Most Improved/Weakened Team for '11

[on3m@n@rmy]

I think Geox springs to mind. Garmin/Cervelo i discount as that really is a merge of two teams.

I would actually (and not being biased) have sky up there. Uran is a great talent, Zandio brings some climbing experience, Dowsett has potential, Rogers brings experience, and Knaven and Julich are great additions to the staff. Plus DB taking more of a back seat, they go into next year much stronger.

HTC losers? time will tell. We say this every year, and every year they do just fine.

IMO I would not discount Garmin/Cervelo, because how is that much different from a team picking up 4 or 5 key riders like Geox? Agreed on Geox though... too bad they did not get a PT license.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Saxobank as the most weakened, with or without Contador.

Vacansoleil as the most strengthened. Gone from a team that was ignored wholesale, to a team that is an automatic on the start list.

 

[theyoungest]

I think that sounds like a very optimistic goal. I have a hard time seeing Sky winning any monuments next year. I would settle for a semi-classic or two as a goal. As for GT stages then a few is certainly possible. I also wouldn't put money on winning a top one week stage races unless you count things like Eneco Tour which is within grasp. Other than that I would be happy if Sky had a steady top 10 presence in most stage races and a podium or two would be nice.

They have Rogers now, he could perhaps win something like Pais Vasco or Tirreno. As for Monuments, I don't see it happening either... EBH is no Freire and Flecha is no Cancellara.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Now that most of the transfer saga seems to have blown over (The continuing story of Franco Pellizotti appears to be unresolved) I want you to rate the top 3 most improved teams and the top 3 most weakened teams going into next year. For obvious reasons don’t include new teams or teams that are going/went out of business. My take:

Most Improved:

1. Geox: Rather obvious pick this. With the exception of Cardoso they've hung on to most of the riders who were worth being on a big team, and have added very good riders like Menchov, Sastre, Cobo, and David Blanco. They've got some decent support riders in as well like Ardilla, Colli, and de la Fuente, and have signed some bright young talents like Duarte, Kump, and Ratto... Yes, they've not got any proven riders for the classics, and their sprinting look woeful, but at least this team looks like it will be able field some excellent GC squads. I would've given them a WorldTour licence over Quick-Step, Ag2R and perhaps Vacalsoleil as well... But it wasn't up to me. Hope the team does not end up collapsing as has been rumoured, since I think they'll be able to go places over the next few years.

2. Garmin-Cervelo: They've got the best classics team in the business now, and their already formidable sprinting squad now perhaps eclipses HTC's in depth and strength. All their roster losses seem to be compensated by better riders coming in. The only complaint is that their questionable GC line-up doesn't really improve despite the addition of le Mevel, although with the sprinting/stage-winning machine they've contructed I doubt GCs will be their top priority anyway.

3. Omega Pharma Lotto: Their big signing, Andre Greipel, is a top sprinter, which is something Lotto didn't really have. The addition of a few pieces of the HTC train like Hansen and Sieberg, should help with Greipel's transition to his new team. Greipel guarantees them at least a dozen wins next year, which will more double what they got this year. Oscar Pujol from Cervelo is another solid signing. They do incur a few losses which keep them at #3, like van Avermaet, Peraud (who would've been very useful for VdB2 in the Tour next year) and Daniel Moreno. The 'loss' of Hoste is, to me, a gain for the team.


Most Weakened:

1. Saxo Bank-Sungard: This placing assumes the fact that Contador's lawyers will not succeed in their attempts to obfuscate their way to an accuital in the clenbuterol/plastic residue case. However, I might feel inclined to 'award' them this place even if Bertie-boy gets off, since they'll still have gone from the best classics team in the business to one of the most anaemic, as well as losing some of their key road captains and support riders. The back-office brain drain should be factored in as well.

2. HTC: They lose their #2 rider in Andre Greipel, as well as some of his support riders to Lotto. They also lose important guys like Rogers and Monfort, as well as one of their bigger talents in Rasmus Guldhammer (who I'll admit hadn't exactly performed as well as people expected in his first pro year). They have brought in a potential superstar in Degenkolb, and a guy like Alex Rasmussen should fit very well into their train. But all in all, significant losses with little to compensate.

3. BBox/Europcar: Tricky pick this, but I went for Europcar in the end. They were always a plucky little team, but the delay in finding a new sponsor cost them dearly. They lose Fedrigo, Vogondy, Tschopp, Trofimov, and Bonnet, as wel as some of their domestique types. In return they get a past-it Sebastian Chavanel and Christophe Kern... They'll have to fight and ride hard to get into the TdF I warrant.

I would not include a team like Geox in that mix because the team footon from this year will totally different than the geox team next year.They have 14 riders coming iinto the team and 13 leaving. Therefore only 10 riders are the same. I'm also reluctant to include Garmin Cervelo. Even though they would top my list I will discard them for now.

Most Improved

Sky - Rogers, Dowsett, Hunt, Uran Uran, Zandio all good riders coming in. The people leaving aren't big losses.

Rabobank-Even though they had some losses with Menchov leaving & Moerenhout retiring, it is still a very strong versatile outfit. Barredo, Bos, breschel, LL Sanchez & Wynants are all strong riders in their own respect. They brought in U23 World Champ Michael matthews. Also have brought up two dutch riders from the development squad which I have no clue about.

BMC- Got some great young talent coming into the team such as Eijssen, Phinney & Tim Roe. other guys coming in are Moinard, Quinziato, Santaromita, tschopp and Van avermaet. Losing House, moos, nydam, stalder & stewart. Not big losses

Most weakened - Not going to use Saxo because it really is a very different team.

HTC - Greipel, Monfort and Rogers are all big losses amongst some other domestiques. Should still rack up some wins though as there is still plenty of talent there but they are now just a sprint team.

BBox - as above in quote.

Liquigas - Losing bennati, Chicchi, Pellizotti, Kreuziger, Quinziato and Kiersorlovski amongst others are all big losses especially when there are no overly formidable riders coming in.

 

[maltiv]

They have Rogers now, he could perhaps win something like Pais Vasco or Tirreno. As for Monuments, I don't see it happening either... EBH is no Freire and Flecha is no Cancellara.

Edvald was one of the top favourites for MSR last year and he has only improved since then. He could very well win if he is there at the end.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Don't understand how Omega Pharma could feature in most improved team. Yes they brought in greipel but other than that, the gained riders are not overly much better if not worse than the ones who have left.

 

[ingsve]

They have Rogers now, he could perhaps win something like Pais Vasco or Tirreno. As for Monuments, I don't see it happening either... EBH is no Freire and Flecha is no Cancellara.

I'm not saying it's impossible for them to win something like that but I don't think it's something we should expect him to do. If Rogers does manage to win one of them it should be seen as a huge bonus rather than something expected. I'm just trying to be realistic.

 

[theyoungest]

Edvald was one of the top favourites for MSR last year and he has only improved since then. He could very well win if he is there at the end.

I'm sure he figured in the previews, and he will do so again this year, but until he shows he can handle the distance, it's hard to consider him anything but an outside favourite.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm sure he figured in the previews, and he will do so again this year, but until he shows he can handle the distance, it's hard to consider him anything but an outside favourite.

I personally think that for next year they should ride for greg henderson or sutton in MSR.

 

[insideout leadout]

Yeap...EBH should do the leadout for Hendo so he can beat Van Hummel at the line. Cav was an outsider when he won last year so it's not impossible for EBH to do well despite having a lousy record at longer races.

 

[ingsve]

I personally think that for next year they should ride for greg henderson or sutton in MSR.

Well, I'm sure they will all be at the start and then it's just a question about being there in the end. I do think EBH is a better climber than the other two so he stands the better chance of getting over the Cipressa and Poggio in shape for a sprint. They'll just have to race and see.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Most Improved

1. Geox - As stated before this is really obvious. They are definately a whole lot stronger than the old Footon Servetto squad. Still, big names do not promise big results. Sastre is on his way down. Menchov had his best year, in my opinion, last year in the Tour, he might still be good for a few years but he is no spring chicken. Yet, on the whole, the team is definately the most improved in comparison to their 2010 squad, which is what this topic is about.

2. Omega Pharma-Lotto - Ok they lost van Avermaet, which I think is a bigger loss than they might think now. Especially when Van Avermaet really discovers his hilly classics skills, which are much better than the cobbled classics they forced him into at Omega Pharma. But, with Greipel they are buying 15+ wins. And they have some other really nice signings.

3. BMC - After buying oldies on their way down like Hincapie and Kroon, they now seemed to have find the light. I'm pretty certain Van Avermaet will suprise many in the hilly classics next year. This is an underrated signing. Ofcourse everyone talks about Phinney and I'm sure he'll do great. And their other signings are not half bad as well. I expect a lot better season from BMC than last year, and it should be possible with this squad.

Most weakened teams

1. Saxobank/Sungard - Well, they bought Contador and some helpers, but lost almost all their stars to Luxembourg team. And if Contador is suspended, I don't see a bright future for this squad.

2. Quick Step - Wow what happened to the once impressive teams of Léfevre. We already saw a big decline this year, when often in the finals of cobbled classics Quick Step was no longer the dominating force and only poor Boonen remained. With the loss of people like Devolder, Barredo, Wynants, Vandewalle and others I don't see things going too brightly for them. Although obviously Terpstra and de Maar will do fine

3. HTC - Meh, you can't keep all those monstertalents forever. This was bound to happen. You can't pay em all when they keep performing so well.

 

[Mambo95]

But, with Greipel they are buying 15+ wins.

I'm not so sure about that. Greipel's left HTC so he can do the big races that the other top sprinters do, not the one's that Cav can't be bothered with.

If he gets into double figures, he will have done well, IMO. Although, OPL only won 11 races in 2010 (10 by just two riders), so he's definitely a bonus.

 

[Mambo95]

My trios would be (in no particular order):

On the up:

Vacansoleil - even without Mosquera, Ricco and Devolder offer some big hitters and have moved them up to the big time

Garmin - Hushovd, Haussler, LeMevel all add value, as do some strong support riders. They're a formidable team.

Sky - Rogers and Uran fill in some blanks, Dowsett and Apollonio are both great prospects. Lost nobody of note.

(Not considered: Geox, as their future is uncertain)

Going down:

Astana - Kreuziger ain't Contador

Movistar - haven't replaced Valverde in any way. Sanchez gone, Uran gone. Tondo isn't much compensation. But still, they almost went out of business, so it's not that bad

Saxo - even if Contador beats the rap, it's a greatly weaker team.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Its not as though Kreuzinger is going to win the tour with Kiserlovski as his super domestique where as Contador just did win with Navarro as his super domestique idiot!

Ah, you must be american, are you?

Misspelling riders' names, name calling, tour worshiping and overall incompetency (Navarro was not the only super domestique in the team).

Cute.
________
Kissing advice advice

 

[Eric8-A]

Garmin Cervelo: With the new guys coming in, hopefully they're able to win stages in bigger races than they usually won at before the merger.

Omega Pharma Lotto: With the signing of Andre Greipel, their victory numbers should definately go up.

Team Leopard: They definately have some big signings in their roster. This probably going to be the Team Sky of 2011. Hopefully they can live up the hyper they're getting. I'm sure they more than will.

 

[El Pistolero]

Saxobank as the most weakened, with or without Contador.

Vacansoleil as the most strengthened. Gone from a team that was ignored wholesale, to a team that is an automatic on the start list.

To be honest, Contador alone gets better wins then all of Saxo combined in a season. This year is an exception with Cancellara winning a lot.

Obviously I exclude things like the Olympics and the Worlds as they're ridden in country teams.

People said the same about Astana this year and look how that turned out. They had a better season in terms of wins then even Saxo this year.

Astana:

Volta ao Algarve, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Portugal Malhão
February 21 Volta ao Algarve, Overall UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Portugal
March 6 Montepaschi Strade Bianche UCI Europe Tour Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ) Italy Siena
March 11 Paris–Nice, Stage 4 UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France Mende
March 14 Paris–Nice, Overall UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France
March 14 Tirreno–Adriatico, Stage 5 UCI World Ranking Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) Italy Colmurano
April 1 Three Days of De Panne, Sprint classification UCI Europe Tour Andriy Hryvko (UKR) Belgium
April 17 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Spain Ponferrada
April 18 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Overall UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Spain
April 18 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Combination classification UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Spain
April 20 Giro del Trentino, Stage 1 UCI Europe Tour Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Italy Torbole sul Garda
April 23 Giro del Trentino, Overall UCI Europe Tour Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Italy
April 25 Liège–Bastogne–Liège UCI World Ranking Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Belgium Liège
June 6 Critérium du Dauphiné, Prologue UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France Évian-les-Bains
June 11 Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 5 UCI World Ranking Daniel Navarro (ESP) France Grenoble
June 12 Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 6 UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France Alpe d'Huez
June 13 Critérium du Dauphiné, Points classification UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France
July 17 Tour de France, Stage 13 UCI World Ranking Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) France Revel
July 25 Tour de France, Overall UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France
August 7 Tour de Pologne, Points classification UCI World Ranking Allan Davis (AUS) Poland
October 12 Tour of Hainan, Stage 2 UCI Asia Tour Valentin Iglinskiy (KAZ) China Wuzhishan
October 19 Tour of Hainan, Overall UCI Asia Tour Valentin Iglinskiy (KAZ) China
October 19 Tour of Hainan, Points classification UCI Asia Tour Valentin Iglinskiy (KAZ) China

TRS:

February 20 Volta ao Algarve, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Sébastien Rosseler (BEL) Portugal Tavira
February 20 Volta ao Algarve, Portuguese rider classification UCI Europe Tour Tiago Machado (POR) Portugal
February 21 Volta ao Algarve, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 1] Portugal
February 27 Giro di Sardegna, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 2] Italy
March 28 Critérium International, Youth classification UCI Europe Tour Tiago Machado (POR) France
March 28 Critérium International, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 3] France
April 7 Circuit de la Sarthe, Stage 2B UCI Europe Tour Tiago Machado (POR) France Angers
April 10 Tour of the Basque Country, Stage 6 UCI ProTour Chris Horner (USA) Spain Orio
April 10 Tour of the Basque Country, Overall UCI ProTour Chris Horner (USA) Spain
April 14 Brabantse Pijl UCI Europe Tour Sébastien Rosseler (BEL) Belgium Overijse
April 18 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 4] Spain
May 2 Tour de Romandie, Teams classification UCI ProTour [N 5] Switzerland
May 30 Tour of Belgium, Stage 5 UCI Europe Tour Ben Hermans (BEL) Belgium Herstal
June 6 Tour de Luxembourg, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 6] Luxembourg
June 9 Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 3 UCI World Ranking Janez Brajkovič (SLO) France Sorgues
June 13 Critérium du Dauphiné, Overall UCI World Ranking Janez Brajkovič (SLO) France
July 11 Tour of Austria, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 7] Austria
July 14 Tour de France, Stage 10 UCI World Ranking Sérgio Paulinho (POR) France Gap
July 25 Tour de France, Teams classification UCI World Ranking [N 8] France Bordeaux
August 10 Tour de l'Ain, Prologue UCI Europe Tour Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) France Amberieu-En-Bugey
August 14 Tour de l'Ain, Overall UCI Europe Tour Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) France
August 14 Leadville Trail 100 MTB Mountain bike event Levi Leipheimer (USA) United States Leadville, Colorado
August 27 Tour du Poitou-Charentes, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Markel Irizar (ESP) France Vouillé

 

[The Hitch]

To be honest, Contador alone gets better wins then all of Saxo combined in a season. This year is an exception with Cancellara winning a lot.

Obviously I exclude things like the Olympics and the Worlds as they're ridden in country teams.

People said the same about Astana this year and look how that turned out. They had a better season in terms of wins then even Saxo this year.

Astana:

Volta ao Algarve, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Portugal Malhão
February 21 Volta ao Algarve, Overall UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Portugal
March 6 Montepaschi Strade Bianche UCI Europe Tour Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ) Italy Siena
March 11 Paris–Nice, Stage 4 UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France Mende
March 14 Paris–Nice, Overall UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France
March 14 Tirreno–Adriatico, Stage 5 UCI World Ranking Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) Italy Colmurano
April 1 Three Days of De Panne, Sprint classification UCI Europe Tour Andriy Hryvko (UKR) Belgium
April 17 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Spain Ponferrada
April 18 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Overall UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Spain
April 18 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Combination classification UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador (ESP) Spain
April 20 Giro del Trentino, Stage 1 UCI Europe Tour Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Italy Torbole sul Garda
April 23 Giro del Trentino, Overall UCI Europe Tour Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Italy
April 25 Liège–Bastogne–Liège UCI World Ranking Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Belgium Liège
June 6 Critérium du Dauphiné, Prologue UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France Évian-les-Bains
June 11 Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 5 UCI World Ranking Daniel Navarro (ESP) France Grenoble
June 12 Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 6 UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France Alpe d'Huez
June 13 Critérium du Dauphiné, Points classification UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France
July 17 Tour de France, Stage 13 UCI World Ranking Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) France Revel
July 25 Tour de France, Overall UCI World Ranking Alberto Contador (ESP) France
August 7 Tour de Pologne, Points classification UCI World Ranking Allan Davis (AUS) Poland
October 12 Tour of Hainan, Stage 2 UCI Asia Tour Valentin Iglinskiy (KAZ) China Wuzhishan
October 19 Tour of Hainan, Overall UCI Asia Tour Valentin Iglinskiy (KAZ) China
October 19 Tour of Hainan, Points classification UCI Asia Tour Valentin Iglinskiy (KAZ) China

TRS:

February 20 Volta ao Algarve, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Sébastien Rosseler (BEL) Portugal Tavira
February 20 Volta ao Algarve, Portuguese rider classification UCI Europe Tour Tiago Machado (POR) Portugal
February 21 Volta ao Algarve, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 1] Portugal
February 27 Giro di Sardegna, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 2] Italy
March 28 Critérium International, Youth classification UCI Europe Tour Tiago Machado (POR) France
March 28 Critérium International, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 3] France
April 7 Circuit de la Sarthe, Stage 2B UCI Europe Tour Tiago Machado (POR) France Angers
April 10 Tour of the Basque Country, Stage 6 UCI ProTour Chris Horner (USA) Spain Orio
April 10 Tour of the Basque Country, Overall UCI ProTour Chris Horner (USA) Spain
April 14 Brabantse Pijl UCI Europe Tour Sébastien Rosseler (BEL) Belgium Overijse
April 18 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 4] Spain
May 2 Tour de Romandie, Teams classification UCI ProTour [N 5] Switzerland
May 30 Tour of Belgium, Stage 5 UCI Europe Tour Ben Hermans (BEL) Belgium Herstal
June 6 Tour de Luxembourg, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 6] Luxembourg
June 9 Critérium du Dauphiné, Stage 3 UCI World Ranking Janez Brajkovič (SLO) France Sorgues
June 13 Critérium du Dauphiné, Overall UCI World Ranking Janez Brajkovič (SLO) France
July 11 Tour of Austria, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour [N 7] Austria
July 14 Tour de France, Stage 10 UCI World Ranking Sérgio Paulinho (POR) France Gap
July 25 Tour de France, Teams classification UCI World Ranking [N 8] France Bordeaux
August 10 Tour de l'Ain, Prologue UCI Europe Tour Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) France Amberieu-En-Bugey
August 14 Tour de l'Ain, Overall UCI Europe Tour Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) France
August 14 Leadville Trail 100 MTB Mountain bike event Levi Leipheimer (USA) United States Leadville, Colorado
August 27 Tour du Poitou-Charentes, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Markel Irizar (ESP) France Vouillé

Yes but the biggest wins on there, and a majority at that, come from Vino and Contador. Vinos not getting any younger and looking at the sheer number and scale of the Contador wins there, they are guaranteed to lose BIG time even if someone steps up.

Also thats Radioshack not Saxo bank.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes but the biggest wins on there, and a majority at that, come from Vino and Contador. Vinos not getting any younger and looking at the sheer number and scale of the Contador wins there, they are guaranteed to lose BIG time even if someone steps up.

Also thats Radioshack not Saxo bank.

2009: Everyone from Astana leaving to TRS besides Contador
2010: Everyone from Saxo leaving to Lux Team, but they get Contador(well they won't with the doping stuff, but you know what I mean)

Hence why I used TRS as an example.

And that's my point, Contador is so huge that not even all of Saxo can touch him in terms of wins in previous seasons...

Saxo will also lose big time if someone big steps up. Take away the wins of the Schlecks and Cancellara and you'd have an average season.

And Contador performs well in every race he puts his mind on, Schleck does not. His palmares would be a big joke if you ignored LBL. Contador is pretty much guarenteed to win 2-4 stage races in one season. That alone makes him an attractive rider. And if he'd ever lose the Tour he'd probably enter the Vuelta to get over his loss... And win.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Pistolero mentioned Astana only in regards to Contador transfer to Saxo.
________
hairy Webcams

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yes but the biggest wins on there, and a majority at that, come from Vino and Contador. Vinos not getting any younger and looking at the sheer number and scale of the Contador wins there, they are guaranteed to lose BIG time even if someone steps up.

Also thats Radioshack not Saxo bank.

Another stuff up from the Hitch!

 

[The Hitch]

Another stuff up from the Hitch!

How?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Movistar - haven't replaced Valverde in any way. Sanchez gone, Uran gone. Tondo isn't much compensation. But still, they almost went out of business, so it's not that bad

To be fair, how do you replace Valverde? Chances are they'll have him back for 2012 anyway.

Sánchez is going to be a big loss, admittedly - the loss of Joaquím Rodríguez and Dani Moreno was especially felt last year, and they looked rather directionless without Valverde.

On the other hand, Ventoso will win a few sprints in the Spanish domestic calendar and up that win tally, Intxausti is hugely talented but unreliable; they've got a lot of people who can finish 6th-20th in a GT (Tondó, Bruseghin, Arroyo, Intxausti, Kiryienka, Plaza, Soler) but I don't really see anybody who's going to be podiuming without a L'Aquila-sized piece of luck - unless the Pellizotti rumours are true. And I can't wait to see how Pardilla does at the top level - can he make the same strides in his step up that Tondó did in his?

Movistar have lost some of their top end results, for sure, but they've probably replaced them with a multitude of decent results, so in terms of UCI points they'll probably be absolutely fine.

 

[Christian]

I don't really see anybody who's going to be podiuming without a L'Aquila-sized piece of luck

An interesting metaphor

 

[Christian]

Take away the wins of the Schlecks and Cancellara and you'd have an average season.

... and take away Breschel and Fuglsang and you have a very lucky Giro