le Tour team thread

[meandmygitane]

I am also quite surprised by the exclusion of Larsson, but I am not so sure the nationalist bias plays such a big part. After all Riis is constantly criticized for not taking enough danish riders to the Tour and I do not think he suddenly changed opinion to please the press. That the domestiques Vandborg (and Nicki Sørensen) aren't the most exiting riders in pre- og post-stage interviews won't help much.

And I doubt that neither the Ayn Rand-worshippers, Saxo Bank (the company), nor Sungard are focusing on the danish market, but how all those sponsorship deals works are really beyond me.

What the danish press really wants is the return of Michael Rasmussen.

Thanks for the civilised input. Could very well be as you say, the only reason I wrote anything was the whole "Larsson is an overpaid, underperforming piece of junk" which I disagree strongly with.

I haven't even once said that Riis "should do this-or-that", he is free to do what he thinks is best from a sporting and/or sponsor perspective. If he wants Vandborg, fine and good luck, but when a forum (ab)user comes in and says that Larsson can't climb and only does well in TT's - that simply isn't the true.
I understand if Larsson was not selected because lack of form following his ToC injury, that is understandable.

Larsson was supposed to ride the Giro, but got ToC instead, now he is scrapped for TdF, wonder if he will ride any GTs this year.

Trolls will be trolls I guess (not meaning you).

 

[Publicus]

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.

And frankly Saxo NEVER took control of the peloton to set AC up for a move during the entire Giro. I'm not sure how much, if at all, Hernandez and Navarro really went into the red during the Giro. They were content to be close by (but behind) AC in case he needed anything, but they never really led him that I can recall.

But your basic point is accurate, they will have 11 stages to get their stuff together.

EDIT: Slightly off topic, would any one recommend any of the printed Tour de France guides? I've never bought one, so I don't know which have the best reputation. Thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

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.

larsson had like his best year last year

 

[Cimber]

larsson had like his best year last year

And he did well in the spring. Maybe there are some issues between him and Riis after all

 

[Delicato]

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.

Tosatto always rode two GT's every year with Quick Step.

 

[meandmygitane]

Tosatto always rode two GT's every year with Quick Step.

Good point, but if may raise a question:
Seems like he never did the Giro&Tour-double and only Tour&Vuelta and Giro&Vuelta. And when he did Tour&Vuelta it seems like he DNFed a lot?
Was it on purpose that he DNFed or was it exhaustion?

It may be different to ride for Contador and ride for Devolder etc. in two GTs..

 

[Sørensen]

somehow you being racist doesn't surprise me.

I wasent aware Swedes and Danes are different races?

 

[Sørensen]

I doubt he's old enough to vote

Yes unlike you how come across so well articulated and mature..

 

[peloton]

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

LOL Ryo, Noval is not a climber, never has been. He is for the flat parts, he will be nowhere once the road goes up.
The 'El Toro' nick means he will keep his captain safe, on flat roads.

 

[Anonymous]

Sky, expected to be
Wiggins
Boasson Hagen
Flecha
Henderson
Knees
Gerrans
Uran
Thomas
Zandio

Official announcement tommorow morning.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Sky, expected to be
Wiggins
Boasson Hagen
Flecha
Henderson
Knees
Gerrans
Uran
Thomas
Zandio

Official announcement tommorow morning.

They don't look as strong for the ttt as I'd thought they'd be.

 

[Anonymous]

Im hoping the information we have is wrong. I really want to see Stannard in the squad, and I think arvesen v zandio is a close run thing.

 

[Dedelou]

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

now . wow! just for the tour win.. pftt! no Team Title.. what a bunch of whimps

 

[Dedelou]

And he did well in the spring. Maybe there are some issues between him and Riis after all

or something in his current condition warranting the decision. We do so much speculating in forums

 

[hfer07]

Sky, expected to be
Wiggins
Boasson Hagen
Flecha
Henderson
Knees
Gerrans
Uran
Thomas
Zandio

those names have a good chance to get stage wins

 

[Anonymous]

They don't look as strong for the ttt as I'd thought they'd be.

all but zandio confirmed, last spot still up for grabs.

 

[Sørensen]

Thanks for the civilised input. Could very well be as you say, the only reason I wrote anything was the whole "Larsson is an overpaid, underperforming piece of junk" which I disagree strongly with.

I haven't even once said that Riis "should do this-or-that", he is free to do what he thinks is best from a sporting and/or sponsor perspective. If he wants Vandborg, fine and good luck, but when a forum (ab)user comes in and says that Larsson can't climb and only does well in TT's - that simply isn't the true.
I understand if Larsson was not selected because lack of form following his ToC injury, that is understandable.

Larsson was supposed to ride the Giro, but got ToC instead, now he is scrapped for TdF, wonder if he will ride any GTs this year.

Trolls will be trolls I guess (not meaning you).

Geez dude. dont you think you are overreacting and blowing things a bit out of proportions here? For the record I don't hate Larsson or any other rider for that matter, if anything i'm disappointed he has not gotten more out of his talent. You yourself didn't hold back ripping on the danish riders, probably because you thought in all your "anger" that it would somehow get to me..

You can find a million posts on this forum from people having a go at riders for various reasons. are you gonna be all anal about it every time it happens?

It's sport and entertainment, there's a lot friendly banter involved as well. I'm sincerely sorry if I hurt your feelings by ripping on your man crush and making you really angry. take a chill-pill and stop being such a drama queen pls. <3

 

[hughmoore]

those names have a good chance to get stage wins

Simon Gerrans has been pretty low key this year, has he been injured?


Hugh

Ive created a Sky Team thread, think we should have separate threads for each team.

 

[JRanton]

Sky's Tour Squad - Confirmed

Wiggins
Uran
Zandio
Gerrans
Knees
Flecha
Thomas
Swift
EBH

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,21468_7001428,00.html


So no Henderson, Stannard, Arvesen, Froome or Hayman.

Really glad that Swift made it. Sky have also confirmed that they'll be wearing the green kit for the entire race!

 

[TeoSheva]

Leopard is official too:

LEOPARD-TREK
CANCELLARA Fabian Switzerland
FUGLSANG Jakob Denmark
GERDEMANN Linus Germany
MONFORT Maxime Belgium
O'GRADY Stuart Australia
POSTHUMA Joost Netherlands
SCHLECK Andy Luxembourg
SCHLECK Frank Luxembourg
VOIGT Jens Germany

great team!

 

[Cimber]

or something in his current condition warranting the decision. We do so much speculating in forums

Well as I wrote earlier a few weeks ago a Danish cycling expert wrote that Larsson was an obvious choice for the Tour but that he had disqualified himself for not being a team player. He didnt elaborate, and it was kinda new to me so I dismissed it. But since he was left out of the Giro at the last moment and now left out of the Tour that comment kinda comes back to me, and I am thinking that maybe there is something about it.

 

[Cimber]

Leopard is official too:

LEOPARD-TREK
CANCELLARA Fabian Switzerland
FUGLSANG Jakob Denmark
GERDEMANN Linus Germany
MONFORT Maxime Belgium
O'GRADY Stuart Australia
POSTHUMA Joost Netherlands
SCHLECK Andy Luxembourg
SCHLECK Frank Luxembourg
VOIGT Jens Germany

great team!

Ye the strongest in the Tour. But probably Frank and Andy will screw it up for eachother yet again (0;

 

[dlwssonic]

Leopard is official too:

LEOPARD-TREK
CANCELLARA Fabian Switzerland
FUGLSANG Jakob Denmark
GERDEMANN Linus Germany
MONFORT Maxime Belgium
O'GRADY Stuart Australia
POSTHUMA Joost Netherlands
SCHLECK Andy Luxembourg
SCHLECK Frank Luxembourg
VOIGT Jens Germany

great team!

that team will seriously own! they will be very strong both on the flat and the mountains. They will gain time on their rivals in the TTT. more importantly on contador.

 

[TeoSheva]

that team will seriously own! they will be very strong both on the flat and the mountains. They will gain time on their rivals in the TTT. more importantly on contador.

the two brothers in the TTT can stay on the wheel and let the others do the work Cancellara, Fuglsang, Voight, Posthuma, O'Grady and Monfort! they are enough!

 

[dlwssonic]

the two brothers in the TTT can stay on the wheel and let the others do the work Cancellara, Fuglsang, Voight, Posthuma, O'Grady and Monfort! they are enough!

yes exactly! I think that team has a chance of winning the TTT. riis might want to change his squad after seeing this