Phinney to ride the tour?

[veganrob]

Save him for Vuelta. Bit of a lower key race.

 

[ingsve]

Save him for Vuelta. Bit of a lower key race.

They will be going all out at the vuelta for Evans so that's not likely either. He's very young and can wait a year and do a low key GT next year.

 

[veganrob]

They will be going all out at the vuelta for Evans so that's not likely either. He's very young and can wait a year and do a low key GT next year.

Thanks for that. I agree, save him for 2012 then.

 

[Ferminal]

It seems there are two main reasons why he shouldn't be there.

1) Waste of a spot on the team, Cuddles could have a better rider in their supporting him.

2) It will destroy Phinney and hinder his development.

This is against the benefits he will provide in the early stages in the TTT and also possibly an important help on the flats in the northwest. Plus there is the obvious PR/exposure benefits to the owner. It could also "enhance" his development.

Will sacrificing the 9th spot be a detriment to Cuddles overall ambitions? I don't particularly think so. It's not like the person Phinney comes into is going to be a superdom, or the last man in the mountains supporting the leader. BMC could have a 15man squad and it would still change nothing as far as Evans and the mountains goes. It might save him a bit of energy but Evans is a busy rider anyway, he will put in efforts on his own just to be safe in a sprint, or for positioning on a tough pass.

For Phinney and his development - I don't think he would ever be riding his first GT with the intention of finishing it. There shouldn't be any suggestion of sendingh him into the Pyrenees, let alone making him work there. Phinney's participation would purely be about the first 8-9 days of racing.

The most recent example of successful track and promising road cyclist in their debut GT is Meyer 2009 and Bobridge 2010. Both got absolutely hammered, however Phinney is a bit different. Phinney is a more accomplished roadie at this stage. Phinney has also hinted that he will scale back on the track (i.e. miss the worlds), Bobridge and Meyer had only a bit over a month to go from full track mode at the Worlds to riding the Giro. Phinney could have over 6 months to prepare for July.

I would be confident with that preparation that Phinney could hold the pace of the peloton over the opening week. He would be a great aid in the TTT and if they do well there Cuddles is a real chance of getting yellow in the first week (only to lose it the next day...).

In cycling terms I would probably have him 60/40 to start, but the idea of the great white hope in the greatest race on the planet makes it a 100%er.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

It would be an interesting spectacle, in a positive sense, for Taylor to be there. He could definately help in the TTT or as rolleur, but that's about it. I don't think he'd last the entire 3 weeks. I think the experience guys, either Burghardt or Kroon would be a better choice for the 3 weeks of racing to help Cadel.

 

[CentralCaliBike]

Thanks for that. I agree, save him for 2012 then.

2012 is not supposed to be a very good year for anyone:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-03-27-maya-2012_n.htm

 

[auscyclefan94]

2012 is not supposed to be a very good year for anyone:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-03-27-maya-2012_n.htm

Anyone who reads or believes such rubbish deserves to have a horrible year.

 

[flicker]

between Mr. and Mrs. Phinney, och, axel, lance, big george: taylor has plenty of mentoring. Taylor will not start the tour unless he is properly prepared.
If he does start it would be sensational and a big boost for american cycling.

Of course here in the US we only know Le Tour. Just think if Taylor could wear yellow for a couple days+ do some stage hunting. Watching him in Quatar or was it Oman tells me he could do it. BMC is a perfect protector for a type like Taylor.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

between Mr. and Mrs. Phinney, och, axel, lance, big george: taylor has plenty of mentoring. Taylor will not start the tour unless he is properly prepared.
If he does start it would be sensational and a big boost for american cycling.

Of course here in the US we only know Le Tour. Just think if Taylor could wear yellow for a couple days+ do some stage hunting. Watching him in Quatar or was it Oman tells me he could do it. BMC is a perfect protector for a type like Taylor.

and how would he get the yellow jersey ? by beating canc in a prologue? riight

 

[auscyclefan94]

and how would he get the yellow jersey ? by beating canc in a prologue? riight

Phinney to cross the line first in the ttt.

 

[theyoungest]

Phinney to cross the line first in the ttt.

He'll have to make sure he doesn't lose any time on the first stage, though. It has an uphill finish. Good luck. Otherwise yellow goes to that old geezer with the strange face.

 

[Barrus]

Phinney to cross the line first in the ttt.

You really think BMC would have this happen, Evans is still the leader of the team and as such would be the one who will have the honour of going over the line the first

 

[theyoungest]

You really think BMC would have this happen, Evans is still the leader of the team and as such would be the one who will have the honour of going over the line the first

What's more interesting, publicity-wise? An American in yellow or an Aussie in yellow? BMC could pull a Saxo: Phinney in yellow for the first week, then Evans takes over

 

[auscyclefan94]

He'll have to make sure he doesn't lose any time on the first stage, though. It has an uphill finish. Good luck. Otherwise yellow goes to that old geezer with the strange face.

Karsten Kroon? I think taylor will be able to make it up the uphill finish.

You really think BMC would have this happen, Evans is still the leader of the team and as such would be the one who will have the honour of going over the line the first

Yes but I still think that he would let someone like George or someone lead over the line.

 

[Barrus]

What's more interesting, publicity-wise? An American in yellow or an Aussie in yellow? BMC could pull a Saxo: Phinney in yellow for the first week, then Evans takes over

The difference is that in the case of Saxo the team leader did not have a chance to get the yellow

 

[theyoungest]

The difference is that in the case of Saxo the team leader did not have a chance to get the yellow

It's all hypothetical of course. I don't think we'll see Evans in yellow either. Or maybe for a few days, after Super-Besse.

 

[auscyclefan94]

It's all hypothetical of course. I don't think we'll see Evans in yellow either. Or maybe for a few days, after Alpe D'Huez.

edited

 

[theyoungest]

edited

He'll lose it in the time trial, to Joaquim Rodriguez

 

[auscyclefan94]

He'll lose it in the time trial, to Joaquim Rodriguez

It would be more embarrassing if he lost it to RObert Gesink in the tt.

 

[theyoungest]

It would be more embarrassing if he lost it to RObert Gesink in the tt.

Gesink is bad, but really, Evans is worse. Just look at the final TT in last year's Tour. Evans was, what, dead last?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gesink is bad, but really, Evans is worse. Just look at the final TT in last year's Tour. Evans was, what, dead last?

He is luring the competition into a false sense of security so that they don't rate him. When they least expect it, Evans will attack & ride away and win the tour de france.

In all seriosuness I think he has a really good chance this year. Most will think I am being my fanboy self again and that I am completely wrong but doing less will help him be at his best in July.

 

[theyoungest]

He is luring the competition into a false sense of security so that they don't rate him. When they least expect it, Evans will attack & ride away and win the tour de france.

In all seriosuness I think he has a really good chance this year. Most will think I am being my fanboy self again and that I am completely wrong but doing less will help him be at his best in July.

Oh, I agree, there aren't many riders who clearly have a better chance than Evans of winning the Tour. He's definitely a bit underrated by some (not by you, of course).

 

[lucybears]

BMC Racing Team emphasises ‘no pressure’ for 2011


Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6...ing-levels-through-success.aspx#ixzz19viqLtoa

 

[The Hitch]

He is luring the competition into a false sense of security so that they don't rate him. When they least expect it, Evans will attack & ride away and win the tour de france.

In all seriosuness I think he has a really good chance this year. Most will think I am being my fanboy self again and that I am completely wrong but doing less will help him be at his best in July.

Above Evans for the Tour there is only Andrew, il terrible, his hollyness and gonzalez.

After that is Evans, though if everything goes well for him he could be up there. I really hope so. The only other guy from those 5 i would like to win it is the Asturian.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Above Evans for the Tour there is only Andrew, il terrible, his hollyness and gonzalez.

After that is Evans, though if everything goes well for him he could be up there. I really hope so. The only other guy from those 5 i would like to win it is the Asturian.