Roubaix invites announced

[issoisso]

Euskatel invited.

Discuss





I think it's all part of their devious 3 part plan

1. Invite Euskaltel
2. ?
3. Profit


Full list thanks to Sir Geoffrey Dodds of the Flitwick Daily Bugle: Milram, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Quick Step, Saxo Bank, Caisse d'Epargne, Euskaltel-Euskadi, BMC Racing Team, Garmin-Transitions, HTC-Columbia, RadioShack, Team Sky, AG2R, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Cofidis, Francaise des Jeux, Saur-Sojasun, Acqua e Sapone, Androni Giocattoli, Lampre, Liquigas, Rabobank, Skil-Shimano, Vacansoleil, Katusha, Cervelo.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Euskatel invited.

Discuss





I think it's all part of their devious 3 part plan

1. Invite Euskaltel
2. ?
3. Profit


Full list thanks to Sir Geoffrey Dodds of the Flitwick Daily Bugle: Milram, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Quick Step, Saxo Bank, Caisse d'Epargne, Euskaltel-Euskadi, BMC Racing Team, Garmin-Transitions, HTC-Columbia, RadioShack, Team Sky, AG2R, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Cofidis, Francaise des Jeux, Saur-Sojasun, Acqua e Sapone, Androni Giocattoli, Lampre, Liquigas, Rabobank, Skil-Shimano, Vacansoleil, Katusha, Cervelo.

Comic relief?

 

[Jamsque]

I always use to use Euskaltel at Roubaix as an example of why the Pro Tour made no sense.

 

[Moondance]

Do the Basques actually even try to finish the race? Or do they just commit ritual suicide as soon as they reach the Arenberg?

 

[luckyboy]

I will give each of you £50 if Benat Intxausti does not win Paris-Roubaix

 

[Hugh Januss]

No Astana?

 

[krebs303]

I will give each of you £50 if Benat Intxausti does not win Paris-Roubaix

That's $955.01 Mexican Peso (MXN) I'll be rich!

 

[issoisso]

Do the Basques actually even try to finish the race? Or do they just commit ritual suicide as soon as they reach the Arenberg?

Most of them finish.
One of them was the first neo-pro to finish all the monuments in less than a year. He's a pure climber, nonetheless.

Respect them.

 

[craig1985]

ASO really do hate Footon.

 

[Hugh Januss]

I will give each of you £50 if Benat Intxausti does not win Paris-Roubaix

I accept, unless it is a bet, I never bet with anyone named Lucky.

 

[zapata]

Most of them finish.
One of them was the first neo-pro to finish all the monuments in less than a year. He's a pure climber, nonetheless.

Respect them.

I really like Euskaltel. They might not win every race they enter, but seem to always make an effort. There's probably not a potential winner of Paris-Roubaix on the team, but the same can be said of several other teams. I know Sicard is scheduled for Roubaix, anyone know if he has any experience on cobbles?

 

[luckyboy]

Not that I know of. He won Tour l'Avenir & Subida al Naranco (hilly Spanish race) last year. Started off on the track I think - he won a junior national champ when he was 14/15 and won one 2 years ago too.

 

[issoisso]

I really like Euskaltel. They might not win every race they enter, but seem to always make an effort. There's probably not a potential winner of Paris-Roubaix on the team, but the same can be said of several other teams. I know Sicard is scheduled for Roubaix, anyone know if he has any experience on cobbles?

He's only done a race on the cobbles. The idiots over at the french national team resisted the public outcry to call him up. Until it became so huge they finally called him up to the youth team.....for the youth Roubaix. Idiots.

He's a pure climber, he doesn't go well at all on the flat. Luckily, the riders on the youth team made a point of demanding he be called up

 

[Moondance]

Most of them finish.
One of them was the first neo-pro to finish all the monuments in less than a year. He's a pure climber, nonetheless.

Respect them.

I have all the respect in the world for Euskatel. They're doing Mari's work.

It's just totally out of place is all.

 

[elapid]

I have been watching the Paris-Roubaix races recently during interval sessions on the trainer. I forget which edition it was, maybe 2006, but an Euskatel rider (sorry, forget who) was mixing it up on the front in a long breakaway and showing good form. Phil and Paul were going all gaga for all the same reasons that we are (climbers on a climbing team in a cobbled classic), but still he showed grit, power and determination. Most Spanish teams and riders could be painted with the same brush as Euskatel because none seem to feature too prominently in Flanders or PR. Flecha is the one exception.

 

[peloton]

No Astana?

Yeah, wonder what's behind that one?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Flecha is the one exception.

And Flecha is, of course, Argentine by origin. It seems to be the trend that riders from the east of South America tend to be less likely to be climbers like the Colombians, Venezuelans and so on - you have the likes of Murilo Fischer and the Haedos...

 

[theswordsman]

No Astana?

Astana apparently didn't see it coming. Astanafans have riders listed for the race

 

[blackcat]

And Flecha is, of course, Argentine by origin. It seems to be the trend that riders from the east of South America tend to be less likely to be climbers like the Colombians, Venezuelans and so on - you have the likes of Murilo Fischer and the Haedos...

Flecha is from the Falklands.

 

[Swingtop]

When I was there, it was hilarious to see the Euskaltel's holding on for their lives on the cobbles, while Cancellara was eating a cake, steering with one hand.

 

[trompe le monde]

Euskatel invited.

Discuss





I think it's all part of their devious 3 part plan

1. Invite Euskaltel
2. ?
3. Profit


Full list thanks to Sir Geoffrey Dodds of the Flitwick Daily Bugle: Milram, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Quick Step, Saxo Bank, Caisse d'Epargne, Euskaltel-Euskadi, BMC Racing Team, Garmin-Transitions, HTC-Columbia, RadioShack, Team Sky, AG2R, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Cofidis, Francaise des Jeux, Saur-Sojasun, Acqua e Sapone, Androni Giocattoli, Lampre, Liquigas, Rabobank, Skil-Shimano, Vacansoleil, Katusha, Cervelo.

Strange thing about the two bolded Italian teams is that they were initially uninvited! The ASO extended invites to both Landbouwkrediet Colnago and TopSport Vlaanderen, but the UCI put it's fascist jackboot down and over-ruled their decision, as Landbouwkrediet and TopSport weren't high enough in the UCI standings at the end of 09 to merit an invitation to the northern cobbled soirée that is Paris-Roubaix, according to the evil-villain moustache twirling apparatchiks that the dot the UCI landscape.

Feel sorry for both teams, as they were told they were invited, only to be told a bit later on that well, sorry, you're not.

This is probably some source that picked up the story from somewhere else:
http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-paris_roubaix_des_invitations_controversees-5214.html

 

[luckyboy]

The UCI suck. The ASO own the race, so they should be allowed to invite who they want.

 

[Nicoper]

I am sorry if this is off topic but,
what is Androni Giocattoli doing there?
I would prefer Topsport Vlaanderen instead.

 

[luckyboy]

I am sorry if this is off topic but,
what is Androni Giocattoli doing there?
I would prefer Topsport Vlaanderen instead.

The ASO extended invites to both Landbouwkrediet Colnago and TopSport Vlaanderen, but the UCI put it's fascist jackboot down and over-ruled their decision, as Landbouwkrediet and TopSport weren't high enough in the UCI standings at the end of 09 to merit an invitation to the northern cobbled soirée that is Paris-Roubaix, according to the evil-villain moustache twirling apparatchiks that the dot the UCI landscape.
http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-paris_roubaix_des_invitations_controversees-5214.html

.............

 

[tgsgirl]

Man, can't the UCI do anything right? No TSV and no Landbouwkrediet is borderline criminally insane. Props to the Euskaltel lads for finishing a race on those demon cobbles, but there is no use at all in them being there.