McEwen to Radio Shack? Maybe the fat ladies not singing....for Radio Shack that is.

[Dimtick]

Rumur that McEwen is going to Radio Shack following Pegasus's demise. Seems like a wierd move to me since Radio Shack is rumured to be disolving after the 2011 season when the RS sponsorship deal ends. I know that McEwen is nearing the end of his career but I thought he had a few more seasons in him. Maybe RS can also pick up Hunter in the going oput of business sale, and change focus to a sprint team? I don't think they will ever beat Cavendish, Thor or Tyler on the big races. Maybe they'll focus on the Giro and the Vuelta and let HTC and Garmen fight it out at the TDF.
so is this a sign that there can be life for Team Bruyneel once RS goes away?

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6...-react-to-Pegasus-Sports-licence-refusal.aspx

 

[royalpig180]

Sure would be interesting for both McEwen and RS, but I highly doubt that RS would be that interested. And even if they are, McEwen should definitely stay away. Just look at what happened with Steegmans this season. Sure, he's a different rider and not as fast a sprinter as McEwen, but unless RS is committed to totally refocusing their team, its too big a risk for someone so close to retirement. Unless, of course, it is too late and no other major team offers him a contract, in which case he'll have to take what he can get.

 

[ingsve]

If he does go to RS it would certainly not be for anything longer than a one year deal so I don't think it's possible to say anything about the future of RS based on this.

 

[Dimtick]

Sure would be interesting for both McEwen and RS, but I highly doubt that RS would be that interested. And even if they are, McEwen should definitely stay away. Just look at what happened with Steegmans this season. Sure, he's a different rider and not as fast a sprinter as McEwen, but unless RS is committed to totally refocusing their team, its too big a risk for someone so close to retirement. Unless, of course, it is too late and no other major team offers him a contract, in which case he'll have to take what he can get.

I think that McEwan / Hunter and the other riders would jump at a chance to be on RS and ride the ProTour races rather than be stuck to the conti-circuit. It's definently true that RS won't commit to being a sprint team but at least these guys can get some stages.
Like I said I can't see McEwen ever beating the other top sprinters. I see him (and Hunter) more as a long breakaway rider. Maybe that's how he can fit into RS. He'll be the breakaway guy that just does his own thing while the rest of the squad (Levi, Kloden, etc) sticks with the peleton and tries to squeek their way onto a podium.

 

[LeakyLens]

He certainly fits the age profile of the team.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Radio Shack: Might be an idea for them to buy up the US tv rights to make "Grumpy Old Men", while they are at it .

 

[Dimtick]

Radio Shack: Might be an idea for them to buy up the US tv rights to make "Grumpy Old Men", while they are at it .

Maybe "Ben Gay" can be the new sponsor when RS ends.

 

[Wrecktangle]

Robbie is used to riding on his own for sprints so I see RS as a great fit, i.e. 8 guys riding for GS, 1 for sprint. The perfect Bruyneel ratio for division of work.

 

[kurtinsc]

If they can get other PT jobs, or a very top PC team... then they probably should take it.

But if they can't... Radioshack isn't a horrible one year bandage to their bad situation.

They don't have any sprinters... so Hunter and McEwen would be the lead guy in any sprint stage of a race they were in. They wouldn't get a train... but both are experienced at poaching off the trains of others.

McEwen might be the team leader at the northern classics as well.

 

[Barrus]

Robbie is used to riding on his own for sprints so I see RS as a great fit, i.e. 8 guys riding for GS, 1 for sprint. The perfect Bruyneel ratio for division of work.

No, not really, the Bruyneel ratio is no sprinters, 1 guy riding for GC and 8 to drag his behind over the climbs

 

[Polish]

Robbie and Lance came to fisticuffs once didn't they?

Anyway, Robbie is a big fan now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c-cYfDm2r0

 

[Black-Balled]

LAnce would kick Robbie's azzz in a fistfight.

 

[avanti]

............ Radio Shack is rumured to be disolving after the 2011 season when the RS sponsorship deal ends.............

I do not know who owns the team but RadioShack its current sponsor - maybe there is another sponsor being lined up for 2012. If not then the teams current riders may be exciting to watch as they look for a 2012 team to pick them up.

 

[NickBVK]

Robbie doesn't need a train and will deliver Radioshack more wins than they got this season.

 

[ergmonkey]

I don't think they will ever beat Cavendish, Thor or Tyler on the big races.

Let's not forget about Greipel, either. There will be plenty of big guns for the top sprints next year--and they will all be well-supported.

I don't see the Tour sprints being suited to the McEwen/Freire style of freelancing, perfect-positioning, late-jumping little sprinter next year. Which is too bad, in a way. Any sprint won by those guys is virtually guaranteed to be an exciting and somewhat hectic sprint.

 

[flicker]

I am in California and if Mckewen were racing the tour of cali I will be at the start and finish of every stage sprint, some of his sprints are dodgy but he brings major excitement to the sport. The Shack is my favorite team I would pay to see Robbie on the Shack, same with South African Hunter, Class.

 

[PCutter]

Robbie is a GC legend. When he's not dropping chumps like me on the Tomewin climb he's out saving rugby league players lives. RS would be lucky to have him. Still can't handle his pi$$ though.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/12/22/278021_gold-coast-news.html

 

[BotanyBay]

Simple:

 

[mad black]

No, not really, the Bruyneel ratio is no sprinters, 1 guy riding for GC and 8 to drag his behind over the climbs

That's exactly right! And it's an extremely successful ratio at that. Evans lost the Tour to Sastre because Lotto insisted to have dead weight like McEwan on the team. Should RS recruits McEwan he most certainly won't participate in the Tour.

Also I don't think that McEwan has got more than a season left! As a matter of fact he should retire now and get a coaching job or something along the line.

 

[flicker]

That's exactly right! And it's an extremely successful ratio at that. Evans lost the Tour to Sastre because Lotto insisted to have dead weight like McEwan on the team. Should RS recruits McEwan he most certainly won't participate in the Tour.

Also I don't think that McEwan has got more than a season left! As a matter of fact he should retire now and get a coaching job or something along the line.

Well so happy to have a scapegoat like McKewen for Evans to kick around. I guess if McKewen wasn't support Evans there would be an excuse.

 

[veganrob]

Robbie was great, most exciting sprinter. He is done now though.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think robbie still could do well in some of the bigger races. If he can win a stage or two, I wouldn't put good odds on it. Though it will be a sad day when he leaves the pro peleton, I have enjoyed watching him over the years and his win in Cantebury was one of my all time favourite moments of cycling. RM badly injured himself, the team had a hard chase back and then to sprint from a fair way back and make all the others sprinters look like amateurs by winning easily. Brilliant!

 

[NickBVK]

I am in California and if Mckewen were racing the tour of cali I will be at the start and finish of every stage sprint, some of his sprints are dodgy but he brings major excitement to the sport. The Shack is my favorite team I would pay to see Robbie on the Shack, same with South African Hunter, Class.

Well so happy to have a scapegoat like McKewen for Evans to kick around. I guess if McKewen wasn't support Evans there would be an excuse.

How can you continue to spell it so blatantly wrong when it's correct in other peoples posts and even in the thread title!

 

[Martin318is]

...his win in Cantebury was one of my all time favourite moments of cycling. RM badly injured himself, the team had a hard chase back and then to sprint from a fair way back and make all the others sprinters look like amateurs by winning easily. Brilliant!

Agreed, I was there that day and it was an awesome recovery and win.

 

[flicker]

How can you continue to spell it so blatantly wrong when it's correct in other peoples posts and even in the thread title!

Sorry it is McEwen, no disrespect to Robbie nor you. What an epic rider, I know whatever team McEwen rides for next year he will put it all out there.