le Tour team thread

[ulrikmm]

Sorry, it was a comment for my girlfriend only.

 

[T-Nielsen]

I keep reading about there being pressure on Riis to bring more danes in his tour team. Can someone tell me about where that pressure is coming from, because I have not really seen any real criticism of Riis for not bringing more. There is, as I see it, a broad understanding, that there are not that many danish riders with the goods for a 9 man tour winning team.

Regarding the Larsson - Vandborg choice, I do think, that Larsson is perhaps a better climber and individual TT'er. However he is probably not the same workhorse as Vandborg. He has never seemed able to transform his great TT skills into the art of sitting at the front hour after hour making an acceptable pace. Vandborg can do this, and he is choosen for that reason.

 

[Sørensen]

Sorry, it was a comment for my girlfriend only.

You wish softy.. I want a real man

 

[Ferminal]

maybe riis is saving larsson and will give him the role of leader at the vuelta?

i am pretty sure larsson would prefer to test himself at the vuelta then to be a domestique at the tour.

Vuelta = Haedo, maybe CAS, and anyone else along for the ride (GEL should be there). Unless Contador is up for the treble...

We saw how seriously Saxo took the Vuelta last year

 

[just some guy]

Larsson was just on the radio - sounded in shock.

A 10 year old who just found out there is no Santa would be happier

 

[Eric8-A]

Speaking of a Haedo, I saw that they're on the list for a potential Tour spot. It'd be great to see them ride the Tour. Chances are they won't. But again, would be really cool even though they'll probably land top 10 spots in the sprints.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Because Vandborg is danish and Larsson is a dirty swede...

Also did i mention Vandborg is one quarter columbian? should be more than enough reason for you...

somehow you being racist doesn't surprise me.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

maybe riis is saving larsson and will give him the role of leader at the vuelta?

i am pretty sure larsson would prefer to test himself at the vuelta then to be a domestique at the tour.

to be 17th at gc?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

At least we know where you vote in elections go, no wonder the Muppets have control of your countries politics.

Anyway back to cycling Larsson has been screwed by Riis again - in interviews with the Swedish press he is always saying the tour is/now was on his program.

Larsson will find a new team and get better results next year I hope

I doubt he's old enough to vote

 

[hfer07]

Alberto Contador Leader
Jesus Hernandez-Climbs
Dani Navarro-Climbs
Benjamin Noval-Climbs
Richie Porte-TTT
Chris Anker Sørensen Climbs & TTT
Nicki Sørensen Climbs & TTT
Matteo Tosatto all rounded TTT
Brian Vandborg all rounded TTT

tight crew, and well balanced for this Tour.

 

[roundabout]

The only climbing Noval will be doing in support of Contador in the Tour is up the stairs in the hotel carrying Contador's suitcase.

 

[bjaelkesex]

The only climbing Noval will be doing in support of Contador in the Tour is up the stairs in the hotel carrying Contador's suitcase.

Well the Giro was won in a hotel...

 

[T-Nielsen]

Well the Giro was won in a hotel...

Uhhh... Feel the hatred...

 

[Cimber]

Regarding Vandbord vs Larsson I dont think there is any national bias there. Tosatta was selected over Mørkøv for example.

However, I have read a danish cycling expert stating that Larsson was an obvious choice but he had disqualified himself by not being a team player. He stated this in a Danish magasine a few weeks ago (i.e. way before the team was officially presented). Maybe thats also why he got kicked from the Giro in the last minute? I havent heard this about Larsson before though.

 

[VeloCity]

Alberto Contador Leader
Jesus Hernandez-Climbs
Dani Navarro-Climbs
Benjamin Noval-Climbs
Richie Porte-TTT
Chris Anker Sørensen Climbs & TTT
Nicki Sørensen Climbs & TTT
Matteo Tosatto all rounded TTT
Brian Vandborg all rounded TTT

tight crew, and well balanced for this Tour.

And clearly built around the sole goal of Contador winning the Tour.

 

[Cimber]

And clearly built around the sole goal of Contador winning the Tour.

Anything else would be a huge surprise

 

[Delicato]

Alberto Contador Leader
Jesus Hernandez-Climbs
Dani Navarro-Climbs
Benjamin Noval-Climbs
Richie Porte-TTT
Chris Anker Sørensen Climbs & TTT
Nicki Sørensen Climbs & TTT
Matteo Tosatto all rounded TTT
Brian Vandborg all rounded TTT

tight crew, and well balanced for this Tour.

Being Spanish and Contador's domestique doesn't necessarily mean you are a decent climber. Noval is the guy for flat terrain, not climbs.

 

[Cimber]

Alberto Contador Leader
Jesus Hernandez-Climbs
Dani Navarro-Climbs
Benjamin Noval-Climbs
Richie Porte-TTT
Chris Anker Sørensen Climbs & TTT
Nicki Sørensen Climbs & TTT
Matteo Tosatto all rounded TTT
Brian Vandborg all rounded TTT

tight crew, and well balanced for this Tour.

Yes good team. Noval isnt a climber though and CA Sørensen isnt a good TTTer. Nicki Sørensen isnt really a climber, however one could very well argue that Porte is, at least a semi-climber.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

still noval and sorensen aren't bad climbers. same for vandborg although larsson is better. the question will be how strong will navarro be?? he is very unregular and this season has only sucked, jesus hernandez is too limited in flat and lance engine for basically 180+ km

 

[hrotha]

Also, half the team has done the Giro. I wouldn't be surprised if Chris Sørensen turned out to be Contador's only reliable helper in the mountains.

 

[jens_attacks]

navarro will turn himself into an animal once again.he will eat the souls of the other rivals you'll see...

 

[Delicato]

Larsson is on the decline for a few years now. Vandborg, on the contrary, had good Tour last year. Reasonable choice of giving him a place in the roster. Navarro, IMO was saving himself for the Tour in the Giro, a little. I am sure he will step up and deliver stunning mountain performance like on Madeleine in 2010. Though I believe that C.A.Sorensen would be the key in the potential Tour win, not these two Spanish guys.

 

[Delicato]

Also, half the team has done the Giro. I wouldn't be surprised if Chris Sørensen turned out to be Contador's only reliable helper in the mountains.

Well, they (Hernandez and Navarro) were pretty much invisible on most mountain stages in Giro. And they always softpedal in flat stages to save as much energy as possible. The first mountain stage is 12th one, so they will have plenty of time to recover. Also, you should note that Saxo(IMO) will choose defensive strategy in the mountain stage, i.e. let the Rabo,Liqui and Leopard's mountain domestiques lead the peloton.

 

[Publicus]

Anything else would be a huge surprise

And frankly malpractice of the highest order on Riis' part.

 

[Cimber]

Also, half the team has done the Giro. I wouldn't be surprised if Chris Sørensen turned out to be Contador's only reliable helper in the mountains.

Navarro clearly wasnt in form in the Giro. He will be rdy for the Tour. Jesus might be a little burned since he did good in the Giro.

Tosatto was a surprise for me. He did the cobbled classics and the Giro. He could very well be too tired for the last week.