General News Thread

[roundabout]

Hopefully nothing happens to Pippo because it's obviously a 1-rider wildcard

 

[El Pistolero]

Exactly. Without Pozzato, who by the way may suck on cobbles once more (i don't want it to happen of course) Farnese Vini is pretty much the same as Euskaltel. But you're right - it's hard to find 7 PROF teams with decent cobbled squads.

They have Kevin Hulsman.

 

[Kvinto]

They have Kevin Hulsman.

if i'm not mistaken on the last Paris-Roubaix Euskaltel reached the finish with one rider

EDIT: wow, and Ronde with 3!!!

 

[El Pistolero]

if i'm not mistaken on the last Paris-Roubaix Euskaltel reached the finish with one rider

EDIT: wow, and Ronde with 3!!!

Yeah, but Kevin Hulsmans is an actual usefull domestique.

===

http://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/16679/valverde-beangstigend-hoe-goed-gilbert-vorig-seizoen-was.html

"It's frightening how good Gilbert was last season"

 

[Kvinto]

Yeah, but Kevin Hulsmans is an actual usefull domestique.

The point is 'what would the cobbled Farnese Vini look like without Pozzato?' and in this case Kevin Hulsmans (with all due respect to the guy) is not much of a factor. He will be a domestique no doubt but i suppose some of cobbled-oriented continental teams have better riders than him.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Hopefully nothing happens to Pippo because it's obviously a 1-rider wildcard

Well, one and a half riders. But yes, they will be a depressing sight if he happens to be injured or out of form for some reason. But even then they wouldn't be any worse than most other contenders for the last few wildcards, who don't even have one good cobbled rider to start with!

The three tier UCI system is slightly less problematic in these races than in the GTs because of the additional wildcards, but it still causes problems. Most obviously, we have the Euskaltel sacrificial lambs: They don't want to be there and the race organisers don't want them there, but there they are taking up a team slot and occasionally posing an actual danger to the safety of other riders. But there's also the exclusion of Conti teams. The fact is that there are Conti teams who'd be more interested and put on a better show than the seventh best ProConti team. Or eighth best if you freed up the Euskaltel spot.

By their very nature, ProConti teams tend to be quite specialised when compared to the World Tour teams, as smaller teams with smaller budgets. And very few of them specialise in cobbled classics.

The race organisers get lots of wildcards but don't really have much choice in who to give them to. Its different in the Ardennes because a whole bunch of ProConti teams have good climbers or puncheurs.

 

[nobilis]

The four wild cards for the Amstel Gold Race has been announced. No major surprises :

- Project 1t4i
- Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
- Accent Jobs-Willems
- Landbouwkrediet-Euphony

 

[Ferminal]

The four wild cards for the Amstel Gold Race has been announced. No major surprises :

- Project 1t4i
- Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
- Accent Jobs-Willems
- Landbouwkrediet-Euphony

Excellent, no Tommy V.

 

[theyoungest]

Excellent, no Tommy V.

There's two more wildcards.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

There's two more wildcards.

Give it to Europcar!

 

[roundabout]

I'd like to see Saur ride it.

 

[theyoungest]

I'd like to see Rabo Continental ride it

At least they'd do better than Topsport Vlaanderen.

 

[Ruudz0r]

A&S please! I want the killer back in the AGR especially now he wont focus on the giro.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Wildcards for Paris - Nice:

Cofidis
Europcar
Saur-Sojasun
Project 1t4i

I'm pretty confident that these will be the wildcards for July, too.

 

[roundabout]

To be honest I don't quite get the love that race organizers seem to have for Skil, but ok.

 

[Der Effe]

To be honest I don't quite get the love that race organizers seem to have for Skil, but ok.

Having Kittel and Degenkolb there could be quite interesting, right?

 

[theyoungest]

Having Kittel and Degenkolb there could be quite interesting, right?

Yes, that's basically it, I guess.

Plus that French climber whatshisface.

 

[roundabout]

Yeah, but they can't race all the races that race organizers seem to want to invite them to

 

[jens_attacks]

paris-nice startlist will be pretty weak at least compared to tirreno....it's the perfect moment for froomy or papy horner to take it home.well not a weak startlist after all

i'm pretty sure saur will never be invited again to le tour.

 

[Kvinto]

back to the Farnnese Vini vs Cobbled classics:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10909/Farnese-Vini--Selle-Italia-excited-about-Flanders-invitation.aspx

it seems, besides obvious Pippo, they put their hopes on Oscar Gatto. I have never considered him... hmm well, in fact i tried, but that's not much to consider because he was probably too young when he rode cobbles for the last time...

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=uk&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.oscargatto.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=37&Itemid=61

but according to his website (as much as google translate understands) he prepares to the north classics. i definitely look forward to seeing what he is capable of (at least in helping Pozzato).

 

[El Pistolero]

I really like the Farnese squad, so I don't mind that they got an invitation. Kevin Hulsmans, Filippo Pozzato and Oscar Gatto is quite a good team in my opinion. Oscar Gatto definitely impressed me at that Giro stage.

 

[Kvinto]

I really like the Farnese squad, so I don't mind that they got an invitation. Kevin Hulsmans, Filippo Pozzato and Oscar Gatto is quite a good team in my opinion. Oscar Gatto definitely impressed me at that Giro stage.

No one tells they don't deserve invitation or so, i'm just trying to consider what a squad they can put in races like Het Volk

edit: just because it's a new 'terrain' for the team

 

[auscyclefan94]

Cadel Evans Skype session from Spain (long interview)

He makes it clear for the morons and the people who can't read on this forum that Contador is his number 1 threat for the tour.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Giro di Sardegna 2012 - first news

http://www.unionesarda.it/Articoli/StampaArticolo.aspx?id=250443

roughly translates as:

The thirtieth edition of the Giro di Sardegna professional cycling will start Tuesday, February 21 from Piazza Unione Sarda. The international stage race did not start from the capital for fifteen years. The last time was in 1997 when the district was the inaugural one-Cagliari Cagliari from Verona Minali won in a sprint finish. This time, instead of the first stage will be from Cagliari to Villacidro. The rest of the route will be unveiled in the coming days, when the organizer will melt the last reserves related (needless to say) to regional contribution. It is known that there is a half-stage individual time trial in Oristano and a final arrival in slope, which will determine the winner. The best Pro Tour teams have asked to participate but the number of teams allowed (which depends on the budget) and their list will be decided in the next few weeks. The race will end on Saturday 25 February and the next day, in the Gallura, Sardinia will play the Classic.

 

[craig1985]

Google translate FTW.