Last 3 WT spots

[nobilis]

Now that the first 15 teams for the WT are known and the 5 teams ranked between 16 and 20 are known, which 3 of these 5 teams you think will earn the last 3 spots? (Assuming that Geox-TMC team would find a backer)

 

[ingsve]

Now that the first 15 teams for the WT are known and the 5 teams ranked between 16 and 20 are known, which 3 of these 5 teams you think will earn the last 3 spots? (Assuming that Geox-TMC team would find a backer)

AG2r, FDJ and Euskaltel is my bet. Geox would probably fail in the comission even if they found a backer because of all the financial problems and Europcar would not get in because I think they would probably avoid giving all the spots to french teams especially since Euskaltel is such a longexisting team.

 

[Kvinto]

Euskaltel is the only team i care about in this list but imo Ag2R should be there as the only French team that can do well at Giro. As for the third spot (taking into account an unknown situation with GEOX) i'd like it to be the team #21 (if i'm not mistaken it should be Skil).

 

[nobilis]

Euskaltel is the only team i care about in this list but imo Ag2R should be there as the only French team that can do well at Giro. As for the third spot (taking into account an unknown situation with GEOX) i'd like it to be the team #21 (if i'm not mistaken it should be Skil).

Yeah true about 1t4i (ex-skil), but i didn't include it in the list because UCI has stated, according to velonation, that there would be no replacement if Geox failed to secure financial guarantees.

 

[Kvinto]

Yeah true about 1t4i (ex-skil), but i didn't include it in the list because UCI has stated, according to velonation, that there would be no replacement if Geox failed to secure financial guarantees.

Just read this too... kinda sad

 

[Moondance]

Geox, Euskaltel and Ag2r.

If Geox don't survive then Europcar.

 

[Kvinto]

as for FDJ vs Europcar the first one is more reasonable. FDJ looks more balanced while Europcar is first of all the team of Voeckler (maybe in future it'll be the team of Rolland). FDJ doesn't have such a leader like Voeckler but their squad includes riders of very different specialities (Hutarovich, Offredo, Pinot... Demare seems to be the big prospect) so they can target more than only The Tour.

 

[CobbleStoner]

I sure hope Kittel and his new super train kick everybody's a** next year in every race they are invited to.
WT points system sucks
Pat McQuaid sucks

 

[janraaskalt]

How's 10 percent not voting for AG2R? Team #16 on the list, this season had a World Tour license. They will 100% certainly get a license. This poll is not about which team you would like to get a license.

 

[Anonymous]

Think

Ag2r, Europcar and Euskaltel

but dont think it would hurt Euskaltel at all to drop down to pro conti. They would still get invites to all the spanish races, and the bulk of the climbing races as well as being able to target other races that they normally wouldnt, but would havnt to go to places like beijing and tour down under that serve no purpose for them.

So personally, i would bring the three french teams back in, which would also make the tour de france wild cards interesting.

 

[just some guy]

Think

Ag2r, Europcar and Euskaltel

but dont think it would hurt Euskaltel at all to drop down to pro conti. They would still get invites to all the spanish races, and the bulk of the climbing races as well as being able to target other races that they normally wouldnt, but would havnt to go to places like beijing and tour down under that serve no purpose for them.

So personally, i would bring the three french teams back in, which would also make the tour de france wild cards interesting.

I agree and almost think it would be better for EE future wise as well.

So I voted for the 3 French teams.

EE gets a wild card for sure

Old Skil for a wild card for the Tour and the other interesting maybe UHC ????? and French between Saur - Sojasun so Coppel gets or Confidis

 

[Duartista]

It will be AG2R, Euskaltel, and FDJ I should think. Europcar don't seem to have a deep enough squad.

Whilst I agree that Euskaltel having to do Paris-Roubaix etc is pointless, I see this as less problematic than teams like Green Edge or Skil doing all three GTs, as one day races get to invite more wild cards.

 

[Kvinto]

That's not only the Euskaltel/Roubaix problem, though it's the most demonstrative example. In fact the amount of teams that fully deserve to be invited to EVERY big race is considerably less than 18 but unfortunately UCI won't ever diminish this number voluntarily, because a PT licence costs money (obviously much more than pro-conti) and otherwise no big team would like to overpay knowing that they'll get a wild card for every race thay want

 

[Escarabajo]

as for FDJ vs Europcar the first one is more reasonable. FDJ looks more balanced while Europcar is first of all the team of Voeckler (maybe in future it'll be the team of Rolland). FDJ doesn't have such a leader like Voeckler but their squad includes riders of very different specialities (Hutarovich, Offredo, Pinot... Demare seems to be the big prospect) so they can target more than only The Tour.

Based on what you said I'd pick Europcar.

 

[Escarabajo]

It will be AG2R, Euskaltel, and FDJ I should think. Europcar don't seem to have a deep enough squad.

Whilst I agree that Euskaltel having to do Paris-Roubaix etc is pointless, I see this as less problematic than teams like Green Edge or Skil doing all three GTs, as one day races get to invite more wild cards.

I consider myself a cycling fun and I have no idea who the guys from FDJ are versus de ones from Europcar. Really. French poeple might say the same things about some Colombian riders that could be popular to us but unknown to them.

From Cycling fans who don't know Voeckler and Rolland are?

 

[Fus087]

I think that if people don't know Offredo yet, they soon will. If things go his way he could win any of Het Volk, Milano-San Remo, E3-Prijs, Gent-Wevelgem or the Ronde van Vlaanderen.
He's a Gilbert waiting to break through.

Hutarovich and Pinot are also good, but not quite the same level (yet). The same goes for Démare.

As for the 3 spots, I think AG2R is definitely in.
Geox won't happen.
The remaining 3 teams battle for the last 2 spots, I'd say they all have an equal chance. Voted FDJ and Europcar.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I find it appalling that the fight for the last spot will probably come down to FDJ v Bernaudeau's Europcar.
Really hard to choose, but I give the Edge,, just, to FDJ.
Both have been around in one form or another for eons.
Instead, Pat gives a spot to this year's LEOPARD TREK.
No sponsor, no decent stage racer, but great locality.

 

[Tank Engine]

I have to vote for AG2R due their position in the ranking (and Nick Roche). Geox are in financial meltdown, so I'd go for the carrots (it would possibly be better for them to be pro conti if they could guarantee wild cards for all the races they want, but why for example risk not doing a race like the Giro). Not much to choose between the remaining two in terms of tradition or results (voted FDJ).

 

[El Pistolero]

Euskaltel still has a WT license for next year, so I'm 99% confident they'll be included.

 

[roundabout]

Europcar can go suck on a lemon on principle. The triumvirate of Bernaudeau, Voeckler and Kern is among the biggest jokes in cycling today and yet it's precisely because of 1 of them that this sorry *** team is even up for consideration.

 

[Angliru]

Europcar can go suck on a lemon on principle. The triumvirate of Bernaudeau, Voeckler and Kern is among the biggest jokes in cycling today and yet it's precisely because of 1 of them that this sorry *** team is even up for consideration.

I'm missing why they are "among the biggest jokes in cycling today"?

 

[Duartista]

I consider myself a cycling fun and I have no idea who the guys from FDJ are versus de ones from Europcar. Really. French poeple might say the same things about some Colombian riders that could be popular to us but unknown to them.

From Cycling fans who don't know Voeckler and Rolland are?

My impression is that FDJ have more riders who can pick up results and are more likely to be competitive in more races - they also just missed out last year. That's why I think they will be picked. Whereas Europcar only just scraped into the top 20, in spite of their TDF performance.

 

[Havetts]

Heres one hoping I won't have to see Voeckler playing an act again every damn race on the television. Seeing him once or twice a year putting on his show and his arrogance is bad enough.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Yeah true about 1t4i (ex-skil), but i didn't include it in the list because UCI has stated, according to velonation, that there would be no replacement if Geox failed to secure financial guarantees.

i like skil, but they don't belong in the WT yet.

French teams are difficult to seperate.

I really like the FDJ team.
Pinot is already starting to win races, he is gonna be teh spearhead of french cycling in the coming years.
Offredo keeps getting better.
Fedrigo, Casar.
Roux is another upcoming rider for FDJ who is getting better each year.
u23 world champ demare.
Huta.

europcar of course have voeckler, kern, rolland. I like them but in reality I think ther'ye a little less rounded then FDJ. I don't find them worthy of WT status, in regards to balance i mean.

WHile AG2r, probably my least favorite french team (still dont mind them) have roche, gadret, peraud, dupont, riblon, kadri, belletti, casper, nocentini etc. WHile maybe missing some more real leaders, a pretty good team. I think just about the most worthy of the french teams.

Based on this. I suspect; AG2R, Euskatel and FdJ.

My impression is that FDJ have more riders who can pick up results and are more likely to be competitive in more races - they also just missed out last year. That's why I think they will be picked. Whereas Europcar only just scraped into the top 20, in spite of their TDF performance.

Voeckler and rolland pretty much got half thier points in CQ, with the rest takin points here and there.

 

[The Hitch]

My impression is that FDJ have more riders who can pick up results and are more likely to be competitive in more races - they also just missed out last year. That's why I think they will be picked. Whereas Europcar only just scraped into the top 20, in spite of their TDF performance.

Thats UCI ranking though right? It doesnt count all those victories Voeckler won?

Heres one hoping I won't have to see Voeckler playing an act again every damn race on the television. Seeing him once or twice a year putting on his show and his arrogance is bad enough.

You don't like Voeckler? Why? Im interested because if you don't like him there might be a reason why I shouldn't like him.