The Tour Wild Cards

[Andy99]

CQ ranking never lies.

http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/cqRankingTeam.asp

Current Team Ranking prior to KBK;

1. Usa Team HTC - Columbia
2. Esp Caisse d'Epargne
3. Gbr Sky Professional Cycling Team
4. Ita Liquigas - Doimo
5. Rus Team Katusha
6. Ger Team Milram
7. Fra Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne
8. Usa Garmin - Transitions
9. Fra Ag2r - La Mondiale
10. Fra Française des Jeux
11. Den Team Saxo Bank
12. Esp Footon - Servetto
13. Fra Bbox - Bouygues Telecom
14. Ven Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti
15. Ita Lampre - Farnese Vini
16. Usa Team RadioShack
17. Ned Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
18. Bel OmegaPharma - Lotto
19. Kaz Astana
20. Irl De Rosa - Stac Plastic
21. Usa BMC Racing Team
22. Esp Euskaltel - Euskadi
23. Ned Rabobank
24. Bel Quick Step
25. Aus Fly V Australia
26. Gbr Carmiooro - NGC
27. Bel Topsport Vlaanderen - M
28. Fra Saur - Sojasun
29. Sui Cervélo Test Team
30. Irl Colnago - CSF Inox

 

[LugHugger]

If BMC sends all of their 'A' team, they are just as solid as Sky. As for results so far, there was that race in the sandbox and Flecha finally won something where it's cold....

Willy made a funny...rotfl

 

[Anonymous]

CQ ranking never lies.

http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/cqRankingTeam.asp

Current Team Ranking prior to KBK;


23. Ned Rabobank
24. Bel Quick Step

..........

 

[theswordsman]

Vande Velde, two consecutive top 10s, and last year he was riding for Wiggins a lot but still managed 8th.

And that was after he crashed out of the Giro with 7 fractures, including his pelvis, a rib and 5 vertebrae. It messed up his preparation a bit.

 

[Andy99]

And that was after he crashed out of the Giro with 7 fractures, including his pelvis, a rib and 5 vertebrae. It messed up his preparation a bit.

Ok, I'll give you that one lads.

 

[craig1985]

The Andre Griepel Pro Cycling Team?

Some photos from their recent training camp:

1. Leadership Struggle

2. Recovery Sessions

3. Management seeks a different style of rider, more bear-ish in nature

Hahaha.

That is brilliant.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Paris - Nice sponsors


Vacansoleil is doing a lot to get in.

 

[Bala Verde]

Paris - Nice sponsors


Vacansoleil is doing a lot to get in.

Based on last year's CQ rankings, they'd deserve every wildcard they get:

1.Team Columbia - HTC PRT 12863
2.Team Saxo Bank PRT 12433
3.Rabobank PRT 9832
4.Caisse d'Epargne PRT 8969
5.Quick Step PRT 8690
6.Astana PRT 8135
7.Liquigas PRT 8024
8.Cervélo Test Team PROF 7890
9.Silence - Lotto PRT 7821
10.Garmin - Slipstream PRT 6770
11.Team Katusha PRT 6658
12.Française des Jeux PRT 5786
13.Lampre - NGC PRT 5768
14.Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team PROF 5119
15.Euskaltel - Euskadi PRT 4963
16.Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli PROF 4771
17.Ag2r - La Mondiale PRT 4731
18.Cofidis, le Crédit en Ligne PRT 4633
19.Team Milram PRT 4580
20.Agritubel PROF 4270

 

[Moondance]

Based on last year's CQ rankings, they'd deserve every wildcard they get:

1.Team Columbia - HTC PRT 12863
2.Team Saxo Bank PRT 12433
3.Rabobank PRT 9832
4.Caisse d'Epargne PRT 8969
5.Quick Step PRT 8690
6.Astana PRT 8135
7.Liquigas PRT 8024
8.Cervélo Test Team PROF 7890
9.Silence - Lotto PRT 7821
10.Garmin - Slipstream PRT 6770
11.Team Katusha PRT 6658
12.Française des Jeux PRT 5786
13.Lampre - NGC PRT 5768
14.Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team PROF 5119
15.Euskaltel - Euskadi PRT 4963
16.Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Androni Giocattoli PROF 4771
17.Ag2r - La Mondiale PRT 4731
18.Cofidis, le Crédit en Ligne PRT 4633
19.Team Milram PRT 4580
20.Agritubel PROF 4270

What?!? How on Earth did Rabo get 3rd spot in those rankings? That must be some clerical error of sorts.

Okay Menchov won the Giro, plenty of points there, but not much else. Gesink had a couple of high placings here and there. But where else did they get points? Freire got them nothing, Boom and Posthuma both had a decent win or two. Brown took some sprints early in the year. They had a reasonable ENECO Tour? I really don't see it. More points then Astana or Caisse? F'cking weird.

 

[blackcat]

The Andre Griepel Pro Cycling Team?

need to find more muscular gorillas for the Andre the Giant team. They (gorillas) look they atrophied like Wigans on SARMS compared to Greipel on a StrongArm equine androgen.

 

[Bala Verde]

What?!? How on Earth did Rabo get 3rd spot in those rankings? That must be some clerical error of sorts.

Okay Menchov won the Giro, plenty of points there, but not much else. Gesink had a couple of high placings here and there. But where else did they get points? Freire got them nothing, Boom and Posthuma both had a decent win or two. Brown took some sprints early in the year. They had a reasonable ENECO Tour? I really don't see it. More points then Astana or Caisse? F'cking weird.

I thought it was weird too, but when you compare their list of podium places to others (like Astana, Caisse), it is quite extensive (86 v. 53 and 62 resp.). It seems that they have a broad selection that manages to pick up points in many big and small races, whereas Astana for example only racked up big points in the major races.

See RAB podium spots

Boom tour of Belgium and Vuelta stage
Gesink Emilia, AGR and Vuelta stage placings
Menchov Giro win and stages, Murcia
Freire Romandie, TdS 2nd places
Brown lots of small stages 1,2,3
Langeveld lots of podium rides
Posthuma ruta del sol
Clement stage in Dauphine
Reus in GB

Perhaps the points awarded to races/stages is skewed?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

^^ I hear ya, Rabo had a pretty meh season last year I thought.
They do have a very strong team though, almost every rider on the list is capable of doing something if the selection is right. Flens being a prime example.

If BMC sends all of their 'A' team, they are just as solid as Sky. As for results so far, there was that race in the sandbox and Flecha finally won something where it's cold.

For that matter Griepel is ahead in UCI points than all of Sky. He should pick 8 guys and HTC can send a 'B' team.

comparing sky and bmc is a joke. Sky have had a good season thus far (BMC.. not), and have a much stronger team on a whole. And the UCI points thing means nothing... they've got points from what, 1 race... the TDU?

I really hope Vacansoleil get a spot, they are a team who ride with a whole lot of heart, and they actually have quite an impressive list of riders.
Great season thus far too.

as previously stated the best thing that can happen to BMC is not getting a wild card anyway, Evans wont win the tour.. even more so if he plans to contest at the giro. He is probably capable of doing the Vuelta/Giro double... though I don't see it happening.

 

[blackcat]

Footon wont get a spot. Skil wont get a spot.

ASO already said they would ride with perhaps 23 teams, or was it 22. Anyway, all teams that deserve a spot will be there. It is just stupid to consider Sky and BMC miss out.

ASO will make a commercial decision, no way they leave Sky out, they fill a key market that will fill the coffers. And BMC will be seen as an important bloc, as with Cervelo they will fill the Swiss market. You ofcourse, have former ASO head, John Lelangue as BMC sport director.

Does Vacansoleil buy a spot with brothers Feillu? They are not really wunderkinds. The older brother is overrated, the younger one a mediocre field sprinter, who has no place but for a stage hunter specialty.

Can Stephane Heulot buy his way in with Sojasun. They lost Agritubel and Credit Agricole in the last two years, so the French quota is depressed, even accounting for Caisse.

Skil probably have a better team than Sojasun, even with Yimee Casper.

Folks are thinking stoopid if they think any team gets a spot above BMC and Sky. Footon wont be invited surely. The only way Gianetti gets new sponsors is his ties to the mafia, otherwise there is no chance someone will sponsor his ragtag outfit.

 

[The_Z_man]

After all their early season success, it sucks that politics are going to keep Vaconsoleil out. OK, so maybe they don't have a GC contender, but they're looking really good for stage wins. I like BMC and Katusha for the last 2 in.

Anyone who thinks Retirement Shack won't get a spot should put the booze down. There's too much money to be made with LA in the race.

 

[Willy_Voet]

And the UCI points thing means nothing... they've got points from what, 1 race... the TDU?

You have problems counting. Greipel has scored 6 victories in 3 countries. Sky has 5 total.

Greipel > Sky.

 

[luckyboy]

Footon wont get a spot. Skil wont get a spot.

ASO already said they would ride with perhaps 23 teams, or was it 22. Anyway, all teams that deserve a spot will be there. It is just stupid to consider Sky and BMC miss out.

ASO will make a commercial decision, no way they leave Sky out, they fill a key market that will fill the coffers. And BMC will be seen as an important bloc, as with Cervelo they will fill the Swiss market. You ofcourse, have former ASO head, John Lelangue as BMC sport director.

Does Vacansoleil buy a spot with brothers Feillu? They are not really wunderkinds. The older brother is overrated, the younger one a mediocre field sprinter, who has no place but for a stage hunter specialty.

Can Stephane Heulot buy his way in with Sojasun. They lost Agritubel and Credit Agricole in the last two years, so the French quota is depressed, even accounting for Caisse.

Skil probably have a better team than Sojasun, even with Yimee Casper.

Folks are thinking stoopid if they think any team gets a spot above BMC and Sky. Footon wont be invited surely. The only way Gianetti gets new sponsors is his ties to the mafia, otherwise there is no chance someone will sponsor his ragtag outfit.

Footon are in the agreement that they will participate, along with 13 other PT teams (no Shack, Sky, Katusha, Garmin). Cofidis and Bbox are also in the agreement.

 

[kurtinsc]

I would think Radio Shack is sitting pretty well in terms of results.

I could be wrong... but I really don't see why the ASO would care how well a team does in a race like Omloop het Whatever or KBK. Those are great races... but showing well in them doesn't really mean you'll be able to do anything at all in a race like the Tour.

I'd think any stage race with any kind of climb in it would factor in much more, even if it's a lower prestige level.

RS got 3rd and 4th in Algarve and 2nd and 4th in Sardegna. With Contador and Kreuziger winning those races, it does show they favored tour GC guys to some degree.

Now that won't mean nearly as much once some bigger stage races come around... but so far RS has some high places in the stage races they've entered (that aren't sprint oriented).

Sprint races like the TDU, Qatar and Oman and great one-day performances like the Omloop and KBK are great... but do they influence TDF selection much?

 

[hfer07]

all 18 "UCI pro teams" will be in-that's a fact, unless someone pops positive in a damaging way. no matter how bad Katusha performs-the team along with Sky with the biggest budget won't be out-I don't know where that came from...
ASO will go with 22 teams, Including Cervelo,BBT,Codofis,& BMC. why? is already on "paper"

 

[Sasquatch]

Look guys it's not rocket science.

BMC, Cevelo, RadioShack, Sky and Garmin will be there unless one of the teams already there get a doping allegation hanging over them or if one of the five mentioned teams are there.

You're dreaming if you think Sojasun, Shimano and Vaconsoleil get in.

It should go on performance, and RadioShack aren't performing. But it won't. It gets judged on money and those five teams will not miss out.

This discussion is pretty straight forward i would think. They won't leave out Farrar or VandeVelde. They won't leave out Evans/Hincapie/Ballan. They won't leave out Armstrong. They won't leave out Boasson-Hagen, Henderson, Wiggins. They won't leave out Hushovd or Haussler.

Its the way the cookie crumbles. Those teams have a lot more to offer on a marketing perspective.

 

[blackcat]

Look guys it's not rocket science.

BMC, Cevelo, RadioShack, Sky and Garmin will be there unless one of the teams already there get a doping allegation hanging over them or if one of the five mentioned teams are there.

You're dreaming if you think Sojasun, Shimano and Vaconsoleil get in.

It should go on performance, and RadioShack aren't performing. But it won't. It gets judged on money and those five teams will not miss out.

This discussion is pretty straight forward i would think. They won't leave out Farrar or VandeVelde. They won't leave out Evans/Hincapie/Ballan. They won't leave out Armstrong. They won't leave out Boasson-Hagen, Henderson, Wiggins. They won't leave out Hushovd or Haussler.

Its the way the cookie crumbles. Those teams have a lot more to offer on a marketing perspective.

why do you put Hendo in that class? I like Hendo, but he is but a peripheral player in cycling, never rode the Tour, never had a big win, if you do not consider a field sprint in Spain and Philly. I like him, and glad to see him get his chance this year, but be realistic.

You are forgetting guys like Burghardt and Sastre, Zabriskie. Hendo is not in their class. He is just a sprinter.

Vaconsoleil have the brothers Feillu. Older took a mtn finish last year, and younger held the yellow the previous year. Roman has quite the personal narrative to boot. And the French if nothing else, love a good story. I dont know how dialled Huelot is into the establishment of French cycling and the ASO. But if he is on good terms, they will be there.

The ASO will be quick to forget that they promised Skil a return this year however.

And dont be stupid talking about Shack's lack of results. They do not have to get any results. Dont be silly. It is like the US Masters, every former winner is invited back, unless your name is Flandis. A team with StrongArm, Hilde, Leepy, those are some apples. Strongest team, top to bottom, for a GC run in the peloton. Plus armed with Bruyneels medical program.

 

[Francois the Postman]

all 18 "UCI pro teams" will be in-that's a fact, unless someone pops positive in a damaging way. no matter how bad Katusha performs-the team along with Sky with the biggest budget won't be out-I don't know where that came from...
ASO will go with 22 teams, Including Cervelo,BBT,Codofis,& BMC. why? is already on "paper"

Last time I looked only 16 of the 18 "old" pro teams were covered by the automatic-entry agreement. Katusha and Garmin are technically not guaranteed a place.

Six wild cards are too be divided, and some of those 6 teams, those without depth, will have to pray that their lead man stays fit and performs ok-ish until the announce the selection, as I think some entries really stand or fall with the partipation of 1 name.

BMC wouldn't even feature without Evans, Hincapie or not. With 2 US teams in already, I think even Garmin isn't in without VDV. ASO has dropped bigger names without much ceremony. Katusha is also not dead-cert for me, maybe even the shock rejection. RadioShack without Armstrong would still make the cut, in contrast. I think.

The competition for places is so fierce that I would expect, that to ASO, a well-performing attractive team would be preferable over a big name team without any riders that would animate a race, especially the cobbles experiment.

They can wait, and will do so. Some teams will be might disappointed, but I am not convinced that some of the names you gave are scribbled onto that paper in pencil only.

So the only "fact" as far as I can see is that 16 teams are in. With BBox and Cofidis on top, unless the proverbial sky falls on a small Gaelic village...

I still have to see a better summation than this one.

Can't wait until next year, when a lot of it is based on year-round performance, regardless of status. It should keep teams close to the cut motived all year round, and give a whole new twist to the season's end. Add a real kick to 2010 Autumn races, for starters.

 

[luckyboy]

You're getting the Feillu's mixed up. Brice won the stage to Andorra, not Romain.

 

[Francois the Postman]

And dont be stupid talking about Shack's lack of results. They do not have to get any results. Dont be silly. It is like the US Masters, every former winner is invited back, unless your name is Flandis.

Or Contador. People keep banging on about the ASO not wanting to pass up on a big name, but they happily passed up on the winner of the year before in 2008.

I have yet to be convinced the French don't have it in them to pass up on another big name, given a fairly defend-able argument. Like Garmin if they deem any alternative to be more attractive - for whatever reason. US coverage won't suffer without the 3rd US team - given that Columbia will get the sprint wins and Shack the media attention for bringing Lance.

 

[blackcat]

You're getting the Feillu's mixed up. Brice won the stage to Andorra, not Romain.

not getting em mixed up.

Romain had his leg surgically lengthened when he was 17 and was in traction for 6 months, while he underwent the process. All so he could be a professional. There are a few pros who have one leg shorter than the other. Mcgee has a one half inch differential. Feillue was exaggerated however, and would have prevented him reaching potential.

Bryce was a mediocre rider who used to get average results in Spanish 2.2 races.

 

[karlboss]

Or Contador. People keep banging on about the ASO not wanting to pass up on a big name, but they happily passed up on the winner of the year before in 2008.

I have yet to be convinced the French don't have it in them to pass up on another big name, given a fairly defend-able argument. Like Garmin if they deem any alternative to be more attractive - for whatever reason. US coverage won't suffer without the 3rd US team - given that Columbia will get the sprint wins and Shack the media attention for bringing Lance.

They didn't overlook him, they saw him and thought this is the message we want to send.
Garmin will have a strong run at a GC place with Vandevelde and a team capable of support. Farrar was the second best sprinter last year...not really, but he always finished second, is that the same thing?