The future for HTC-High Road

[ingsve]

This is a very early thread that perhaps will be better suited for sometime in October this year but I thought of it now so I thought I'd post it anyway.

In a recent interview with Team Sky the topic of Mark Cavendish was raised again and it seems more and more likely that Team Sky will make a play for Cavendish ahead of 2012. http://www.teamsky.com/video/0,27287,,00.html. At the same time Matthew Goss seems to be one of the prime targets for GreenEdge and Leigh Howard is probably on that wish list as well.

With their two strongest sprinters being sought by two apparently financially strong teams the question is whether HTC will fight to keep them.

This to me seems like an opportunity for HTC to shift their focus from being mostly a sprinting team to become a team that focuses on something else. Does anyone else feel that this is a possibility or do you think they will fight to keep their sprinters or replace them with some other sprinters instead?

There has been a lot of riders coming and going in the team the past few years mostly because of their complete focus on Cavendish. I can't help but feel that this must put some strain on the team in the long run so perhaps there is a chance for a change of pace.

If something like this were to happen what would you like see happen at HTC? More focus on GC at GTs? More focus on monuments? Something else?

 

[joy118118]

they still have young sprinters like Goss and Howard. i prefer htc to forcusing on classics and GCs. their sprint formular is too dull for me, though a lot of TDF fans enjoy it.

 

[ingsve]

they still have young sprinters like Goss and Howard. i prefer htc to forcusing on classics and GCs. their sprint formular is too dull for me, though a lot of TDF fans enjoy it.

Like I said, Goss and Howard are probably on the wish list of GreenEdge. If only Cav leaves then they could probably continue as usual with Goss without losing much momentum but if those get scooped up ten they might need to find someone else to continue like now.

 

[jaylew]

I think they're happy with their current formula as they are visible at virtually every race they enter, but if they lost Goss and Cav I could see it happening, particularly if Velits, Martin, and TJVG continue to make strides. I know they'd particularly love it if TJ were to become a GT threat.

So yeah, I'd love to see them change focus - I'm tired of watching their current racing style. Of course if that were to happen, Greenedge and Sky would just take their place.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well if Sky pick up Cav I think they will find it hard to keep Rogers, Wiggins, Boasson Hagen, Swift, Henderson & Sutton all happy. All those guys will want in their own right to have a place at the tour with proper team backing and all those guys deserve it. If they are going to pick up Cav then it is likely that they would have to lose Wiggins and/or Boasson Hagen and possibly some others I listed.

Cav will stay at HTC I imagine. Cav will always want renshaw by his side.

 

[ingsve]

Well if Sky pick up Cav I think they will find it hard to keep Rogers, Wiggins, Boasson Hagen, Swift, Henderson & Sutton all happy. All those guys will want in their own right to have a place at the tour with proper team backing and all those guys deserve it. If they are going to pick up Cav then it is likely that they would have to lose Wiggins and/or Boasson Hagen and possibly some others I listed.

Cav will stay at HTC I imagine. Cav will always want renshaw by his side.

Well, I think the desire to have the best british rider on the british team might be stronger than risking fall outs with their current riders. The one rider that could make a diffrence is perhaps Wiggins. It sometimes seems like there is no love lost between him and Cav and if that's really the case then perhaps they might not sign Cav but I still fairly certain they will still try to get him.

 

[euanli]

Cavendish will only go if Renshaw goes. That isn't going to happen this year.

However if a team offers Cavendish the chance to rider the classics more then that would be a bargaining chip. Thing is when it comes to contract talk time we are going to here the majority of teams are trying to sign Cavendish no just Team Sky. All part of the bargaining tools. I think he will stay with Highroad

 

[Pharazon]

Well, I think the desire to have the best british rider on the british team might be stronger than risking fall outs with their current riders. The one rider that could make a diffrence is perhaps Wiggins. It sometimes seems like there is no love lost between him and Cav and if that's really the case then perhaps they might not sign Cav but I still fairly certain they will still try to get him.

afaik Cav and Wigans are good friends.. they had a falling out about Beijing in 2008 but they got over it as far as i'm aware

 

[Archibald]

can't see why he'd leave unless Renshaw goes with him (as mentioned before)

personally, I'd like to see the likes of Dean n Farrar, Greipel, Petacchi, etc make a decent competition out of the sprints with Cav. For other teams to challenge them properly so it's not the constant one-horse-race.

 

[Jan the Man]

I think that Cav will stay at HTC for at least one more season after this one.

I thought HTC had an option to extend for one season at the end of his current deal? I may have misread that though.

He has a very good formula at the moment with a team predominantly built around him with the primary aim of winning stages in a GT. If he were to move to Sky that would likely not be the case. Sky have a very good lead out team potentially however with riders like Uran and Wiggins they would be targetting more than just the odd stage wins in GT and that would require some mountain support which may not be condusive to a good lead out train.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

There seems to be an assumption in the above posts that Cavendish wants, or would demand, a team built around him that would chase down every break and drive on the front all day. I don't think there is any evidence that that is the case.

If it's recognition he's seeking, he's far more likely to receive it on a British team. A British team that has an interesting but not great roster of sprinters...

Henderson, - Good but never great and approaching the twilight of his career.
Sutton - Dunno, not sure he's going to be a regular ProTour stage winner. Happy to be corrected.
EBH - Potentially a great all-rounder but I'm struggling to see him winning massed sprints when everybody shows up. Depends what he and Sky see as his best way of achieving major victories.
Swift - Clearly um swift. Only turned pro in 2009.
Appollonio - Even less experienced than Swift.

Not sure Sky would mind p***ing off any of the above that much, in return for the fastest man in the world by some distance. It would seem a no-brainer if he wants to come and doesn't demand Sky ride like HTC.

 

[joe1265]

TVG

Moving to Sky was the worst career choice EBH could have made. Of course they'll get Cav at the end of this year and he'll demand the same set up he's got at Highroad. That will put all the others out of favor, and EBH will bounce from team to team trying to regain the years he's missed being a (choose one), sprinter / classics rider / GC rider, whatever he's been with Sky.....

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Aah, the old 'random letters in a very large font' tactic.


Very persuasive.

 

[joe1265]

nothin' random there, Tejay and the brothers Velits are the future @ HTC, that's where they'll turn after losing 'Cav to Sky in 2012.

Perfect timing too, it give Tejay and Peter one more year to develop before having the GT stress thrown on them.

If 'Cav really wants to move to Sky, he'll want Renshaw to move as well, giving HTC some more $$$ as they'll make Sky pay thru the nose to release him. Bob is one smooth business-man......

 

[issoisso]

I don't think they deliberately want to have a specific focus on the team. As it stands, they have all types of riders, and the types of youngsters they bring in seem to mean they want to keep the same balance.

As stage racing goes, P.Velits, Van Garderen and Martin have some future, but even beyond that they already have the next generation of stage racers covered. Look no further than Patrick Gretsch.
They know what they're doing, and they have several different "tiers" of riders at different stages in development.

As far as their sprinting future goes, if I were a betting man, I'd bet a lot of money on Alex Rasmussen being a top sprinter within two years.

EDIT: And of course, in the middle of all this, they have the mother of all talents: John Degenkolb.

 

[theyoungest]

I don't think they deliberately want to have a specific focus on the team. As it stands, they have all types of riders, and the types of youngsters they bring in seem to mean they want to keep the same balance.

As stage racing goes, P.Velits, Van Garderen and Martin have some future, but even beyond that they already have the next generation of stage racers covered. Look no further than Patrick Gretsch.
They know what they're doing, and they have several different "tiers" of riders at different stages in development.

As far as their sprinting future goes, if I were a betting man, I'd bet a lot of money on Alex Rasmussen being a top sprinter within two years.

EDIT: And of course, in the middle of all this, they have the mother of all talents: John Degenkolb.

There are quite a few mothers of all talents riding around right now

 

[taiwan]

Peter Velits might fulfil the role, but I don't expect teh undoubtably talented Teejay Van Garderen will be ready to be the main focus of HTC's Tour squad as soon as 2012. Their policy with GC riders seems to be to let them have their chances with minimal support. I think it would take an outstanding result to make them want to change that (maybe P. Velits' Vuelta was enough?). They aren't going to take a chance and support someone who's might ride a top 5: they'll just bring a sprint train instead.

I wonder what Tony Martin's role can be? He must have well been surpassed as first choice of GC rider by now, and focussing on TTs and minor stage races seems a bit narrow.

Improving in the classics seems a natural development for a team full of sprinters. There's definitely room for improvement there, and I'll bet Bernard Eisel isn't the only one with the ablilty to score in those races. Again, maybe they're already going in that direction with Goss.

 

[Suedehead]

The bigger problem may be who is sponsoring the team in 2012. Or has HTC signed a new agreement? The original one ends 2011.

 

[issoisso]

Improving in the classics seems a natural development for a team full of sprinters. There's definitely room for improvement there, and I'll bet Bernard Eisel isn't the only one with the ablilty to score in those races. Again, maybe they're already going in that direction with Goss.

Ghyselinck has been touted highly by the team in that regard.
So far he's not delivered.

 

[Mambo95]

I can't see him leaving HTC. He's got a nice set up there, built around him with some loyal riders and good relationship with staff. A move to Sky would have some uncertainties.

Bob Stapleton also realises how important he is. He's described him as a 'franchise player'. He's completely irreplaceable.

I think Stapleton will match what ever Sky are prepared to offer (which will be a lot) even if it means spending his own money. Getting sponsors on-board with Cav (who HTC love) is a lot more appetising task than without him.

Either way he should emerge with at least close to the biggest contract in cycling.

 

[El Oso]

I wonder what Tony Martin's role can be? He must have well been surpassed as first choice of GC rider by now, and focussing on TTs and minor stage races seems a bit narrow.

IMO, Martin isn't good enough in the high mountains to be a GC threat in the grand tours

2010 Tour:

Stage 8: 110th 24:11 back
Stage 9: 116th 34:57 back (gruppeto)
Stage 14: 160th 36:56 back (gruppeto)
Stage 15: 132nd 28:49 back (gruppeto)
Stage 16: 169th 34:48 back (gruppeto)
Stage 17: 163rd 31:46 back

Now maybe these times may be the result of resting up for Cav's train or the upcoming time trial, but he should be able to stay reasonably up there if he's going to be a future GC contender.

That being said, with Martin being the second best TTist, he can still do well in week long stage races

 

[theyoungest]

IMO, Martin isn't good enough in the high mountains to be a GC threat in the grand tours

2010 Tour:

Stage 8: 110th 24:11 back
Stage 9: 116th 34:57 back (gruppeto)
Stage 14: 160th 36:56 back (gruppeto)
Stage 15: 132nd 28:49 back (gruppeto)
Stage 16: 169th 34:48 back (gruppeto)
Stage 17: 163rd 31:46 back

Now maybe these times may be the result of resting up for Cav's train or the upcoming time trial, but he should be able to stay reasonably up there if he's going to be a future GC contender.

That being said, with Martin being the second best TTist, he can still do well in week long stage races

I think he said that his rather disappointing Tour was a result of going too deep in the races before (California, Suisse). The problem is that in Switzerland he couldn't follow the best climbers either. I don't know why he really wants to be a GT rider, he just doesn't seem to have the build for it.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

I can't see him leaving HTC. He's got a nice set up there, built around him with some loyal riders and good relationship with staff. A move to Sky would have some uncertainties...

...but some benefits too.

There was quite a bit played out in the media last year between Sky and Cavendish. With Wiggins saying he wouldn't be a good fit, then Cavandish coming back with how poorly he was being rewarded and how he found the whole chase down and leadout thing boring but all part of the job.

It all smacked of him trying to get Sky into the market for him by pulling down any barriers.

I think he'll probably stay too, but it will have far more to do with well-being within the team environment than ability to hand him victories on a plate.

 

[euanli]

Who says Sky would be the only one bidding. Any team would be acting irresponsibly in the interest of their sponsors if they had the money and didn't offer Cavendish a contract.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Who says Sky would be the only one bidding. Any team would be acting irresponsibly in the interest of their sponsors if they had the money and didn't offer Cavendish a contract.

Can't see what anyone else has to offer. Unless it is an absolute sh1tload of money.