Now that most of the transfer saga seems to have blown over (although the future of Wiggins and RadioShack vis-à-vis Astana still are big question marks) I want you to rate the top 3 most improved teams and the top 3 most weakened teams following the transfer period. For obvious reasons don’t include new teams or teams that are going out of business. My take:
Most Improved:
1. BMC: Added some top veterans in Ballan, Hincapie, Kroon and Burghardt as well as some good domestiques in Schar and Morabito, and all of a sudden they are a top team for the classics. Especially on the cobbles, where they can rival the all-powerful Quick-Step.
2. Garmin: While the loss of Wiggins would take them out of this spot in a heartbeat, they’ve quietly added some very interesting riders. Kessiakoff and Vansummeren are top guys who can become important cogs in classics and in GTs (and stand more than a good chance of bagging a few wins for themselves) and Robbie Hunter is a good sprinter burdened by being on a team that was going nowhere slowly all season. Zirbel will be an good addition to their impressive complement of time-trialists and they’ve snapped up some good prospects in Bobridge, Kreder and Stetina. Only major loss is Chris Sutton, who is sprinting like a demon right now.
3. Katusha: Assuming the mid-season doping losses of Colom and Pfannberger are not counted against them here, the additions of Kirchen and Joaquin Rodriguez turn them into a potentially big player in the GTs, somewhere where they were by-and-large absent this year. Addition of Vladdy Gusev is interesting too. How much has he got to offer (hopefully) without the dope? Enough to help Pozzato to a Flanders or Roubaix victory, maybe?
Most weakened:
1. Astana: While we finally got some news of some potential additions to the team next year, even if all those guys do eventually come over they’ll still be left with a massive hole to fill to for next season. While I believe Contador will win le Tour next year even if his team consisted of eight circus bears riding on unicycles, it’ll seriously hamper their chances to win any race where Contador doesn’t decide to go all out.
2. Columbia-HTC: Certainly debatable this. They lose a potential superstar in Edvald Boasson Hagen, a very good talent in Lokvist, and some of their top veterans (as well as key pieces to their Cav train) in Hincapie, Henderson and Kirchen. Burghardt is gone too. They have added some talent as well like the Velits bros., Lars Bak and some top talents like Van Garderen and Matt Goss, but on the whole the losses are much greater. They better hope Martin keeps improving, or they will have no one left to win a GC.
3. Saxo: Tough call, but losing veterans like Arvesen, Bak, Kroon, McCartney and Van Goolen will hurt their Tour chances with the Schlecks. They’re bringing in Baden Cooke, who is obviously trying to get the ‘Most Teams Ridden for in Career’ Award, but I doubt is capable of winning a sprint in a major race or stage anymore.
If anyone wants a refresh of transfers so far, here is an excellent overview:
http://www.velo-club.net/article.php?sid=53140
Most Improved:
1. BMC: Added some top veterans in Ballan, Hincapie, Kroon and Burghardt as well as some good domestiques in Schar and Morabito, and all of a sudden they are a top team for the classics. Especially on the cobbles, where they can rival the all-powerful Quick-Step.
2. Garmin: While the loss of Wiggins would take them out of this spot in a heartbeat, they’ve quietly added some very interesting riders. Kessiakoff and Vansummeren are top guys who can become important cogs in classics and in GTs (and stand more than a good chance of bagging a few wins for themselves) and Robbie Hunter is a good sprinter burdened by being on a team that was going nowhere slowly all season. Zirbel will be an good addition to their impressive complement of time-trialists and they’ve snapped up some good prospects in Bobridge, Kreder and Stetina. Only major loss is Chris Sutton, who is sprinting like a demon right now.
3. Katusha: Assuming the mid-season doping losses of Colom and Pfannberger are not counted against them here, the additions of Kirchen and Joaquin Rodriguez turn them into a potentially big player in the GTs, somewhere where they were by-and-large absent this year. Addition of Vladdy Gusev is interesting too. How much has he got to offer (hopefully) without the dope? Enough to help Pozzato to a Flanders or Roubaix victory, maybe?
Most weakened:
1. Astana: While we finally got some news of some potential additions to the team next year, even if all those guys do eventually come over they’ll still be left with a massive hole to fill to for next season. While I believe Contador will win le Tour next year even if his team consisted of eight circus bears riding on unicycles, it’ll seriously hamper their chances to win any race where Contador doesn’t decide to go all out.
2. Columbia-HTC: Certainly debatable this. They lose a potential superstar in Edvald Boasson Hagen, a very good talent in Lokvist, and some of their top veterans (as well as key pieces to their Cav train) in Hincapie, Henderson and Kirchen. Burghardt is gone too. They have added some talent as well like the Velits bros., Lars Bak and some top talents like Van Garderen and Matt Goss, but on the whole the losses are much greater. They better hope Martin keeps improving, or they will have no one left to win a GC.
3. Saxo: Tough call, but losing veterans like Arvesen, Bak, Kroon, McCartney and Van Goolen will hurt their Tour chances with the Schlecks. They’re bringing in Baden Cooke, who is obviously trying to get the ‘Most Teams Ridden for in Career’ Award, but I doubt is capable of winning a sprint in a major race or stage anymore.
If anyone wants a refresh of transfers so far, here is an excellent overview:
http://www.velo-club.net/article.php?sid=53140
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