Radioshack vs Sky

[Clemson Cycling]

Who has assembled the better team thus far? Sky has their Pro Tour License. Radioshack has probably put together the best tour team.

 

[peloton]

Who has assembled the better team thus far? Sky has their Pro Tour License. Radioshack has probably put together the best tour team.

Define the better team.

A Team that goes for (stage) wins in a variety of races, or a team that goes for podium in a GT?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Have heard that Kloden is now officially Shacked up.
Neither squad is very impressive.
One is way too old, the other's best riders are still maturing.
I wouldn't worry about a Pro tour licence.
Just make sure the passports are all in order.

Sounds like the Giro organisers are putting together a scary race.
When is the Tour again?

Define the better team.

A Team that goes for (stage) wins in a variety of races, or a team that goes for podium in a GT?

He did. He said Tour team. That's LAGC. Quelle surprise.

 

[peloton]

He did. He said Tour team. That's LAGC. Quelle surprise.

My bad.

I don't like LA anymore so I give Sky my vote.

 

[ingsve]

Team Sky is for sure the most exciting team. We pretty much know what to expect from the Radioshack geriatrics, they have their best years behind them. They might get some obscure results here or there and make a decent showing at the Tour and that's pretty much it.

Team sky has alot of riders that have been around for a little bit, like the young brits but alot of them have still to show what they are truly capable of. I'm expecting at least a couple decent breakout performances from that team in the vein of Hausslers breakout in Cervélo though perhaps not at the same high level.

 

[Anonymous]

like comparing sky1 with Uk gold...

one fresh, new and exciting, the old a rehash of repeats, cheap drama and low budget comedy..

 

[British Pro Cycling]

You'd have to favour radioshack on paper, but we don't really know how well Sky will work yet. It's all up for grabs!

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think Sky has more of an all round team where Radioshack looks a little 1 dimensional.

 

[Anonymous]

Sky for quantity of wins/podiums throughout season 2010

Radio for quality of wins/podiums throughout season 2010

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

If it wasn't for EBH i would have gone with the shack being more succesful, but you have to assume EBH will bring lots of nice victories to sky. (small stage races, victories in GTs and maybe even a classic). Still in terms of GTs although there leaders are aging... it still beats sky which have practically nothing in that department. moreno and Lovkist could maybe challange a top 10 in vuelta/giro but that is about it.

 

[Kingsley A]

like comparing sky1 with Uk gold...

one fresh, new and exciting, the old a rehash of repeats, cheap drama and low budget comedy..

Sky 1, Fox News, the Sun and the Times are all owned by News Corp. and Murdoch and thus are inherently evil. How else do you define an organisation that goes out of it's way to promote the neo-cons in the States and the socialists in Britain? (At least until Rupe realises Brown is a liability and switches his allegiance to another 'government by focus group' vacuous bastard like Cameron.)

I can't describe how conflicted I am about my joy at finally having a serious British based team on the scene and it being sponsored by the most corupt media corporation in the world!

If it wasn't for EBH i would have gone with the shack being more succesful, but you have to assume EBH will bring lots of nice victories to sky. (small stage races, victories in GTs and maybe even a classic). Still in terms of GTs although there leaders are aging... it still beats sky which have practically nothing in that department. moreno and Lovkist could maybe challenge a top 10 in Vuelta/giro but that is about it.

Ignoring my prejudices regarding the sponsor, it seems to me that Sky are trying to build a team for the future, which I admire, whereas Radio Shack are just trying to get some of Lance's old team mates together to give him one last shot at the TdF.

I think, given current line-ups, Sky will be more successful in the Classics and Radio Shack more successful in the Grand Tours; for 2010 at least. Whether either of them will have real success in the next twelve months I seriously doubt, but at least SKy have a long term plan that the Shack seem to be missing.

 

[ingsve]

I'm predicting Radioshacks best result of the year will be a podium spot in the Tour. They might get some wins here and there but no big classics and no win in the other GTs etc.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm predicting Radioshacks best result of the year will be a podium spot in the Tour. They might get some wins here and there but no big classics and no win in the other GTs etc.

+1
The shack was made by armstrong so he could win the tour. He has nothing for the sprints, ardeene classics, cobbled clasics or any over 1 day races. I don't think they'll feature too much in the 1 week races either.

 

[BroDeal]

+1
The shack was made by armstrong so he could win the tour. He has nothing for the sprints, ardeene classics, cobbled clasics or any over 1 day races. I don't think they'll feature too much in the 1 week races either.

Retirement Shack was set up to stroke Armstrong's ego. He would have to be as thick as a plank to think he can win the TDF after Contador easily handled him this year. By next year Andy Schleck will be able to beat him in a 40K time trial. And riders like Evans, Menchov, Sastre are unlikely to all have bad Tours. Then there is Sanchez, Gesink, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

C'mon people! Shack kicks Sky's ass... on Twitter.

 

[Anonymous]

Ignoring my prejudices regarding the sponsor, it seems to me that Sky are trying to build a team for the future, which I admire, whereas Radio Shack are just trying to get some of Lance's old team mates together to give him one last shot at the TdF.

This is a wild prediction that I don't expect people to agree with, but I'd say it's more than "one last" shot at the tour if he doesn't win.

If he's competitive at 37 this year, and 38 at next years tour, he's already an old old man, so i'd say being 39 at the 2011 tour might not make that much of a difference... I mean, most athletes retire after about 33-34, so he's already well past that age, so I think after each tour he'll think "well, one more wont hurt"

Really bold prediction = has a crack at 2012 as a 40yr old if he hasn't won an eight by then

I'm not saying he'll be competitive at that age, but you can't discount the publicity for the Retirement Shack with a 40yr old lining up for a 2012 TDF win/podium.

 

[progressor]

Retirement Shack was set up to stroke Armstrong's ego. He would have to be as thick as a plank to think he can win the TDF after Contador easily handled him this year. By next year Andy Schleck will be able to beat him in a 40K time trial. And riders like Evans, Menchov, Sastre are unlikely to all have bad Tours. Then there is Sanchez, Gesink, etc.

Why don't you just post 'I hate Lance Armstrong and hope he fails miserably in all ways' every time you think of him. I'd be easier. You could cut and paste it so you don't have create new crap each time

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Why don't you just post 'I hate Lance Armstrong and hope he fails miserably in all ways' every time you think of him. I'd be easier. You could cut and paste it so you don't have create new crap each time

lol what hhe said was only true.

 

[BroDeal]

Why don't you just post 'I hate Lance Armstrong and hope he fails miserably in all ways' every time you think of him. I'd be easier. You could cut and paste it so you don't have create new crap each time

 

[Mellow Velo]

LOL at Dim's analogy.
One thing is a certain. Over the next few year's these two teams are going to head in the opposite direction.
Sky are on the way up, so that leaves the Shack going........

All their eggs in Armstrong's tour basket, could mean the Tour of California is the pinnacle of their season.

We've seen plenty of evidence, this year, that there are a number of young riders who will be at the 2010 Tour, older, wiser and stronger. Real podium contenders.
I don't expect Evans and Menchov to ride as badly as this year, either.
Evans? Who knows what the RJ will do for his confidence.

Meanwhile, we are being asked to accept that Lance can make significant improvement, over the next year.

The only GT rider who can provide a possible answer to this equation, still riding, is Gilberto Simoni.
Even though this guy is competing competitively, all year and is the same age as Lance, his form at the Giro has been in gradual decline over the past 3 years.

 

[uphillstruggle]

I can't see the shack doing all that much this year. A podium at the tour (maybe), ToC win for Levi as per usual (especially with a lot of the big European pros over at the giro). That's not great.

Sky's hopes rest mainly on Lokvist and EBH, the later of whom could well win a major classic amongst other things. Sky will only get stronger next year too, barring a doping scandle and the funding being pulled.

In fact, looking at the roster sky have a strong squad for the classics and stage wins.

 

[progressor]

You forgot fanboy, and only watches cycling in july blah blah

Seems like many of you have him pegged as lucky to get top ten. That's as ridiculous as saying he's favourite to win. Yeah you hate him blah blah, but get a grip. A seven time champion comes back to an event he left at the top after a 3 1/2 year break and finishes third. Say that about most sports and you'd rate it a chance with another year he could potentially win. He's 38 not 48. It's possible. Probable? maybe not, but to dismiss the possibility is just being completely biased.

Weird thing is I really haven't noticed many rose tinted glasses type armstrong fans around here, but I certainly have seen that for Contador.

 

[Murray]

Yeah... the crybaby thing... it's getting old.... not very clever really...

 

[bianchigirl]

The thing with Contador is, he's the real deal, not a rider who had a 'miraculous' transformation. And whatever wrought that miracle is the only thing that can possibly aid Armstrong sufficiently to beat the younger, stronger riders. Yes, he was canny in the Tour using favours from ex-teammates but he couldn't defeat Contador either physically or psychologically and that gives the latter a precious edge. If anything, one feels that Contador got the better of the old man in the mind games stakes too.

Whilst sceptical of Brailsford's 'British TdF winner in 5 years' project, I think Sky looks a good bet to get a rider on the podium within 5 years, and more than once. Retirement Shack have a very outside shot at the podium this year but for the future?

 

[velosiped]

Isn't RS all about gT's? Maybe Kloeden can be competetive in Paris-Nice or LBL.
Sky seems to go for a wider approach. Flecha and Hagen for the flatter classics, and short stage-races like Criterium Int, Eneco etc. An experienced work-horse like Arvesen will be great help for them, and he will also be a mentor to the youngsters when it gets to team work/philosophy.
Lovkvist/wiggins for the ardennes and stage-races like Tirreno/Dauphin.
They have added a lot of young talent, and are destined for several big victories within the next decade.
Cyckling is about more than the grand tours, right?