

Also Greenedge. MSR win Catalunya win FW podium.

On the down side AG2R yes but that will turn around for them with the Giro superteam (ie Dupont and Gadret and maybe Nocentini if he is doing it)

Liquigas: Acoording to airstream and dwlsonicc they are not a big team.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Colombia coledeportes have been very underwhelming. Henao too actually. Hopefully will turn that around tomorrow in the Giro. In fact Betancur has been the only Colombian that has impressed me, shame he cant show his stuff in the Giro.

Teamwise you just have to give it to Liqui. They always produce. Yeah OPQL have dominated the season but bellow them Liqui have probably been the creme of the crop MSR podium, AGR podium, TA win with 2 stages and Sagan has probably won 1 or 2 other things ive forgotten about. And the thing is we say this time and time again.

And their main event is just about to come. Hopefully they will make it 10 in 10 with the 9.

Also Greenedge. MSR win Catalunya win FW podium.

On the down side AG2R yes but that will turn around for them with the Giro superteam (ie Dupont and Gadret and maybe Nocentini if he is doing it)

Think you've been on the crack pipe if you expected more out of Sergio after 13 race days. He's been in the select group in every race he's entered.

 

[Panda Claws]

OPQ: By far the strongest in the cobbled classics, nowhere in the hilly ones.
BMC: Very strong overall, but without a strong Gilbert they have no-one that can make the difference.

 

[El Pistolero]

Nikki Terpstra did pretty good in the Amstel Gold Race actually.

 

[Popchu]

Colombia coledeportes have been very underwhelming. Henao too actually. Hopefully will turn that around tomorrow in the Giro.

Oh come on... What could you more expect in his first months in Europa?

 

[will10]

lol Hitch trolling Henao fans. The guy has adapted to racing in Europe brilliantly.

 

[CobbleStoner]

Terpstra & Albasini seem to be the classics over achievers, too many under achievers to name, and give some props to Iljo Keisse and Michael Morkov, two track riders helping their teams on the road this year, and small budgeted Vac is doing better than a lot of the Pro Tour heavy weight teams.
Spartacus seems the unlucky one.
one more to go, although this year we kinda get an extra northern classic with the worlds being in Limburg.

 

[Kwibus]

Terpstra & Albasini seem to be the classics over achievers, too many under achievers to name, and give some props to Iljo Keisse and Michael Morkov, two track riders helping their teams on the road this year, and small budgeted Vac is doing better than a lot of the Pro Tour heavy weight teams.
Spartacus seems the unlucky one.
one more to go, although this year we kinda get an extra northern classic with the worlds being in Limburg.

I'm not sure if I'm biased since I'm dutch, but I think it was about time Terpstra rode a classics season like this. I was waiting for him last 2 years to do so...

 

[will10]

I'm not sure if I'm biased since I'm dutch, but I think it was about time Terpstra rode a classics season like this. I was waiting for him last 2 years to do so...

I'd agree with that, he was overdue a breakthrough.

 

[The Hitch]

Oh come on... What could you more expect in his first months in Europa?

Think you've been on the crack pipe if you expected more out of Sergio after 13 race days. He's been in the select group in every race he's entered.

Yes i do have high expectations of him. I thought he was going to be a grand tour winner. Not that that ship has sailed or anything but i honestly expected him to drop everyone on a climb a few times. Or at least he top 6 or 7 in Amstel or FW.

In FW he got beaten by Ulissi who is 2 years his junior.

Now Ulissi, theres a guy whose been good.

 

[maltiv]

Yes i do have high expectations of him. I thought he was going to be a grand tour winner. Not that that ship has sailed or anything but i honestly expected him to drop everyone on a climb a few times. Or at least he top 6 or 7 in Amstel or FW.

In FW he got beaten by Ulissi who is 2 years his junior.

He was very good in Pais Vasco though. I think the nervousness in the peloton in the ardennes classics is draining him of energy as he's not very experienced in such races. But you're right that one should expect a lot of him if he is to become a GT contender - after all, the guy is 24 years old. At the same age, Andy Schleck for example had been on the podium in 2 GT's and won LBL. Of course, Ryo will now come and say that winning Vuelta Columbia is much better than finishing 2nd in the TDF or the Giro

 

[karlboss]

Ok so the final race did make a difference, Astana's classic season is now stellar

 

[hatcher]

Disappointing one for Sky. Some bad luck with injuries to Flecha, Nordhaug, and Uran. Henao and Nordhaug both showed promise for future though. Flecha looked in great form before and after his hand injury, so would have been nice to see him 100% at Roubaix.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

sky had bad luck in everything. henao crashed yesterday and was out of contention after that. nordhaug I don't know. uran is injured too. flecha was injured. only cav really sucked

 

[karlboss]

sky had bad luck in everything. henao crashed yesterday and was out of contention after that. nordhaug I don't know. uran is injured too. flecha was injured. only cav really sucked

Their tactics at Roubaix were questionable, still wouldn't have won, but could have given Flecha a chance. Noone was strong enough at RV.
I'd say they were unlucky in the ardennes, and performed on or a little below expectation for the cobbles. Like BMC had the numbers, but were missing a finisher.

Given Flechas hand, maybe a little bad luck all around.