le Tour team thread

[Spine Concept]

I know VDB said that, but if that was his bad day, it wasn't that bad. (basically a repeat of my previous post)

Given the circumstances he was a bit lucky to limit his losses to only 8 seconds vis-á-vis Gesink. However, as I mentioned before, it would not have had any bearing on the GC so it doesn't really matter.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Given the circumstances he was a bit lucky to limit his losses to only 8 seconds vis-á-vis Gesink. However, as I mentioned before, it would not have had any bearing on the GC so it doesn't really matter.

Indeed it doesn't

However it does matter in this discussion since I said his capacity to keep a straight face works in his favour. Now the 8 seconds instead of 30 or 40 didn't matter in the end. But it may in 2011...or 2012 etcetera. etcetera... it's all about limiting losses when you fight for podium

 

[Clemson Cycling]

does anyone think Tejay van Garderen makes the HTC squad for the Tour or are they going to save him for the Vuelta?

 

[Eric8-A]

HTC will go for the sprints as their main priority. Tony Martin will be their "GC guy", but I don't see him making the top 20. He'll finish second to Cancellara in the ITT's.

Leopard-Trek seem pretty good. Basically the same team that Saxo-Bank had last year. And with both Andy and Frank working together, it should be something to watch.

Radioshack, form-wise, they should go with Kloden as their main leader. Forget making Levi a leader. In my opinion, it should be Kloden, Horner, Brakjovic, then Levi. And they will surely be a threat in the TTT.

Garmin, I think this year they're going to be focusing on sprints this year. They've landed top 10 spots in the past years but have come short on stage wins. Especially now with the Thor and Tyler duo, it seems like sprints will be their priority and have the same outlook on the Tour like HTC. They go in with two leaders for GC. Also Tommy D wants to land a spot on their tour roster but I think it wouldn't be so good to send him. If Garmin wants extra support in the mountains, they should send Dan Martin.

 

[JohnNordin]

Can I get an evaluation on Saxo? Because aside from AC and his Spanish friends, they have who coming for TDF? I do hear that they are considered a strong team, you're not the first to say so, but who are we talking about?

 

[Clemson Cycling]

Garmin, I think this year they're going to be focusing on sprints this year. They've landed top 10 spots in the past years but have come short on stage wins. Especially now with the Thor and Tyler duo, it seems like sprints will be their priority and have the same outlook on the Tour like HTC. They go in with two leaders for GC. Also Tommy D wants to land a spot on their tour roster but I think it wouldn't be so good to send him. If Garmin wants extra support in the mountains, they should send Dan Martin.

Tommy D has proven to be a much better Grand Tour threat (3 top tens) and time trialist (TTT) then Dan Martin (finished in the 50's both times out) and has earned the spot though. He rode great in the Tour of California and has an outside shot at the Top 10 and might be the best GC rider on the team right now.

 

[The_Z_man]

does anyone think Tejay van Garderen makes the HTC squad for the Tour or are they going to save him for the Vuelta?

I don't think he makes the Tour squad. That being said, I'm usually wrong, and he just might. He was at the AToC instead of the Giro, so maybe that means he shows up at Le Tour.

There's an article on here about Phinney not racing the Tour this year. My initial thought on seeing that was, "I never thought he would."

 

[LarsAU]

Can I get an evaluation on Saxo? Because aside from AC and his Spanish friends, they have who coming for TDF? I do hear that they are considered a strong team, you're not the first to say so, but who are we talking about?

AC and his compatriots
CAS
Nicky Sorensen
Richie Porte
These three are as certain as it gets.

Then probably Gustav Larsson
One more maybe Tossato?

CAS will be a great mountain domestique and Porte and Larsson will be great in the TTT. Nicky will just eat pain and dish it out

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Tommy D has proven to be a much better Grand Tour threat (3 top tens) and time trialist (TTT) then Dan Martin (finished in the 50's both times out) and has earned the spot though.

I don't think that their ability to be a GC threat will be at all relevant, given that either of them would be going as mountain support for a team that already has two fringe GC contenders. What might go in Danielson's favour is his time trialling. They really want a stage win, and the TTT is a real opportunity, even though they aren't the very top favourites.

Personally I think that Danielson is better off as their main GC man for the Vuelta, rather than as a domestique in the Tour.

 

[Eric8-A]

Personally I think that Danielson is better off as their main GC man for the Vuelta, rather than as a domestique in the Tour.

I agree. And I'm basing my opinion on what I saw from him at the Vuelta. He seemed to crack a few times. If he's the GC leader going into the Tour, it won't be such a good idea when they have Vandevelde and Hesjedal.

As far as the TTT goes, it's probably going to be a fight between Garmin and Radioshack, much like it was in '09 between Garmin and Astana.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Tommy D has proven to be a much better Grand Tour threat (3 top tens) and time trialist (TTT) then Dan Martin (finished in the 50's both times out) and has earned the spot though. He rode great in the Tour of California and has an outside shot at the Top 10 and might be the best GC rider on the team right now.

Martin is a natural climber when in form, and a much better climber then TD.

Martin is still only 24.

TD is 33, and has never been able to hold a candle to the big boys.

 

[greenedge]

Tommy D will be the next to ( belatedly ) experience JV's tour magic touch. Nah i don't think he should go D. Martin is great in the mountains. Also Garmin might need Fischer/ Dean to lead Hushovd, Farrar/ maybe Haussler out. I cannot picture those 3/2 doing a real effective job against MR/MC and DH/AP. HTC and Lampre. With SBS instead of Tossato they might get Cooke maybe as he might be fresher and that bit more well built.

 

[theyoungest]

Martin is a natural climber when in form, and a much better climber then TD.

Martin is still only 24.

TD is 33, and has never been able to hold a candle to the big boys.

Both of them are very inconsistent though. And Tommy D has actually shown something in GTs before, is useful in the TTT (obviously important to Garmin), is probably a little more suited to the Tour climbs... given the choice I'd actually take Tommy D, however weird that may sound.

 

[auscyclefan94]

EuskaLtel just happen to have a rider who has a chance to podium, 5 domestiques in Velasco, Verdugo, Martinez, G. Izagirre, and Txurruka who have been great this year, and there is a chance that Castroviejo rides, helping out immensely in the TTT.

With Sanchez, Verdugo, Martinez, and Castroviejo guiding through the TTT, they have a nice lineup.

I still think that EE is a bit over rated in that sense.

Whoever it is that coaches them.

Liquigas consistently do well in TTTs because they are very well organised and have a well thought out strategy. That's far more important than individual abilities.

You can be a great coach but you can make donkeys into race horses. I am not saying Liquigas are all donkeys but ability is quite important.

individuals not many teams will beat the opl 3. but that wont make it effective.
Gilbert is the big one.

In terms of team strength rabo will have an extremely strong team at the tour.
Gesink wont be able to complain

I expect:
Gesink

LLS
Mollema
Barredo
Garate
LTD

Boom
Niermann
Tjallingii

Other Possibility: Matti Breschel. Who I would assume would change with Niermann or Tjallingii.

lota of mountain men, a strong team for the TTT and good roulers.

bets team they have ever had at a tour, on paper.

Rabobank have such a well rounded team. It wouldn't surprise me if they are top 3 in the ttt. Hopefully LLS is an asset for Gesink at the tour as he has been dissapointing this year.

BMC's team

Evans
Bookwalter
Hincapie
Quinziato
Santaromita
Moinard
Morabito
Kroon/Schaer/Burghardt
Kroon/Schaer/Burghadt

Which two out of the 3 would you take?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Both of them are very inconsistent though. And Tommy D has actually shown something in GTs before, is useful in the TTT (obviously important to Garmin), is probably a little more suited to the Tour climbs... given the choice I'd actually take Tommy D, however weird that may sound.

I get why one would pick TD, just potentially Martin is worth the risk, imo.
In an ideal world I'd probably take both.
They have to figure out their priorities I guess.

 

[Parrulo]

the bmc squad looks weak even with their best riders . . . . poor evans

 

[auscyclefan94]

the bmc squad looks weak even with their best riders . . . . poor evans

I think it looks quite strong especially in comparison to past tour.

 

[Parrulo]

I think it looks quite strong especially in comparison to past tour.

it looks strong compared to other teams brought by BMC to some races in the past. yet as a team for some1 who hopes to be in contention for the win, it is indeed rather weak.

if evans were ever to be in yellow how would be bmc able to control a mountain stage? the other teams won't have a very hard time isolating evans early in the race if they want too =/

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think it looks quite strong especially in comparison to past tour.

still lacking in mountain men to be honest.

it is an average team. not in the strong team category, but I don't think they are in the weak team category either.

Agree they are better then 10' tho.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

it looks strong compared to other teams brought by BMC to some races in the past. yet as a team for some1 who hopes to be in contention for the win, it is indeed rather weak.

if evans were ever to be in yellow how would be bmc able to control a mountain stage? the other teams won't have a very hard time isolating evans early in the race if they want too =/

yeah this.

Hard to say how they will go in the TTT.

 

[auscyclefan94]

it looks strong compared to other teams brought by BMC to some races in the past. yet as a team for some1 who hopes to be in contention for the win, it is indeed rather weak.

if evans were ever to be in yellow how would be bmc able to control a mountain stage? the other teams won't have a very hard time isolating evans early in the race if they want too =/

I think they can but a team like saxo will generally take over any try to set a high tempo for schleck. If Morabito comes with decent form at the tour this year then he should be with cadel for a while. He rode very strongly in that stage to Morzine last year.

 

[Parrulo]

I think they can but a team like saxo will generally take over any try to set a high tempo for schleck. If Morabito comes with decent form at the tour this year then he should be with cadel for a while. He rode very strongly in that stage to Morzine last year.

well lets assume then that BMC never has to control the race. teams like leopard, saxo, rabo and liqui on the mountain stages with several high mountains right from the beginning can set a pace high enough to drop all of evan's helpers, morabito included, and still come out with some decent numbers. as in 2 or 3 or maybe even 4 guys with their leader while cadel will already be alone on the wind getting his own bottles of water and with no free fast wheel or bike if he is unlucky with a poorly timed mechanical. for a team with so much money bmc is no doubt poorly managed

 

[just some guy]

I still think that EE is a bit over rated in that sense.

You can be a great coach but you can make donkeys into race horses. I am not saying Liquigas are all donkeys but ability is quite important.
Rabobank have such a well rounded team. It wouldn't surprise me if they are top 3 in the ttt. Hopefully LLS is an asset for Gesink at the tour as he has been dissapointing this year.

BMC's team

Evans
Bookwalter
Hincapie
Quinziato
Santaromita
Moinard
Morabito
Kroon/Schaer/Burghardt
Kroon/Schaer/Burghadt

Which two out of the 3 would you take?

Schär and Burghart

 

[Eric8-A]

Also Garmin might need Fischer/ Dean to lead Hushovd, Farrar/ maybe Haussler out. I cannot picture those 3/2 doing a real effective job against MR/MC and DH/AP. HTC and Lampre. With SBS instead of Tossato they might get Cooke maybe as he might be fresher and that bit more well built.

Well as far as leadout goes, I assume the men for that will be Millar, Hushovd, Maaskant (if he's recovered. If not Lancaster), Dean.

By that, I can say that Garmin's Tour roster will be something like this:

Christian Vandevelde

Ryder Hesjedal

Tyler Farrar

David Millar

Thor Hushovd

Dave Zabriskie

Martijn Maaskant/Bret Lancaster

Johan Van Summeren

The final man will have to be fought out between Danielson, Martin, and Haussler.

 

[auscyclefan94]

well lets assume then that BMC never has to control the race. teams like leopard, saxo, rabo and liqui on the mountain stages with several high mountains right from the beginning can set a pace high enough to drop all of evan's helpers, morabito included, and still come out with some decent numbers. as in 2 or 3 or maybe even 4 guys with their leader while cadel will already be alone on the wind getting his own bottles of water and with no free fast wheel or bike if he is unlucky with a poorly timed mechanical. for a team with so much money bmc is no doubt poorly managed

I disagree with that. I think you are underestimating guys like Santaromita, Moinard and Morabito. Anyway, if you are right cadel was use to that sort of support at Lotto. At least he is happy at BMC.