Sky GT Lineup 2012

[Tyke1968]

Looking at Sky's stacked lineup how will the grand tour lineups look in 2012?

 

[Jamsque]

Some things are a lock. Cav to the Giro and the Tour, EBH, Super G, and Wiggo to the Tour. Bernie Eisel is probably a lock for the Tour team as road captain. I expect Uran Uran will ride the Tour again but Henao will have to make do with the Giro or the Vuelta.

The big question is what they do with Froome. He could go to the Giro or the Vuelta as undisputed leader or go to the Tour as 'back-up' to Wiggins but end up out-performing him like he did in the Vuelta last year.

 

[Anonymous]

Some things are a lock. Cav to the Giro and the Tour, EBH, Super G, and Wiggo to the Tour. Bernie Eisel is probably a lock for the Tour team as road captain. I expect Uran Uran will ride the Tour again but Henao will have to make do with the Giro or the Vuelta.

The big question is what they do with Froome. He could go to the Giro or the Vuelta as undisputed leader or go to the Tour as 'back-up' to Wiggins but end up out-performing him like he did in the Vuelta last year.

G is doing the Giro, and not doing the Tour.

Froome is scheduled for the Tour if he can continue the form he showed in the Vuelta.

Porte is in Brads tour squad for most of the year with the aim being to ride the Tour.

Giro squad so far (riders scheduled to ride the giro): Thomas, Cavendish, Siutsou, Dowsett, Appollonio, Lofkvist

Tour: Wiggins, EBH, Porte possibly Froome

 

[Ferminal]

Is Cav doing all three GTs?

I'm sure I've read the answer somewhere, but have forgot.

I figure the Vuelta might not be on as the Worlds aren't for him and he will be due for a rest after London.

Edit: New thread for 2012 maybe?

 

[sublimit]

Is Cav doing all three GTs?

I'm sure I've read the answer somewhere, but have forgot.

I figure the Vuelta might not be on as the Worlds aren't for him and he will be due for a rest after London.

Edit: New thread for 2012 maybe?

Probably a good idea. Dont know who wants to do the honours?

 

[Ferminal]

Probably a good idea. Dont know who wants to do the honours?

Easy for me, done.

 

[sublimit]

The Tour team something like this-

Wiiggins
Cav
Eissel
Hagen
Froome
Rogers
Pate/Knees
Porte
Uran

Shame G isn't riding so Hagen leading out Cav could be fun.

 

[Ferminal]

The Tour team something like this-

Wiiggins
Cav
Eissel
Hagen
Froome
Rogers
Pate/Knees
Porte
Uran

Shame G isn't riding so Hagen leading out Cav could be fun.

Just go Rogers -> Eisel with a drop off onto GreenEdge train at 1km.

 

[Richeypen]

The Tour team something like this-

Wiiggins
Cav
Eissel
Hagen
Froome
Rogers
Pate/Knees
Porte
Uran

Flecha a strong possibility as well

 

[King Of The Wolds]

The Tour team something like this-

Wiiggins
Cav
Eissel
Hagen
Froome
Rogers
Pate/Knees
Porte
Uran

Shame G isn't riding so Hagen leading out Cav could be fun.

I'd have thought no Rogers but with somebody for Cav's train - Swift or Sutton.

Wiggins gets Uran, with help from Froome and Porte.

Cav gets Eisel, EBH, Swift/Sutton for his train and Pate, Porte and Froome to sit on the front on the peloton.

EBH gets to chase some wins on transitional stages.

Looks an incredibly strong squad, on paper.

 

[LaFlorecita]

The Tour team something like this-

Wiiggins
Cav
Eissel
Hagen
Froome
Rogers
Pate/Knees
Porte
Uran

Shame G isn't riding so Hagen leading out Cav could be fun.

Lol Porte... If he's going to be as awesome as this year he'll only be useful for Cav's train...

 

[Winterfold]

When you look at the possibilities, I just dont see why they cant protect Wiggo and Cav at the same time?

Just with Eisel, Flecha, Rogers - there is plenty enough experience and toughness there to look after them both.

Wiggo just needs to stick with them, then keep out of trouble in the last km on the flat stages.

In the mountains, EBH, Froome, Uran is plenty. Particularly if Sky get to set tempo.

They are really are looking super strong this year.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Giro squad so far (riders scheduled to ride the giro): Thomas, Cavendish, Siutsou, Dowsett, Appollonio, Lofkvist

I like how the Team Sky website barely even mentioned that they renewed Lofkvist's contract (for one year only) , considering they wrote this after the 2010 season:

"In 2010 Thomas Löfkvist once again outlined his potential as a Grand Tour contender by finishing as Team Sky's highest-ranked rider in their debut appearance at the Tour de France."

I guess he will be a domestique for Siutsou now.

 

[sublimit]

Lol Porte... If he's going to be as awesome as this year he'll only be useful for Cav's train...

he had a poor year but he can ride on that parcours.

Flecha also a chance definiteley but I get the feeling he will go to the Vuelta.

 

[Anonymous]

I like how the Team Sky website barely even mentioned that they renewed Lofkvist's contract (for one year only) , considering they wrote this after the 2010 season:

"In 2010 Thomas Löfkvist once again outlined his potential as a Grand Tour contender by finishing as Team Sky's highest-ranked rider in their debut appearance at the Tour de France."

I guess he will be a domestique for Siutsou now.

Lofkvist has said that he enjoys being on the team and is happy working for other people.

He wouldnt have renewed unless he was happy with that I guess..

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I like how the Team Sky website barely even mentioned that they renewed Lofkvist's contract (for one year only) , considering they wrote this after the 2010 season:

"In 2010 Thomas Löfkvist once again outlined his potential as a Grand Tour contender by finishing as Team Sky's highest-ranked rider in their debut appearance at the Tour de France."

I guess he will be a domestique for Siutsou now.

I remember how even last year many here in the forum thought lovkvist was a great talent and a future gt rider.

 

[will10]

He's been a great talent since he was at FDJ at 19 or so. Still awaiting his breakthrough....

I think Sky have the manpower to balance attempts at both green and yellow. A lot of the domestiques - Rogers, Flecha, EBH, Knees, Porte - on the Tour squad are rounded enough to be helping Wiggins in the mountain stages and playing a part in Cav's train on the flat. Plus your two leaders, plus Eisel to be Cav's b1tch and Uran to be Wiggins' b1tch. All looks rosy on paper....

 

[hatcher]

In Giro, wonder if Appo will be good enough over the hills to contend for the sprints that Cav is unable to. EBH-lite, sort of thing.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

Although on paper they certainly have the firepower to look after both Cav and Wiggins at the Tour, with the demise of HTC, I think sprint stages could be very different this year. If Cav has only himself, Eisel, and one maybe two others, I don't see the likes of Froome/Porte/Rogers/Pate etc setting tempo all day long to ensure that it definitely ends in a sprint AND then being able to play an effective role in the mountains for Wiggins. This is why I think they risk spreading themselves a bit too thinly if they pursue both yellow and green really actively (which they will obviously). At some stage, the domestiques will simply have nothing left and they'll miss out on either green points/Wiggins will be too isolated/they'll have to choose between preserving Wiggins's top 5 place or getting him to drill it on the front in the last 10km to bring in the break etc...

 

[hfer07]

what about Henao?

 

[RownhamHill]

I've only been following cycling for the last couple of years, so I miss out some of the intricacies. Particularly something I don't understand is the circumstances in which Wiggins is likely to get isolated, and how having an entire team around him helps?

Obviously if he crashes/gets held up on a stage then the team might work for him to get back to the group, but presuming that doesn't happen every day I don't really get how having four or five team-mates with him in the mountains helps that much - say he's following the heads of state up a mountain, and Contador, Evans and Schleck take turns to attack surely he either holds on or he blows up? I don't really understand how trying to follow a team mates wheel who is following Contador's wheel would make holding on any easier than just following Contador himself. (If that makes sense.) (And see the Angrilu in this year's Vuelta when the presence of Frome didn't help him much!)

Sorry, not meaning to be argumentative, these are genuine questions coming from ignorance. But let's say Cav has two/three break pullers and two others in the train, and then there's Wiggins with say Uran and Frome working for him in the mountains, what are the situations in which Wiggins would need the others, and how would they working for Cavendish on some of the flat stages affect their ability to help?

 

[will10]

what about Henao?

He'll be at the Vuelta I expect.

 

[will10]

Look at Froome pulling for Wiggins in Vuelta '11, having a teammate at the sharp end of the race can be very helpful especially if you aren't an explosive climber (which Wiggins isn't). Get a teammate to set a hard pace to discourage attacks, and pull back riders who get clear.

Plus you've got someone to go to the car and get bottles/food on multi-climb days rather than wasting energy yourself.

 

[Forunculo]

I've only been following cycling for the last couple of years, so I miss out some of the intricacies. Particularly something I don't understand is the circumstances in which Wiggins is likely to get isolated, and how having an entire team around him helps?

Obviously if he crashes/gets held up on a stage then the team might work for him to get back to the group, but presuming that doesn't happen every day I don't really get how having four or five team-mates with him in the mountains helps that much - say he's following the heads of state up a mountain, and Contador, Evans and Schleck take turns to attack surely he either holds on or he blows up? I don't really understand how trying to follow a team mates wheel who is following Contador's wheel would make holding on any easier than just following Contador himself. (If that makes sense.) (And see the Angrilu in this year's Vuelta when the presence of Frome didn't help him much!)

Sorry, not meaning to be argumentative, these are genuine questions coming from ignorance. But let's say Cav has two/three break pullers and two others in the train, and then there's Wiggins with say Uran and Frome working for him in the mountains, what are the situations in which Wiggins would need the others, and how would they working for Cavendish on some of the flat stages affect their ability to help?

Didn't see Froome pulling Wiggo at the Vuelta?

A helper is needed when you are weak, when you want to make hard a climb, when you have to counter a move like Andy (and his team) at Galibier or when you want to make a move like Andy.

If Wiggo is alone with the heads of state in the last climb with 4 to go, well, pick up your pace and cut the losses, you'll lose small time. French Mountains aren't to steep so Wiggo can hold. The only weakness for him is the stage 7 and maybe the ardennes stage, here he needs his team. Of course he will be outclimbed by Andy and Contador if they are good.

But I think RadioSchleck will replicate a massive attack with Andy in one of the mountain stages so he'll need his team fresh. With only 3-4 riders Cav can't catch the breaks and build a train. Maybe Greenedge can take the rol but I think they'll play poker with Sky.

Velits and Tony Martin have been scaped from Cavendish to get a free role at least at Great Tours. For a sponsor is better to be involved in a GC battle than winning sprints and the green yersey. The audience in a "GC stage" is huge. I bet Sky won't succed at this two fronts

 

[Richeypen]

Look at Froome pulling for Wiggins in Vuelta '11, having a teammate at the sharp end of the race can be very helpful especially if you aren't an explosive climber (which Wiggins isn't). Get a teammate to set a hard pace to discourage attacks, and pull back riders who get clear.

Plus you've got someone to go to the car and get bottles/food on multi-climb days rather than wasting energy yourself.

And a spare wheel if necessary (unless your team mate is Gadret).