Sky GT Lineup 2012

[Anonymous]

Winning White would be a big deal for Uran, but it's not a big deal for Sky.

Winning white would be a serious aim if not for Cavendish. Last year, even if Brad had finished top ten, white was a plan for Rigo as it can be marketed to the british public as the best young rider, future winner, etc etc.

The white jersey now is a very poor third place to green and gc..

Rigo wasnt protected last year, but had a free role to an extent. The team were taking it on a stage by stage basis with him unknowing of how we would ride the tour. Its just gutting for him that illness ruined his chances.

Think he will get a similar role this year. Hes not really a support brad, domestique type rider, and the team will be aware that anything can happen to the team leader. Would be nice if they gave him a free reign to do what he wanted, chase stages, king of the mountains etc.

The more critical time for Rigo this year is the Ardennes. A lot of people have a lot of hopes for him.

 

[will10]

Sky have seven riders who have finished in the top 20 of a Grand Tour in the last three years.

Uran isn't one of them.

He needs to focus on making the team.

Shall we ignore that he was just outside the top 10 on GC before getting ill on the Alpe stage, including losing 3 minutes waiting for Wiggins in the first week? Yes let's, makes your argument very convincing.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Winning white would be a serious aim if not for Cavendish. Last year, even if Brad had finished top ten, white was a plan for Rigo as it can be marketed to the british public as the best young rider, future winner, etc etc.

The white jersey now is a very poor third place to green and gc..

Rigo wasnt protected last year, but had a free role to an extent. The team were taking it on a stage by stage basis with him unknowing of how we would ride the tour. Its just gutting for him that illness ruined his chances.

Think he will get a similar role this year. Hes not really a support brad, domestique type rider, and the team will be aware that anything can happen to the team leader. Would be nice if they gave him a free reign to do what he wanted, chase stages, king of the mountains etc.

The more critical time for Rigo this year is the Ardennes. A lot of people have a lot of hopes for him.

he will do great in classics but henao will be even better. henao is great in positioning in peloton, while uran needs a team to put him there

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Shall we ignore that he was just outside the top 10 on GC before getting ill on the Alpe stage, including losing 3 minutes waiting for Wiggins in the first week? Yes let's, makes your argument very convincing.

uran would've finished 8th wiithout sickness and that is even disregarding the 4 minutes he lost with wiggins. otherwise he would be close to top 5 at age 24 in the tour de france. that is huge. keep in mind in the mountains he was with the best until he got sick. seeing as he has tremendous recuperation as we saw in his first tour at age 22(!!) in 2009. that's not unrealistic

and all that british blabla bs I know is just bs. I remember when sky was launched and that they would be the best team in the world instantly and a british tourwinner in 5 years. I laughed at it and I still do. and so does sky probably because already after 1 huge failure of a gc year in 2010 they got uran and henao(kept him in colombia for 1 more year on his request). why? because they have it in them to win gt's more than geraint thomas, bradley wiggins, peter kennaugh or whoever. and winning a gt with a foreigner (eventually) is more important than no win at all

 

[Mambo95]

Shall we ignore that he was just outside the top 10 on GC before getting ill on the Alpe stage, including losing 3 minutes waiting for Wiggins in the first week? Yes let's, makes your argument very convincing.

He has a history or fading badly in the last week of GTs, ill or not. Until he overcomes that then he'll just be a good rider amongst several others and not meriting special treatment.

I'd pick him in the team, but he won't get any 'free role'. He'll do the support job expected of him.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

He has a history or fading badly in the last week of GTs, ill or not. Until he overcomes that then he'll just be a good rider amongst several others and not meriting special treatment.

I'd pick him in the team, but he won't get any 'free role'. He'll do the support job expected of him.

he rode 3 gt's in his entire career of which he was the strongest in the 3rd week in tour in 2009, he crashed because of anton in the other one while being in sight of podium in vuelta 2010 and became sick in the tour last year. fortunately you have no say in it as sky believe alot more in him. he has natural class and talent rarely seen so I would always keep my cards open with him

 

[Anonymous]

uran would've finished 8th wiithout sickness and that is even disregarding the 4 minutes he lost with wiggins.

Apart from the fact he was behind Wiggins when the crash happened.

nobody has any way of knowing where Rigo would have been had he not lost four minutes, maybe other riders would have attacked him, put him under pressure instead of leaving him pretty much alone. Ifs, why's and wherefores...

and all that british blabla bs I know is just bs. I remember when sky was launched and that they would be the best team in the world instantly and a british tourwinner in 5 years.

To be fair, they were the best team in the world (according to CQ in their second year).

But yes, on the other bit, they have now rephrased their aims..

 

[greenedge]

The criticising of Uran should wait till after this year. The fact is he is very strong. This year he should break-out ( though it could be hard being in such a strong team )

 

[greenedge]

That article at least confirmed that froome is doing the TDF.
If Froome beats Wiggins in the first ITT that should give him leadership status in the team ( and suggests a logical conclusion that Sky should have done at the Vuelta )

It's also odd that Wiggins says Cav's team was at the front last year. It implies that his was not. Teams like BMC and Leopard last year took good care of their riders in the dangerous first week. Next year BMC shall still do that do that ( as their work will be for Evans to be safe whilst Hushovd/ Gilbert go FTW )

Next year being on Cavs' team will help Wiggins stay out of danger as there shall be more compliance from other teams.
GE can send riders like Gerrans/ Clarke up the road to put pressure on Sky. Since Clarke/ Gerrans are good enough to win from any break GE can be assured that Sky will have to chase. GE will not have to do much chasing as they don't have riders other than O'Grady who can work on the front ( as Meyer/Bobridge will probably be doing the Olympic track )

 

[the asian]

Uran should focus on the Ardennes classics, Vuelta, and Lombardy.

He'll be wasted at the tour having to do domestic duties for Wiggins.

 

[Winterfold]

Wiggins on Dauphine or Worlds form puts 2-3 minutes into Froome over 96km of ITT.

He's had one good race in circumstances which would usually have Brits crying foul. Unless Wiggo crashes out, he's a domestique in the Tour.

I would send him to Giro and/or Vuelta myself.

 

[hrotha]

he rode 3 gt's in his entire career of which he was the strongest in the 3rd week in tour in 2009, he crashed because of anton in the other one while being in sight of podium in vuelta 2010 and became sick in the tour last year. fortunately you have no say in it as sky believe alot more in him. he has natural class and talent rarely seen so I would always keep my cards open with him

Funny, I don't remember you saying the same about Gesink.

 

[jens_attacks]

indeed is foolish to say that wiggins was at top form in vuelta.but i won't underrate froome,i think he can be again at pena cabarga form.i'd go with both of them for le tour anyway.

 

[Swabian Lass]

Is it probable that Uran will ride le Tour? If the white jersey were a serious aim then, yes. But with Cavendish and Wiggins around it won't be. I don't think that Uran would be the best choice as support for Wiggins and if he's pulling for Cavendish then Sky are desperate! This is assuming that Froome is plan b for GC of course.

If I were chosing (I wish!) I'd have the Ardennes for his main target, tell him to sit the Tour out on the beach and turn him loose at the Vuelta and see what he can do. And then, depending on how this year works out, Le Tour next year.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Funny, I don't remember you saying the same about Gesink.

gesink has done 5 gt's in which he crashed 4 of them.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Is it probable that Uran will ride le Tour? If the white jersey were a serious aim then, yes. But with Cavendish and Wiggins around it won't be. I don't think that Uran would be the best choice as support for Wiggins and if he's pulling for Cavendish then Sky are desperate! This is assuming that Froome is plan b for GC of course.

If I were chosing (I wish!) I'd have the Ardennes for his main target, tell him to sit the Tour out on the beach and turn him loose at the Vuelta and see what he can do. And then, depending on how this year works out, Le Tour next year.

he is certain to do the tour yes, tour and vuelta he said

 

[Swabian Lass]

he is certain to do the tour yes, tour and vuelta he said

But he wouldn't be the first rider to have one plan before the season starts and another by the summer, no?

I'm biased, because I'd rather see him do well in the Ardennes and at the Vuelta, than so so at the Tour. I don't think his chances at the Tour are great mainly because if Wiggins can't podium this year, then, let's face it, it's not going to happen. I think that Sky have to throw everything behind him, partly because of the Brit bit (this is why I don't like these pseudo "national" teams).

 

[hatcher]

But he wouldn't be the first rider to have one plan before the season starts and another by the summer, no?

I'm biased, because I'd rather see him do well in the Ardennes and at the Vuelta, than so so at the Tour. I don't think his chances at the Tour are great mainly because if Wiggins can't podium this year, then, let's face it, it's not going to happen. I think that Sky have to throw everything behind him, partly because of the Brit bit (this is why I don't like these pseudo "national" teams).

but mainly because he is their most proven GT rider.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

If the choice is there I'd pick froome over wiggins any day

 

[hrotha]

gesink has done 5 gt's in which he crashed 4 of them.

Hence the comparison with Urán.

 

[Anonymous]

That article at least confirmed that froome is doing the TDF.

that article might say that, but other articles dont. The only certs for the Tour squad are Wiggins, Cavendish and Boasson Hagen. Everyone else is battling it out for six spots.

Froome is provisionally scheduled to ride the Tour if he can repeat the kind of form he showed in the later part of last season. In other words, if he rides in June like he did last June, he wont be going to the Tour.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Hence the comparison with Urán.

he crashed in 1 of them? I don't see the comparison

 

[hrotha]

he crashed in 1 of them? I don't see the comparison

Crashes, gets sick, yadda yadda.

 

[profff]

froome has still to proove he can re do what he did in the vuelta.
uran has to peak for ardennes, where he can aim podium at lbl.
may be he can try to prolong his form to the giro. that could be a good option for him , being the leader there.
that has been done in the past by other riders, like di luca and purito.
he is just 24 and he has plenty of time for going back at the tour.

first choice for sky at the tour will be wiggins, for many reasons.
then they need a second protected rider/helper in the mountains for wiggo.
the choice will be between rigo and froome.
we will know in few months if froome is able to find again the 2011 vuelta condition. that it is not sure, for the moment.
uran has proven he has good qualities and he probably can repeat the first 2 week 2011 tour and even do better. he is in his second year at sky and he will probably improve his performances.

which are the plans for henao? will he have a spot at he giro or vuelta?

 

[JRanton]

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

Add Ben Swift to that too. His race programme is Sardegna, Murcia, Giro, Olympics (team pursuit?)