yaco said:Hayman did another stint on the coverage today - Seems he is riding in 2018 and most probably the 2017 TDF - Scared to post about Ewan after today's sprint finish - Have a question - Could Ewan be an OTL in the first ITT- he's nearly the worst TTerin the peleton and this one is a bit hilly, though he's climbing better in 2017.
yaco said:Seemed Matt White was unhappy with the performance of his team in Stage 3 - Certain he wanted a rider in the split.
yaco said:Verona and Plaza are saving themselves for the mountains - Verona has been in good form, while Plaza's form is unknown
If Stephens is in charge, almost certainly both. Wiliest old fox in cycling.dirkprovin said:yaco said:Verona and Plaza are saving themselves for the mountains - Verona has been in good form, while Plaza's form is unknown
That's the logical reason; just curious that they haven't been coming in with the same group which lead me to think that (1) yes, they will certainly be saving them for the stages that go upwards but (2) are they planning some specific move having one of them up the road on an upcoming stage
I think the best way to use Plaza is sending up the road in a breakaway on a multi mountain stage and when/if the main group catches up he is around to lend support, Verona looks like the rider who will ride along side Yates.yaco said:Well Verona rode well and gave excellent support to Yates - Plaza dropped with 8kms to go., so hope he can find form.
yaco said:Seemed Matt White was unhappy with the performance of his team in Stage 3 - Certain he wanted a rider in the split.
movingtarget said:yaco said:Seemed Matt White was unhappy with the performance of his team in Stage 3 - Certain he wanted a rider in the split.
Matt White will still be unhappy I would say. Renshaw on his own would have done better than that for Ewan.
yaco said:movingtarget said:yaco said:Seemed Matt White was unhappy with the performance of his team in Stage 3 - Certain he wanted a rider in the split.
Matt White will still be unhappy I would say. Renshaw on his own would have done better than that for Ewan.
It was a brave decision to replaced an experienced lead out Kluge with a second year rider in Edmondson, albeit he is a gifted rider and can one day win a classic or semi-classic.
Anyway, I'll wait for Dirk Provin's post.
yaco said:Looking at the picture and you can nearly pick Orica's TDF team.
Chaves
Bewley
Howson
Gerrans
Hayman
S.Yates
Kweuziger
Impey
Durbridge
You can nearly lock in this team.
yaco said:Listened to Jason Bakker on the Three Domestiques podcast - Bakker managed Cadel Evans and the Orics riders in Ewan, Haig and Power - More importantly he manages Lucas Hamilton and Robert Stannard - And Kluge got two votes in the weekly Tinkoff medal voting.
Nice photo.42x16ss said:Meanwhile, in Colombia, the three amigos are looking mighty focused.
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7 hour form finders in the rain, anyone?
dirkprovin said:yaco said:Listened to Jason Bakker on the Three Domestiques podcast - Bakker managed Cadel Evans and the Orics riders in Ewan, Haig and Power - More importantly he manages Lucas Hamilton and Robert Stannard - And Kluge got two votes in the weekly Tinkoff medal voting.
Seeing as I can't listen to that podcast or any other audio, am not sure as to the significance of said award; is it a "snark award" of some kind ?
Bakker I remember as a rather mediocre cricketer; his rep as a manager somewhat of a mixed bag. Can't see Haig leaving ORS unless its some stupendous outside offer; Power will get another 2 years but would be wanting to have shown something by the end of next season in order to remain at WT level.
Stannard is only 19 this year so he may have up to another 2 years before making the jump unless he delivers something totally spectacular this year or next. Hindley, Hamilton & Storrer are the most touted to see market interest this year. Where they will go is open to speculation.
Orica took the plunge by signing the quartet of Haig, Power & Edmondson in 2015 with 2/3 already looking to be paying dividends; whether they'll take all 3 this time is another matter. There may be scope with the likely retirements of Tuft, Gerrans & potential exits of Plaza and maybe 2 others but they may also be looking to keep at least 2 of those for potential "market" signings. I'm thinking it may be 2 at most from Hindley, Hamilton & Storrer.
greenedge said:The hard question will be choosing which one not to pick? Is it Storer who is the best ITTer of them all/ has the best WT result, or Hindley who has proved he's a great climber, or Hamilton who is insanely strong? Personally i'd sign Storer (just because he seems like he could develop into a pure GC rider) and then have a really hard choice between the other two (if they only pick two out of 3).
yaco said:greenedge said:The hard question will be choosing which one not to pick? Is it Storer who is the best ITTer of them all/ has the best WT result, or Hindley who has proved he's a great climber, or Hamilton who is insanely strong? Personally i'd sign Storer (just because he seems like he could develop into a pure GC rider) and then have a really hard choice between the other two (if they only pick two out of 3).
Reckon they will sign one rider for 2018 - I suspect it will be Hamilton - Storer is of interest as he is a decent TTer for a potential GC team - Hindley is probably the best pure climber but probably needs more consistency - Stannard is the wild card as he turns 19 in September but already won a stage in a 2.2 race against seasoned pros. Have to think he is still 2 years from WT.
A poster like 42 or Stryder should have more information.