Speculation as to what the 6 man team TTT's at the WC shall be!

[hatcher]

Just Wiggins.

Actually really looking forward to this. One of those disciplines in which we rarely see the best vs the best.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Just make it national instead already, shall we..

We already know the top 3 by now.

 

[Caruut]

Surely a very good reason why it's based on trade teams is because otherwise it would be hugely biased in favour of the 'national' trade teams like Sky and GreenEdge, who'd be able to practice with their TTT squad whenever.

For the French, Spanish, Belgians and Italians, their top riders are so much more widespread, which makes it much harder.

Also, I reckon Cav would be a good candidate for the Sky squad. Obviously he'd have to stay at the bottom of the Cauberg, so if it were 5th man over the line, probably not, but if it were 4th man over, they'd have one spare mishap to work with. He has a good prologue on him, and crucially, won't be preparing for another race that week.

 

[nvpacchi]

Movistar should be able to throw a good team together, especially since most of their guys could be holding onto Vuelta form:

Konovalovas, Bruseghin, Karpets, Castroviejo, Plaza, Jose Ivan Gutierrez would be a pretty good team.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Surely a very good reason why it's based on trade teams is because otherwise it would be hugely biased in favour of the 'national' trade teams like Sky and GreenEdge, who'd be able to practice with their TTT squad whenever.

Huh? But now the quasi-national teams like Katusha and Astana and Sky have even more of an advantage, because they will just pack their teams with their representatives leaving nothing to luck while other nations will be all scattered throughout all other teams.

And the possibilities to cockblock competitor country by simply not including strong contender from your team...

 

[greenedge]

Australia has quite a few strong ITT riders in GE as well.

 

[janraaskalt]

Is the TTT ProTour exclusive?

Are the likes of Cofidis, Caja, etc. automatically excluded from participating?

Even Conti teams can qualify via continental rankings. Total of 50 teams, which is an awful lot

 

[Bavarianrider]

Even Conti teams can qualify via continental rankings. Total of 50 teams, which is an awful lot

Nice, 50 teams is great.
However, this shoul be at least 60km long.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Do we know which man is the time to be taken on? 4th (half the starting team plus one) would be my assumption, but do we know for certain?

How likely is it that the result will depend more on each team's 4th best climber of the Valkenburg rather than differences in TTT proficiency?

 

[JRanton]

Do we know which man is the time to be taken on? 4th (half the starting team plus one) would be my assumption, but do we know for certain?

How likely is it that the result will depend more on each team's 4th best climber of the Valkenburg rather than differences in TTT proficiency?

I asked Vaughters when he did his Q & A on here and he confirmed that the time would be taken on the 4th man over the line.

 

[Caruut]

I asked Vaughters when he did his Q & A on here and he said the time would be taken on the 5th man over the line.

Man, that's pretty unforgiving if a guy goes down. I guess they want to discourage burning out 2 guys before the climb, but still.

 

[JRanton]

Man, that's pretty unforgiving if a guy goes down. I guess they want to discourage burning out 2 guys before the climb, but still.

I edited my post! The time is taken on the 4th man over the line, not 5th.

 

[Caruut]

I edited my post! The time is taken on the 4th man over the line, not 5th.

Well then that'd pretty reasonable

 

[spalco]

I think this should be entertaining wether or not teams send their A-team or not (maybe even moreso if the Wigginses, Martins and Cancellaras don't ride, because it'll be closer).

 

[taiwan]

Of course they'll race in their trade kits, seems the most logical thing. It makes just as much sense to do this with trade teams, as with nations, in my opinion. Maybe even more with trade teams, because they actually race more team time trials during the year.

A while ago Erik Dekker posted a logo the winners of the team time trial can wear, I guess patched onto their jerseys, or their team cars.

IMO they should just wear Tony Martin's jersey, but only during TTTs.

 

[Panda Claws]

I think OPQS would put Boonen in the line-up, and Sky could very well use Cavendish.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I think OPQS would put Boonen in the line-up, and Sky could very well use Cavendish.

Nah, disagree I'm afraid.

This is 53km, not 20km round Italy or Spain like we're used to seeing.

With only 6 men over such a long distance you're looking for people who can take 20 second turns at high speed for a full hour. Maybe Tom at a push, but certainly not Cav.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

A while ago Erik Dekker posted a logo the winners of the team time trial can wear, I guess patched onto their jerseys, or their team cars.

So I assume only members of the 6 man team on the day can wear this, or will all nine riders on the team that won it wear it during GT team time trials, even if they were on a team that got beaten on the day? And if a rider transfers to another team, can he wear his TTT rainbows on his new team's TTT efforts? Will he be obliged to do so?

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Nice, 50 teams is great.
However, this shoul be at least 60km long.

Who knows if all fifty will accept? We know the 18 WorldTour teams are obligated to show up, but will the other 32? I wouldn't be so certain.

 

[blaxland]

Stupid idea to run this event as WT teams only.If its at the world championships then it should be only for nations"Lets see how many Sqauds send their A Teams?I like the idea of TTT but for country/nation only.