Last world tour spot to be decided between Saxo and Shimano?

[Moose McKnuckles]

While I have no great love for Katusha, I am curious as to why they were denied a license.

Perhaps the presence of Ekimov had something to do with it?

 

[jens_attacks]

Perhaps the presence of Ekimov had something to do with it?

no. otherwise you woud have 2-3 teams in the world tour. and remember that eki wasn't touched particularly by anything

Useless Corrupt Incompetent ...that is all.




Who's up for a letter writing campaign, I say we petition UCI to kick Argos out, and give Katusha their spot.

i've just send them some good wishes for christmas.

 

[serfla]

Maybe the ASO shaped the list of license receivers.

 

[Angliru]

1992 · Hervé Garel
1993 · Thomas Davy
1994 · Angel Luis Casero

1995 · Emmanuel Magnien
1996 · David Etxebarria
1997 · Laurent Roux
1998 · Christophe Rinero
1999 · Unai Osa
2000 · Iker Flores
2001 · Denis Mensjov
2002 · Jevgeni Petrov
2003 · Egoi Martínez
2004 · Sylvain Calzati
2005 · Lars Bak
2006 · Moisés Dueñas
2007 · Bauke Mollema
2008 · Jan Bakelants
2009 · Romain Sicard
2010 · Nairo Quintana


==

Bolded riders became pretty good. I also want to bold Quintana, but let's wait a bit longer. Obviously didn't include the last 2 Avenir winners because they have yet to prove themselves.

Now Etxebarria did get a podium in one of the Ardennes classics, one of the best showings up to that point of any Spanish rider. That has to count for something.

 

[Kwibus]

Daniel Benson ‏@dnlbenson
UCI just called back: "actually, the katusha team don't know. They'll know soon, in the next few day"

Lolzzz

Seriously. I don't get ****ed or raged quickly, but bloody hell the UCI is good at it.

What a bunch of f*ckt*ards. Seriously....

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Not only in the Netherlands, but El Pistolero always goes to provocations and little jabs when he doesn't get his way. He's just like a little kid...so annoying. Best to ignore

it's better to make fun of him.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

wow,Oleg is fair,another for

tinkov doesn't hate katusha at all. he hates tchmile(and rightfully so) and he's gone

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

While I have no great love for Katusha, I am curious as to why they were denied a license.

Perhaps the presence of Ekimov had something to do with it?

this is 100% what I'm thinking and the fact they were so quiet when he's named and everything in the usada reports.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Great, now we get to see Argos stink up any race with a mountain in it even worse than GreenEdge. All year long.

 

[Ferminal]

Great, now we get to see Argos stink up any race with a mountain in it even worse than GreenEdge. All year long.

It will be ok, I will just forget they are in the race.

 

[42x16ss]

Great, now we get to see Argos stink up any race with a mountain in it even worse than GreenEdge. All year long.

At least Greenedge get guys in the break, like Meyer and Clarke in this years Vuelta.

Do Argos have anyone that can do that? Think of them as the Mountain equivalent of Euskaltel in the classics

 

[I Watch Cycling In July]

UCI blindsiding stakeholders

What happens to the riders in all this? Do they suddenly find themselves locked into a contract with a pro continental team, or can they hunt for a new team at the worst time of year? And what do the sponsors think of the sudden and unpredictable reverse on their investment?

A system which leaves everyone guessing until the last minute is inexcusable. There needs to be clear, predictable criteria for pro tour team licences, so riders don't get horrible surprises and the sponsors aren't ****ed off!

When it comes to running the sport, those fickle gits in the UCI are doing it wrong!

 

[pastronef]

Useless Corrupt Incompetent ...that is all.




Who's up for a letter writing campaign, I say we petition UCI to kick Argos out, and give Katusha their spot.

you mean Euskaltel, no?

 

[theyoungest]

Great, now we get to see Argos stink up any race with a mountain in it even worse than GreenEdge. All year long.

Greenedge have been better and more visible in the (bigger) mountainous races than Euskaltel. Just sayin'.

Not that I expect Argos to do the same, but your Greenedge hate is a bit ridiculous after the season they've had.

 

[Ferminal]

It will be ok, I will just forget they are in the race.

Wait, it just sunk in that they will be doing the Giro

Can't see Degenkolb backing up after the classics, so it will be Reinardt + 8.

Hopefully it means they don't invite NetApp.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Greenedge have been better and more visible in the (bigger) mountainous races than Euskaltel. Just sayin'.

Not that I expect Argos to do the same, but your Greenedge hate is a bit ridiculous after the season they've had.

forgive me, but in what gt were they any force then in the mountains?

 

[theyoungest]

In the Tour, mainly in breakaways, but with guys like Gerrans and Weening they didn't do worse than Euskaltel (which was the point). In the Vuelta, they won the mountain jersey, and a mountain stage. And in races like Suisse and Catalunya they had Albasini, who did great.

It just isn't the case that the whole of Greenedge was dropped on every molehill, which is what you and Libertine would have us believe.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

In the Tour, mainly in breakaways, but with guys like Gerrans and Weening they didn't do worse than Euskaltel (which was the point). In the Vuelta, they won the mountain jersey, and a mountain stage. And in races like Suisse and Catalunya they had Albasini, who did great.

It just isn't the case that the whole of Greenedge was dropped at every molehill, which is what you and Libertine would have us believe.

no. I didn't say that anywhere. but not dropping with the entire team on every hill doesn't mean you aren't a joke in the mountains. they didn't have any surprises and not one guy I think in top 20 or maybe even 30 of any gt

 

[El Pistolero]

forgive me, but in what gt were they any force then in the mountains?

They won the mountain jersey plus an (easy) mountainstage in the Vuelta. Of course they weren't a force in the mountains of any GTs, that's not what theyoungest was saying. He said they did remarkably well during mountainous races this season with their line-up, which they did. Albasini in Catalunya, Flèche Wallonne and Tour de Suisse. Clarke in the Vuelta.

I'm of the opinion that someone like Clarke shouldn't be able to win a KoM jersey, but the rules are what they are.

no. I didn't say that anywhere. but not dropping with the entire team on every hill doesn't mean you aren't a joke in the mountains. they didn't have any surprises and not one guy I think in top 20 or maybe even 30 of any gt

Yeah, they actually won something. How about that.

Wait, it just sunk in that they will be doing the Giro

Can't see Degenkolb backing up after the classics, so it will be Reinardt + 8.

Hopefully it means they don't invite NetApp.

I'm not even sure Argos can field a team for all 3 GTs.

This year they did two Grand Tours and they were nowhere in the Tour. Their Vuelta selection was fine though they did have some luck with the absence of good sprinters.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

They won the mountain jersey plus an (easy) mountainstage in the Vuelta. Of course they weren't a force in the mountains of any GTs, that's not what theyoungest was saying. He said they did remarkably well during mountainous races this season with their line-up, which they did. Albasini in Catalunya, Flèche Wallonne and Tour de Suisse. Clarke in the Vuelta.

I'm of the opinion that someone like Clarke shouldn't be able to win a KoM jersey, but the rules are what they are.



Yeah, they actually won something. How about that.


I'm not even sure Argos can field a team for all 3 GTs.

This year they did two Grand Tours and they were nowhere in the Tour. Their Vuelta selection was fine though they did have some luck with the absence of good sprinters.

oh yeah? what gt did they win? the kom in vuelta? who the f cares. they didn't perform remarkable at all in the mountains this year. catalunya had it's only mountainstage canceled, which is why albasini could win it anyway.

 

[El Pistolero]

oh yeah? what gt did they win? the kom in vuelta? who the f cares. they didn't perform remarkable at all in the mountains this year. catalunya had it's only mountainstage canceled, which is why albasini could win it anyway.

In the other thread you posted a stage which Albasini won to prove Cancellara is a climber.

They won a mountain stage and jersey. It's a lot better than coming 20th anonymously like you are suggesting they should do.

 

[Ferminal]

They won the mountain jersey plus an (easy) mountainstage in the Vuelta. Of course they weren't a force in the mountains of any GTs, that's not what theyoungest was saying. He said they did remarkably well during mountainous races this season with their line-up, which they did. Albasini in Catalunya, Flèche Wallonne and Tour de Suisse. Clarke in the Vuelta.

I'm of the opinion that someone like Clarke shouldn't be able to win a KoM jersey, but the rules are what they are.



Yeah, they actually won something. How about that.



I'm not even sure Argos can field a team for all 3 GTs.

This year they did two Grand Tours and they were nowhere in the Tour. Their Vuelta selection was fine though they did have some luck with the absence of good sprinters.

I think they are a good fit for the Tour as those 9 dead flat sprint stages need all the sprinters there. Just this year it didn't turn out so well with Kittel struggling. Same with the Vuelta if they take Degenkolb there.

But the Giro has only two (only 1 if Stelvio owns him) stages for Kittel so no point going there. Degenkolb would do better (great chance to hold pink for a day too) but classics and Giro and Vuelta seems like too much. If he was in the team though it would more or less make it acceptable.

Maybe I'm a bit harsh, it's not like the whole 22 teams in a GT help make the race. More often than not a Saur, Andalucia or NetApp will somehow get an invite and go on to contribute nothing.

 

[Ferminal]

GreenEdge did enough in the Vuelta, if you take away Goss it was easily their best GT. Most interesting thing they did in the Giro is Lancaster being at the top of the prologue for a while and Vaitkus going on a long sprint. Honestly don't remember anything from them in the Tour. At the very least though, on paper they have sprinting depth to send someone competitive to each GT will always be there in TT(T)s and have Albasini, Gerrans, Clarke, Weening, Meyer who can actually challenge in breakaways.

 

[janraaskalt]

Maybe I'm a bit harsh, it's not like the whole 22 teams in a GT help make the race. More often than not a Saur, Andalucia or NetApp will somehow get an invite and go on to contribute nothing.

In reverse: a GT appearance makes PCT team sponsors happy. It is good for lower level cycling.

 

[Afrank]

This year they did two Grand Tours and they were nowhere in the Tour. Their Vuelta selection was fine though they did have some luck with the absence of good sprinters.

Kittel was their main guy for the Tour and he got sick. Considering that Kittel wasn't able to do anything, Veelers did alright in the first couple sprints.

But it will be difficult for them to contend for stages in at least one of the GT's. Even more difficult if they decide to send both Kittel and Degenkolb to the Tour.