le Tour team thread

[fezzer]

I don't see how having four GC guys is going to work. Some top GC contenders (e.g. Contador and Andy Schleck to name the biggest two) will have their entire teams dedicated to them. They'll have capable climbers serving as domestiques, burying themselves on climbs to help the team leader, while RS will have four guys trying to protect their own standing.

Exactly what I was thinking, but IF the whole team dedicated themselves to, lets say Horner, they have a massive team, but we all know thats not going to happen. To many guys with top10 ambitions.

 

[ManInFull]

Yeah, Niki Sorenson is going to do one hell of a job for Contador. Definitely a better team than in the Giro. And let's hope the Spanish mountain goats are better than at the Giro.

How much time will Saxo lose in the TTT?

 

[ManInFull]

It'll work fine because they're targeting the team competition.

I wish I were joking.

Funny how the team competition became so important last year. That's what happens when the team's GC contenders are way down on GC.

 

[inri2000]

How much time will Saxo lose in the TTT?

To RS and HTC? They will match LT I believe if they plan on dragging Frank with them

 

[Cimber]

How much time will Saxo lose in the TTT?

30-40 seconds

 

[Dedelou]

Exactly what I was thinking, but IF the whole team dedicated themselves to, lets say Horner, they have a massive team, but we all know thats not going to happen. To many guys with top10 ambitions.

This team not only had 4 GC contenders but when it come to their real ambition: The Most Famous and Better than Yellow Jersey -- The Yellow Cap of the Team Title- - They have a fifth helper in Phill Leggett who is going to speak, non stop, for three weeks during the entire TV coverage about the value of this most prestigious title

 

[BillytheKid]

Exactly what I was thinking, but IF the whole team dedicated themselves to, lets say Horner, they have a massive team, but we all know thats not going to happen. To many guys with top10 ambitions.

RS will let this work itself out. The "Luz' stage going into the Pyrenees will be selective for them. It is interesting that Klöden and Horner have followed a soft-pedal approach in preparation while Leipheimer and Brajkovic have gone full throttle. I think it could work for them, especially if the Contador, Schleck battle unfolds almost all in the last week. Klöden could be several minutes behind as was Levi in the Suisse and still be poised to take yellow on the last day.

 

[kurtinsc]

RS will let this work itself out. The "Luz' stage going into the Pyrenees will be selective for them. It is interesting that Klöden and Horner have followed a soft-pedal approach in preparation while Leipheimer and Brajkovic have gone full throttle. I think it could work for them, especially if the Contador, Schleck battle unfolds almost all in the last week. Klöden could be several minutes behind as was Levi in the Suisse and still be poised to take yellow on the last day.

Behind Contador?

They might be able to make up some time on Andy, but the best they can hope to make up on Contador would be measured in seconds, not minutes. If he's not super fatigued, they'll probably lose time.

 

[BillytheKid]

30-40 seconds

Should be an interesting TTT. None of the favourites will want the yellow, but can't afford to loose too much time to the others....?

 

[BillytheKid]

Behind Contador?

They might be able to make up some time on Andy, but the best they can hope to make up on Contador would be measured in seconds, not minutes. If he's not super fatigued, they'll probably lose time.

It was fairly close between AC and AS last year. RS have less to worry about this year. If they make it to the mountains unscathed and all "four" GC could reek some havoc. I really think the two most likely to emerge for RS are Horner and Klöden. RS is not the only team that might have a shot at undoing AC and AS.

 

[Sasquatch]

Should be an interesting TTT. None of the favourites will want the yellow, but can't afford to loose too much time to the others....?

It annoys me that the notion of having the yellow jersey early on gets thrown around a lot.

Yes you may not want the yellow jersey early on, but you have a decision not to let your team work. Just because you have yellow, there isn't an automatic rule in the sport saying you need to work for it or you will get thrown out.

If I got yellow early on in the tour and I was an overall favourite, I would tell my team to sit back and let the other teams (sprinters teams) control the race. And if a non threatening break goes, I will tell them to still sit back and let the teams of the other contenders to work.

Just because you have yellow, it doesn't mean you have to work.

If Contador took yellow early on, Saxo Bank would not do any work in defending it.

 

[Cimber]

Should be an interesting TTT. None of the favourites will want the yellow, but can't afford to loose too much time to the others....?

I dont think they wil mind the yellow. They can just choose not to defend it the following days

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

Vandborg rode a really strong TDF last year, if he can find that form again he will be huge asset. Larsson has showed feck all since his Olympic silver medal, and nothing that justifies his fairly high salary. Cant see Riis giving him a spot only for the TTT as Vanborg is far from bad in that dicipline and a bit better uphill as well.

Off the top of my head.

In 2009, he was 4th in the TdF TT and 2nd at the Worlds TT.
In 2010, he won the Giro TT, was 4th in the Swiss TT and 4th in the Vuelta TT.

Feck all?

 

[hrotha]

Since when is Vandborg a better climber than Larsson?

 

[theyoungest]

Larsson even has a pretty good GC in the Giro to his name... top-15 I think.

 

[El Pistolero]

Since 5 February 2010 at 6pm

 

[Tyler'sTwin]

It's not like you need 8 mountain domestiques and some of the guys on the team are worse than Larsson in any terrain.

 

[BillytheKid]

It annoys me that the notion of having the yellow jersey early on gets thrown around a lot.

Yes you may not want the yellow jersey early on, but you have a decision not to let your team work. Just because you have yellow, there isn't an automatic rule in the sport saying you need to work for it or you will get thrown out.

If I got yellow early on in the tour and I was an overall favourite, I would tell my team to sit back and let the other teams (sprinters teams) control the race. And if a non threatening break goes, I will tell them to still sit back and let the teams of the other contenders to work.

Just because you have yellow, it doesn't mean you have to work.

If Contador took yellow early on, Saxo Bank would not do any work in defending it.

Your right, the yellow can be given away, but some work usually has to be done even if only for one stage. Not disastrous...but it's avoided if possible.

 

[Sørensen]

Off the top of my head.

In 2009, he was 4th in the TdF TT and 2nd at the Worlds TT.
In 2010, he won the Giro TT, was 4th in the Swiss TT and 4th in the Vuelta TT.

Feck all?

Yea all those nice TT results sure are gonna help Contador...

Funny how Riis seem to agree, since the last spot was between Vandborg and Mørkøv.

Larsson is cack imho. Sorry

 

[Sørensen]

Since when is Vandborg a better climber than Larsson?

Since Armstrong walked on the moon or something...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

it doesn't help that contador needs all his spanish butt**** buddies

 

[meandmygitane]

Yea all those nice TT results sure are gonna help Contador...

Funny how Riis seem to agree, since the last spot was between Vandborg and Mørkøv.

Larsson is cack imho. Sorry

Non TT-results:

2010: 19th Overall Vuelta a Espana
Won Tour de Limousin
Some nice placings Overall in weeklong races, such as Ruta del Sol, Tour de Suisse, Vuelta Communidad Madrid

The only reason Larsson hasn't done any results this year is because he crashed badly in Tour of California, sacrificing himself for Haedo.

Riis has to give danish riders chances they don't really deserve. That is why it's Mørkøv and Vandborg and not Cooke & Larsson. You, as a Dane, should know that. Your name is bloody Sörensen so why am I not surprised that you don't give any critical thought to what Nicki Sorensen is doing in the squad.

Please, think for yourself for a moment.

Oh, how I want to verbally abuse you for your last, braindead and idiotic comment. With fans like that SBS don't need any enemies.

 

[roundabout]

Nicki Sorensen is a good rider who is in good form and certainly deserves a spot.

The rest I certainly agree with.

 

[hrotha]

Since Armstrong walked on the moon or something...

Wait, so you're serious?

LARSSON
2011
28 - Tour de Suisse

2010
59 - Giro d'Italia
11 - Tour de Suisse
19 - Vuelta a España

2009
28 - Tour de Suisse
49 - Tour de France

2008
14 - Giro d'Italia

2007
13 - Tour de Suisse

2003
16 - Tour de Suisse

VANDBORG
2011
19 - Tour of California

2010
128 - Tour de France

2009
29 - Volta a Catalunya, I suppose? But then I didn't include Larsson's results at Basque Country, Catalonia and others
26 - Tour de Suisse
115 - Tour de France

2005
140 - Giro d'Italia

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Since Armstrong walked on the moon or something...

great, another goddamn imbecile on this forum