Oliver Zaugg- 2012

[Froome19]

What do you think about Oliver Zaugg's chances of success this season?

He is now thirty and only some Vuelta's top 20's were on his palmares previous to his sensational perfomance in Lombardia. Yet Lombardia was certainly no fluke, he was undoubtebly one of the strongest if not the strongest rider on the day and fully deserved his monument win.
Thinking back on it I find it difficult to believe it was a mere factor of good fitness and lack of fitness by the other big riders, rather Zaugg truly did look the part, yet if Zaugg truly did deserve his monument win then how come it didn't come earlier?
Is Zaugg a one ride fluke or he is a rider of top quality who has never expressed himself?
This year there may be a chance for Zaugg in the Ardennes yet their seem to be conflicting reports about the Schlecks participation. Yet his opportunities further abroad may be limited by the strength of his team. Also if he can recreate his sensational end of season peak of last year will he again be a factor in Lombardia, will he even be a factor in the worlds or will he be required to work for Cancellara?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Zaugg will get very limited chances this year

What do you think about Oliver Zaugg's chances of success this season?

Perhaps he can deliver something, but where will he get a chance? If he is very lucky, he could take advantage of a similar situation as in Lombardia where all the captains on his team failed to show up.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Perhaps he can deliver something, but where will he get a chance? If he is very lucky, he could take advantage of a similar situation as in Lombardia where all the captains on his team failed to show up.

Hilly worlds + rejigged calendar mean Lombardia isn't going to be a give away lower class monument this year.

 

[Afrank]

He'll probably be a domestique for the Ardennes classics, but if he can get in a break and manage to survive until the finish he might have a chance to win or podium. Or maybe RNT will use him in the break to do what they did for Andy at the tour.
I think he could do well in the smaller stage races lake the TDS, or the Tour d'Emilie, both of which he hasn't done too bad in, in the past.

 

[greenedge]

Perhaps he can deliver something, but where will he get a chance? If he is very lucky, he could take advantage of a similar situation as in Lombardia where all the captains on his team failed to show up.

Fuglsang and Cancellara were both there.

 

[eliacodogno]

Zaugg is a good follower, last year has caught the joker, as Vansummeren....

 

[taiwan]

O/T quite seriously, the thread title does look like an obituary.

 

[Alpechraxler]

I think a stage win at the giro is within his abilities

 

[The Hitch]

Fuglsang and Cancellara were both there.

I heard Cancellara phoned Swiss tv to congratulate Zaugg on air for winning.

Must have been pretty fast to tt his way home from Lombardia in time for that (even though Lombardia is next door)

 

[masking_agent]

i don't think we'll see him win another classic. I peg him for maybe a mountain top finish of either the Giro , or another GT.

 

[Christian]

Fuglsang and Cancellara were both there.

Cancellara wasn't but Monfort was.

Zaugg had the advantage last year that LEOPARD TREK had rather little depth in their line-up. That's why he got a free role at races such as the Dauphiné (while all the big guns were in Suisse) or Pologne for example. He tried something in both of those but to no success so it went unnoticed. If you look at their Giro line-up he was the logical leader and with that parcours a top-10 would have been possible. In the end it might have worked out in his favour, he was much fresher in Lombardia.

This year RadioShack has much more depth and I'm afraid Zaugg will be back to his old role as super domestique. He will do the Giro together with Rohregger in support of Fuglsang. I'm sure he'll do the Vuelta as a support for Klöden, Horner or Monfort. It's a pity because the route would really favour him, again I believe a top-10 would be realistic. But then we might see him again in the late-season Italian races when the leaders have either ended their season or are preparing for the worlds. Hopefully he'll be able to have another go then!