Garmin-Barracuda 2012

[Swabian Lass]

As lame as this sounds, as soon as Garmin started sponsoring a team, I went out and bought one of their products 6 weeks later.

I did exactly the same. Then it tried to convince me that there was a road off the side of the Pyrenees where there was a 1000 metre drop. I kind of lost confidence in it after that.

Fortunately the team don't need to use the navigation products! At least I've not noticed the team cars driving off the side of mountains....

 

[The Hitch]

As lame as this sounds, as soon as Garmin started sponsoring a team, I went out and bought one of their products 6 weeks later.

Good man.

At last year's ToC, when the TT ended, I went around the team buses asking for bottles. At the Garmin bus, I didn't ask for one, but they gave me a poster and some cards from the riders. A while later, a guy peeked out and was waving a bottle in my direction. He threw it, and I caught it. I noticed that the bottle had something inside. I was thinking it might have been some riders' leftover drink or something. I opened it, and smelled what was inside. To my amazement, the liquid inside the bottle was ****. I quickly went to the handwash station and washed it well with soap and water, then with bleach when I got home and from then, used it several times.

100% true story

I stole a bottle once from Robbie Mcewen in the Tour.

He switched.

 

[Granville57]

I stole a bottle once from Robbie Mcewen in the Tour.

That was you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7O1yMRYSQo

 

[Ruudz0r]

Good man.



I stole a bottle once from Robbie Mcewen in the Tour.

He switched.

 

[Eric8-A]

That was you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7O1yMRYSQo

He probably went and beat up the other person for the bottle.

 

[The Hitch]

He probably went and beat up the other person for the bottle.

Damn right. The other guy was El Pistolero btw. Thats why hes been so angry towards me on here, and why hes been such a big Lotto fan.

 

[greenedge]

With Klier, Maaskant, JHVS, Vanmarcke and maybe Haussler and Rasmussen they should do what they did this year in P-R. Send the strongest all round-team and make others chase their riders in the break.

 

[Eric8-A]

I always thought that Haussler was going to leave Garmin at the end of the year, and Thor would stay. It ended up being the other way around.

 

[Vicelard]

Who think that Farrar can make it through the Cipressa and Poggio and sprint for the win?
(I know it depends of how fast they climb it)

 

[User Guide]

No womens team for 2012, anyone know fate of riders?

 

[The Hitch]

If Michelle manages to stay in the front group this time, and brings his 2011 form into MSR, then Cipressa might get climbed pretty darn fast.

 

[maltiv]

If Michelle manages to stay in the front group this time, and brings his 2011 form into MSR, then Cipressa might get climbed pretty darn fast.

Also it's one of Gilbert's biggest goals so he'll make sure the pace is high enough to drop guys like Farrar and Cavendish.

 

[will10]

Also it's one of Gilbert's biggest goals so he'll make sure the pace is high enough to drop guys like Farrar and Cavendish.

Cmon, Gilbert attacks every year on the Cipressa or the Poggio, doesn't mean it's never a bunch sprint. A lot will depend on Cav, Farrar, Petacchi's form and the strength of their teams. And whether there's a crash/split on La Manie.

 

[Granville57]

I always thought that Haussler was going to leave Garmin at the end of the year, and Thor would stay. It ended up being the other way around.

After that moment on the bus prior to Milan-San Remo, I never thought for a second that Thor would be around for 2012.

@5:20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AubKhIKyUBI

 

[theyoungest]

After that moment on the bus prior to Milan-San Remo, I never thought for a second that Thor would be around for 2012.

@5:20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AubKhIKyUBI

I almost forgot how Garmin was last year's "super team" for the classics. Doesn't bode well for the BMC boys

 

[will10]

With Vanmarke, Maaskant, Haussler, Vansummeren & Farrar they'll still have plenty to say at Flanders and Roubaix

 

[El Pistolero]

Cmon, Gilbert attacks every year on the Cipressa or the Poggio, doesn't mean it's never a bunch sprint. A lot will depend on Cav, Farrar, Petacchi's form and the strength of their teams. And whether there's a crash/split on La Manie.

It's the first time he's making it his main goal however.

His main goals are Milano-San Remo and the Ronde van Vlaanderen next year. That means he'll bring his Ardennes form to the Ronde

He also said he'd rather win the Olympics instead of the Worlds. But then came back on his words a little by saying "I've been one of the favorites at the worlds for 4 years in a row now, it's time to finally win one."

I hope the Puncheur teams will already drive like crazy on Le Manie especially in the descend.

 

[cawright1375]

I'm on the fence regarding Garmin. I really liked them at first when they were just Slipstream and signed Millar, Dave Z and Christian, etc. The last few years though Tyler Farrar and the attention/ hype surrounding him has sort of spoiled my opinion of them. I just can't see what the hype is about and his seemingly constant complaints after failing to win get a bit old. It is one thing to be off and admit it, it's another to feel that you ought to have won everytime, only to beaten time and again. Plus I don't really think a World Champion and former green jersey/ stage winner ought to have been leading him out. Thor's departure was not a surprise, had he stayed, now that would have been the surprise. It was quite obvious in the BTP series that he was not happy.

All that being said the BTP series, the Journey to a Dream video and riders like Dave Z and David Millar, plus most of what JV has to say most of the time really makes me want to like the team. If only I could get past the Tyler hype machine...

 

[Granville57]

I almost forgot how Garmin was last year's "super team" for the classics. Doesn't bode well for the BMC boys

BMC = Because Money Can't win a race.

Well, of course it can under certain circumstances, but that's for the Vino discussion.

or

BMC = Buy More Champions and see where it gets you. We will see, we will see...

 

[will10]

It's the first time he's making it his main goal however.

His main goals are Milano-San Remo and the Ronde van Vlaanderen next year. That means he'll bring his Ardennes form to the Ronde

He also said he'd rather win the Olympics instead of the Worlds. But then came back on his words a little by saying "I've been one of the favorites at the worlds for 4 years in a row now, it's time to finally win one."

I hope the Puncheur teams will already drive like crazy on Le Manie especially in the descend.

Still, he can't make the Poggio any steeper Since La Manie was brought in it's still been 2 bunch sprints in 4 years.

 

[The Hitch]

It's the first time he's making it his main goal however.

His main goals are Milano-San Remo and the Ronde van Vlaanderen next year. That means he'll bring his Ardennes form to the Ronde

He also said he'd rather win the Olympics instead of the Worlds. But then came back on his words a little by saying "I've been one of the favorites at the worlds for 4 years in a row now, it's time to finally win one."

I hope the Puncheur teams will already drive like crazy on Le Manie especially in the descend.

RVV was only 2 weeks before AGR and 1 and a half before Bjarnste Pjil (or whatver)

He had to be in pretty good form already RVV then. Look at the way that anyone who isnt already near peak at the Dauphine, like Basso, is doomed for the Tour, over a month before the main mountain stages.

 

[Eric8-A]

After that moment on the bus prior to Milan-San Remo, I never thought for a second that Thor would be around for 2012.

@5:20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AubKhIKyUBI

I felt that Thor's attitude towards the team sounded more positive than Heinrich's. That's why I thought that.

 

[El Pistolero]

RVV was only 2 weeks before AGR and 1 and a half before Bjarnste Pjil (or whatver)

He had to be in pretty good form already RVV then. Look at the way that anyone who isnt already near peak at the Dauphine, like Basso, is doomed for the Tour, over a month before the main mountain stages.

Gilbert is already in pretty good condition since Milan-San Remo, but in cycling it's the few % that make the difference. And he's just that little bit better by the time the Ardennes classics start. For example, I don't think Gilbert in his San Remo form could out-sprint Rodriguez on the Cauberg in the latter's AGR form.

Look at it this way: Evans got dropped on the mountain stages of the Dauphiné by some cyclists, but never got dropped in the mountains of the Tour. Andy couldn't even outclimb Thomas de Gendt at the Tour de Suisse yet was one of the better climbers of the Tour(although got to admit, that's the main reason why I think he's one of the dirtiest cyclists in the peloton).

If Gilbert wins the Ronde next year I think his form will be slightly less good by the time the Ardennes classics start.

Ps: according to Gilbert, he's also still one kg overweight by the time of the Ronde. I also don't think comparing stage racers with one day cyclists is a correct thing to do when talking about their preparation.

 

[El Pistolero]

I almost forgot how Garmin was last year's "super team" for the classics. Doesn't bode well for the BMC boys

Garmin's super team of last year had zero Monument winners in it(and one WC). And well, they managed to win Paris-Roubaix purely because of their strength in depth.

BMC has:

2 cyclists who already won Monuments
3 ex-World champions
4 cyclists who already won multiple classics(Thor: G-W, Phil: ..., CE: FW, GVA: P-T)

Thor, who hasn't won a Monument yet, was never the less a big factor in Garmin's P-R victory. Didn't Cancellara give up the chase because 2 guys refused to co-operate? What are the names of those 2 guys?

 

[greenedge]

I almost forgot how Garmin was last year's "super team" for the classics. Doesn't bode well for the BMC boys

They still did ok. They won P-R ( without their preferred rider ). There were only 5 other teams that won a monument.

It is odd that Haussler stayed and not Thor. Oh well, i like Haussler.

Farrar won't win M-SR. If it comes to a sprint it will be between; Boonen, Thor, Cav, Haussler, Petacchi and Goss. Greipel and Renshaw could be added as well.

I think Farrar could however win the Olympic RR

Who is the cyclist that has won another monument in BMC?@ El Pistolero