Pre Tour de France-thread

[RedheadDane]

Hmm...

Fuglsang (1)
Kangert (0)
Sanchez (2)
Fraile (2)
Cort (2)
Hansen (0)
Valgren (2)
Gruzdev (0)

I'm having some trouble getting the "10 wins already" bit to add up. Kangert's ITT nat champ win isn't included since that happened after said post was made.
Which one am I missing?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Also, who in the hell is Oliviero Troia?

Dude

I'm serious. I watch and follow a **** ton of cycling. European, South-American, North-American, Asian, professional, U23, juniors, NE, amateur. You name it, I watch it. Never, not once, did I hear about Oliviero Troia. Never heard his name mentioned on tv, never read any story or article about him.

Who is he, why is he here?

I remember him in the break in some major classic last year.
Who is he? Well, he is Oliviero Troia, an Italian 2nd year neo Why is he on the team? I don't really know, only thing I can think of is that he is a strong rouleur and does a lot of early work.

As you can see, I don't know too much about him either, but at least I know of his existence & know what he looks like

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re: Re:

Also, who in the hell is Oliviero Troia?

Dude

I'm serious. I watch and follow a **** ton of cycling. European, South-American, North-American, Asian, professional, U23, juniors, NE, amateur. You name it, I watch it. Never, not once, did I hear about Oliviero Troia. Never heard his name mentioned on tv, never read any story or article about him.

Who is he, why is he here?

Time trialist and cobbles rider with also a decent sprint.
He was instrumental in the Under-23 Roubaix win of Ganna two years ago.

To add, usually seen on the front of the peloton early in stages. Can usually be identified by simply being big.

Nearly won a stage in his very first race as a pro at San Juan last year, made the main move and lost the sprint to Richeze (as 99% of riders would)

 

[Escarabajo]

Trek-Segafredo for the Tour de France:
- Julien Bernard,
- John Degenkolb,
- Koen de Kort,
- Michael Gogl,
- Tsgabu Grmay,
- Bauke Mollema,
- Toms Skujins,
- Jasper Stuyven

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mollema-headlines-trek-segafredos-tour-de-france-roster/

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Trek-Segafredo for the Tour de France:
- Julien Bernard,
- John Degenkolb,
- Koen de Kort,
- Michael Gogl,
- Tsgabu Grmay,
- Bauke Mollema,
- Toms Skujins,
- Jasper Stuyven

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mollema-headlines-trek-segafredos-tour-de-france-roster/

Thats a pretty sorry team. Stuyven is prob their best rider.. Dege and Mollema seems past their prime, especially Degenstache, and the rest doesnt have the level to do anything of note in a race like TdF. Pretty much peloton filler outside of stage 9, probably.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Trek-Segafredo for the Tour de France:
- Julien Bernard,
- John Degenkolb,
- Koen de Kort,
- Michael Gogl,
- Tsgabu Grmay,
- Bauke Mollema,
- Toms Skujins,
- Jasper Stuyven

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mollema-headlines-trek-segafredos-tour-de-france-roster/

Thats a pretty sorry team. Stuyven is prob their best rider.. Dege and Mollema seems past their prime, especially Degenstache, and the rest doesnt have the level to do anything of note in a race like TdF. Pretty much peloton filler outside of stage 9, probably.

They wanted to battle against UAE for the worst team selected.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Hmm...

Fuglsang (1)
Kangert (0)
Sanchez (2)
Fraile (2)
Cort (2)
Hansen (0)
Valgren (2)
Gruzdev (0)

I'm having some trouble getting the "10 wins already" bit to add up. Kangert's ITT nat champ win isn't included since that happened after said post was made.
Which one am I missing?

I think the answer is: "Astanas social media person can't count"
Alternatively: "Astanas social media person is psychic"

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

Astana made their team public:

Fuglsang
Kangert
Sanchez
Fraile
Cort
Hansen
Valgren
Gruzdev

Very strong team, outside of the token kazak (who has replaced Cataldo in my ideal line up).... but hey, someone has got to do the long hours in the wind, day in and day out

On a national note, pretty cool with 4 danes on the same TdF team, I don't think that has ever happened before <3

Its a mediocre team, nothing more. Many of the GC teams are definitely stronger. Sure, there are lots of Danes, but Hansen and Cort need to show something.

"Many"?

Which ones?

I'll start you off:

Sky

And?

As for Cort needing to show something.... I guess you haven't been watching much this year?

He is going to outlast both Matthews, Van Avermaet and Sagan in the mountains - wait and see

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, according to your own post it was Fuglsang himself who started the thing.

Fuglsang started a guessing game on his twitter feed, asking people to guess the roster, based on the riders having "won 10 times in 2018 season already".

If he's psychic he really should have known how to avoid that fall last year!

BTW, sorry for being late.

Martinez is a pretty good rider, so I see nothing unusual about him being selected.
I also don't see anything unusual about Breschel not being selected, it was merely a comment on how Danish media reacted when Bak (somewhat surprisingly) and Mørkøv (not at all surprisingly) were also not selected.

What are you talking about?

You make it seem like it has been widely covered and debated in danish media.

It hasn't.

Neither Breschel, Bak or Moerkoev not being selected, has created much of a stir - especially in the middle of the FIFA world cup.

Did you see the reaction when Bak wasn't selected? People were basically acting as if he'd been singlehandedly pulling back every break for the last eight years.
And even the fact that some media made headlines about Mørkøv and Breschel not being selected was overreacting. We knew Mørkøv wouldn't be selected.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Are you joking? Movistar, Ag2R, Bahrain and BMC are better teams. Its a fine team, but not a very strong one by any means. They will lose +1 minute in the TT and I don't expect any of these guys to help Fuglsang in the mountains when it really gets tough.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Well, according to your own post it was Fuglsang himself who started the thing.

Fuglsang started a guessing game on his twitter feed, asking people to guess the roster, based on the riders having "won 10 times in 2018 season already".

If he's psychic he really should have known how to avoid that fall last year!

BTW, sorry for being late.

Martinez is a pretty good rider, so I see nothing unusual about him being selected.
I also don't see anything unusual about Breschel not being selected, it was merely a comment on how Danish media reacted when Bak (somewhat surprisingly) and Mørkøv (not at all surprisingly) were also not selected.

What are you talking about?

You make it seem like it has been widely covered and debated in danish media.

It hasn't.

Neither Breschel, Bak or Moerkoev not being selected, has created much of a stir - especially in the middle of the FIFA world cup.

Did you see the reaction when Bak wasn't selected? People were basically acting as if he'd been singlehandedly pulling back every break for the last eight years.
And even the fact that some media made headlines about Mørkøv and Breschel not being selected was overreacting. We knew Mørkøv wouldn't be selected.

What people?

I saw a single, fairly balanced - article, that calmly explained he wasn't selected, and that he was sorry.

you are making it sound like there was national hysteria

 

[RedheadDane]

People in the comment sections.

Go to the TV2 Cykling FB page and scroll down a bit.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

People in the comment sections.

Go to the TV2 Cykling FB page and scroll down a bit.

Yeah, that was pretty ridicolous. We are talking 100+ comments on how awesome Bak is and sure, he is a nice rider and all, but he is past his prime at this point and has been for a few years now.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

People in the comment sections.

Go to the TV2 Cykling FB page and scroll down a bit.

Yeah, that was pretty ridicolous. We are talking 100+ comments on how awesome Bak is and sure, he is a nice rider and all, but he is past his prime at this point and has been for a few years now.

Not to mention pretty disrespectful towards the other riders on Lotto-Soudal.
Or is that "New Lotto-Soudal" now?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

Are you joking? Movistar, Ag2R, Bahrain and BMC are better teams. Its a fine team, but not a very strong one by any means. They will lose +1 minute in the TT and I don't expect any of these guys to help Fuglsang in the mountains when it really gets tough.

BMC a better GC team?
Van Garderen better than Kangert?
Caruso better than Fraile?
Gerrans better than Cort?
Kung better than Sanchez?
Schar better than Hansen?
Van Avermaet is probably on par with Valgren, when it comes to supporting a GC captain
(Gruzdev I'll give you )

We could do the same run down of names with Bahrain and AG2R.

As for Movistar, they have taken a gamble on the first 9 days..... if they survive that, they are a stronger team in the mountains.

I also think it is a wild assumption, that Fuglsang will have "no help" in the mountains...... did Kangert, Fraile, Hansen, Sanchez, Valgren and Cort all forget to climb, since last I saw them in the mountains?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re:

People in the comment sections.

Go to the TV2 Cykling FB page and scroll down a bit.

People commenting on FB, is not "media"

- just like you and I commenting here, is not media either

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Are you joking? Movistar, Ag2R, Bahrain and BMC are better teams. Its a fine team, but not a very strong one by any means. They will lose +1 minute in the TT and I don't expect any of these guys to help Fuglsang in the mountains when it really gets tough.

BMC a better GC team?
Van Garderen better than Kangert?
Caruso better than Fraile?
Gerrans better than Cort?
Kung better than Sanchez?
Schar better than Hansen?
Van Avermaet is probably on par with Valgren, when it comes to supporting a GC captain
(Gruzdev I'll give you )

We could do the same run down of names with Bahrain and AG2R.

As for Movistar, they have taken a gamble on the first 9 days..... if they survive that, they are a stronger team in the mountains.

I also think it is a wild assumption, that Fuglsang will have "no help" in the mountains...... did Kangert, Fraile, Hansen, Sanchez, Valgren and Cort all forget to climb, since last I saw them in the mountains?

You are nuts if you think Astana is a stronger team than Sky, Movistar, Bahrain and Ag2R. BMC will be able to support Porte better as well Im pretty sure, but I can understand you maybe not feeling that way.

Anyways, Im done debating with you when it comes to Danes. I feel you are clearly overrating this team. And by way, there is a big difference between not being able to support Fuglsang when it gets really tough and no help in the mountains. When you are quoting like that, at least quote me properly instead of that.... there are simply no great climbers on the squad outside of Fuglsang. Kangert, Fraile Hansen and Sanchez are good, but not great by any means.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Re: Re:

Are you joking? Movistar, Ag2R, Bahrain and BMC are better teams. Its a fine team, but not a very strong one by any means. They will lose +1 minute in the TT and I don't expect any of these guys to help Fuglsang in the mountains when it really gets tough.

BMC a better GC team?
Van Garderen better than Kangert?
Caruso better than Fraile?
Gerrans better than Cort?
Kung better than Sanchez?
Schar better than Hansen?
Van Avermaet is probably on par with Valgren, when it comes to supporting a GC captain
(Gruzdev I'll give you )

We could do the same run down of names with Bahrain and AG2R.

As for Movistar, they have taken a gamble on the first 9 days..... if they survive that, they are a stronger team in the mountains.

I also think it is a wild assumption, that Fuglsang will have "no help" in the mountains...... did Kangert, Fraile, Hansen, Sanchez, Valgren and Cort all forget to climb, since last I saw them in the mountains?

You are nuts if you think Astana is a stronger team than Sky, Movistar, Bahrain and Ag2R. BMC will be able to support Porte better as well Im pretty sure, but I can understand you maybe not feeling that way.

Anyways, Im done debating with you when it comes to Danes. I feel you are clearly overrating this team. And by way, there is a big difference between not being able to support Fuglsang when it gets really tough and no help in the mountains. When you are quoting like that, at least quote me properly instead of that.... there are simply no great climbers on the squad outside of Fuglsang. Kangert, Fraile Hansen and Sanchez are good, but not great by any means.

As opposed to the many great climbers on BMC?

Sure dude - I'm nuts

Do me a favor - don't comment on my writings anymore - irrespective of the topic..... especially when you can't keep it civil...... I have a general dislike for people without culture

Thanks

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Are you joking? Movistar, Ag2R, Bahrain and BMC are better teams. Its a fine team, but not a very strong one by any means. They will lose +1 minute in the TT and I don't expect any of these guys to help Fuglsang in the mountains when it really gets tough.

BMC a better GC team?
Van Garderen better than Kangert?
Caruso better than Fraile?
Gerrans better than Cort?
Kung better than Sanchez?
Schar better than Hansen?
Van Avermaet is probably on par with Valgren, when it comes to supporting a GC captain
(Gruzdev I'll give you )

We could do the same run down of names with Bahrain and AG2R.

As for Movistar, they have taken a gamble on the first 9 days..... if they survive that, they are a stronger team in the mountains.

I also think it is a wild assumption, that Fuglsang will have "no help" in the mountains...... did Kangert, Fraile, Hansen, Sanchez, Valgren and Cort all forget to climb, since last I saw them in the mountains?

You are nuts if you think Astana is a stronger team than Sky, Movistar, Bahrain and Ag2R. BMC will be able to support Porte better as well Im pretty sure, but I can understand you maybe not feeling that way.

Anyways, Im done debating with you when it comes to Danes. I feel you are clearly overrating this team. And by way, there is a big difference between not being able to support Fuglsang when it gets really tough and no help in the mountains. When you are quoting like that, at least quote me properly instead of that.... there are simply no great climbers on the squad outside of Fuglsang. Kangert, Fraile Hansen and Sanchez are good, but not great by any means.

As opposed to the many great climbers on BMC?

Sure dude - I'm nuts

Do me a favor - don't comment on my writings anymore - irrespective of the topic..... especially when you can't keep it civil...... I have a general dislike for people without culture

Thanks

Actually if Tejay is anywhere near his best he is actually a GC contender. Do not forget he has 2 top 5 GC overalls at the Tour. However the question with Tejay is have they gotten his head straightened out or not. If they have he will be there in the high mountains for Porte.

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Trek-Segafredo for the Tour de France:
- Julien Bernard,
- John Degenkolb,
- Koen de Kort,
- Michael Gogl,
- Tsgabu Grmay,
- Bauke Mollema,
- Toms Skujins,
- Jasper Stuyven

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mollema-headlines-trek-segafredos-tour-de-france-roster/

Thats a pretty sorry team. Stuyven is prob their best rider.. Dege and Mollema seems past their prime, especially Degenstache, and the rest doesnt have the level to do anything of note in a race like TdF. Pretty much peloton filler outside of stage 9, probably.

IF Mollema can find his 2016 form, this is a solid but unspectacular team. But that’s a big if.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Are you joking? Movistar, Ag2R, Bahrain and BMC are better teams. Its a fine team, but not a very strong one by any means. They will lose +1 minute in the TT and I don't expect any of these guys to help Fuglsang in the mountains when it really gets tough.

BMC a better GC team?
Van Garderen better than Kangert?
Caruso better than Fraile?
Gerrans better than Cort?
Kung better than Sanchez?
Schar better than Hansen?
Van Avermaet is probably on par with Valgren, when it comes to supporting a GC captain
(Gruzdev I'll give you )

We could do the same run down of names with Bahrain and AG2R.

As for Movistar, they have taken a gamble on the first 9 days..... if they survive that, they are a stronger team in the mountains.

I also think it is a wild assumption, that Fuglsang will have "no help" in the mountains...... did Kangert, Fraile, Hansen, Sanchez, Valgren and Cort all forget to climb, since last I saw them in the mountains?

Maybe Astana is being a little underrated but Caruso is better in the high mountains than Fraile who is usually a breakaway rider who can sprint. GVA's all round qualities are superior to Valgren as the recent TDS showed. But similarly to Porte, Fuglsang won't get much support in the mountains. Kangert always had talent but can be hit and miss. Both teams will have plenty of work to do in the first nine stages which will be critical for Porte especially. Both riders went into the Tour in good form last year and crashed out. Fulsgang is my outsider for a top five finish. He is a not a flashy type of rider but doesn't have major weaknesses either like Bardet and Landa. I think he and Porte can have a good race even without being surrounded by superior talent. Experience shouldn't be underestimated either and both teams have plenty of that.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

Are you joking? Movistar, Ag2R, Bahrain and BMC are better teams. Its a fine team, but not a very strong one by any means. They will lose +1 minute in the TT and I don't expect any of these guys to help Fuglsang in the mountains when it really gets tough.

BMC a better GC team?
Van Garderen better than Kangert?
Caruso better than Fraile?
Gerrans better than Cort?
Kung better than Sanchez?
Schar better than Hansen?
Van Avermaet is probably on par with Valgren, when it comes to supporting a GC captain
(Gruzdev I'll give you )

We could do the same run down of names with Bahrain and AG2R.

As for Movistar, they have taken a gamble on the first 9 days..... if they survive that, they are a stronger team in the mountains.

I also think it is a wild assumption, that Fuglsang will have "no help" in the mountains...... did Kangert, Fraile, Hansen, Sanchez, Valgren and Cort all forget to climb, since last I saw them in the mountains?

Maybe Astana is being a little underrated but Caruso is better in the high mountains than Fraile who is usually a breakaway rider who can sprint. GVA's all round qualities are superior to Valgren as the recent TDS showed. But similarly to Porte, Fuglsang won't get much support in the mountains. Kangert always had talent but can be hit and miss. Hansen as a climber is about as good as Hansen as a sprinter. Breakaway specialist and tough rider for the flat courses mainly plus he is old and his results have dropped off in the past few seasons. Both teams will have plenty of work to do in the first nine stages which will be critical for Porte especially. Both riders went into the Tour in good form last year and crashed out. Fulsgang is my outsider for a top five finish. He is a not a flashy type of rider but doesn't have major weaknesses either like Bardet and Landa. I think he and Porte can have a good race even without being surrounded by superior talent. Experience shouldn't be underestimated either and both teams have plenty of that.

Everything about this statement is just wrong. Maybe you're confusing him with Adam.

 

[HelloDolly]

People are getting very hot under the collar and not even one pedal has been pushed at this years Tour
Have to say Astana is a far cry from the team of Nibali, Aru & Landa of a few years back

For me the strongest team on paper is SKY followed by Barhrain but the team to watch is Movistar...how will they ride , what way will they play it and what happens if all 3 amigoes are in the top 5 and Frooome goes off ...who will chase

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Are you joking? Movistar, Ag2R, Bahrain and BMC are better teams. Its a fine team, but not a very strong one by any means. They will lose +1 minute in the TT and I don't expect any of these guys to help Fuglsang in the mountains when it really gets tough.

BMC a better GC team?
Van Garderen better than Kangert?
Caruso better than Fraile?
Gerrans better than Cort?
Kung better than Sanchez?
Schar better than Hansen?
Van Avermaet is probably on par with Valgren, when it comes to supporting a GC captain
(Gruzdev I'll give you )

We could do the same run down of names with Bahrain and AG2R.

As for Movistar, they have taken a gamble on the first 9 days..... if they survive that, they are a stronger team in the mountains.

I also think it is a wild assumption, that Fuglsang will have "no help" in the mountains...... did Kangert, Fraile, Hansen, Sanchez, Valgren and Cort all forget to climb, since last I saw them in the mountains?

Maybe Astana is being a little underrated but Caruso is better in the high mountains than Fraile who is usually a breakaway rider who can sprint. GVA's all round qualities are superior to Valgren as the recent TDS showed. But similarly to Porte, Fuglsang won't get much support in the mountains. Kangert always had talent but can be hit and miss. Hansen as a climber is about as good as Hansen as a sprinter. Breakaway specialist and tough rider for the flat courses mainly plus he is old and his results have dropped off in the past few seasons. Both teams will have plenty of work to do in the first nine stages which will be critical for Porte especially. Both riders went into the Tour in good form last year and crashed out. Fulsgang is my outsider for a top five finish. He is a not a flashy type of rider but doesn't have major weaknesses either like Bardet and Landa. I think he and Porte can have a good race even without being surrounded by superior talent. Experience shouldn't be underestimated either and both teams have plenty of that.

Everything about this statement is just wrong. Maybe you're confusing him with Adam.

Ah yes my mistake. Thanks for the pick up.

 

[Robert5091]

As an aside, will we get the guy dressed as Napoleon, serenading the peloton at km 0 like last year?