Most Improved/Weakened Team for '11

[Libertine Seguros]

An interesting metaphor

I meant L'Aquila as in the stage of the Giro that led to Arroyo's podium.

Not L'Aquila referring to the earthquake. That would have been pretty ridiculous to describe as lucky.

 

[Barrus]

An interesting metaphor

This years giro stage to L'Aquila which ensured that Arroyo finished second in the Giro, that is the metaphor

 

[Angliru]

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!
2 valuable domestiques not replaced = big level down
2 valuable domestiques in exchange for 1 valuable domestique and Contador
not hard to see which one is better is it now

Is the name calling necessary? Try to be civil.

 

[Angliru]

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.

I think you're still holding a grudge with Omega Pharma.

 

[Christian]

I meant L'Aquila as in the stage of the Giro that led to Arroyo's podium.

Not L'Aquila referring to the earthquake. That would have been pretty ridiculous to describe as lucky.

Oh OK sorry I only remembered one of those two events

 

[ttrider]

Massive CSC fan with Basso as leader as they really challenged at Giro Tour and Vuelta but since 2007 its been solely a tour focus with a flurry at the classics and Tour focussed, why not at least have one Shleck or a sprinter going hard at the Vuelta and Giro?
Increasingly only LBL and the Tour have genuine quality fields

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Massive CSC fan with Basso as leader as they really challenged at Giro Tour and Vuelta but since 2007 its been solely a tour focus with a flurry at the classics and Tour focussed, why not at least have one Shleck or a sprinter going hard at the Vuelta and Giro?
Increasingly only LBL and the Tour have genuine quality fields

Paris-Nice:

1 - Contador
2 - Valverde
3 - LL Sánchez
4 - Kreuziger
5 - S Sánchez
6 - Voigt
7 - Rodríguez
8 - Taaramäe
9 - Peraud
10 - Coppel
---
11 - Roche
12 - Brajkovic
13 - Millar
14 - Sy Chavanel
16 - F Schleck
17 - Sagan
19 - Voeckler
20 - Tondó
23 - Leipheimer
31 - Casar
37 - Le Mevel
39 - Kolobnev
48 - Cunego
50 - Horner
53 - Danielson
54 - Barredo
57 - Machado
58 - Sicard
63 - Fedrigo
69 - Valjavec
72 - Intxausti
77 - Martínez
79 - Vande Velde
82 - Hoogerland
94 - Fuglsang
96 - Pereiro

That's quite the strong lineup.

 

[Mambo95]

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.

I just don't see any race winners in their line up, which Valverde and Sanchez certainly were. They'll get UCI points OK, but little glory - and that's a big step down.

 

[The Hitch]

I just don't see any race winners in their line up, which Valverde and Sanchez certainly were. They'll get UCI points OK, but little glory - and that's a big step down.

I dont think Movistar lose out that much.

They have a good enough team to show themselves in the gts at least. Im not even going to bother naming them, theres about 10 riders there who could step up and with a bit of the luck Unzue seems to be able to get once in a while, podium a gt. Theyll win stages no doubt.

At worse its an annus horiblis before Piti comes back. Any team can have a bad 12 months. Oh well. Only one season left now. Less since he can join their training camp dec 11.

And then its back with a bang.

 

[Martin318is]

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

isn't that the entire point of this thread though?

 

[Willy_Voet]

Most improved:

1. Saxo-bank - Contador can win whatever GT he enters. I predict a Giro-Tour double unless he chooses the Tour-Vuelta double.

2. Radioshack - like a bottle of fine wine, they keep getting better with age.

3. Pegasus - from nothing to something to nothing to Australia's premier team.

----

Biggest losers:

1. Garmin - the merging of teams is never good. Too many chiefs, not enough workers. I predict implosion somewhere around Tour of Oman.

2. Omega Pharma Lotto - They lost their GT man Evans last year, now they sign some second-rate, over-priced sprinter. Gilbert must be fuming. All his domestiques will be sucked into lead-out duties for a Cavendish wannabe.

3. Sky - they stunk this year and haven't signed anybody of note for the coming season. I predict sponsor pulls the plug on the mood lighting after an abysmal TdF

 

[bobbins]

I have a feeling Sky will improve by virtue of their support staff being improved. Dave B taking a step back and stop running it like it is his personal toy, Rod concentrate on training the guys, a proper DC to join Yates. Just need to lose the south african deadwood and they should go OK. I bet Dave B is ruing the day he gave Augustyn and Froome 2 year contracts.

Not huge improvements in riders but they will go well next season.

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

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

Personally I think they should give EBH a 'free role' in MSR. Attack in the closing k's if he feels strong enough. With Henderson as back up they could afford to do it. If th race comes together for a sprint then EBH won't beat Cav, Greipel or Farrar.

Sky need to learn that putting all their eggs into one basket and riding for one rider in a race is a dangerous tactic. By the sounds of things that is something they've realised as well.

 

[Frosty]

I have a feeling Sky will improve by virtue of their support staff being improved. Dave B taking a step back and stop running it like it is his personal toy, Rod concentrate on training the guys, a proper DC to join Yates. Just need to lose the south african deadwood and they should go OK. I bet Dave B is ruing the day he gave Augustyn and Froome 2 year contracts.

Not huge improvements in riders but they will go well next season.

Augustyn and Froome looked promising riders but havent produced this season - Froome was injured during the Giro i think? Big season for them next year, with them both being able to climb, more so Augustyn, i am guessing they will get their chance to prove their worth in the Giro.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Augustyn and Froome looked promising riders but havent produced this season - Froome was injured during the Giro i think? Big season for them next year, with them both being able to climb, more so Augustyn, i am guessing they will get their chance to prove their worth in the Giro.

Isn't that what has been said of Augustyn the last 4 years?

 

[Frosty]

Isn't that what has been said of Augustyn the last 4 years?

Dunno, is it? I dont know much about him other than the falling down the scree slope on the way to Jausiers 2008. Had a disappointing season last season with the tour of austria possibly his best results. Maybe he was saving himself for the Vuelta only to be caught out by that bug but it would seem the clock is ticking

 

[simo1733]

I have a feeling Sky will improve by virtue of their support staff being improved. Dave B taking a step back and stop running it like it is his personal toy, Rod concentrate on training the guys, a proper DC to join Yates. Just need to lose the south african deadwood and they should go OK. I bet Dave B is ruing the day he gave Augustyn and Froome 2 year contracts.

Not huge improvements in riders but they will go well next season.

I think Froome was ok.He did a few decent TTs. He isn't South African either .he is kenyan.