Jayco al-'Ula and its GreenEdge predecessors

[Ferminal]

Plenty of good rouleurs there but not really any fast men for Goss in the last KM.

No reason why the final leadout man has to be fast, just smart.

 

[JRanton]

No reason why the final leadout man has to be fast, just smart.

He still has to be pretty fast. Who is the smart final lead out man in your line-up?

 

[Ferminal]

He still has to be pretty fast. Who is the smart final lead out man in your line-up?

Cooke or O'Grady.

 

[JRanton]

Cooke or O'Grady.

When was the last time either of them was involved in a sprint at the Tour? I even remember a quote from Cooke at the Tour of Qatar (I think) when he said he wasn't fast enough to be final lead out man any more. No way does Greenedge go to the Tour relying on either Cooke or O'Grady to be the final lead out man. It just isn't going to happen.

 

[Ferminal]

When was the last time either of them was involved in a sprint at the Tour? I even remember a quote from Cooke at the Tour of Qatar (I think) when he said he wasn't fast enough to be final lead out man any more. No way does Greenedge go to the Tour relying on either Cooke or O'Grady to be the final lead out man. It just isn't going to happen.

When was the last time Davis was involved in a sprint at the Tour? Way back with Liberty Seguros wasn't it? When was the last time Davis lead someone to victory? The only reason for Davis to be there is if he's confident that he can win Stage 14. If he was there he could be in the leadouts, but it would be only part of his role for the race.

Even if they did have a specialist leadout available to them you would question their place in the squad. GreenEdge have achieved nothing in competitive sprints this year, and we all know that in the Tour Cav will win at least four stages and then there's Kittel. The chances of Goss winning a stage over the course of the Tour might be 20%, with a leadout man that increases to what, 25%?

 

[Wilba60]

When was the last time Davis was involved in a sprint at the Tour? Way back with Liberty Seguros wasn't it? When was the last time Davis lead someone to victory? The only reason for Davis to be there is if he's confident that he can win Stage 14. If he was there he could be in the leadouts, but it would be only part of his role for the race.

Even if they did have a specialist leadout available to them you would question their place in the squad. GreenEdge have achieved nothing in competitive sprints this year, and we all know that in the Tour Cav will win at least four stages and then there's Kittel. The chances of Goss winning a stage over the course of the Tour might be 20%, with a leadout man that increases to what, 25%?

I think there may be some tinkering done at the Tour of Turkey (see below) where they have a strong sprint line up in place. I think Kroupis and Davis have sprinted pretty well this year but Goss seems to be training more than racing for the sprints....hopefully it is because he has such a big focus on TdF and Olympics. Lancaster seems to be the most credentialed lead out man at GE but the two who I would like to see are Howard and Meyer...both are great in traffic, have terrific speed and although young, have that track background that serves most of the top sprinters so well. If the team is as you have listed it, I would think that a lead out of Vaitkus, O'Grady, Cooke and Meyer would be good enough.....would love to add Howard or Lancaster for the final lead out leg.

Aidis Kruopis
Brett Lancaster
Cameron Meyer
Daniel Tekelehaimanot
Jens Mouris
Matt Goss
Michael Hepburn
Robbie McEwen

 

[greenedge]

Good to see the boys still punching above their weight. I had to resurrect the GE thread as I tried in vain on the Flech Wallonne one. 65 pages of posts and besides myself tipping Albasini and Greenedge mentioning Simon Clarke there was barely a mention of GE....like they were or are an invisible team.
Very exciting Tour of Turkey team in; will be interesting to see how the track boys Meyer and Hepburn go with the big gun sprinters
Aidis Kruopis
Brett Lancaster
Cameron Meyer
Daniel Tekelehaimanot
Jens Mouris
Matt Goss
Michael Hepburn
Robbie McEwen

I was so wrong though. I said Clarke would attack but instead he was Albasinis' wingman.
Meyer could go well at the TOT because he could do what he did at the TDU last year. Goss will use this event as a warmup for the Giro, i hope he can go well.

 

[greenedge]

I have something in the back of my mind thinking that Cam Meyer will race in the Giro and if he races Leigh Howard may not be far behind. These two would set up Goss very nicely.

I doubt Meyer will, there was something in the SMH a week or so ago saying that he wants to do the TDF.

 

[greenedge]

Tour
Langeveld

Vuelta
Durbridge
Bobridge if he doesn't do the Giro, maybe Hepburn.

I think Langveld might not have recovered by the time the TDF comes.
I would not send Durbridge or Hepburn to a GT this year. They are still young/ hepburn will be tired from Olympic Track. The Vuelta is also very mountanis this year, so that would enhance it even more.

 

[karlboss]

anyone else notice albasini climbed the mur seated?

 

[austy37]

how will GE go in the TTT this year?

 

[pastronef]

Clarke
Howard
Durbridge
T. Meyer
Davis
Tuft
O'Grady (for a drink)
Dean or Docker if they have recovered from injuries or perhaps Lancaster/Wilson.
Bobridge if he doesn't do the Giro, maybe Hepburn.

ahahah, good one!

 

[theyoungest]

I think Langveld might not have recovered by the time the TDF comes.
I would not send Durbridge or Hepburn to a GT this year. They are still young/ hepburn will be tired from Olympic Track. The Vuelta is also very mountanis this year, so that would enhance it even more.

Langeveld currently does Eurosport commentary in Holland, yesterday he said he's already back on the bike for a few hours a day. He'll make his return in the Tour of Norway in the buildup to the Tour.

 

[movingtarget]

anyone else notice albasini climbed the mur seated?

I noticed and it looked strange when looking at the other riders. How well is he going ? Another great result for GreenEdge.

 

[Woody22]

What a great start for this team.

The backstage pass videos on their website are gretat, especially the one from MSR... I watched it 3 times in a row.

It only gets better on Sunday when they win their 4th WT race for the year.

 

[Ferminal]

I would not send Durbridge or Hepburn to a GT this year. They are still young/ hepburn will be tired from Olympic Track. The Vuelta is also very mountanis this year, so that would enhance it even more.

They wouldn't do the entire race. They would help them try and win the TTT, and then go for another week or so gaining some legs for the Worlds.

 

[Wilba60]

Bored, so doing some googling. Found so far:
Matt Goss has said he'll be doing the Giro.
Beppu too.
Jens Keukeleire has it on his schedule on his website.
Tuft and Meier also.

That's all I could find.

So, assuming all the above holds true, it will be something like this:
Goss
Davis
Impey
Meier
Beppu
Weening
Keukeleire
Tuft
+1.....Bobridge
Lancaster
Vaitkus

I wonder if Bobridge will go the same route as the UK track riders, and do the Giro. I'm assuming it would be too much for Hepburn at this point of his career.

Not too bad Hatcher and you were right about Bobridge. Just two changes to your predicted team with Lancaster coming in as the lead out man for Goss and Vaitkus. I am glad they have gone with Lancaster who is showing some great lead out form in Turkey (GE lead out in Turkey looking the best I have seen it in their first season) and he will be a big asset in the Team Time Trial. Vaitkus will also value add to the TTT and lead out.

Goss looks to have some excellent speed back in Turkey, will be interesting to keep an eye on his progress through Giro, TdF and Olympics.

 

[Frosty]

Looks a pretty good team for the TTT there.

 

[Wilba60]

How do others think the GE boys will do in the Giro Team time trial? There are 3 surviving members of the winning team from Tirreno....Goss, Tuft and Vaitkus. I am pretty sure that Lancaster and Bobridge will be as good if not better than missing members from Tirreno but how do others think the remaining riders will go.....Impey, Beppu, Keukeleire and Meier?

With an opening short time trial of 8.7km and two flat stages before the team time trial, it could be an interesting opening week for GreenEDGE

 

[hatcher]

That should certainly be one of the strongest lineups in the TTT, and could dominate the sprint train battles.

They say they'll look to get in the breaks too, but that will obviously be on non-flat stages, and it's tough to see who in that nine are likely stage winners in that manner.

They'll certainly be aggressive, which is always good.

 

[42x16ss]

If anyone from that lineup is likely to go stage hunting, my money is on Impey, Bobridge and Beppu. In that order.

 

[Wilba60]

I agree and think Impey is going along pretty well and will relish a chance to try a move.

Tough luck again for GE on Anzac Day, another 2nd for Gossy. He looked great though moving over the hills really well on Meyer's wheel. Hopefully he can break his run of seconds (as close as that third one was) and crack it for a stage win before the Giro.

 

[greenedge better then some]

Impey is in super form,i'd put money on him getting away in the hills are being hard to peg back at some stage,, goss won't ride the whole tour would he? surely he will go to the le tour aswell as leader, 10 stages then out maybe

 

[karlboss]

Impey is in super form,i'd put money on him getting away in the hills are being hard to peg back at some stage,, goss won't ride the whole tour would he? surely he will go to the le tour aswell as leader, 10 stages then out maybe

He'll stay at least until stage 13. As he can win stage 13 and not have to go over any major mountains to do it. I don't think he'll push too hard after that as the next sprint finish is stage 18, and there is quite a bit of climbing to get through between them. Maybe if he was in the points jersey he'd push on, but the rules are different in Italy, so he won't be.

 

[42x16ss]

He'll stay at least until stage 13. As he can win stage 13 and not have to go over any major mountains to do it. I don't think he'll push too hard after that as the next sprint finish is stage 18, and there is quite a bit of climbing to get through between them. Maybe if he was in the points jersey he'd push on, but the rules are different in Italy, so he won't be.

Goss will almost certainly take the McEwen approach and only race the first two weeks as TdF and Olympics will be his two main objectives this year.