So, Omega Pharma - Quick-Step, then

[kevchenko13]

I used to think we knew where we stood with this team. Top Classics riders; a dominant force over the cobbles. Riders like Terpstra, Chava (at the time) and Boonen who can win short multi-stage races like De Panne. Some awesome time triallists, too, and national champions. And of course sprinters too. OPQS was the team you'd look to for one day races and stage winners.

But now there's Uran.

It seemed such a strange move at the time. How was he going to fit in? We all knew he was one of the world class GC riders - and with only three Grand Tours in a year Sky were never going to keep Froome, Wiggins, Porte and Uran all happy - so, surely, he would move to (say) Katusha. Or Astana. Or basically any team which knows what it's like to challenge for a grand tour GC.

So when it came to looking at the runners and riders for this Giro, I looked at Uran and, of course, he was second last year. But that was with Sky, who are (usually) built for GC contenders. Could he really do it with OPQS?

Well, now he has the chance. He has the jersey. But does he have the team to help him defend it? Is this something OPQS are capable of?

Because if it is, then aren't we looking at the team that really can do everything? Maybe next year one Stepper will win Roubaix and and Uran will win Le Tour?

 

[Netserk]

And Michal Merckx to win the Ardennes triple too!

 

[SafeBet]

Yeah Uran should focus on the Tour next year so Brambilla can go for his deserved Giro-Vuelta double.

 

[Alpechraxler]

they have de gendt for some help in the 3rd week !

 

[Peter von]

Having a strong leader like Uran can do wonders for a team, the OPQS riders were never going to kill themselves so Cataldo could finish 10th instead of 11th, but with a rider they believe can win the whole thing, they could be a really strong team.

Next year could be a very important year for the team, if Uran go for the Tour and OPQSlet him, then what about Cav? It's difficult, not impossible, to have them both, but it's difficult to strike the perfect balance.

 

[Samson777]

Having a strong leader like Uran can do wonders for a team, the OPQS riders were never going to kill themselves so Cataldo could finish 10th instead of 11th, but with a rider they believe can win the whole thing, they could be a really strong team.

What? The reason Brambilla and the gang do a top 10, is because of their strong leader?

 

[King Boonen]

Cav needs to prove he still has it at this tour, or they might as well build a team around Uran.

 

[maxmartin]

But now there's Uran.

It seemed such a strange move at the time. How was he going to fit in? We all knew he was one of the world class GC riders - and with only three Grand Tours in a year Sky were never going to keep Froome, Wiggins, Porte and Uran all happy - so, surely, he would move to (say) Katusha. Or Astana. Or basically any team which knows what it's like to challenge for a grand tour GC.


Because if it is, then aren't we looking at the team that really can do everything? Maybe next year one Stepper will win Roubaix and and Uran will win Le Tour?

De Gent can be top GC man if he can get his **** together. Woulter poles also has huge GC potential.

 

[alspacka]

Between Uran, Cav, Kwiat, Martin and cobbles team they could pretty much annex everything.

 

[Ruby United]

I used to think we knew where we stood with this team. Top Classics riders; a dominant force over the cobbles. Riders like Terpstra, Chava (at the time) and Boonen who can win short multi-stage races like De Panne. Some awesome time triallists, too, and national champions. And of course sprinters too. OPQS was the team you'd look to for one day races and stage winners.

But now there's Uran.

It seemed such a strange move at the time. How was he going to fit in? We all knew he was one of the world class GC riders - and with only three Grand Tours in a year Sky were never going to keep Froome, Wiggins, Porte and Uran all happy - so, surely, he would move to (say) Katusha.

Well, he actually could've been leader in Giro and vuelta for sky this year with henao out and wiggo froome and Porte riding tour. But, yeah.opqs have strong enough riders to give him The support he .needs. I just don't know if he himself is strong enough to ever win a tour, but he certainly will win the vuelta or/and Giro in his career.

 

[ILovecycling]

Cav needs to prove he still has it at this tour, or they might as well build a team around Uran.

IMO they will anyway, if Rigo wins maglia rosa this year
tony,niki,kwia and boonen are at least 4 guys who will be in 2015 Tour and they are advantage to both guys,so a lot better situation than Sky 2012 imo


Lol Colombians will rip Sky apart in next year's Tour,it could be a total destruction if there is proper mountain terrain! (but everything depends on The Great One)

 

[Kwibus]

What? The reason Brambilla and the gang do a top 10, is because of their strong leader?

A strong leader and winning/leading is always good for the morale. A good morale will always give better results.

The past showed us that it's not always good morale though.

 

[doperhopper]

A strong leader and winning/leading is always good for the morale. A good morale will always give better results.

The past showed us that it's not always good morale though.

well, one thing is a strong team and strong motivation, but another story is up to which level they can ride the mountain train, for sure not as high as Banesto/USPS/Sky (not saying one can't win GT trainless)

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I don't care much for Lefevre's mob but happy to see Poels is back after that awful crash a couple of years ago

 

[Akuryo]

Even if they are under a new name now (and for the next two seasons, since both name-sponsors are signed trough 2017), but I didn't find a better thread for this. They are the team with the most wins so far with 18, they also got their 21st second place today with Kwiatkowski. The World Champion took 5 of those alone. And most of them were tactical errors. Not today, cause Matthews was just the lone sprinter left in that group, but should they overthink their approach to races in general? Races like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad spring to mind ...

 

[mme de guermantes]

All this second places are the new version of the curse of rainbow jersey. Only this time it hits entire team of the owner