le Tour team thread

[fezzer]

I miss Matthew Busche in RS-lineup after the show he put on in ToC.

If they play there cards agressive and right, this could be a real great Tour for them, but it's RadioShack, so no high hopings.

 

[roundabout]

While I get the impression that Larsson isn't the sort of guy who will ride 100% for a leader and Contador could probably do without him in the TTT and still win the TdF I'll laugh my *** off if people like Haedo/Cooke/Vandborg/Noval get to ride while Larsson stays at home.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Ye Nibali is, + Anton + JRod + Gesink is going to start and probably quite some more from the tour guess F Schleck, Evans, maybe Mosquera if his case is done by then.

That could be a very interesting race, but of course some of the big names will turn up with dodgy form.

 

[Magnus]

Is there any weird story between Larsson and Contador/Riis?

Not that I know of. It seems weird given Gustav's performance in Suisse.
The only explanation I can think of is that Gustav's contract ends this year. In the event that he don't get an contract for next year Riis will prefer to bring someone who is on the team next year.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

While I get the impression that Larsson isn't the sort of guy who will ride 100% for a leader

Really? I suppose that if you are right that could explain it, but it seems bizarre to leave one of the world's best time triallists behind when (a) there's a TTT, (b) he's shown the ability to win a GT ITT and (c) he's likely to be the best guy in the squad to stick on the front to control a flat stage.

 

[Magnus]

While I get the impression that Larsson isn't the sort of guy who will ride 100% for a leader and Contador could probably do without him in the TTT and still win the TdF I'll laugh my *** off if people like Haedo/Cooke/Vandborg/Noval get to ride while Larsson stays at home.

It's my impression that Cooke, Vandborg and Noval are rather good ttt'ers

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Wow no Larsson at Saxo is a suprise, given Saxo Banks already shaky TTT in the Giro...

 

[Magnus]

Strange decision given the TTT.

Hope Larson leaves Saxo now...

... or gets a danish passport.

Riis usually isn't nationalistic in his TdF team selection (he's been given some grieve in Denmark for not choosing enough Danes).

 

[roundabout]

Noval apart from being ****-buddies with Contador has shown exactly nothing this year to justify an inclusion.

If Cooke gets picked he will probably get the role of Noval so picking both of them together is rather redundant.

So yeah, if at least 3 of the people I named get to ride while Larsson stays home it will be very difficult to justify.

 

[Magnus]

Wow no Larsson at Saxo is a suprise, given Saxo Banks already shaky TTT in the Giro...

They wasn't that horrible:
1 HTC-Highroad 0:20:59
2 Team RadioShack 0:00:10
3 Liquigas-Cannondale 0:00:22
4 Omega Pharma-Lotto
5 Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:24
6 Lampre-ISD
7 Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:26
8 Saxo Bank Sungard 0:00:30
9 Sky Procycling 0:00:37
10 Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team

 

[The Hitch]

Well, I suppose it would be fun to watch him trying to take on the likes of Anton and Rodriguez. In that company he'd even be considered a pretty decent time triallist!

Actually, who the hell else is going to be riding for GC in the Vuelta? Is Nibali going to try to defend?

Nibali is going to defend and then some. Menchov is another huge name down for it. You mention Anton and Rodriguez.

Its likely that Scarponi will go for it.

Duarte is a slightly lesser name. As is Nieve and Arroyo. Im thinking maybe Killer will go for it too. Sucks that Androni arent invited though.

Add to that a bunch of people from TDF.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

They wasn't that horrible:
1 HTC-Highroad 0:20:59
2 Team RadioShack 0:00:10
3 Liquigas-Cannondale 0:00:22
4 Omega Pharma-Lotto
5 Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:24
6 Lampre-ISD
7 Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:26
8 Saxo Bank Sungard 0:00:30
9 Sky Procycling 0:00:37
10 Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team

i said shaky, not horrible

8th at 30 seconds isn't really awesome when you know leopard has some considerable firepower in the tour with cancellara, monfort and gerdemann

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nibali is going to defend and then some. Menchov is another huge name down for it. You mention Anton and Rodriguez.

Its likely that Scarponi will go for it.

Duarte is a slightly lesser name. As is Nieve and Arroyo. Im thinking maybe Killer will go for it too. Sucks that Androni arent invited though.

Add to that a bunch of people from TDF.

Scarponi already confirmed the Vuelta would be his next big goal yeah. So he's definately going.
Menchov, Nibali, Anton and Rodriguez are the other Giro guys going.

Perhaps Mosquera can finally ride in september then we can add him to the list.
And then from the Tour most probably Evans and Gesink and some others will likely join them if the Tour isn't going how they wanted or if they still feel fit

 

[Damiano]

Is there any weird story between Larsson and Contador/Riis?

I read somewhere that Larsson wasn't a team player. I think it was in a Danish Tour magazine.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Wow no Larsson at Saxo is a suprise, given Saxo Banks already shaky TTT in the Giro...

I don't get this TTT focus everyone seems to have here. There are more stages than just the TTT. You simply can't pick one guy over another simply because his ITT is better. A good ITT is no guarantee for a good TTT either. Also it might be me, but from memory sprinters often do surprisingly well in TTTs.

 

[hrotha]

I don't get this TTT focus everyone seems to have here. There are more stages than just the TTT. You simply can't pick one guy over another simply because his ITT is better. A good ITT is no guarantee for a good TTT either. Also it might be me, but from memory sprinters often do surprisingly well in TTTs.

Larsson happens to be both a world-class time-trialist and a capable climber.

 

[The Hitch]

Scarponi already confirmed the Vuelta would be his next big goal yeah. So he's definately going.
Menchov, Nibali, Anton and Rodriguez are the other Giro guys going.

Perhaps Mosquera can finally ride in september then we can add him to the list.
And then from the Tour most probably Evans and Gesink and some others will likely join them if the Tour isn't going how they wanted or if they still feel fit

Thanks for that man. Do you remember where you read it?

 

[kurtinsc]

Team RadioShack

Jani Brajkovic
Chris Horner
Markel Irizar
Andreas Klöden
Levi Leipheimer
Dmitriy Muravyev
Sérgio Paulinho
Yaroslav Popovych
Haimar Zubeldia

Oh well, no Busche. Not incredibly suprised though.

6 of them were a given, questions were Irizar, Muravyev and Zubeldia. I wonder if McEwen is ****ed.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Thanks for that man. Do you remember where you read it?

interview with french site cyclism actu

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-int...ni_la_vuelta_mon_deuxieme_objectif-16020.html

 

[Magnus]

i said shaky, not horrible

8th at 30 seconds isn't really awesome when you know leopard has some considerable firepower in the tour with cancellara, monfort and gerdemann

I know. But then again, if Fabian goes Vino(2010 GdI ttt) on them again Saxo's got nothing to worry about

 

[patrick767]

If they play there cards agressive and right, this could be a real great Tour for them, but it's RadioShack, so no high hopings.

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.

 

[hrotha]

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.

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

I wish I were joking.

 

[Anonymous]

Team RadioShack

Jani Brajkovic
Chris Horner
Markel Irizar
Andreas Klöden
Levi Leipheimer
Dmitriy Muravyev
Sérgio Paulinho
Yaroslav Popovych
Haimar Zubeldia

one rider under 31 years old.

Average age 33 years old.

oldest ever tour squad? Must be.

 

[El Pistolero]

Does Bruyneel have a crush on Popovych or something?

 

[karlboss]

Strong and yet I expect nothing

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.

I would think it should work by attacking everyday until one of the four ends up with a 2-3 minute advantage and then defend like hell. Unfortunately I fear it will be more like every man for himself until 4 guys finish in the top 20 and noone in the top 5...winning the team classification