Sky GT Lineup 2012

[jens_attacks]

"We've got the makings of an incredible team with Richie Porte,Michael Rogers,Chris Froome" he said."This is by far the best team we've had on paper.All of a sudden we've got one of the strongest teams in cycling.It's like the old Postal days.I have visions of five or six guys ahead of me in the mountains,and Cav out the back!But he'll have green so it won't matter".
Bradley Wiggins,Cycling Weekly.

mamma mia!

and no doubt now that chris will be in le tour working for his team leader

 

[hatcher]

I think he's getting a little over-excited.

Five or six teammates around him in the mountains maybe, but drilling it up the slopes like US Postal? Not likely. Unless we're all hugely underrating Wiggins' climbing legs it tactically wouldn't make much sense.

 

[theyoungest]

Richie Porte couldn't drop your average Andrea Guardini while working for Contador, don't think he really frightens the competition like some of the US Postals did.

 

[jens_attacks]

Richie Porte couldn't drop your average Andrea Guardini while working for Contador, don't think he really frightens the competition like some of the US Postals did.

we'll see in july but i find it silly that sky will have to do a lot of work when you have radioshack.only if they will have yellow otherwise can't see it

 

[will10]

I think he's getting a little over-excited.

Five or six teammates around him in the mountains maybe, but drilling it up the slopes like US Postal? Not likely. Unless we're all hugely underrating Wiggins' climbing legs it tactically wouldn't make much sense.

We saw in Le Tour 2009 and Vuelta 2011 that he likes a high constant pace. If he's got teammates with him in the front group then they'll ride, no question. Can really see Sky and Radioshack strangling the life out of the mountain stages in this Tour, providing the Schlecks and Wiggins turn up in good shape.

 

[Escarabajo]

Depends on how and where Wiggins said it. For example, was he at a bar when he said it? was he drunk when he said it?

 

[The Hitch]

Funny that he mentions Rogers and Porte yet leaves out Uran, whose easily the better climber.

Him not being anglophone probably got something to do with it.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Funny that he mentions Rogers and Porte yet leaves out Uran, whose easily the better climber.

Him not being anglophone probably got something to do with it.

Probably, also perhaps level of profile in an English speaking newspaper, maybe also dieseling ability would be more use to him than explosive climbing.

 

[Escarabajo]

Funny that he mentions Rogers and Porte yet leaves out Uran, whose easily the better climber.

Him not being anglophone probably got something to do with it.

Maybe he is still holding a grudge against Uran for the first week of the Tour last year.

 

[Froome19]

Richie Porte couldn't drop your average Andrea Guardini while working for Contador, don't think he really frightens the competition like some of the US Postals did.

True he struggled last year but towards the end of the giro (cant remember exact stages) he was starting to really string out the top riders and was doing a massive amount of work.
And if one of Froome or wiggins lose time then they will surely try to do what they did in the vuelta and use one or the other to push the pace really high at the end of the climbs certainly Postalesque

 

[ingsve]

Funny that he mentions Rogers and Porte yet leaves out Uran, whose easily the better climber.

Him not being anglophone probably got something to do with it.

Well, in a way perhaps Porte, Rogers and Froome are more suitable as helpers for Wiggins since he is benefitted more from having TT type riders keeping a high steady pace in the mountains while Uran is more of a traditional climber that is more about tempo shifts.

 

[maltiv]

Well, in a way perhaps Porte, Rogers and Froome are more suitable as helpers for Wiggins since he is benefitted more from having TT type riders keeping a high steady pace in the mountains while Uran is more of a traditional climber that is more about tempo shifts.

Not really, look how Uran paced himself on Plateau de Beille last year. Dropped back every time there was an acceleration but kept a steady pace and made contact with the front group again every time, and then did a pretty good sprint in the end.

 

[gustienordic]

Well, in a way perhaps Porte, Rogers and Froome are more suitable as helpers for Wiggins since he is benefitted more from having TT type riders keeping a high steady pace in the mountains while Uran is more of a traditional climber that is more about tempo shifts.

Skys lineup should be:

Wiggins, Froome, Uran, Henao, Sitsov, Rodgers, Thomas, EBH, & Porte...

Pretty much all either TT'ers or climbers Leave out Cav!

 

[Catwhoorg]

Unless injured, there is zero chance Cav won't be in the squad.

 

[gustienordic]

Unless injured, there is zero chance Cav won't be in the squad.

Obviously, but I would like it so much if he were not in it... if he wasn't there it gives Sky much more freedom.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Skys lineup should be:

Wiggins, Froome, Uran, Henao, Sitsov, Rodgers, Thomas, EBH, & Porte...

Pretty much all either TT'ers or climbers Leave out Cav!

It will be interesting to see how close that squad is, but with Cavendish in for Thomas who we know isn't riding.

 

[Mambo95]

Skys lineup should be:

Wiggins, Froome, Uran, Henao, Sitsov, Rodgers, Thomas, EBH, & Porte...

Pretty much all either TT'ers or climbers Leave out Cav!

So you're going to leave out a rider who has averaged five stage wins in the last four years to support a rider who is, at best, third favourite for yellow?

I'm a big Wiggins fan - but that's crazy talk.

 

[mb2612]

Also, Sky will have to do plenty of work on the flat stages to bring back the break.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Also, Sky will have to do plenty of work on the flat stages to bring back the break.

It's not like they have to do more than other teams with a sprinter. They can choose not to. Lotto, 1t4i, Lampre, OPQS, Garmin, Liquigas, Greenedge and other teams will step up if they have to.

 

[theyoungest]

After a few stages it used to be HTC who had to do the bulk of the work, because Cav had stamped his authority by then. Don't know if it will be any different with Sky.

 

[Gloin22]

It's not like they have to do more than other teams with a sprinter. They can choose not to. Lotto, 1t4i, Lampre, OPQS, Garmin, Liquigas, Greenedge and other teams will step up if they have to.

Especially thost two teams, who only chance for bit of success is from spritners. Sky will definitely work, but people overestimate how much they will actually. They won't work as HTC did for example.

 

[ingsve]

I'm guessing that since Sky's team will be split between Cav and Wiggins it will probably mean that Sky's sprint train won't be as dominant as HTCs was so other teams might feel they actually have a shot.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

After a few stages it used to be HTC who had to do the bulk of the work, because Cav had stamped his authority by then. Don't know if it will be any different with Sky.

They didn't have to, they chose to. It depends on how desperate they are. The other teams with a sprinter will get the message if Sky is prepared to let the break go.

 

[greenedge]

"We've got the makings of an incredible team with Richie Porte,Michael Rogers,Chris Froome" he said."This is by far the best team we've had on paper.All of a sudden we've got one of the strongest teams in cycling.It's like the old Postal days.I have visions of five or six guys ahead of me in the mountains,and Cav out the back!But he'll have green so it won't matter".
Bradley Wiggins,Cycling Weekly.

mamma mia!

and no doubt now that chris will be in le tour working for his team leader

And they are all good ITT riders ( Toussire will be good for that ). However stage 7 will not, i can envisage him losing a bit of time if everyone attacks.

 

[greenedge]

Funny that he mentions Rogers and Porte yet leaves out Uran, whose easily the better climber.

Him not being anglophone probably got something to do with it.

I noticed that as well. He and Froome will probably not have to drill as much as the others as both can be quite explosive ( if need be )