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[Green Edge] Shayne Bannan, Gerry Ryan and an Aussie Pro Team for 2012?

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Oct 6, 2010
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briztoon said:
This is going to be long and convoluted.

Ok, I'm new to "following" cycling though I've watched the Tour de France on SBS for at least 11 or 12 years. I usually finish work around the time covereage starts on TV so always watched it while winding down at home.

My learning curve about the sport is rather steep. Apart from the TDF and the Olympics I never new anything about the other Tours or Classics, or that they even existed. Heck, I only first heard about the Giro a couple of years ago, and that was while watching the TDF.

If GreenEdge hadn't been mentioned during this years TDF coverage I wouldn't be on here right now. And mutch of my sporting interest in cycling is also because I have taken up riding to get fit and lose some weight since I quit smoking. (side question, why doesn't Avanti sponsor any major teams? Yeah I bought a new 2010 model entry level Avanti road bike as it was damn cheap compared to even 2011 stock and I can't justify to myself spending 1.5k - 2k on a bike yet)

So what are GE's aim at the Australian level? Anyone who has expereince with Australian sporting culture will understand that the average person on the street will have little interest after the answer to thier first question is "No, Cadel is not on the team", and the sporting public will have even less interest if (and when) the team blows in next years TDF.

Apart from League and Aussie Rules fanatics, Aussies don't follow losing teams, and the (small) majorities opinion on this forum seems to be that GE will, well not struggle, but not set the (cycling) world on fire. Unless you're in the same camp as ingsve, in which case GE will most definately blow.

Will SBS expand thier cycling coverage next season? For the sport to grow in Australia, and the GE brand to gain exposure, it really does need extensive local coverage. Personally I'd love to watch any GE teams at any events next year.

How will the Olympics impact on the GE squad next year? Will losing riders to the Olympic program negatively effect the teams ability to secure enough WT/PT (still learning all this stuff) points for the 2013 season and licensing. Will GE's commitment to the Aussie Olympic riders possiby increase our chances at Gold Medals in London next year? If so, is there a conflict of interest here? It has been mentioned already that the Olympics are bigger here in Australia than the Pro Tour, atleast where the average man on the street is concerned.


What are the real expectations for the team as it's currently constructed next year? What one day Classics, one week Tours, etc, does GE have a legit
shot at next season.

OK, can some one explain to me what a Neo-Pro is?

Well as for Avanti not sponsoring any major teams i guess they do not feel the need to.

My understanding of GE's aims is to develop a strong team base and attempt to promote cycling in Australia. Yes they will not have the best team in the next few years but they are aiming to set out strong foundations for what will be in the future a strong team. Not all teams can suddenly burst onto the scene and be successful (such as Leopard although they have not done as well as one would have expected this year). So for now they are setting out to create something the can build to be successful in the long term.

As an Aussie myself i understand that we do not really follow losing teams. However i would hope that most people who take the time to find out a bit more such as yourself may see that a brand new team cannot win everything and will take time to grow. Im sure they will get enough support from Australia anyhow as Cycling is growing at a very fast rate in Australia.

SBS have been expanding their coverage of cycling each year for the last few years. This year they have had daily highlights of every grand tour stage and shown live coverage of 6 Giro stages (i think), the whole tour, 8 Vuelta stages as well as Paris-Roubaix live. Next year i would assume they will continue to expand their coverage. Cadel wining the tour gave SBS huge ratings at the tour (700 000 people for the last 2 stages) which is 4%ish of the country and as it finishes at 2am on a Sunday night in one case that is huge ratings for the tour and knowing the other shows they play most likely their best. This i would expect would mean more races will be shown. They also live stream a number of races online at Cycling central.

The Olympics would undoubtedly impact on GE however management would have known this when signing riders. It may have an affect on their results but i doubt a major one and it will most likely have been factored into the teams plans for next year already. The team may increase chances of medals but not significantly, they only advantage i would see is that the Aussies would be much more used to riding with each other.

I dont think GE will have a strong chance of winning any of the classics next year, just an outside shot. And a neo-pro is a rider who is in his first year as a professional (so generally quite young) an example for this year would be Michael Matthews who has just had his first season as a professional with Rabobank.

Hope this helps :)
 
Jul 4, 2009
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Its all coming together beautifully. Jerry Jayco is building our dream with his cash, what a great bloke!

Matty Goss for 2 mil a year, a bargain!
 
Apr 9, 2011
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ingsve said:
Well, it can't happen soon enough. There is nothing worse than getting another Euskaltel that are forced to ride races they don't have the riders for while other teams with good riders are left on the side line.

I agree but it had to start somewhere Australian cycling strength - to get public onbaord in Australia they had to have name people knew - Evans is out so O´Grady, Robbie even Cooke of the older name plus the new track name who ride road- then move into the more balanced team as time goes.

Goss is the stand out of the team re Australian riders but still with a track background
 

briztoon

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Thanks for the explanations guys.

Marcus135 after watching the TDF for so many years and wishing for an Aussie team, I'll be following GE. However I have a new interest in the sport outside of being an arm chair fan, and reading here at CN has enlightened me to the sport beyond the TDF. I don't think this will be the case with many sporting fans. It's unfortunate that Cadel is nearing the end of his career or atleast genuine chances of making the podium of a GT. Unless some one like Porte steps up straight away, we risk losing the momentum the sport has picked up in the last 2 or 3 years.

My concern for GE is that without a WT licence they won't have sponsorship dollars to keep going and will fold like HTC has. Hence the questions about Gerrys' wealth and backing, and questions about where the points are likely to come from next season.

I agree with ingsve that it will be bad watching GE compete in events where they will suck next season where they are forced to take part because they are a WT team. And it will be worse knowing that a better climbing team may not get an invite. Hopefully GE sign atleast a couple more Euros who can stage hunt in the bigger mountain races and GT's and podium in the smaller races.

I'm definately looking forward to watching Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo, The Eneco Tour, and is it the Ardens? where everyone thinks Gerrans is a pretender? next year. To quote a great Geordie, "I'd love it, just love it..." if Gerrans managed to stick it up all his knockers next year. :eek:

:D
 

briztoon

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just some guy said:
I agree but it had to start somewhere Australian cycling strength - to get public onbaord in Australia they had to have name people knew - Evans is out so O´Grady, Robbie even Cooke of the older name plus the new track name who ride road- then move into the more balanced team as time goes.

Goss is the stand out of the team re Australian riders but still with a track background

Mmmm I don't know. Stuey and Robbie's time was 6 to 8 years ago in regards to the TDF and that's all that counts in the Aussie publics eye. Though I think O'Grady is an awesome domestic as his career winds down, I don't think the general public will understand such a role. My fear is that there will be some sort of backlash from the Aussie public towards GE when the team doesn't perform to the Aussie publics expectations.

This is where SBS could be so important leading up to the TDF. They could do a program of the development of GE, the involvement of Gerry Ryan and Shayne Bannan, what the team has done during the season to date, what events have they won (if any) and what the expectations are for the TDF. Who to follow, eg, Goss in the sprints at the end of a flat stage, Gerrans, Albasini and Weening getting in break aways and stage hunting in the Pyrenees and Alps. The role of O'Grady as team leader on the road, young riders coming through on the team, etc. It would also be great if the team could win the TTT, (is there a TTT in next years TDF?) if they could manage this, I would consider the TDF a success for GE.
 
Jun 22, 2009
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theyoungest said:
Couldn't handle the heat, I think. And the level of racing in the WorldTour could have something to do with it.

Still.. he went alright in some earlier races this year, with good competition present.

I found it odd when he lost 20 minutes by himself on the first challenging day.
 

briztoon

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just some guy said:
All new people to cycling should watch this video- Briz.

A Sunday in Hell


I will, it should give you all some peace for an hour and a half.

After the first minute, LOL I remember toe clips on my Melvin Star* in the early 80's. And I wonder if anyone has explored the use of powdered graphite instead of grease on bike chains.

*I've only bought two bikes in my life, nearly 27 years apart and both from Mike McAuliffe.
 
briztoon said:
Unless you're in the same camp as ingsve, in which case GE will most definately blow.

I'm not saying the team will blow. What I'm saying is that as of what we know right now the team will be very one-dimensional and that there will be races in the calender that they will be forced to race as a WT team that they won't have many suitable riders for and that's not good in my opinion.

In the races where they do have suitable riders they will certainly be successfull. I would put them at between 18-22 wins for the year.
 
Jun 15, 2010
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LukeSchmid said:
I thought Teklehaymanot was supposed to be the type of rider that could do well in hilly races. It would be a big step up to expect him to doing anything next year but in a year or two perhaps.
As far as climbing goes it appears to be Weening and ...... Weening and did I say Weening.

How will they make up a snappy aussie style nick name for Teklehaymanot, I notice that they have already started misspelling Weening as Wenning in preparation Weno.
 
Jun 16, 2009
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briztoon said:
*snip*

So what are GE's aim at the Australian level? Anyone who has expereince with Australian sporting culture will understand that the average person on the street will have little interest after the answer to thier first question is "No, Cadel is not on the team", and the sporting public will have even less interest if (and when) the team blows in next years TDF.

Apart from League and Aussie Rules fanatics, Aussies don't follow losing teams, and the (small) majorities opinion on this forum seems to be that GE will, well not struggle, but not set the (cycling) world on fire. Unless you're in the same camp as ingsve, in which case GE will most definately blow.

Will SBS expand thier cycling coverage next season? For the sport to grow in Australia, and the GE brand to gain exposure, it really does need extensive local coverage. Personally I'd love to watch any GE teams at any events next year.

How will the Olympics impact on the GE squad next year? Will losing riders to the Olympic program negatively effect the teams ability to secure enough WT/PT (still learning all this stuff) points for the 2013 season and licensing. Will GE's commitment to the Aussie Olympic riders possiby increase our chances at Gold Medals in London next year? If so, is there a conflict of interest here? It has been mentioned already that the Olympics are bigger here in Australia than the Pro Tour, atleast where the average man on the street is concerned.

What are the real expectations for the team as it's currently constructed next year? What one day Classics, one week Tours, etc, does GE have a legit
shot at next season.

GE's aim at an Australian level will be to peform at races such as the National Championships, Tour Down Under and Herald Sun Tour. I do agree that average Joe will not care mauch about the team if Cadel is not on the team (which he won't be) though in saying that I think the population of people who follow the sport on TV is much larger than people on here think and the demand for cycling in the media is much larger than what the media think.

Aussies always follow sport. They will more likely watch it if we are good at that sport but I think the interest will be there at a higher level than now with a Aus team. I don't think many people expected for them to tap into a whole new market of fans and for them to be finding themselves in the media every day. SBS will grow gradually every year and what from what I've heard they will be showing Amstel live next year. If Australia succeed at the Olympics it will be a big boost. Because every man and his dog watch the olympics in Australia, winning the gold medal in a novice eyes in the Road Race is the be all and end all when we all know it really isn't. That would help the popularity of the sport in Aus and the team GreenEdge.

I think the expectation will be to do well in the Sprints and Classics. They will be the main goals although they will still need a guy like Goss to compete in races such as the Tour as it won't be good if they don't do much in Grand Tours. I personally think that their team is rather weak. They have a few quality riders in Goss and Langeveld and a few very good young riders but I think the team lacks depth. The team has quite a few has-beens and quite a few sprinters. I fear what their first season will be like.

Hope that answered your questions.
 
Mar 13, 2009
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simo1733 said:
How will they make up a snappy aussie style nick name for Teklehaymanot, I notice that they have already started misspelling Weening as Wenning in preparation Weno.

Tekles, Teko, now say with Aussie drawl.
 
diggercuz said:
just seen that Jens Keukeleire has signed on...

now seems to another hills classics style rider... ya reckon GE have enough of them yet?

Well, first he would need to have any result that indicates that he can handle any type of hill before he can be relied upon for hilly classics. Right now he'd perform like any other sprinter they have pretty much.
 
Jan 7, 2010
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ingsve said:
Well, first he would need to have any result that indicates that he can handle any type of hill before he can be relied upon for hilly classics. Right now he'd perform like any other sprinter they have pretty much.

too true. much as i'm ecstatic about greenedge it's hardly surprising richie porte thought his best hopes of accomplishing something over the next few years lay elsewhere.
 
=I think the team is actually looking fairly reasonable now, apart from the fact they don't have anyone who could finish top25 on an MTF. They are a bit of a poor mans Garmin, super strong on the flats - but at least Garmin have a hilly gun in Martin and some token top20 GC guys.
 
Sep 27, 2009
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Ferminal said:
=I think the team is actually looking fairly reasonable now, apart from the fact they don't have anyone who could finish top25 on an MTF. They are a bit of a poor mans Garmin, super strong on the flats - but at least Garmin have a hilly gun in Martin and some token top20 GC guys.

I agree, the team does look quite reasonable however I think describing Danielson, Hesjedal and Vandevelde as token top20 GC guys is a little less the generous. Garmin also has Talansky and Stetina as young climbers. As it stands I think GE are a weaker climbing team than last years Footon Servetto team although a much stronger team overall.
 
Mar 13, 2009
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The team seems to be set to support Goss and Gerrans, while giving the others work to do supporting and opportunities to ride for themselves, also the development of young Australian riders looks to be a priority. In stage races the team will be prominent either chasing breaks for a sprint finish or in the breaks. Goss will get some sprint wins no doubt. Hilly classics not so strong, but not bad, will certainly be visible. After that how much more can you ask for and at what cost? The only Australian any good at climbing is Evans, can't get him...so what is the incentive to buy climbers from other countries?

As the team progresses, if Porte becomes a stage racer, or Cam Meyer develops that way then maybe we can talk climbers until then, specialisation seems a better option to me.
 

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