I fear for Saxo Bank.

[Ryo Hazuki]

Perhaps, but he only has to prove he his worth his salary from tomorrow on. Has there been info on him being injured or sick?

noval is for the flats and not the climbs, he used to be ok climber when riding for lance. but in recent years he seems to not care about pretty much anything as this year he even sucks in the flat and itt

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Saying riders like Noval or Tosatto should have been replaced by someone else is easy now. But I think that at the time Riis had to make his choice, those 2 were the ones he trusted most. We also have no idea what kind of shape Cooke is in at the moment. Maybe Cooke didn't get selected because his shape was even worse than Tosatto's? And Larson is reported to not being your perfect helper at times and you need guys 100% dedicated to Contador. So it isn't like Riis had many options.

Also Contador lost no time so far that can be blamed on a lack of support. He was behind the fall in that stage, things like that can happen all the time. Maybe he should have been further to the front, but that is his own mistake. Even the best helpers available wouldn't have been able to avoid the time he lost after the fall. Now maybe he wasted more energy than he should have, but it is hard to tell if he would have done better with other helpers.

 

[Thomsena]

Also Contador lost no time so far that can be blamed on a lack of support. He was behind the fall in that stage, things like that can happen all the time. Maybe he should have been further to the front, but that is his own mistake. Even the best helpers available wouldn't have been able to avoid the time he lost after the fall. Now maybe he wasted more energy than he should have, but it is hard to tell if he would have done better with other helpers.

Wrong. Contador's crash on the first stage showed exactly why riders like Noval and Tossato haven't been doing their job good enough. He should never be behind that crash - he should be in front of it. He was the only favorite to be that far behind. True, he has to the pedalling himself but Noval and Tossato are paid to keep him out the wind, bad positions and crashes and we have seen numeous times now that they are not capable of doing this. He is simply not getting that support he should have.

"Even the best helpers available wouldn't have been able to avoid the time he lost after the fall" - at that time, some of the best helpers in the sport were protecting two brothers in the front of the peloton - avoiding that crash.

 

[b.broadhurst]

End of the day, Saxo Bank need to strengthen there squad for next season.

If you look at the other top squads they could replace 2/3 riders and still be just as strong.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

End of the day, Saxo Bank need to strengthen there squad for next season.

If you look at the other top squads they could replace 2/3 riders and still be just as strong.

saxo don't have the money

 

[b.broadhurst]

saxo don't have the money

I'm sure the bank can print some more.

 

[El Pistolero]

saxo don't have the money

Riis got an increased budget for next year. Even Phil is now linked to Saxobank for next year in some sources. He also had Van den Broeck on his wish list, but probably didn't know he already has a contract for Lotto(and that VDB would never want to ride for Contador, not as a domestique at least.).

 

[Cimber]

saxo don't have the money

They considerable more money for the next season. Saxo Bank just prolonged the sponsorship and accoding to themselves "they significantly increased the amount of money they are provinding". In addidion they are ready with even more money if Riis find the "right riders to strenghthen the team".

http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/flere-penge-til-riis-0

http://tour.tv2.dk/article.php/id-41542128:riis-på-rytterrov-i-tourfeltet.html

(all in Danish)

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

ok, good news then for them

 

[Parrulo]

its understandable that saxo bank is giving riis money to rebuild its team. saxo had no doubt the best team in the world and i think they want to go back to that. now that they have contador if they can get their hands on a top classics man(phill any1?) and a second GT contender+ a couple of domestiques they will regain that status.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Shame tiralongo has signed new contract with astana

 

[trevim]

Shame tiralongo has signed new contract with astana

Indeed. Someone like Paolo Tiralongo should be riding for a proper GT contender like Contador. Anyway Astana can always hire someone really strong worth working for.

 

[Frihed89]

I'm sure the bank can print some more.

They had to ditch their Colombian investments. Too bad they couldn't find any good riders, there, only dope!

 

[Cimber]

Shame tiralongo has signed new contract with astana

Yep I had kinda taken for granted that Tira would join SBS, especially after the Giro.

Sanchez and Bertie are good friends. That could be a possibility, but only if Sanchez would give up on his own Tour-ambitions. He could focus on the Vuelta instead and help Bertie in the Tour. But I guess thats just utopia. Sanchez is to good not to ride his won chance in the Tour.

Maybe Peter Velits could be a possibility if HTC doesnt find a new sponsor.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Yep I had kinda taken for granted that Tira would join SBS, especially after the Giro.

Sanchez and Bertie are good friends. That could be a possibility, but only if Sanchez would give up on his own Tour-ambitions. He could focus on the Vuelta instead and help Bertie in the Tour. But I guess thats just utopia. Sanchez is to good not to ride his won chance in the Tour.

Maybe Peter Velits could be a possibility if HTC doesnt find a new sponsor.

I would be very surprised to see Sanchez leave Euskatel 2bh.

But Martin/Velits/Van Garderen would be all great for Contador if HTC folded. Don't understand how they are struggling for sponsors when they get so much publicity from Cav and the Train.

 

[Midnightfright]

I would be very surprised to see Sanchez leave Euskatel 2bh.

But Martin/Velits/Van Garderen would be all great for Contador if HTC folded. Don't understand how they are struggling for sponsors when they get so much publicity from Cav and the Train.

they would be great additions. tony should surely be able to protect Contador on the stages. O would just depend for Martin in paticular of would be seeking more of a leadership role that other teams maybe able to give him.

 

[b.broadhurst]

they would be great additions. tony should surely be able to protect Contador on the stages. O would just depend for Martin in paticular of would be seeking more of a leadership role that other teams maybe able to give him.

Most of the big teams have settled leaders now so I guess he kinda knows that he has to settle for a support role. If he became world TT champion, i'm sure he would be very happy playing the support role in TdF.

 

[Cimber]

didnt really know what thread to put it in and didnt wanna start a new one, but the following is another really interesting interview made by Pez, which gives some insight into both SBS and Liquigas and a lot of other things. Pez have talked to SBS domestique Brian Vandborg:

http://pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=9522&status=True&catname=Latest