I see BMC, Katusha and Garmin being super strong for the classics next year because of the new signings Garmin and Bmc have secured. If Cancellara goes to BMC their team would be superb for the cobbled as well as the hilly classics.
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The interesting thing about Rabobank is that they have several second-tier cobble specialists, all of whom could conceivably step up next season to become one of the top favourites. They have the talent, even if they're still relatively unexperienced.Dutchsmurf said:Depends on which classics you mean. If you mean the 5 monuments, it is hard to point out a team who has the strongest riders for all of those. Rabobank has Freire and Gesink for 3 out of 5, but their cobbles-team is lacking I think. While Garmin has a great team for the cobbles, but is in my opinion lacking for the hill classics. BMC doesn't have a top sprinter, neither does Katusha. Quickstep has neither a topsprinter nor a real contender for the hill classics.
So probably Garmin I think.
Dutchsmurf said:Depends on which classics you mean. If you mean the 5 monuments, it is hard to point out a team who has the strongest riders for all of those. Rabobank has Freire and Gesink for 3 out of 5, but their cobbles-team is lacking I think. While Garmin has a great team for the cobbles, but is in my opinion lacking for the hill classics. BMC doesn't have a top sprinter, neither does Katusha. Quickstep has neither a topsprinter nor a real contender for the hill classics.
So probably Garmin I think.
Waterloo Sunrise said:I find it hard to take Garmin that seriously, for all their depth, as they don't have a single rider who will be favourite heading in to a monument.
Scott SoCal said:Well, maybe no uber-favorites (and there is only one), but Garmin will line up Van Summeren, Maskaant, Klier, Hammond, Hushovd, Farrar.... and Haussler who, if he can get to where he was in 2009, will be the 2nd most dangerous rider at any of the Northern Classics.
With that team I expect they will do serious damage.
Really? Haussler, Hushovd or even Farrar can all be top favourites for M-SR, depending on their form. Also, Haussler will surely be amongst the top favourites in RVV, while Hushovd will be amongst the favourites in P-R.Waterloo Sunrise said:I find it hard to take Garmin that seriously, for all their depth, as they don't have a single rider who will be favourite heading in to a monument.
Zoncolan said:Interesting that nobody is rating Ricco?!
The guy has a good chance in the Ardennes/Lombardy.
Zoncolan said:Interesting that nobody is rating Ricco?!
The guy has a good chance in the Ardennes/Lombardy.
hrotha said:The interesting thing about Rabobank is that they have several second-tier cobble specialists, all of whom could conceivably step up next season to become one of the top favourites. They have the talent, even if they're still relatively unexperienced.
luckyboy said:List of hills & cobbled guys in next year's teams.
luckyboy said:List of hills & cobbled guys in next year's teams. Probably missed some out. Garmin looks like too many cooks to me..
taiwan said:...I think Vacansoleil will be prominent next year. Leukemans looked one of the strongest riders this spring. They had a good season, and will be even stronger with Devolder and Ricco (unless internal politics come into play).
luckyboy said:Omega Pharma-Lotto
Philippe Gilbert
Greg Van Avermaet
Mario Aerts
Team Sky
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Juan Antonio Flecha
Geraint Thomas?
luckyboy said:Really wish there was a site that had a list of all the confirmed transfers and what the squads would look like for next year. Gets very confusing tracking down everyone.