Team Type 1... Giro? Really?

[kurtinsc]

Okay, I like Team Type 1... I really do. As a type 1 diabetic myself I have an interest in seeing diabetic cyclists do well in races.

But realistically... how could this team have any shot at a Giro invite?

I just don't see the talent. They've signed Alex Efimkin and Reubens Bertogliati... but I don't see that turning into a Giro invite. Maybe the Tour de Suisse if their lucky, but they seem to have a long way to go to get into a GT.

 

[the vagabond]

Remember when Linda McCartney's veggie-burger team was going to be a force in that Tour day France thingie?

 

[roundabout]

At least they got to ride the Giro. Different times then, i know.

 

[hrotha]

And they won a stage, too.

I think these folks underestimate just how hard getting into a GT is.

 

[roundabout]

Maybe NGC somehow getting an (initial) invite couple of years back makes people think that it's possible.

 

[Christian]

You have to set the bar high, otherwise you might hit your head on it!

They seem like a groovy team with a positive attitude so hopefully we'll get to see them in some bigger races soon. But GT's are a long shot.

 

[this_is_edie]

Hopefully they get better team management next year, with all the stories floating around of riders not being paid.

 

[kurtinsc]

Hopefully they get better team management next year, with all the stories floating around of riders not being paid.

That was actually answered pretty well.

Apparently, the riders were all paid their salaries, and their expenses were paid to all events the team as a whole took part in. Apparently some riders were upset about not getting their expenses paid to events that they were taking part in where the team wasn't present (even though in some cases a good number of team members were).

Southerland's response (according to CN):

"We told our riders at the beginning of the year that our focus would be international expansion and getting ourselves aligned to the Giro [d'Italia] and to do a lot of the ASO races next year and that's what we've been doing," said Southerland. "We could have not done international racing and had the budget to do every criterium in the US this year, but we chose to invest our money doing the Tour of Morocco, Tour de Beauce, Vuelta Mexico Telmex, racing in China and the Tour of California, doing the races that would give us the opportunity to make that next step to Pro Continental and the Giro d'Italia.

"The comment about riders paying their way to race, that is true. Boise [Twilight Criterium] was not a team race, Cascade [Cycling Classic] was not a team race, so if riders wanted to go they were free to go, but they had to pay. However, [Tour of] Qinghai Lake was a team race and all expenses were paid for that race. Tour de Rio is a team race and all expenses were paid for that. We'll be at the Tour of Utah and we'll be at the national championships, both the criterium and road race. Our riders are getting their salaries, and we are absolutely secure for salaries through the end of the year."

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

With the globalization of cycling more teams enter the ranks, and they all want to be part of the best.
I understand that the bar has to be put high, but too many teams think they can get invites to the GT's and other great classics too easily. Team Type 1 won't get the invite, and I am wondering, does the management know that as well, but say something different, or do they truly believe?

 

[kurtinsc]

With the globalization of cycling more teams enter the ranks, and they all want to be part of the best.
I understand that the bar has to be put high, but too many teams think they can get invites to the GT's and other great classics too easily. Team Type 1 won't get the invite, and I am wondering, does the management know that as well, but say something different, or do they truly believe?

My hope is that they know they don't really have a shot... but by starting to talk about it now and adding more quality riders that they are trying to build awareness to the point that in 2012 or 2013 they could get a spot.

 

[TRDean]

My hope is that they know they don't really have a shot... but by starting to talk about it now and adding more quality riders that they are trying to build awareness to the point that in 2012 or 2013 they could get a spot.

This is exactly right...give them a little credit...they are building towards something. Set the bar as high as you dare...try to get into the Giro next year...keep the snowball growing. Of course management know. But it is nice to see new blood in the sport, doing the best they can.

 

[Boeing]

I would add them ahead of Sky any day any course.

No Talent? THOMAS RABOU is nails

 

[luckyboy]

Are the guys they're signing this year (Bertogliati, Efimkin etc) diabetic? I thought that their riders were all diabetic before now..

Anyway, it'd be tremendously shocking if they go to the Giro.

 

[kurtinsc]

Are the guys they're signing this year (Bertogliati, Efimkin etc) diabetic? I thought that their riders were all diabetic before now..

Anyway, it'd be tremendously shocking if they go to the Giro.

No, they've never all been diabetic. There simply aren't enough type 1 riders to draw from.

For the pro-team, Calabria, Megias, Verschoor and Eldridge are type 1 diabetics (Southerland is too and used to be on the pro-team... now he just runs things). 3 of the 4 riders on their womens team are diabetic, as well as all 5 of their development team riders and their entire elite and triathalon teams.

Alex Bowden and Olaf Kerkhof who are being promoted from the developmental team are diabetics as well. So the pro team next year should have six diabetic riders.

 

[luckyboy]

Ah ok, I thought I remembered a while back that they did RAAM with a team of diabetic guys.

 

[kurtinsc]

Ah ok, I thought I remembered a while back that they did RAAM with a team of diabetic guys.

Yes, that was the elite team. They have a "team type 2" that currently competes in RAAM every year that is made up entirely of type 2 diabetics as well.

At every level under the pro-team, they are entirely diabetic. But it's not realistic to field a pro-team that only consists of diabetic riders... at least not right now.

They do work VERY hard to add any diabetic riders that already have done anything as a pro to their team. They got Mejia from Saniur-Duval/Fuji-Servetto for example. I think he's the only active diabetic to have ridden in a grand Tour (2007 Vuelta).

 

[PCutter]

Given the USA is ranked 5th on the UCI I think a 4th ProTour team - or looking to race in pro tour GTs - may be stretching the resources just a little, especially since United Healthcare also have PT aspirations. Having sponsors/market to fund a PT team may be one thing, but having the talent is another. Its not like there's tonnes of US riders knocking on the door AND can't find a home. The talented are being put into PT teams already, those not ready for the step up aren't going to be improved by adding another team.

 

[this_is_edie]

Given the USA is ranked 5th on the UCI I think a 4th ProTour team - or looking to race in pro tour GTs - may be stretching the resources just a little, especially since United Healthcare also have PT aspirations. Having sponsors/market to fund a PT team may be one thing, but having the talent is another. Its not like there's tonnes of US riders knocking on the door AND can't find a home. The talented are being put into PT teams already, those not ready for the step up aren't going to be improved by adding another team.

Because they would be US registered, doesn't mean that they must have American riders. Look at HTC Columbia.

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

especially since United Healthcare also have PT aspirations.

Alas, even United Healthcare wants to be part of the best. There are simply not enough spots for all the Australian, American, Italian, Spanish, Swiss and Dutch teams that want to join the Pro Tour. I suggest the Protour system should be abolished and organizers themselves decide who gets invited to all races. This ProTour business is destroying aspirations and confusing everyone.

 

[Quinan]

I like this team too, but I think it is impossible they can run the Giro of 2011.

You have to think that the organizer is going to invite the first 17 teams of the World Ranking. But for the ther five plazes (wild card), there are a lot of options:
1. Team of Schleck: Porte, Cancellara, Schelck...
2. CSF-Colnago: they are always invited...
3. Acqua&Sapone: Garzelli...
4. Geox: Menchov, Sastre...
5. ¿?
For this last plaze, I think there are a lot of different options more attractive than Type1. For example, Vacansoleil (Ricco), a small italian team (Flaminia or De Rosa...), a great French team (Ag2r, FDJ, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Cofidis...).

The problem is: what happens with Cervélo? They are in the first 17th but they don't continue next season. What are going to do the organizers? To select Ag2r (the 18th) or to to select 16th and to have one plaze more free.

 

[craig1985]

If they got in before Vacansoleil, then I might do a 'Moondance' (for those playing at home, the poster 'Moondance' went on a tirade on the weekend by dropping the 'F' bomb over and over and is now cooling his heals in bannedville for a week or two) myself.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I like this team too, but I think it is impossible they can run the Giro of 2011.

You have to think that the organizer is going to invite the first 17 teams of the World Ranking. But for the ther five plazes (wild card), there are a lot of options:
1. Team of Schleck: Porte, Cancellara, Schelck...
2. CSF-Colnago: they are always invited...
3. Acqua&Sapone: Garzelli...
4. Geox: Menchov, Sastre...
5. ¿?
For this last plaze, I think there are a lot of different options more attractive than Type1. For example, Vacansoleil (Ricco), a small italian team (Flaminia or De Rosa...), a great French team (Ag2r, FDJ, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Cofidis...).

The problem is: what happens with Cervélo? They are in the first 17th but they don't continue next season. What are going to do the organizers? To select Ag2r (the 18th) or to to select 16th and to have one plaze more free.

Flaminia won't get in. They don't have the names, especially now Riccò's gone. De Rosa maybe, since CSF got by on only one year out after Sella and Priamo, but their roster isn't strong like CSF's with Pozzovivo. ISD/Farnese Vini haven't been mentioned and have Visconti who won the TV classification in 2009 and wore the maglia rosa for a week in 2008. The Schleck team may not need an invite. FDJ handed their invite back this year, as have Euskaltel the last two years. The Giro is the GT with the most space available.

Not that I think TT1 have any chance of getting one of those invites, though.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

flaminia is winning the copa italia team classification so when that happens they are automatically in. androni is also auto in because they are in top 17 of pt team ranks I think