dimspace said:
a lot of us brits are brainwashed though.. weve gone from nowhere to completely dominating on the track in a handful of years.. if DB says we will have a british winner of the tour, i beleive him...
But i do think its likely to be someone not yet known to the general public..
although there are a few that have definate potential if given the right opportunity, Geraint for one, Kennough as well...
if DB and british cycling can achieve half of what they have acheived on the track, on the road, people will be very very surprised...
nobody ten years ago ever imagined that the brits would be dominating track to such an extent that we ride against ourselves in finals..
two words, medical program.
But all credit to DB. He has, like Armstrong, brought an MBA perspective to cycling. Where to invest the resources, and leverage your financial advantage. It is as much about money and financial nous as skill on the bike. That Lottery dough helps.
The other track riders are kept lean. The 6 day riders ride a program not conducive to modern track endurance requirements.
In 2002, the Australian 4 of Roberts, Lancaster, Brown, Renshaw, with Dawson, Wooldridge and Hutchinson swapping in, went 3'59".
If Cycling Australia kept them together, they were all under the age of Manning for example, and most Wiggins age or younger, then they could have taken the Brits across the board in the endurance events. But Australia could not pay them. NZ with Hendo and Roulston in the madison had lots of potential, but they basically left the track behind to get a wage on the road. It is pretty difficult to get the legs back on the track after a few 30km seasons on the road.
Simon Jones had his teams pursuiters virtually no road work, and all was anaerobic efforts on the track, right on the limit. The training had really changed.
Denmark a nation of what, 10 million, came in an pushed them in Beijing, after being together for around 18 months. Hieko Salzwedal worked miracles there.