Sky GT Lineup 2012

[hatcher]

They did want to ride it, but for the 2nd year in a row they didn't get an invite. Hard to understand why.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

They did want to ride it, but for the 2nd year in a row they didn't get an invite. Hard to understand why.

okay,it's suprising that they did not get an invitation.

 

[Midnightfright]

Not Gt but Sky not riding the Montepaschi Strade bianche is really strange for me.

Wasn't it strade bianche that Sky got declined an invite last year? Maybe its related to that.

 

[hatcher]

okay,it's suprising that they did not get an invitation.

It is strange.

I know last year Sky themselves were very confused about not getting invited.

The one year they did get invited they sent a strong team, with Lofkvist getting either 2nd or 3rd.

 

[maltiv]

It is strange.

I know last year Sky themselves were very confused about not getting invited.

The one year they did get invited they sent a strong team, with Lofkvist getting either 2nd or 3rd.

It is weird, Löfkvist has won the race and finished 2nd, whilst Rogers has finished 3rd there and EBH got 4th when he was only 21. They also have a lot of other guys who'd definitely be able to do well here (Uran, Nordhaug, Porte) and they really wanted an invite.

 

[El Pistolero]

0, Isnt that the whole point of the discussion???

You were just listing guys who did poor in their debut gts, I was explaining why Henao might do well in his first gt and now you come up with "How many GTs has Henao ridden".





Where did I call him a GT rider?

And it seems to me you have not seen the Giro profile.

J Rodriguez came 5th last year with a cold. Its all about the mountains here. And a ttt which he shouldnt do so bad in (unless they sacrifice Henao to get some early momentum for Cav)

Well, you said GC rider for the Giro, my bad. Basically the same thing though.

I'm not saying I would be surprised to see him do well in the Giro, but I would also not be surprised to see him fail. I never make predictions about riders when they're going into their first GT. Just finishing it already would be an accomplishment. I try not to expect too much, especially not with the reputation these Columbian cyclists have. He might very well be the real deal, but he might also be a cat in a bag(French idiom, don't know how it translates in English).

I know there are little time trials in this Giro, but there are plenty of tricky descents and dangerous road surfaces.

 

[The Hitch]

Well, you said GC rider for the Giro, my bad. Basically the same thing though.

Not in the sentence you used.

And how many GTs has Henao ridden? Because you seem to call him a GT rider.

I call him a GC rider hence he doesnt need to have ridden GTs. Had I called him a GT rider then that would be wrong because he hasnt ridden any gts.

I'm not saying I would be surprised to see him do well in the Giro, but I would also not be surprised to see him fail. I never make predictions about riders when they're going into their first GT. Just finishing it already would be an accomplishment. I try not to expect too much, especially not with the reputation these Columbian cyclists have. He might very well be the real deal, but he might also be a cat in a bag(French idiom, don't know how it translates in English).

I know there are little time trials in this Giro, but there are plenty of tricky descents and dangerous road surfaces.

No one is saying he is guaranteed to perform well.

But this discussion started when you asked "What has Henao showed in GTs" in order to mock the suggestion that he could do well.

I explained to you that people can perform without having done a gt, you argued against that a little bit and now you are trying to paint yourself as if this whole time you were merely standing on the side of reason against all these Ryo Hazuki clones predicting Henao will win the damn thing.

Yes its possible Henao will fail, no one is denying that.

And the higher expectation on him than on guys like Quintana or Betancur or Duarte or Winner Ancona, is that Henaos greatest truimph is not an U23 event , be it Tour Lav, Giro bio or u23worldsrr.

His greatest truimph is a very very tough pro event, which included a few european pros, and he has since taken on a few euro pros in some minor races and ended up losing ONLY to Levi Leipheimer, one of the top top European pros, unlike Quintana who in similar competitions - Vuelta a la Roja, was nowhere near as impressive.

So looking at the Colombian flag next to his 4 names and saying " Oh theres another Colombian, probably overhyped" is a bit of a narrow minded attitude imo. He isnt hyped cos hes Colombian. Hes hyped because of what he has shown.

 

[El Pistolero]

That "very tough pro event" took place in America and in August though. I doubt many Europeans were in great shape there. Someone like Evans must have blown some steam off after his Tour victory, so wasn't in great shape anymore.

If he wins Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico this year we'll talk

I might be ignorant on this, but what GC's has Henao ever ridden against an international field?

 

[The Hitch]

That "very tough pro event" took place in America and in August though. I doubt many Europeans were in great shape there. Someone like Evans must have blown some steam off after his Tour victory, so wasn't in great shape anymore.

If he wins Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico this year we'll talk

I might be ignorant on this, but what GC's has Henao ever ridden against an international field?

Yeah Cadel was off form.

But in Utah a week earlier he did climb with Levi Sevilla and Brajkovic - same Brajkovic who went "One on One with The Great One" when Contador was at 90% in the Dauphine.

Yes these guys werent on form but then Henao wasnt exactly peaking for the event either, he had his Vuelta a Colombia in July.

And in Colorado there were a lot of guys like Vandevelde TJVG hoping for big performances in a US race, and Evans does race in any race he thinks he has a chance, so there were some euro guys there who could have offered something but Henao beat them on the hill.

 

[greenedge]

Those are exceptions and you know it. Besides, Contador had already beaten Europe's best climbers in stage races before 2007. I had a bet on him to win the white jersey. But you would have to have been an idiot to bet money on him to win the yellow jersey.

How about VDB2, Gesink, Denis Menchov, Ivan Basso, Lance Armstrong, Frank Schleck, Samuel Sanchez, Cadel Evans, Pierre Rolland, Joaquim Rodriguez, Ryder Hesjedal, Chris Horner, Bradley Wiggins, Andreas Klöden, Vincenzo Nibali, Christian Vandevelde, Christophe Le Mével, Carlos Sastre, Bernhard Kohl, Miguel Indurain, etc

What did Froome do in his first GT?

Cadel was leading the Giro in his first GT, which is quite good.

 

[greenedge]

Niemiec is the new Szmyd.

Though I hope Majka doesnt become the news Szmyd as Szmyd often just brings back or holds back riders who attacked.
And how many of those guys did their first gt at 24. And how many of those guys were being touted as major talents when they did their first gt and not upcoming youngsters.

Matt Lloyd shall challenge Niemiec to be the new Syzmd

Cadel, Gesink, Contador, Andy Shleck ( he came 2nd ) and quite a few others were probably noticed in their first GT's.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Not true, Italy is extremely important for their sponsor. I mean the teamsky.com website is available on English and Italian for a reason.

They have a funny way of showing it. I mean, would it really kill them to send Uran, Froome, or Boasson Hagen?

 

[maltiv]

They have a funny way of showing it. I mean, would it really kill them to send Uran, Froome, or Boasson Hagen?

Froome has said that he can't do the Giro because it's too cold (Kenya is a bit warmer, I guess). Uran is also better in warmer weather, but I guess they could send him. As for EBH he can't do the Giro because it crashes with Tour of Norway.

 

[theyoungest]

Froome has said that he can't do the Giro because it's too cold (Kenya is a bit warmer, I guess).

Really, too cold? And he's aiming for Paris-Nice?

 

[maltiv]

Really, too cold? And he's aiming for Paris-Nice?

That's what he says. Obviously he has to race something in the spring anyway, whilst he can't do 3 GT's...so then he naturally chooses to do the 2 warmer ones.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

They have a funny way of showing it. I mean, would it really kill them to send Uran, Froome, or Boasson Hagen?

Yeah, instead they're going to disrespect the race by sending the world champion sprinter, and a guy who got a top 10 last year.

The squad is 'stacked' - they will be leaving out top riders from every race squad this year.

 

[Froome19]

Yeah, instead they're going to disrespect the race by sending the world champion sprinter, and a guy who got a top 10 last year.

The squad is 'stacked' - they will be leaving out top riders from every race squad this year.

Exactly, Sky will be heavily prevalent within every race this year without exception ,as they have already shown.
If sky doesn't set the giro alight then I will be incredibly suprised with Apollinio and cav for the sprints + Thomas for everything+ Svitsov & Henao for the climbs and whatver other incredbly talented rider they decide to send they will surely shine.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Exactly, Sky will be heavily prevalent within every race this year without exception ,as they have already shown.
If sky doesn't set the giro alight then I will be incredibly suprised with Apollinio and cav for the sprints + Thomas for everything+ Svitsov & Henao for the climbs and whatver other incredbly talented rider they decide to send they will surely shine.

lol. one of the all time great fanboy posts.

 

[greenedge]

lol. one of the all time great fanboy posts.

Lol. He does have a point though. They are the one of the strongest teams and in my view should get the most wins over the whole season. Geraint probably will not do EVERYTHING at the Giro however.

 

[JRanton]

Lol. He does have a point though. They are the strongest team by far and should get the most wins, the whole season. Geraint probably will not do EVERYTHING at the Giro however.

I'm a Sky fan but on paper they're certainly not the strongest team ''by far''. Radioshack, BMC, OP-Quickstep and Movistar are at worst close to Sky's level and I could perfectly understand if some people think Sky are actually below the level of one or two of those teams. Sky have the potential to have an outstanding season but I think there are more question marks over their elite riders than there are over BMC's and Radioshack's in particular. There are more proven winners/performers on those two squads but Sky's depth of talent and potential for success across the entire season is probably a bit better.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I said nothing about "disrespecting the race." People said the Giro was VERY important to Sky, though. Obviously the team they'll send will still be good. Just not great, unless Henao does the damn thing and either finishes high up on GC, or pockets a stage win or two.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Lol. He does have a point though. They are the strongest team by far and should get the most wins, the whole season. Geraint probably will not do EVERYTHING at the Giro however.

I dont disagree that they have a really good team, but he is in fanboy overdrive. dribble away please

 

[JRanton]

Sky should back Cavendish says Zabel: http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/news/34797/Skyn-should-back-Cavendish-says-Zabel

“If I was responsible at Sky I would send Cavendish with at least six riders for him and then I would send Wiggins with (Vuelta a Espana runner-up) Christopher Froome for the yellow,” Zabel told Cycling Central.

“I would tell Wiggo to follow the Schleck brothers, don’t lose time in the mountains and beat them in the time-trials so then logically you are in yellow.”

 

[JRanton]

I'd guess Zabel's Sky team would be something like Wiggins, Froome, Rogers, EBH, Eisel, Sutton, Cav + two engines for the train/to pull back breaks (Pate, Porte, Siutsou, Flecha etc)

The main difference from other squads listed would be dumping a climber (Uran) for a specialist final lead out man (Sutton)

 

[maltiv]

I'd guess Zabel's Sky team would be something like Wiggins, Froome, Rogers, EBH, Eisel, Sutton, Cav + two engines for the train/to pull back breaks (Pate, Porte, Siutsou, Flecha etc)

The main difference from other squads listed would be dumping a climber (Uran) for a specialist final lead out man (Sutton)

I belive they are planning to bring a specialist lead out man. At the moment I think they're deciding between Sutton and Appolonio. EBH and Cavendish aren't doing any races together this month, so I doubt EBH is planned to be his final leadout. EBH won't even do KBK.