Garmin Cervelo: A case of too many chiefs and not enough Indians?

[ingsve]

The only real problem I see them dealing with is what they will do if both Farrar, Haussler and Hushovd are there in a group of 30-50 going for a sprint in San Remo. They are said to all have a free role in MSR but in that scenario I imagine they would work for Farrar.

I think that Haussler and certainly Hushovd will try to follow any attackers on the Poggio in order to be there if there is a solo effort or a small group that tries to stay away. I would interpret their free roles as having freedom to attack and follow attacks rather than pacing Farrar up the hill and working to bring back the attackers.

In RVV and P-R both Hushovd and Haussler and possibly Farrar will be protected riders with free roles but there the situation is a lot different. In those races it's more a matter of being strong enough to follow attacks or attack yourself and there it's not a bad thing at all to have more than one card to play.

In sprints I would say that Farrar is the clear first choice regardless of what sprints Haussler has managed to win so far. Farrar is simply faster. Haussler is Greipel or Goss or Farrars Cavendish. I doubt that Haussler will be at the Tour. I'd imagine that they might send him as sprinter to the Giro or something like that or leave him to sprint in other stage races before and after the Tour. Hushovd has said time and time again that he will not be fighting for green in the Tour. He will be targeting some of the thougher finishes in hopes of winning a stage.

 

[maltiv]

In sprints I would say that Farrar is the clear first choice regardless of what sprints Haussler has managed to win so far

Different people are fast after 300 km than those who are fast after 180. Oscar Freire isn't really faster than anyone he beat in M-SR last year but he's faster after 300 kilometers because he can still accelerate even with tired legs. The M-SR sprint is often about having the best acceleration, and in that regard Haussler is better than Farrar.

Wasn't Tyler Farrar dropped on one of the first hills last year? In T-A he almost got dropped on one of the sprint stages, even. It's not given that he'll be there at the end.

 

[Frosty]

Haussler did well enough at MSR two years ago when Cav pipped him so maybe he will be a better option than Hushovd. Farrar has improved since that time but is not much better than Cav on the hills. Not that the hills worried Cav two years ago....

Farrar did well in the Ronde last year, coming fifth, but i think he only got back because the groups merged after Boonen and Cancellara went up the road. If it does come down to a sprint finish then he would have a definite chance but when was the last time it came to that? Millar did well last year, i think he was in third before cracking but doesnt seem to have been up to much so far this year.

 

[Havetts]

Hushovd is a really strong rider, but isnt as good as haussler is in The Ronde, but better in Paris Roubaix, but I doubt thats something new ;D. I just dont think Farrar is up to the level of the best for the classics, or 300 km + races, he's more of a bunch sprinter than for classics, atleast the 'harder' classics.

 

[ingsve]

Different people are fast after 300 km than those who are fast after 180. Oscar Freire isn't really faster than anyone he beat in M-SR last year but he's faster after 300 kilometers because he can still accelerate even with tired legs. The M-SR sprint is often about having the best acceleration, and in that regard Haussler is better than Farrar.

Wasn't Tyler Farrar dropped on one of the first hills last year? In T-A he almost got dropped on one of the sprint stages, even. It's not given that he'll be there at the end.

That comment was more about sprints in general but ya, if they are all there for a sprint in MSR Farrar might not be the strongest but I still think he would get the support since they wouldn't really know for sure if Haussler would be better than Farrar after 300km. I think it's mostly an academic question anyway since I don't think Farrar will be there when the race is decided.

 

[ingsve]

Hushovd is a really strong rider, but isnt as good as haussler is in The Ronde, but better in Paris Roubaix, but I doubt thats something new ;D. I just dont think Farrar is up to the level of the best for the classics, or 300 km + races, he's more of a bunch sprinter than for classics, atleast the 'harder' classics.

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Hushovd for the Ronde. In 2009 they were both there in the group behind Devolder and Hushovd told Haussler to attack and that was what gave Haussler the 2nd place. Hushovd was well on his way to win the sprint for 3rd when he got pushed into the barriers and had a very nasty crash.

Last year Hushovd did RVV as his first race after suffering some illness in the week before so his strength was diminished. On full form I think Hushovd is just as much a contender in RVV as most of the other favourites. There are perhaps 3-4 riders that are slightly ahead of everyone else but in the tier below that we have both Haussler and Hushovd.

 

[Granville57]

Since most of these post are focused on the three sprinters...

From what the riders have been saying (publicly at least) they all know their own strengths and weaknesses. One thing I find intriguing is that the combination of those riders could add to the confusion of other teams trying to shut one of them down. They could play a very clever shell game of sorts. Depending on whose feeling particularly well on any given day, they will have multiple options.

Haussler longs for Flanders.
Hushovd longs for Roubaix.
I would have to think that the team will support those amibitions.

San Remo presents one "interesting" issue though:
Haussler has got to be dying to vex his demons after missing out so narrowly in 2009 to Cavendish ("OOOOooohhh...photo finish!"). They way Hausler tells it, he was trying to setup Thor for the final sprint and suddenly found that he had a gap. I don't think he ever fully intended to start his own sprint that far out. Now, if they are coming to the line this year, with Fararr on good form, Tyler would seem like the obvious choice.

BUT...if Heinrich is in the mix as well, does he get the sympathy vote for the green light? Will Tyler try to pace HH to the line? It could make for some great drama.

As far as being overloaded with too much competing talent on one team:
We've already seen Maaskant get knocked out due to injury and there's no telling what other misfortune may come the team's way. It's always good to have a solid backup plan.

As for Christian:
If he's healthy going into the TdF, then he's the leader. Period.

 

[L'arriviste]

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Hushovd for the Ronde. In 2009 they were both there in the group behind Devolder and Hushovd told Haussler to attack and that was what gave Haussler the 2nd place. Hushovd was well on his way to win the sprint for 3rd when he got pushed into the barriers and had a very nasty crash.

Last year Hushovd did RVV as his first race after suffering some illness in the week before so his strength was diminished. On full form I think Hushovd is just as much a contender in RVV as most of the other favourites. There are perhaps 3-4 riders that are slightly ahead of everyone else but in the tier below that we have both Haussler and Hushovd.

I agree with the general point. Both Hushovd and Farrar are sort of 'unconfirmed' for me.

Farrar looked good at the Ronde last year (he was suffering on the Muur but who doesn't?). He was enjoying a strong period of form at that point, having duffed out of KBK on the Kwaremont but then winning at De Panne only a couple of days before the Ronde itself. I still had a vague sense of uncertainty, having been a spectator at all those events, about his ability to contend the win rather than just follow the moves.

As for Hushovd, I really couldn't say. This is why MSR this weekend will tell us a lot: I think we'll know more on Sunday.

Can't help the feeling that Farrar will have to play third fiddle to Hushovd and Haussler in the Ronde. Maybe that way, they'll help him in MSR...

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

You saying Danny Martin isnt a leader? well see.

he will be when he stays uninjured but he's not right now

 

[brianf7]

As it is at present teams with most $$$$$ can buy all the top riders we need salerey caps on teams as they do in Australia Football it makes it a level playing feild then.

 

[Parrulo]

As it is at present teams with most $$$$$ can buy all the top riders we need salerey caps on teams as they do in Australia Football it makes it a level playing feild then.

thats ridiculous . . . better riders deserve to be better paid

btw if by "australia football" you mean real football as in the european one then i guess that can't be used as an example. the european cycling scene would be better off compared to the european football scene. australian football i below european football on so many levels that i am not even able to put it into words

 

[Eric8-A]

This is sort of the dilema that some people had with Radioshack in its first year. The fact that they were somewhat stacked with GC talent for GT's, and today they still seem that way. But I think like Radioshack, for Garmin in the classics, they'll play their card with whoever is the strongest in the final kilometers.

As for MSR, Garmin shouldn't rely on Tyler. Chances are he won't complete the race. And if he does, he won't have a top 10 spot. Their best option would be with Hushoved leading Haussler out like he did Tyler in TA.

For Roubaix, absolutely they should go with Hushovd.

Someone said that one of those three won't be at Garmin next year, it's going to be Haussler.

 

[taiwan]

thats ridiculous . . . better riders deserve to be better paid

btw if by "australia football" you mean real football as in the european one then i guess that can't be used as an example. the european cycling scene would be better off compared to the european football scene. australian football i below european football on so many levels that i am not even able to put it into words

I think it's a salary cap on teams collectively, not on individual riders.

 

[ingsve]

Someone said that one of those three won't be at Garmin next year, it's going to be Haussler.

Ya, chances are big I guess that he will be having the same situation with Goss next year at GreenEdge.

 

[luckyboy]

Can't imagine him having the same support to achieve his goals there.

 

[Eric8-A]

Well if you notice how all the new guys that came over from Cervelo talk about how great the team is, I havn't heard that from Haussler too much.

 

[ingsve]

Well if you notice how all the new guys that came over from Cervelo talk about how great the team is, I havn't heard that from Haussler too much.

What you mainly hear from Haussler is statements about how he's going to win and that he's not going to MSR to come second or third etc. I wonder if that in part at least is meant as an attempt to assert himself in a better position within Garmin. He must surely feel that he is at a disadvantage there right now competing against the resident sprinter who is already established at Garmin and against the a current world champion that has the same goals for the season as he does.

 

[Anonymous]

With the new ruling (only 1 intermediate sprint per stage, more points for the stage winner), only Farrar has a shot at it, and he'll still be below Cavendish and Greipel

Maybe Cav, but not Greipel.

 

[Eric8-A]

Did Haussler sign with Garmin for one year or two?

 

[Anonymous]

Exactly. The Lefevre model is to put as many from Mapei/Domo/Quickstep in the finale as possible.

Garmin has the possibility to put 3 or 4 guys in the final for P-R, and put at least a couple threats up the road in Flanders.

Neither Boonen and Cancellara will likely have as many options and may very well have their hands full.

Or the entire Garmin team might crash together as they did last year at P-R.

And Cancellara won't have a motor this year either...

 

[ingsve]

Did Haussler sign with Garmin for one year or two?

I think most of them if not all signed for one year. I know Hushovd did at least.

 

[Granville57]

A timely interview with Heinrich Haussler:
http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/2/7/1980913/starting-again-an-interview-with-heinrich-haussler-of-garmin-cervelo

Certainly, the Garmin-Cervélo rider will be glad of any results that come his way in these early races, but Haussler’s first main objective for the season is Milano-Sanremo. "Milano-Sanremo is what I really want to win," he said.

As team owner Jonathan Vaughters explained to us, they will have multiple captains and adopt a strength-in-numbers approach to winning the big Belgian classics. Garmin-Cervélo expects to play an attacking game that makes the most of their deep squad.

"Thor really wants to win Roubaix. I’m ready to help him there," he promised. But the Australian said, "Flanders means more to me." Describing the atmosphere at the Ronde, he said, "the Belgians are crazy. There’s so much energy, so much emotion."

I guess this settles one issue...

"I’ve already told the team management that I don’t want to do the Tour de France,"

Also a good interview with Haussler and Hushovd from the Cervelo documentary series, talking about this exact issue of their roles as teammates. If you haven't watched these, the entire series is must-see. It's extremely well put together.
http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/video-documentaries/#video_headline

 

[auscyclefan94]

thats ridiculous . . . better riders deserve to be better paid

btw if by "australia football" you mean real football as in the european one then i guess that can't be used as an example. the european cycling scene would be better off compared to the european football scene. australian football i below european football on so many levels that i am not even able to put it into words

Australian football is AFL or NRL. Majority of australians call what you know as fooball, soccer in australia.

 

[luckyboy]

A timely interview with Heinrich Haussler:
http://www.podiumcafe.com/2011/2/7/1980913/starting-again-an-interview-with-heinrich-haussler-of-garmin-cervelo


Also a good interview with Haussler and Hushovd from the Cervelo documentary series, talking about this exact issue of their roles as teammates. If you haven't watched these, the entire series is must-see. It's extremely well put together.
http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/video-documentaries/#video_headline

Yeah that is really good. Got it from cyclingtorrents though.

Haussler seems to flip-flop between saying De Ronde is the one and MSR is the one. Given the way he reacted when he lost in Sanremo, it seems that just edges it.

 

[Tuarts]

Australian football is AFL which is not what majority of australians knows as soccer.

You poor little Victorian ****er. I bet you were one of those that loved the 'State of Origin' game too?

"Autralian" football if you mentioned it anywhere in NSW or QLD would bring to mind Rugby League which is the dominant code (and there's a lot of people along that coast).

Australian Rules football on the hand, can not be mixed up, especially now with 'football' meaning the actual football (assoc.) code now.