Sky GT Lineup 2012

[Gloin22]

Let's face it, Cav era is over, the Kittel era has begun

We'll be saying the same about Gilbert too this year

It's still early. It's fecking Oman, race that counts for nothing. Wait for MSR, Giro and Tour to judge Cav

 

[Zam_Olyas]

We'll be saying the same about Gilbert too this year

It's still early. It's fecking Oman, race that counts for nothing. Wait for MSR, Giro and Tour to judge Cav

I supposed Mr pistol was joking.

 

[JRanton]

I found it interesting that Sky never officially revealed the length of Cav and Eisel's contracts as well as Holm's comments a few days ago suggesting that the British Olympic Association were putting pressure on Cav to join Sky in Olympic year.

I wonder if Cav and Bernie have ''break clauses'' in their contracts at the end of 2012...

 

[El Pistolero]

I supposed Mr pistol was joking.

I was indeed being facetious, but the fact that he reacted shows how insecure he is about Cavendish' abilities.

 

[Gloin22]

I was indeed being facetious, but the fact that he reacted shows how insecure he is about Cavendish' abilities.

Seriously ?

How many times you react when somebody says anything about Gilbert

 

[El Pistolero]

Basically never if it's intended as a joke. For example, the "how many LBLs will Locke win" thread. Feel free to think Gilbert is past it, not my problem at all

 

[MartinGT]

I found it interesting that Sky never officially revealed the length of Cav and Eisel's contracts as well as Holm's comments a few days ago suggesting that the British Olympic Association were putting pressure on Cav to join Sky in Olympic year.

I wonder if Cav and Bernie have ''break clauses'' in their contracts at the end of 2012...

Jesus I hope not, the whole saga of Cav 'joining Sky' was unbearable after a couple of months.

 

[Catwhoorg]

TSF has them at 3 years under the contracts section of his website.

Not sure on his source though.

 

[Anonymous]

tsf is a source in itself

 

[Catwhoorg]

tsf is a source in itself

LOL.

I do use it as such myself, but obviously you got that info from somewhere.

Not that I expect a journalist to reveal sources.

 

[greenedge]

Wasted in the break? The breakaway that ended up having the winner and almost the entire top 5?

He had to shut down every move ( because he knew Flecha needed the intact breakaway group ).

He also won P-B so it showed he could have maybe gone well at P-R not riding for Flecha.

 

[Anonymous]

LOL.

I do use it as such myself, but obviously you got that info from somewhere.

Not that I expect a journalist to reveal sources.

im abysmal at keeping records. When eddy boss renewed in december i went to update his contract details and i had apparently already put him as renewing in november for 3 years. I have no idea how i found that out or knew that, but generally i dont put anything without a reliable source so i must have had one, but even i didnt know what it was :S

 

[JRanton]

Watching the lead outs in the Giro has got me thinking about Sky's tour team and how many of them will work for Cav on the flat stages. Uran is at the Giro hoping to do a good GC and yet he was working on the front today. Can we expect the likes of Porte and Froome to work on the flat in the first week with Wiggins the only man spared?

I think the most likely Tour team at the moment is:

Wiggins
Froome
Porte
Rogers
Siutsov
EBH
Eisel
Pate
Cavendish

EBH as final lead out man at the Tour could go horribly wrong but I don't think Sky have any choice given that they'll need to support Wiggins in the hilly stages. Thomas not being there is a big blow for Sky in that respect.

 

[Gloin22]

Watching the lead outs in the Giro has got me thinking about Sky's tour team and how many of them will work for Cav on the flat stages. Uran is at the Giro hoping to do a good GC and yet he was working on the front today. Can we expect the likes of Porte and Froome to work on the flat in the first week with Wiggins the only man spared?

I think the most likely Tour team at the moment is:

Wiggins
Froome
Porte
Rogers
Siutsov
EBH
Eisel
Pate
Cavendish

EBH as final lead out man at the Tour could go horribly wrong but I don't think Sky have any choice given that they'll need to support Wiggins in the hilly stages. Thomas not being there is a big blow for Sky in that respect.

That's the squad I would pick. Not sure on Rogers but he can give some support. Rogers/Nordhaug would be the only indecision I have about the squad. Rest is fine. Cav won't have a good leadout and will have to rely on other leadout and EBH too get into position. But EBH showed at Tirreno he can do it, positioning Cav in very good position when he took the win.

Uran said in other small larticle he wanted to do couple of km's on the front to test his legs before bigger mountains tough, couple of km's on front isn't bad

 

[will10]

Can't see Nordhaug being picked, think it'll be Rogers.

 

[maltiv]

Can't see Nordhaug being picked, think it'll be Rogers.

Nordhaug is clearly a better climber than Rogers this season. Nordhaug easily left Rogers behind in Criterium International and was climbing with the best in Pais Vasco where Rogers was far behind. However, Rogers' advantage is that he'd be more useful in Cavendish's train, so if he gets picked, that would be why.

 

[hatcher]

Rodgers is a more similar climber to Wiggins too, so that might count for him.

Said it before but I'd rather Nordhaug go to the Vuelta, and get some opportunities to ride for himself.

 

[Froome19]

Can't see Nordhaug being picked, think it'll be Rogers.

Rogers will be certainly picked. He has already been labelled as "road captain" as they like to call it, for the tour.

 

[Gloin22]

As daft it may sounds I wouldn't discount Zandio too. Wiggo said he was one his favourite helpers in mountains and expressed his gratitude to him. He too didn't race too much this year meaning he's possibly saved for tour squad. It's a definitely possilbity imo.

 

[JRanton]

As daft it may sounds I wouldn't discount Zandio too. Wiggo said he was one his favourite helpers in mountains and expressed his gratitude to him. He too didn't race too much this year meaning he's possibly saved for tour squad. It's a definitely possilbity imo.

Zandio will definitely be on the long list for the Tour but he'll probably just miss out on being in the final nine along with the likes of Nordhaug, Lovkvist, Hayman, Swift and Knees. You can't completely rule out Uran although I think Sky have learnt their lesson from riders doing the Giro-Tour double from previous years.

 

[greenedge]

Every year i feel sad that Hayman is never selected ( like last year when he would have aided Wiggins a lot ).

Nordhaug has been consistent this year, so i think he would be the bolter to make the Sky TDF line up.

 

[greenedge]

Said it before but I'd rather Nordhaug go to the Vuelta, and get some opportunities to ride for himself.

Froome wants to go there.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Rogers will be certainly picked. He has already been labelled as "road captain" as they like to call it, for the tour.

Last year he stated that his body's not up to the 3 weeks required for a GT and that he saw his future in 1 week races. He has been an important cog in Wiggins's machine this year, but unless something's changed in that respect, there's got to be a doubt there.

Definites -
Wiggins, Cavendish and EBH, obviously, as the team's top 3 riders.
Porte, who's been excellent this year.
Froome, if he's in shape and good health.

Probables -
Sivtsov, as he's already proved at the 2010 Tour that he can spend hours on the front of a peloton, dragging back a break, and have the energy to climb really well.
Eisel, as he and Cav are pretty much an item. My only question marks are that he will have already done a tough Classics campaign and a Giro, and that he seems to be featuring less at the sharp end of Cav's train these days.

Possibles -
Norghaug, who's climbed as well as anyone, bar Wiggins.
Pate, if Sky feel they need somebody specifically to control the peloton on the flat stages, which he did brilliantly for HTC last year.
Rogers, see above.
Sutton, who has done a good job leading out Cav this year on occasions.
Zandio and Knees, both of whom Wiggins likes.
Uran, but he will have a tough Giro in his legs.
Lofkvist, if the team are really going all out to support Wiggins.

Long Shots -
Swift or Stannard, if they feel they need something more for Cav's train and they think they need another Brit in the line up.
Hayman, Flecha and Barry, as proven GT riders, again for the train/driving the peloton.

No chance -
Appollonio
Puccio
Rowe
Henao
Hunt
Dowsett
Kennaugh and Thomas, who will be busy winning gold medals in London.

 

[will10]

I'd agree with a lot of the above. I thought Rogers' comments were regards to riding for GC over 3 weeks? When you're not having to do the final each day it's a lot easier to get through - look how efficient Navarro and Hernandez have been for AC, losing time on the nothing stages to save energy for when it really matters.