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

[the_kman]

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.

definitely teko or maybe haysey

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.

yeah i rekon ur spot on mate.

 

[Tigerion]

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Well based on the doc I have (which is a bit out of date) he had a rider value of around 65 which makes him more 'useful' for the team as far as license hunting goes.

Which should put GE around the Euskatel range.

But I think even a token mountain breakaway specialist is needed, even if just to fly the flag out the front for a bit on stages that we don't have a chance of winning. And realistically I don't think it matters to Aussies if they are a foreigner, if they are riding for an Aussie team we will claim them as our own.

 

[daveinzambia]

Well based on the doc I have (which is a bit out of date) he had a rider value of around 65 which makes him more 'useful' for the team as far as license hunting goes.

Which should put GE around the Euskatel range.

But I think even a token mountain breakaway specialist is needed, even if just to fly the flag out the front for a bit on stages that we don't have a chance of winning. And realistically I don't think it matters to Aussies if they are a foreigner, if they are riding for an Aussie team we will claim them as our own.

I think Matt lloyd was going to be the breakaway climber but as he has not been announced i am guessing there are still issues

 

[karlboss]

Michael Rogers can climb, not right at the top level obviously but he can climb.

and is under contract

 

[Ferminal]

The only Australian any good at climbing is Evans, can't get him...so what is the incentive to buy climbers from other countries?

Umm, to be competitive or at least visible in some of the dozens of MTFs or mountanous stages which are going to come out of Paris-Nice, Catalunya, Pais Vasco, Giro, Dauphine, Suisse, Tour, Vuelta. What is the incentive to have 70% of a team of 30 who are flats specialists?

 

[diggercuz]

Well based on the doc I have (which is a bit out of date) he had a rider value of around 65 which makes him more 'useful' for the team as far as license hunting goes.

Which should put GE around the Euskatel range.

But I think even a token mountain breakaway specialist is needed, even if just to fly the flag out the front for a bit on stages that we don't have a chance of winning. And realistically I don't think it matters to Aussies if they are a foreigner, if they are riding for an Aussie team we will claim them as our own.

Ah true i didnt even think about the points he would carry... After Goss was signed i have just assumed we would have plenty.

Anyway at least Goss will have plenty of support i suppose. Also, whoever posted that aussies will adopt foreigners is spot on, just look at kim clijsters and her fan base here...

So anyone have any thoughts on Mat Lloyd then? As stated before he was slated to be that rider...

 

[Tigerion]

Lloyd could fill that role if he comes across. You would probably want to have somebody else in support and maybe focus on KOM and sprints in the GTs if they get the pro license

Goss brought a chunk of points over but GE were only sitting around 16th or 17th. And with no points for the teams previous season that is by no means a comfortable position. This might bring them/us up to 13th or 14th which is better but still by no means certain


Oh and I reckon they will go with Danny T

 

[gerrans for the win]

Lloyd is over rated hack... he can't climb any better then a gerrans or stuey imo... why bother having a hack for mtf ??

 

[just some guy]

from My Point Rory Sutherland and Matt Lloyd should have been signed to fill the mountain stage hunter roles/KOM with Weening but

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sutherland-and-forster-to-continue-at-unitedhealthcare-in-2012

and Matt Lloyd is ment to have signed for another team but not announced yet - 1 rumor a french team as he has good points from 2010
the other BMC

 

[just some guy]

Lloyd is over rated hack... he can't climb any better then a gerrans or stuey imo... why bother having a hack for mtf ??

Climb GC wise sure - but as a stage hunter KOM guy can climb very well and that would be his role @ Greenedge.

In a team with a GC Guy then he can support and get into breaks to help the team very well as well.

Put him up against the Top GC climber types not great but there are different roles to be filled by different types of climbers

 

[Tuarts]

GreenEdge is already failing, so far only 10/18 riders are not inferior foreigners. That's 56% not 75% True Blue, sort it out!

 

[daveinzambia]

GreenEdge is already failing, so far only 10/18 riders are not inferior foreigners. That's 56% not 75% True Blue, sort it out!

assuming there will be a group of jayco / AIS young riders announced at some point to keep the numbers up

 

[Ferminal]

GreenEdge is already failing, so far only 10/18 riders are not inferior foreigners. That's 56% not 75% True Blue, sort it out!

Can't be too many more to announce though? A Kiwi or two (they hardly count as the flag is confusing for El Pistolero ). Can't be more than 3 internationals to come I say. For a squad of 30 that's 63% pure. 67% for 2 more internationals and 70% for only 1 more.

The golden level is 70-80% isn't it?

 

[Tuarts]

I don't really care tbh but you would think they would try and nab some of the riders on the market at the moment. Can't miss out on both HTC and ex-RANT riders...

 

[badboyberty]

This is going to be long and convoluted.

....

(side question, why doesn't Avanti sponsor any major teams? .....

Do you know what's the main business of the Australian distributor of the Scott bikes GreenEdge wil be riding is? Clue, starts with A and ends with the letters vanti.

Avanti are way too small a brand to be a sponsor at the global level.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Just thinking of what GreenEdge's cobbled classics team will be like!

Cooke, Vaitkus, Tuft, O'Grady, Mouris, Langeveld, Goss, Keukeleire and possibly Hayman.

btw, CQ seems to jump the gun with announcing riders as being confirmed to ride a team.

They have Docker and Davis already confirmed to GreenEdge.

 

[just some guy]

Just thinking of what GreenEdge's cobbled classics team will be like!

Cooke, Vaitkus, Tuft, O'Grady, Mouris, Langeveld, Goss, Keukeleire and possibly Hayman.

btw, CQ seems to jump the gun with announcing riders as being confirmed to ride a team.

They have Docker and Davis already confirmed to GreenEdge.

Davis confirmed himself by mistake via twitter

 

[mickkk]

Porte to Sky is a bit sad, I was hoping we would get him.

 

[pastronef]

Porte to Sky is a bit sad, I was hoping we would get him.

yes, me too. let's hope for Rogers 2013

 

[El Imbatido]

Why would Porte go to a first year team that would not provide him any other hill/mountain help?? I mean come on......the whole team is flat/rouler/sprint riders.

Not that i think Porte is a GC contender anyway...but every other aussie seems to think he is

 

[Tigerion]

yes, me too. let's hope for Rogers 2013

Another year on will make him around 33? which is starting to get on. Think they are better to focus on bring in young riders and building them up.

He has never been a true GC contender and while better than anybody they have on the books he still isn't great. Maybe could have been a chance (top 10) if they go pro tour and have to compete in the GTs but again comes back to the fact he would have no support.

 

[karlboss]

Umm, to be competitive or at least visible in some of the dozens of MTFs or mountanous stages which are going to come out of Paris-Nice, Catalunya, Pais Vasco, Giro, Dauphine, Suisse, Tour, Vuelta. What is the incentive to have 70% of a team of 30 who are flats specialists?

To make sure you have a shot at winning, every flat stage in Paris-Nice, Catalunya, Pais Vasco, Giro, Dauphine, Suisse, Tour, Vuelta.

I agree a well rounded team capable of contending in every days racing they are not, but a decision has been made to be quasi national team, develop Australian talent and win with Australian riders. This doesn't fit with hiring a non Australian to outshine the number one Australian on the team.

IMO anyone who is capable of winning consistently in the Mountains of those races you mention above will outshine the Aussie leaders, and if you aren't going to hire someone who can win those races, there's no point buying riders to support them.

 

[Moondance]

Keukeleire is a nice talent, and a good signing, but when is GreenEdge going to get someone who can actually contend in a GT GC or a week-long race like Paris-Nice? I mean, going to the Tour with the Albasini-Weening double-headed GC monster isn't going to scare anyone.

Are the bidding for Froomy?

 

[woodie]

Keukeleire is a nice talent, and a good signing, but when is GreenEdge going to get someone who can actually contend in a GT GC or a week-long race like Paris-Nice? I mean, going to the Tour with the Albasini-Weening double-headed GC monster isn't going to scare anyone.

Are the bidding for Froomy?

They've said publicly a couple of times they are going for more of a classics and sprint squad as opposed to a GC squad for the first couple of years

 

[bicing]

They've said publicly a couple of times they are going for more of a classics and sprint squad as opposed to a GC squad for the first couple of years

True, but if the sign Weening, why not Froomy?