Jayco al-'Ula and its GreenEdge predecessors

[42x16ss]

To me this is Matt Goss's last chance to show what he's got.Cause the last two years of grand tours have been really invisable.(finishing on the podium in stages is not the same as winning them)If his contract is up they should let him go and sign young Caleb Ewan and look for more mountain domestiques for Meyer in the future?Im really glad there giving Cam a chance? he showed in Toc and TDS that he is slowing improving his climbing skillset.Lets hope they score a stage win or two this tdf?

Agree that Goss needs to get his act together fast or move on but I wouldn't be too quick to throw the eggs in the Meyer basket. Meyer is good but he'll never be a GT contender, at least for another 2-3 years. Greenedge have a perfectly good replacement for Goss in Matthews, he just needs some faith shown in him. He's only just turned 23 and this is his first year with the squad so there is time to invest in him.

They need to replace about 5-6 riders in the next 18 months, so they should use this to strengthen their climbing stocks gradually then get behind either Morton, Dennis or Porte when their current contracts are up or splurge on a foreign contender. When Cam Meyer and Pieter Weening are the strongest climbers on your squad by a long way and you aren't taking bunch sprints some house cleaning is in order.

 

[TANK91]

Agree that Goss needs to get his act together fast or move on but I wouldn't be too quick to throw the eggs in the Meyer basket. Meyer is good but he'll never be a GT contender, at least for another 2-3 years. Greenedge have a perfectly good replacement for Goss in Matthews, he just needs some faith shown in him. He's only just turned 23 and this is his first year with the squad so there is time to invest in him.

They need to replace about 5-6 riders in the next 18 months, so they should use this to strengthen their climbing stocks gradually then get behind either Morton, Dennis or Porte when their current contracts are up or splurge on a foreign contender. When Cam Meyer and Pieter Weening are the strongest climbers on your squad by a long way and you aren't taking bunch sprints some house cleaning is in order.

Totally agree, they seriously need to sign better riders imo.

 

[42x16ss]

Totally agree, they seriously need to sign better riders imo.

The backbone is there for a very good team, the problem is the best riders are either too young (Durbridge, Hepburn, Howard, Matthews) or classics guys (Gerrans, Goss, Clarke, Langeveld). The rest are either domestiques or in their final years.

I feel that they will be fairly anonymous again at the Tour unless Goss recovers some form or the stage hunters get very hungry. Stephens and White will need to really motivate these guys if they want some results.

Maybe they should switch the team cars for some HSV utes?

 

[timmers]

Stephens and White will need to really motivate these guys if they want some results.

Well then they will have to go on the juice. GreenEdge has the problem that from their initial signings no real GC or Classic talents have emerged. If they want to be an Australian team there is no sense in them signing foreigners to fill leadership roles. Ewan is going to Saxobank following Brad Magee so they are not looking good for the future. Jerry Ryan may have to pull the pin.

 

[movingtarget]

Agree that Goss needs to get his act together fast or move on but I wouldn't be too quick to throw the eggs in the Meyer basket. Meyer is good but he'll never be a GT contender, at least for another 2-3 years. Greenedge have a perfectly good replacement for Goss in Matthews, he just needs some faith shown in him. He's only just turned 23 and this is his first year with the squad so there is time to invest in him.

They need to replace about 5-6 riders in the next 18 months, so they should use this to strengthen their climbing stocks gradually then get behind either Morton, Dennis or Porte when their current contracts are up or splurge on a foreign contender. When Cam Meyer and Pieter Weening are the strongest climbers on your squad by a long way and you aren't taking bunch sprints some house cleaning is in order.

Goss always seems to get caught out of position and he seems to have lost his speed over the final 50 metres. He is just not the same rider.

 

[karlboss]

So who are the riders Greenedge should target and why? Here's my list.
Renshaw has experience in top level sprints to pass on can win smaller races, and leadout anyone who proves to be faster than him.
Haussler solid cobbles rider, another sprinter for smaller races, or at least reduced bunch sprinter, can leadout also, has been a successful attacking rider in the past and could be again.
Hayman, Another very strong very useful domestique with loads of experience.
This should Shore up the sprinting stakes and make the team well and truly ready for a sprinter to step up, or be signed. As a cobbles team Hayman, Haussler, Cooke, Docker, Keukeleire, Langeveld, and Durbridge looks pretty solid to me. I included Durbridge as I see him more as a Cancellara than a Martin, but he's only ever ridden 2 cobbles races.

Next addressing the balance in the team. If a GC rider can be found who'll ride without much support great, but I doubt it. So support and stage wins, more guys like Weening. If Vacansoliel go under I'd say the picks are Westra, and Hoogerland. This would mean the Tour team for 2014, if the sprinters aren't firing at all could look like Durbridge, Gerrans, Haussler, Hayman, Meyer, Weening, Westra, Hoogerland, and Albasini.
If the sprinters are firing then you could go with Goss, Renshaw, Cooke, Haussler, Hayman, Hoogerland, Durbridge, Westra, Weening.
Come 2015, Maybe Meyer has stepped up, or Porte(though he comes free in 2016) has been signed. A full GC team of Porte, Meyer, Westra, Durbridge, Weening, Hoogerland, Hayman, Langeveld (+ 1 super dom to be signed at the same time as Porte), could be the team, that's not bad.

So 5 new riders. To make space, Davis, Kroupis, Vaitkus, Mouris, and Bewley. All talented, but their roles would be a little redundant and superfluos for 2014 in my team.

As far as I know Renshaw, Hayman, and Haussler don't have contracts for 2014. Westra and Hoogerland depend on Vacansoliel.

Thoughts? I suppose more money would need to be found.

 

[42x16ss]

So who are the riders Greenedge should target and why? Here's my list.
Renshaw has experience in top level sprints to pass on can win smaller races, and leadout anyone who proves to be faster than him.
Haussler solid cobbles rider, another sprinter for smaller races, or at least reduced bunch sprinter, can leadout also, has been a successful attacking rider in the past and could be again.
Hayman, Another very strong very useful domestique with loads of experience.
This should Shore up the sprinting stakes and make the team well and truly ready for a sprinter to step up, or be signed. As a cobbles team Hayman, Haussler, Cooke, Docker, Keukeleire, Langeveld, and Durbridge looks pretty solid to me. I included Durbridge as I see him more as a Cancellara than a Martin, but he's only ever ridden 2 cobbles races.

Next addressing the balance in the team. If a GC rider can be found who'll ride without much support great, but I doubt it. So support and stage wins, more guys like Weening. If Vacansoliel go under I'd say the picks are Westra, and Hoogerland. This would mean the Tour team for 2014, if the sprinters aren't firing at all could look like Durbridge, Gerrans, Haussler, Hayman, Meyer, Weening, Westra, Hoogerland, and Albasini.
If the sprinters are firing then you could go with Goss, Renshaw, Cooke, Haussler, Hayman, Hoogerland, Durbridge, Westra, Weening.
Come 2015, Maybe Meyer has stepped up, or Porte(though he comes free in 2016) has been signed. A full GC team of Porte, Meyer, Westra, Durbridge, Weening, Hoogerland, Hayman, Langeveld (+ 1 super dom to be signed at the same time as Porte), could be the team, that's not bad.

So 5 new riders. To make space, Davis, Kroupis, Vaitkus, Mouris, and Bewley. All talented, but their roles would be a little redundant and superfluos for 2014 in my team.

As far as I know Renshaw, Hayman, and Haussler don't have contracts for 2014. Westra and Hoogerland depend on Vacansoliel.

Thoughts? I suppose more money would need to be found.

If Vacansoleil fold, they should be going for Thomas de Ghent if they are serious about getting a good climber but Westra would certainly be a step in the right direction. The money they are paying the likes of Tuft, O'Grady, Davis, Cooke, Lancaster (basically everyone over 34) would be close to enough.

 

[karlboss]

If Vacansoleil fold, they should be going for Thomas de Ghent if they are serious about getting a good climber but Westra would certainly be a step in the right direction. The money they are paying the likes of Tuft, O'Grady, Davis, Cooke, Lancaster (basically everyone over 34) would be close to enough.

De Gendt would also be good, and negotiating now after a lack lustre opening to the year he may come cheap.
O'grady is retiring, Tuft, Lancaster and Cooke are still proving valuable, though I don't know how much they're on. Exprience is definitely worth something.

 

[42x16ss]

Well then they will have to go on the juice.

I'm going to say that I'm amazed Gerrans isn't clinic material, Davis already is and leave it at that.

 

[greenedge]

I hope OGE do not lose Langeveld/ i could not see why going to Sky would be good.

Hoping for Gerrans, Albasini and Clarke to go ape at the TDF and win a stage.

 

[blaxland]

Another missed chance for Gossy today although luck wasnt on his side.Regaurding buying riders for next year?thay dont need more classic type one day riders(see Gerrans/Albasini,clarke)for gods sake please sign a decent GC rider or sign a good climber to help Meyer in the furure?but i fear they will just hire some old retiring riders like Haymen/Haussler?Atleats they can win stages:-(

 

[movingtarget]

I am starting to think that the GreenEdge bus will be the closest to winning a stage for them and it was stuck on the finish line, pointing in the opposite direction. Gerrans is probably their only hope this year.

 

[pastronef]

I am starting to think that the GreenEdge bus will be the closest to winning a stage for them and it was stuck on the finish line, pointing in the opposite direction. Gerrans is probably their only hope this year.

good job Gerro!

 

[movingtarget]

good job Gerro!

Yes he came through. Happy for him and the team, they needed a good win.

 

[Wilba60]

Also huge plaudits to Impey, he was a real surprise to me last year and has improved again this year. Not to far behind Sagan really as a sprinter who gets over the small and medium mountains well and still has a strong finish. That lead out was excellent and reminded me of the race last year when he accelerated for Allan Davis and went so quick that he held on to win.

Also plaudits to Simon Clarke, great day out in the breakaway and then to hang on when the peleton caught him before becoming a key lead out for Impey and Gerrans.

Well done Gerro and OGE. Hope this leads into a great team time trial, would like to see Gerro in the yellow jersey. With Tuft, Meyer, O'Grady as the backbone they have a fighting chance, although I think Garmin will win....maybe OGE could borrow Rohan Dennis for the day

 

[karlboss]

Also huge plaudits to Impey, he was a real surprise to me last year and has improved again this year. Not to far behind Sagan really as a sprinter who gets over the small and medium mountains well and still has a strong finish. That lead out was excellent and reminded me of the race last year when he accelerated for Allan Davis and went so quick that he held on to win.

Also plaudits to Simon Clarke, great day out in the breakaway and then to hang on when the peleton caught him before becoming a key lead out for Impey and Gerrans.

Well done Gerro and OGE. Hope this leads into a great team time trial, would like to see Gerro in the yellow jersey. With Tuft, Meyer, O'Grady as the backbone they have a fighting chance, although I think Garmin will win....maybe OGE could borrow Rohan Dennis for the day

Sadly no hope for Yellow. As good as tuft, meyer, o'grady might be. They really don't get close against, say OPQS, Martin, Terpstra, Chavanel, Velits, etc

That leadout was the highlight of the day and the way Gerrans used it was just perfect.

 

[blaxland]

Got to say well done Gerro and orice/greenedge.Clarke was good in the breakaway and Impey/meyer where great at the end of the stage.Atleast the monkey is off their backs now....now who to sign for next season??

 

[Tigerion]

Well done Gerro and OGE. Hope this leads into a great team time trial, would like to see Gerro in the yellow jersey. With Tuft, Meyer, O'Grady as the backbone they have a fighting chance, although I think Garmin will win....maybe OGE could borrow Rohan Dennis for the day

Well if we can grab Rohan I'm sure that sky wouldn't mind if we take Porte as well

 

[kcbworth]

Nice turnaround from the earlier bus incident. Great tour so far!

 

[Afrank]

Yep, having a great Tour thus far. 2 stages and yellow. Well done ride by them today.

The whole team absolutely psyched on the feed, cool to see.

 

[kcbworth]

And the most famous bus in France

 

[Ferminal]

At this rate, Goss will win tomorrow

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Powerful, yet smooth performance today.
Now we need Clarke to snatch Rollands outfit.

 

[Wilba60]

Sadly no hope for Yellow. As good as tuft, meyer, o'grady might be. They really don't get close against, say OPQS, Martin, Terpstra, Chavanel, Velits, etc

That leadout was the highlight of the day and the way Gerrans used it was just perfect.

Yellow it is

Tuft is the man here, he has now raced on all 3 big winning TTT's for OGE and with him and Meyer coming into this team, it was obvious they wanted to have a real dash at the TTT and plaudits to them for getting that. This won't hurt their confidence either for the ITT where Tuft or Meyer could cause an upset.

 

[bikeit]

Brilliant, just brilliant. I lost it last night watching the race.

Watch the backstage pass, it really shows just how much it menas to teh riders and team. I wouldnt be sruprised if they pulled stage or two out of the bag.

With Sagan, Cav and Greipel all winless OGE should have a good deal of help to bring back breaks as long they hold them at a decent gap. Gerro to hod onto yellow through the mtns on stage 8.