le Tour team thread

[Ferminal]

Team RadioShack

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

I guess I was wrong on Popo, he looked like he was riding to impress other teams at the Giro. Nice to see Irizar get a chance in the TdF.

 

[kurtinsc]

Does Bruyneel have a crush on Popovych or something?

Popo has always been a great worker at the Tour (except when he road for Evans). Almost any team would love to have a rider like Popovych on their squad (at least like Popo when he rides for Bruyneel).

 

[Tuarts]

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

What's the story here?

 

[Zerak-Tul]

What's the story here?

Vino rode so hard in the TTT that their 5th man dropped like a mile or two out. Instead of easing up and letting him get back on he started gesturing angrily back towards the guy who was suffering like hell to try and come back to the front four.

 

[just some guy]

Vino rode so hard in the TTT that their 5th man dropped like a mile or two out. Instead of easing up and letting him get back on he started gesturing angrily back towards the guy who was suffering like hell to try and come back to the front four.

Not going to happen Fabian is not Vino

But will be interesting is if Frank and or Andy drop a chain or come off the bike.

Now not hoping for anything bad Leopard have a very good TTT and Andy if something bad happens - mechanical or otherwise who would the team slow for.

if its early then Fabian, Andy and maybe Frank

if its late Andy and I assume thats it.

Nerves do funning things to people - every talks about the TTT and Evans, Basso, Sammy losing time I think the most nervous guy will be Andy.

will he drop a chain
will he lose it
will frank lose it

etc etc

 

[JimPanzen]

Vino rode so hard in the TTT that their 5th man dropped like a mile or two out. Instead of easing up and letting him get back on he started gesturing angrily back towards the guy who was suffering like hell to try and come back to the front four.

That made me really angry. As a leader you don't treat the other riders (that are supposed to help you in the upcoming stages by the way) in that way. In that situation, Vino totally failed as a leader.

 

[DamonAlbarn]

The Saxo's aren't half bad in the TTT in my opinion.

Porte, Mørkov, Contador, Nicki Sørensen (who did a great ITT in Tour de Slovenie and appeared to be in great form), Vandborg etc.
Hell, even Chris Anker Sørensen has improved in that department.
Perhaps Riis has decided Larsson doesn't have the qualities to take over from O'Grady as 'capitain de route'?

Thoughts?

 

[lucybears]

Liquigas pour le Tour de France


Ivan Basso, Paolo Longo Borghini, Daniel Oss, Fabio Sabatini, Alessandro Vanotti, Maciej Bodnar, Maciej Paterski, Sylvester Szmyd, Kristjan Koren

 

[JPM London]

Saxo Team:

- Alberto Contador (Spain)
- Jesus Hernandez (Spain)
- Dani Navarro (Spain)
- Benjamin Noval (Spain)
- Richie Porte (Australia)
- Chris Anker Sørensen (Denmark)
- Nicki Sørensen (Denmark)
- Matteo Tosatto (Italy)
- Brian Vandborg (Denmark)

 

[TeoSheva]

6 men over 9 confirmed by the AG2R

• Nicolas ROCHE (IRL)
• Jean-Christophe PERAUD (FRA)
• Blel KADRI (FRA)
• Christophe RIBLON (FRA)
• John GADRET (FRA)
• Hubert DUPONT (FRA)


nice to see the recover of Kadri, and Gadret-Dupont!

 

[Midnightfright]

That made me really angry. As a leader you don't treat the other riders (that are supposed to help you in the upcoming stages by the way) in that way. In that situation, Vino totally failed as a leader.

They may have been something underlying resulting in his actions. Maybe he felt he hadn't worked hard enough and wanted to shame him in public? Who knows but it certainly wasn't very clever, like u said this person would be needed to help him later on.

 

[Liquigas]

6 men over 9 confirmed by the AG2R

• Nicolas ROCHE (IRL)
• Jean-Christophe PERAUD (FRA)
• Blel KADRI (FRA)
• Christophe RIBLON (FRA)
• John GADRET (FRA)
• Hubert DUPONT (FRA)


nice to see the recover of Kadri, and Gadret-Dupont!

Very, very nice team

 

[Ferminal]

Very, very nice team

Needs more 10th-30th GC contenders

Could be a challenger to The Shack for the overall.

 

[Sørensen]

Saxo Team:

- Alberto Contador (Spain)
- Jesus Hernandez (Spain)
- Dani Navarro (Spain)
- Benjamin Noval (Spain)
- Richie Porte (Australia)
- Chris Anker Sørensen (Denmark)
- Nicki Sørensen (Denmark)
- Matteo Tosatto (Italy)
- Brian Vandborg (Denmark)

Strong team imo and cant disagree. Maybe could have made a case for Mørkøv instead of Vandborg. But if he can ride as well in the TDF as he did for Liquigas last year i wont complain, he is also that bit stronger uphill as well.

 

[marcantony]

I can see Tosatto in B.Cooke's role. But not sure Noval or Vandborg are better than Larsson and i am not talking only for the TTT. Really, are there some bad feelings between Larsson and Riis?

 

[theyoungest]

6 men over 9 confirmed by the AG2R

• Nicolas ROCHE (IRL)
• Jean-Christophe PERAUD (FRA)
• Blel KADRI (FRA)
• Christophe RIBLON (FRA)
• John GADRET (FRA)
• Hubert DUPONT (FRA)


nice to see the recover of Kadri, and Gadret-Dupont!

Not a bad team at all. Could provide some nice attacking splendour in the mountains. Except for Roche, who could do so but instead chooses to focus on a 12th place in GC.

 

[JPM London]

I can see Tosatto in B.Cooke's role. But not sure Noval or Vandborg are better than Larsson and i am not talking only for the TTT. Really, are there some bad feelings between Larsson and Riis?

Don't think so - I think the Spaniards were fixed from the beginning as they were brought on specifically for this purpose. As for Vandborg/Larsson I think current form might be an issue - Has Larsson really delivered anything this year? I dunno, but would have liked to see him in there as well - shame they can't bring 10

 

[Sørensen]

I can see Tosatto in B.Cooke's role. But not sure Noval or Vandborg are better than Larsson and i am not talking only for the TTT. Really, are there some bad feelings between Larsson and Riis?

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.

 

[bjaelkesex]

Vandborg is also fantastic on the flat road (replacing O'grady). I understand why he's replacing Larsson.

 

[lancaster]

strong team for saxo, much less surprising a team than the rumour a couple of days ago.

 

[El Pistolero]

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.

 

[marcantony]

Maybe you are right about Vandborg, but Noval....Tosatto is pretty useful in flat stages, almost monster

 

[JPM London]

And with the finances in place for next year Riis can actually focus on the race this year...

 

[lucybears]

El gorrión de Cazoña might be going
http://movistarteam.com/noticias/2011-6-22/preseleccion-para-el-tour-de-francia

 

[cineteq]

Teams are shaping up:
http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/Tour/1.809973