Really? So the whole Van den Brocke falling over in the ITT and Cadel's whole 2009 Tour imploding were just imaginary? Last time I checked Jurgen cried about nobody waiting for his dumb **** after he ran into his own team mate and the Belgian owner cracked the whip and the team was chastised for not waiting for the annointed one. Wake up and smell the roses, this has nothing to do with nationalism/patriotism. It has to do with business and supporting the best winner. It's sport. Cuddles doesn't get support? He gets as much as he use to, but is better off because the management aren't morons. The guys at BMC, Lelangue and co, listen to his needs. They don't demand.
I'll excuse your lunacy for this one time. Go and reread the accounts most forumists made last year regarding Evans. They loved his change of heart, his racing style and most notably his behaviour. He didn't seem like a tool anymore. In fact, he rode his **** off and had his best season ever. What led to this change? Belgians owner on a Belgian team being an idiot. Do you honestly think a rider being fired mid season before any GT has started is normal, least of all for non PED issues? It ain't. Never has been.
I gave a very bland and generic account. Who was Lloyd's room mate? Evans. That's one guy he hung out with. So what happens when Evans left? Read Gilbert's confession this week. He barely spoke to Lloyd, so why would anyone assume he was wanted or needed by other riders on the team? You wouldn't. If you get to the bottom line, OPL wanted something, told Lloyd another and you get a disagreement and finally someone breaks. Contract dispute leads to dismisal. Hardly rocket science. Was I specific? Hell no. But the writing is on the wall. Good luck filling in the blanks, OPL will have had their lawyers all over that, after all, few every heard the real reason behind Evans 2009 TdF flop. Most accounts are guesswork based on press releases by the OPL owner mouthing off. Same deal this time.
I do have to ask? Are all Europeans this daft or is this lack of perception in regards to behavioural semantics distributed and locked within certain European countries? To me this sounds like another Euro idiot manager who doesn't relate to other people and never realised opening their flapper might actually fix things. No shock there. This from the continent that brought two world wars within 30 years. Better, from one of the few countries in both wars that got spanked senseless and caught napping with their pants down. Sounds like the place to not be if you are a people person...at OPL. Think I'm wrong? Drop OPL a line and ask them what their contracts cover in a legal template. You'll hear nothing from them, other than sematics and PR mumbo jumbo. Would anyone like me to drop a list of the quality riders OPL have bled in the last 5 years. It includes the man who last week won Roubaix. I've known for sometime that asylum is run by the loons.
No. Gilbert couldn't win the WC last season and he sure did try. Just like people were saying last week about Cancellara. His main season goals ended without wins. Sure he was the strongest, but there is only so much of that one can take without actually steeping onto the podium. For crying out loud, Gilbert and Cancellara are in high demand because of their calibre. If Gilbert doesn't win one of the following; Amstel, LBL, or Fleche, then yeah, I'd say his front part of the season will be a total waste of time. When you don't win when you should, better, when others throw money at you to join them, you definitely explore your options.
People as highly motivated as Gilbert and Spartacus, with the skills to match their aspirations don't like coming second. Could you imagine what he could do on a team like Saxo, with AC? They'd be able to pick who wins which Classic. Right now, Gilbert is praying he doesn't get tag teamed, because lets face it, without Cadel there, he is left to fend for himself. Anyone here remember how potent Gilbert was in September/October 2009 with Evans helping him? 3 wins in 3 races, including Lombardie. He is by far the most talented rider at OPL. Maybe he should thank his lucky stars the Italians raided Katusha the other day. Perhaps one less team filled with strong rivals he may not have to contend with...I wouldn't count on it though. I'd wager Rodriguez and Kolobnev, with Ignatiev could easily win one of the 3 races I listed. Rodriguez almost did last year. If Gilbert doesn't win, he waits till September for another crack...that's a long wait because you couldn't win your seasonal goals. Long enough to get a nice contract offer somewhere else, where you will get more help.
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