Re: Re:
42x16ss said:
proffz said:
very very happy for chavito.
he was in bad shape at the giro after a bad spring with physical problems but some way was able to finish.
he is a very serious and nice guy, an intelligent person from a nice family.
i do not know if he can become a factor in GC , since recovery hab been a problem for him up to know.
anyway great performance today stage win and amarillo jersey.
also orica has to be congratulated because they are doing a great job in growing young riders.
they signed chavito when it was not sure if he would be able to go on with pro cycling and they were able to help him and let him the time to recover.
they did a good job positioning him today for the climb: that his a symptom that the team is believing in chavez and it is a well organized team.
definitely orica the best place to develop young riders like the yates and chavito
Orica certainly does seem the best place, Michael Matthews has become a totally different rider since joining as well. It's great to see Chaves show his talent again. I doubt that he will ever be a GC guy for GT's but he certainly looks like someone who can step up and replace the likes of Clarke, Gerrans and Weening and hunt for stages and possibly even contend at the Ardennes and Lombardia.
Very happy for him, it looks like he's having a lot of fun and Orica are only encouraging him. It was great to see how Stephens and Bannan responded to his stage win.
Now Orica just need to get Durbridge and Hepburn organised and they will have nearly all bases covered by young riders, because those two have some serious talent too.
I very much agree with regards to Chaves; the team has shown faith in him and he, in turn, has fully bought into the team ethos. OGE has NOT, as some may have thought, degenerated into an Aussie "mates club" and the proof has been seen with the performances of those international riders who've "bought in"; namely Albasini, Impey, Keukeleire, the Yates twins & Chaves. Meanwhile Aussie riders who haven't measured up (either in result or in attitude) have been shown the door.
Chaves certainly appears happy at OGE, and they would clearly like to keep him, so it will be a matter of whether he chooses to pursue a potentially higher pay packet (but maybe less opportunities) or stay in an environment where he can develop at his own pace.
OGE does have a whole swag of riders coming off contract at the end of this season. We already know of:
- Santaromita leaving (on bad terms but was always a questionable fit for this team)
- Weening leaving for Roompot (on good terms but was a good offer to ride out his career with a domestic based team)
- Mouris leaving for Drapac (on good terms but his role has been that of a hard grunt for the flat land & can't go uphill)
As yet unconfirmed stay/go:
- Albasini - has been very happy at OGE and has brought in good wins & results every year. Mid 30's so future trajectory may be downwards. Much will depend on the offer from OGE & what else may be on the table from elsewhere
- Meyer - any thoughts of him becoming a GT contender have been settled in the negative. He has brought in at least one win per year in good races. There is word of him leaving. His plus points are his big engine/TT ability esp in TTT context. Main drawback is his tendency to ride poor position when not on the front or "off the front" in a break. He could find another WT home or with a good Pro-Conti but in a prescribed "domestique" role
- Howard - likely exit. Has failed to measure up as either a 2nd tier sprinter or as a lead-out. Like Goss, has shown a tendency to crack the mopes when things not going his way. Can't see any WT team or respectable Pro-Conti team having any interest so it may be retirement/domestic racing in AUS or Drapac (Pro-Conti but barely worthy of the status)
- Keukeleire - his prime focus being the cobbled classics & this season was a break-out for him with some top 10 finishes. Also has shown some capacity in lead-outs. Another international rider who'd been shown patience by the team and has been happy at the team. Will there be some interest from other teams ?
- Howson - another junior TT World Champ. his two years have been fairly low key as regards results. Very difficult to get any real read as to his future
- Bewley - former NZ teams pursuiter & TTer. His time at OGE has been low on results albeit with a few long injury interruptions. This year has probably been his best with his first GT finish (Giro). Future ?
Re Durbridge; his main limiting factor is his lack of climbing capacity. His ITT has gone off somewhat over the past year or two. Is this temporary due to a change of emphasis in his training or permanent ? As long as OGE stays committed to TTT success, he will be a key asset & his engine suggests that he could have potential for P-R. One does hope that the team DOES grant him the licence for more exploits like the Giro finale. Will there be interest from other teams ?
Re Hepburn; he was the co-offender with Bobridge in his first year when they got into strife for being bad boys whilst "on the turps". He also stayed an extra year on the track which also set him a year back with regards to his road development. Another outstanding TT prospect in junior ranks but hasn't been notable in this regard at top level to date. Had a few HDs in first few years but has developed better legs & has completed the past 2 Giros. Clearly a useful workhorse & TTT asset but is there more ?
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