Radioshack Fail

[KazakhNeRider]

I'm pretty sure that it was originally big mistake of JB! The RS created a conflict with Italian RCS for nothing.

There wasn't any cycling sence to collect the dream team for a few sprint stages, flat itt and none of mountain finish! And in the same time Popo and Co just lost a chance to do something on Giro (and automatically Klodi lost T-A). Popo is a professional and he takes it as professional but he was really unhappy, and I don't think it's good for the team to give that kind of "gifts" to their own riders.

JB is famous as the big strategist but this year IMHO he makes a lot of strategical mistakes

 

[fabramowski]

I'm sure it sucked for Levi, but to lose some people that should of been there to help doesn't really help. Radio Shack is out to do one things this year and that is to win the TDF. Just like every year that Lance was racing before his retirement. USPS didn't win really any races during those years with Lance either. talk about failure, what happen to Andy Schleck on D. Boon? or were was Fabian Cancellara in the TT? talking about failures. I think Jens Voigt did better than both of them and he could be their father......

 

[tgsgirl]

talk about failure, what happen to Andy Schleck on D. Boon? or were was Fabian Cancellara in the TT? talking about failures. I think Jens Voigt did better than both of them and he could be their father......

They. Didn't. Care.
Maybe Andy would've liked a test or two, but I'm not convinced by that. Cancellara surely didn't care. It was his first race back after the spring classics, and he quit on the final day, that's how much he wanted Cali on his palmares. Not at all.

 

[Cerberus]

I'm sure it sucked for Levi, but to lose some people that should of been there to help doesn't really help. Radio Shack is out to do one things this year and that is to win the TDF. Just like every year that Lance was racing before his retirement. USPS didn't win really any races during those years with Lance either. talk about failure, what happen to Andy Schleck on D. Boon? or were was Fabian Cancellara in the TT? talking about failures. I think Jens Voigt did better than both of them and he could be their father......

You're right, it's a disgrace, If FC doesn't start getting some result soon his season is going to be a total loss.

 

[tgsgirl]

You're right, it's a disgrace, If FC doesn't start getting some result soon his season is going to be a total loss.

Indeed. I mean, he got dropped during the team time trial in Qatar, so his early season was obviously terrible. And now this! If he isn't careful there'll be nothing left to salvage!

 

[eleven]

Yep, negative publicity, Armstrong crashing out in a bloody mess, no stage wins, no overall victory. Yep they're quite happy.

They got hours every day of Radio Shack advertising. They got the two leading cycling commentators in the US rambling about them every day. They got more Radio Shack name dropping than at any time in decades. While a nice pic on the podium might have got them a couple more minutes, I think they got their value and more. Radio Shack isn't in this because they want to see an overall victory. They are in this because they want to see their name plastered all over a cycling event.

success.

 

[erader]

I'm sure it sucked for Levi, but to lose some people that should of been there to help doesn't really help. Radio Shack is out to do one things this year and that is to win the TDF. Just like every year that Lance was racing before his retirement. USPS didn't win really any races during those years with Lance either. talk about failure, what happen to Andy Schleck on D. Boon? or were was Fabian Cancellara in the TT? talking about failures. I think Jens Voigt did better than both of them and he could be their father......

if you are saying cancellara or saxobank had a failure of a year i'll just have to fall out of my seat and LMFAO .

because that's what we are talking about here.......

oh, but i do agree if RS can win the TDF it will redeem the season in a huge way. i'll tell you now tho it most likely won't happen.

ed rader

 

[eleven]

oh, but i do agree if RS can win the TDF it will redeem the season in a huge way. i'll tell you now tho it most likely won't happen.

ed rader

I can see RS getting a couple guys in the top 10, with some really good fortune one guy could make the podium...but I just don't see any scnenario where they could win it (I'm obviously not talking about the team competition )

I will say, however, that the podium's looking a bit easier after Shleck's year to date - and also after Evans is working so damn hard at the Giro.

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

I can see RS getting a couple guys in the top 10, with some really good fortune one guy could make the podium...but I just don't see any scnenario where they could win it (I'm obviously not talking about the team competition

I agree, if they win the TDF there season will be a success. RS is simply a team that will only focus on Tour. LA has always done so and will now. They did not expect results from themselves really. They hoped LL would win the TOC, and hoped for Rosseler and Steegmans to get some results. Their season has so far not really been a fail as they had some suprise results of Machado and Horner. But to the rest of the world, RS is simply a propaganda team, based around Lord God AKA the Uniballer

 

[Oldman]

Indeed. I mean, he got dropped during the team time trial in Qatar, so his early season was obviously terrible. And now this! If he isn't careful there'll be nothing left to salvage!

I appreciate the sarcasm. These guys can't possibly be on for all races and they are far from the scrutiny of their local press. Why not enjoy some off time in Cali? After all Fabian did win a couple of races this year. I forget which...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I appreciate the sarcasm. These guys can't possibly be on for all races and they are far from the scrutiny of their local press. Why not enjoy some off time in Cali? After all Fabian did win a couple of races this year. I forget which...

whichever races they were, I'm sure they weren't anything like as important as California, which he failed miserably in.

 

[tgsgirl]

After all Fabian did win a couple of races this year. I forget which...

Doesn't really matter, as The Biggest Race is yet to come and he's just let The Second Biggest Race slip through his fingers. The fool!

 

[Oldman]

whichever races they were, I'm sure they weren't anything like as important as California, which he failed miserably in.

Yeah, you're right. Probably happened somewhere lacking the richness of tradition that prevails in Bakersfield. Now there's a cultural center, the envy of all Eurp.

 

[HL2037]

Surely no rider would have the nerve to use the second most important race* in the calender just for training and photo-ops?

*The most important of course being the Curacao

 

[ScottyMuser]

Surely no rider would have the nerve to use the second most important race* in the calender just for training and photo-ops?

*The most important of course being the Curacao

You're right - they didn't use it for training and photo ops - they used it for holiday time

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

whichever races they were, I'm sure they weren't anything like as important as California, which he failed miserably in.

I'm pretty sure I saw Cancellara falling asleep on the bike on a couple of those Cali stages. Maybe he was listening to Sherwen's commentary on the local agriculture.

 

[shawnrohrbach]

I would have a stronger opinion on this but I was busy following the Giro and spent about ten minutes on the TOC.

 

[BroDeal]

I would have a stronger opinion on this but I was busy following the Giro and spent about ten minutes on the TOC.

You too, huh? I barely watched any coverage of the ToC. I saw part of one stage.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

You too, huh? I barely watched any coverage of the ToC. I saw part of one stage.

Fools. Now you don't know where the Apricot Capital of the United States is.

 

[Barrus]

Fools. Now you don't know where the Apricot Capital of the United States is.

Probably in California?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Probably in California?

Lucky guess.

 

[Barrus]

Lucky guess.

pretty much The few times I wanted to see some of it, either the ToC had no pictures, or other programmes from Eurosport went on too long, after which I didn't want to see it anymore

 

[SpartacusRox]

Ehm, hello. Reality check here. The Tour of California is not the Tour de France. Being the runner up in the most important race of the year that everyone who can puts as their top priority is not the same as being 3rd place in a second tier race that few if any top tier riders target. Getting 3 stage wins and several other important wins in different races and many smaller wins helps to. The TDF hasn't happened yet, so we don't know how RS will do there, but so far their season has been disappointing for a team with RS budget. The problem isn't that they didn't win California, the problem is they've hardly won anything at all.

I dont deny they haven't won much, but the fact is that two very good teams did target the ToC in HTC and Garmin, both of whom had very good GC contenders and some good support riders. The fact that the ToC is now later in the year meant that more riders were in form than back in February. At the end of the day LL didn't quite get there for the win but he rode a good race and Mick Rogers is a bloody good rider and came in to the race in good form.

RS were always going to target the tdf this year as Armstrongs last hurrah. From next year they will bring in younger riders and probably see their future with Taylor Phinney in the longer term. I would imagine they will get a few more good signings next year as well given the sponsorship difficulties some teams are in. So their year so far has been disappointing, I am sure they will get better. If they had been winning everything you probably would have been moaning about how having a big budget makes them too dominant. They will be one of the three strongest teams at the tdf.

 

[SpartacusRox]

Indeed. I mean, he got dropped during the team time trial in Qatar, so his early season was obviously terrible. And now this! If he isn't careful there'll be nothing left to salvage!

FC was there for a holiday and rode like it. Andy I am not so sure, 7 weeks or so out from the Tour he should have been able to keep up on some of those climbs without raising a sweat. His form is a bit concerning though he did seem to have improved his TT so maybe his hill training has taken a back seat. Having said that I cannot imagine AC entering a race even for training this close to the tour and getting dropped like Andy did.

 

[Oldman]

FC was there for a holiday and rode like it. Andy I am not so sure, 7 weeks or so out from the Tour he should have been able to keep up on some of those climbs without raising a sweat. His form is a bit concerning though he did seem to have improved his TT so maybe his hill training has taken a back seat. Having said that I cannot imagine AC entering a race even for training this close to the tour and getting dropped like Andy did.

Watching him climb Howell Mtn. on Stage 2 gave me the impression he expected warmth, sun and an easier time. He was looking uncomfortable but sometimes trying too hard to go easy is worse than putting out some effort. Very hard to judge. Fabian was on cruise control and not stressed, or just looked like it. There isn't any reason for them to show serious form to their rivals this time of year.