Strongest teams in the Cobbled Classics

[dlwssonic]

We all obviously know the strongest rider was Fabian Cancellara but which team showed the most agression, had the best coordination and teamwork, strategy, and strength on the front.

 

[Cimber]

We all obviously know the strongest rider was Fabian Cancellara but which team showed the most agression, had the best coordination and teamwork, strategy, and strength on the front.

Most agression: Lotto imo

 

[dlwssonic]

OMG how could I forget Lotto can the administrator add that for me in the poll

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Quick Step, 2 and 4 in RVV. Without bad luck probably something similar in PR. It's not really a question. And then they were even missing a guy like Terpstra.

BMC a close second. Then Garmin

 

[Jamsque]

Quick Step, BMC and Sky

 

[Cimber]

Its hard to answer all those variables in one imo. Cos the strongest team might not have been the best coodinated nor the most aggressive etc etc.

 

[L'arriviste]

Provided we don't confuse this poll with who actually won or even got on the podium, I think it was very evenly matched.

I've put Sky in there because it always seemed to have a man in every break. In the end Sky sort of followed the pattern of 2010 and couldn't really convert. Once or twice it crumbled spectacularly at the last hurdle. However, the overall presence was strong and came in depth. For that reasons only I'd call it strongest

To be fair I do think you could argue for several teams. Rabo also had strength in depth at times and possibly surprised me most. Lotto was indeed aggressive, QuickStep worked together well at times, BMC had a great Flanders and showed up a fair bit.

Leopard was simply Fab. Literally.

 

[Ferminal]

Sky Professional Cycling Team

 

[hatcher]

Tough one.

Sky probably showed strongest depth, and had more riders show themselves, but they didn't get the big win.

 

[sublimit]

Sky probably have the strongest riders, Its not quite happened as far as as results go but they have the legs.

BMC have impressed also me but maybe not yesterday as such. Lotto were everywhere yesterday but came up short but at least had a go.
Garmin have good riders but I'm still not certain they are getting the best out of them despite the win.

 

[Astana1]

I said BMC. But there wasn't one team that was a standout.

 

[simonk]

BMC Racing Team got my vote.

Also think Saxo Bank was doing good in the cobbled classics though. Two wins, one semi-classic and one monument, and Cooke have been really strong also. Who the hell would think that they would do so well? Probably it was only Bjarne Riis.

Look at the team, it is not that strong, but Riis somehow get the best out of all the riders.

 

[theyoungest]

When the poll is about strongest teams, it's strange to see Saxo and Leopard there.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

yeah as a team I think Rabobank should be up there as well.

 

[theyoungest]

Not necessarily Rabobank, there have been more entertaining teams, but we only saw Nuyens at the finish line, and the very reason Spartacus didn't win both Flanders and Roubaix is that he had a **** poor team.

 

[Cimber]

Not necessarily Rabobank, there have been more entertaining teams, but we only saw Nuyens at the finish line, and the very reason Spartacus didn't win both Flanders and Roubaix is that he had a **** poor team.

But the OP´s definition of the strongest team is as follows:

"but which team showed the most agression, had the best coordination and teamwork, strategy, and strength on the front. "

So in the definition tactics, teamwork and coordination also is a major factor, not only brute force. In that regard both SBS and Rabo could be considered.

this is also why I find the question so hard to answer; i.e. cos there are so many factors that are not necessarily matches the same team.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

SKY.

They've been a significant factor in just about every race. The dark cloud is the inability to turn that strength into wins. The even darker cloud is that EBH is no nearer to being the guy that lifts the first dark cloud.

 

[theyoungest]

But the OP´s definition of the strongest team is as follows:

"but which team showed the most agression, had the best coordination and teamwork, strategy, and strength on the front. "

So in the definition tactics, teamwork and coordination also is a major factor, not only brute force. In that regard both SBS and Rabo could be considered.

this is also why I find the question so hard to answer; i.e. cos there are so many factors that are not necessarily matches the same team.

Leopard (i.e. Cancellara) scores high on aggression, but very low on the other parameters. Saxo (i.e. Nuyens) scores high on... uhh... nothing.

 

[Cimber]

Leopard (i.e. Cancellara) scores high on aggression, but very low on the other parameters. Saxo (i.e. Nuyens) scores high on... uhh... nothing.

For SBS: tactics in RV I reckon and coordination and agression in PRB (they attacked alot, and seemed rather coordinated always keeping their protected guys in front and were the 1st to enter Arenberg). Actually team-wise they might actually have ridden better in PRB than in RVV, but unlike in RVV their protected riders just didnt have the edgte and was a tad unlucky (Cooke). Considering they didnt have a favorite they rode quite well and smart in both races. That said I dont think they were the "strongest" team by far, all I am saying is that its ok they are in the poll considering the OP's variables.

Leopard wasnt agressive as a team, only Fabian was agressive really. Their lack of aggresion in PRB (missing the break fx.) was part of the reason they lost it.

QS is my pick for RVV, but would have loved to see them with Terpstra too. For PRB it was Garmin imo. Strong team and good tactics in my book.

Rabobank might have been the strongest of Breschel had been there, cos they did pretty darn well even without him. Sky was strong but not the strongest and not the best coordinated or smartest team out there.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

outside of flanders bmc were a let down imo.
Did basically nothing in the semi-classics. And PR let themselves down after having a good position.
However they did have the best performance in a single race.

Anyway no team was a standout.

Team Spartacus maybe

 

[Boeing]

Maybe not the strongest and perhaps no suited for Roubaix; but Radio shack looked solid regardless

 

[The Hitch]

The team that pulled so strongly it dropped everyone in RVV, and pulled the main group back to everyone but VS, then won the sprint at PR.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

The team that pulled so strongly it dropped everyone in RVV, and pulled the main group back to everyone but VS, then won the sprint at PR.

pretty much, his individual impressive was superior to any team I can think of.

 

[taiwan]

On paper, in terms of strength in depth, probably still Garvelo. Sky and BMC are thereabouts too.