Saur-Sojasun for the Tour?

[Publicus]

Well 22 teams total, less NINE being considered, leaves 13 teams definately in.

This does not fit in with the 14 teams being in the agreement.

Assumedly then the 9 being considered are, Sky, Garmin, RS, Cervelo, Katusha, Vaconsoleil, Skil, BMC, and ONE OF THE FOURTEEN??????

Which one of the 14 isnt guaranteed a spot?

I don't think your math is right. There are 16 teams guaranteed a spot (14+2 French teams), with 6 available slots. Nine teams are being considered for those 6 slots. Of course if Lampre can't get it's act together, there will be 9 teams being considered for 7 slots.

 

[lagartija]

Bye bye Feillu brothers, welcome BMC.

As long as they consider Evans an 'interesting leader'.

you know i thought the same thing, when i read that, but if lampre cant get it together (i believe they will ) then its mute and the feillu''s are in

 

[lucybears]

Well 22 teams total, less NINE being considered, leaves 13 teams definately in.

This does not fit in with the 14 teams being in the agreement.

Assumedly then the 9 being considered are, Sky, Garmin, RS, Cervelo, Katusha, Vaconsoleil, Skil, BMC, and ONE OF THE FOURTEEN??????

Which one of the 14 isnt guaranteed a spot?

Dim, 16 are in the agreement. Add another 6 from the 9 being considered = 22.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think your math is right. There are 16 teams guaranteed a spot (14+2 French teams), with 6 available slots. Nine teams are being considered for those 6 slots. Of course if Lampre can't get it's act together, there will be 9 teams being considered for 7 slots.

Yeh, i confused myself.. I misinterpreted the way 9 was phrased...

 

[luckyboy]

Bye bye Feillu brothers, welcome BMC.

As long as they consider Evans an 'interesting leader'.

Christ, that sucks

 

[auscyclefan94]

They are French, they have been invited to Paris-Nice, have a decent sprinter in Jimmy Casper and now won the opening race of the French season. Not amazing stuff admittedly, but ASO do have a history of picking small French teams.

I am starting to believe they might be seen as genuine contenders for a Tour place. Is this realistic or just my intelligence level dropping from arguing with CarbaonCrank.

I think your arguing with CC has dropped your intelligence! They have a slight chance but if they are relying on Jimmy Casper to get in well, they have a very minor chance. he would need to win quite a few races this season and a few biggies!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Bye bye Feillu brothers, welcome BMC.

As long as they consider Evans an 'interesting leader'.

jealousy... I guess when you have a WC who IS a GC contender who has also finished 2nd twice well you might think they are a bit more of a better choice than the Felliu brothers and co. Do we really need another one of those teams?

 

[auscyclefan94]

BMC for me to drop out, hopefully with 'Shack and Saur; Skil will provde more exciting than LA media circus following him around to see him fail miserably at getting a podium without the aid of a TTT.

Vacansoleil are a FAR better, balanced side than BMC, and will guarantee the French a) some French success in the excellent Feilleu brothers, a decent sprinter to help Romain in Bozic, and everyone's favourite Dutchman Jonny H (mainly for what he did chasing down the slug in the Worlds)

That is a highly unintelligent post. If you are going to say those points for Vacansoleil well then you could say;
a) evans twice podium, current WC + GC contender b) stage winners at the tour Hincapie, Burghardt and Evans c) JL's link with ASO d) With guys who can ride well in the classics such as Ballan, Hincapie, Burghardt, Kroon and Evans they would crack at least a few wins.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Do we really need another one of those teams?

Do we really need another place 5-10 rider who rarely attacks?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Do we really need another place 5-10 rider who rarely attacks?

Don't talk about Menchov in that way!

 

[theyoungest]

Don't talk about Menchov in that way!

He said: do we really need another one of those riders. Menchov will be there, Evans doesn't have to be.

 

[auscyclefan94]

We'll see. If you are going to use the point about Evans being a non attacking rider well why should sky be invited with Wiggins. he's should be put in that boat as well then.

 

[luckyboy]

I thought Evans was riding the Giro anyway?

 

[Ferminal]

BMC
Cervelo Test Team
Garmin-Transitions
Saur-Sojasun
Skil-Shimano
Team Radio Shack
Team Sky
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team

The only team guaranteed there is Team Lance for obvious reasons.

You can argue that BMC/Cervelo/Garmin/Sky all have similar credentials, but we all know Sky are going. It's unlikely that Cervelo/Garmin will get unceremoniously axed for no particular reason.

My preference for the final 1 or 2 spots would be Vacansoleil > BMC > Saur > Skil.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I thought Evans was riding the Giro anyway?

Yes and he wants to ride and win the tour also!

 

[Mellow Velo]

I think the race would be far wiser to pick a wilder wildcard than BMC.
If you don't have at least one team like Vacansoleil to animate the breaks, it will be pretty dull. BMC would have to mostly sit and protect Evans.
The ASO have US interests covered, with the Shack and to a lesser extent, Columbia.
Hincapie doesn't want to ride the Tour.
Ballan can't ride two GTs and all the classics. Way too heavy a first half of the season schedule.
Same for Burghardt.
Evans should just give his all at the Giro and try to lay the ghosts of 2002 to rest.

 

[theyoungest]

Evans should just give his all at the Giro and try to lay the ghosts of 2002 to rest.

Somehow I don't think that's Evans' plan, what with the constant whining about the lack of support for the Tour at Lotto. "I'll go and find a team where I won't have to worry about the Tour at all."

 

[lucybears]

Hincapie doesn't want to ride the Tour.

Turning to the Tour de France, I see that you're nearing Joop Zoetemelk's record for the most Tours completed. Is that something that you think about or that interests you, or you take pride in?

GH: I definitely take pride in having done fourteen Tours de France. Every year I finish it's , god, it's such a hard event, people who haven't done it, I don't know if you can uunderstand how hard it is. So I definitely take pride in that. A lot of people have sometimes criticized me, you know, I end the season early or I start the season late or I don't do a hundred races a year, I do 75 races. But yeah, I've done 14 Tours de France. So to me that means a lot, I'm very proud of that. Am I trying to break or tie the record? No. But I'm in the position where hopefully I can do one or two more

 

[Ferminal]

Somehow I don't think that's Evans' plan, what with the constant whining about the lack of support for the Tour at Lotto. "I'll go and find a team where I won't have to worry about the Tour at all."

It's all irrelevant I think. Evans goes to the Giro and rides it to win regardless of their Tour slot. Even if they get the invite, he's not going their to take 2mil, stage a protest and get dropped on all climbs.

Maybe Cuddles or Sastre will do the double

 

[Anonymous]

We'll see. If you are going to use the point about Evans being a non attacking rider well why should sky be invited with Wiggins. he's should be put in that boat as well then.

Because wiggins aside, the ASO might consider EbH , JaFlecha, Pauwells, Henderson and Gerrans attractive riders for the tour.

What you gonna do in July if cadels not in the tour

 

[lucybears]

Because wiggins aside, the ASO might consider EbH , JaFlecha, Pauwells, Henderson and Gerrans attractive riders for the tour.

What you gonna do in July if cadels not in the tour

maybe, Evans aside, the ASO might consider Ballan, Burghardt, Hincapie, Kroon and Santambrogio attractive riders for the tour.

What you gonna do in July if wiggos not in the tour

 

[Anonymous]

maybe, Evans aside, the ASO might consider Ballan, Burghardt, Hincapie, Kroon and Santambrogio attractive riders for the tour.

Exactly, neither sky, bmc or any of the others are being selected on the basis of one rider.

What you gonna do in July if wiggos not in the tour

Do what i always used to do.. Cheer on Vino (im praying for AC ban or injury before july)

Brad winning, or podiuming, or top ten or whatever isnt really my biggest hope for the tour. Cavendish winning green is, and Dave Millar picking up a stage.

Theres no prize for finishing 4th, or 9th, or 100th.. LAst year 4th was important as it equalled Robert Miller, but thats done now, If Brad cant podium, I dont see it really matters where he finishes.. (although i dont thing podium is unlreastic, but i think if sky want a british rider to win the tour they should be - and im sure they are - focusing in other areas to brad.. I think wiggins is just the smokescreen to keep the pressure off others)

Actually given a choice between Vino winning, or Brad Podiuming, its an easy decision for me..

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I hear ya. Vino forever.

I think in terms of entertainment Vasc. are a valuable choice.

Don't talk about Menchov in that way!

GT wins for Menchov : 3
GT wins for Evans : 0

 

[auscyclefan94]

I hear ya. Vino forever.

I think in terms of entertainment Vasc. are a valuable choice.



GT wins for Menchov : 3
GT wins for Evans : 0

Yes he won the vuelta and the giro. Can't quite hack it in the tour.

 

[ingsve]

If Brad cant podium, I dont see it really matters where he finishes.. (although i dont thing podium is unlreastic, but i think if sky want a british rider to win the tour they should be - and im sure they are - focusing in other areas to brad.. I think wiggins is just the smokescreen to keep the pressure off others)

Ya, and not only to keep the pressure off but to teach the whole team and staff how to maximise the chances of helping someone to a Tour win. I think there is lots that can be learned before Sky as a whole team is at it's best with regards to winning a GT.