The Tour Wild Cards

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Loads of promises seem to have been made, but what would one think of skipping katusha or skil?

Sad in terms of Rodriguez missing the tour, I believe it would be his first ride and he has his heart set on being there come july. Not 100% sure but i think that was one of the reasons he left caisse

 

[stefrees]

next week will be a big week, im sure aso will look at paris nice with a bigger eye than other races, and theres no bmc? still means that vaconsoleil have to show themselves.

 

[maltiv]

Personally I'm a bit worried that Cervelo might not get invited, particularly if Sastre is not riding.

 

[karlboss]

Personally I'm a bit worried that Cervelo might not get invited, particularly if Sastre is not riding.

Big ask not invite last years green jersey, one of the best performing teams of last year and they are performing this year at least with haussler

 

[tgsgirl]

Personally I'm a bit worried that Cervelo might not get invited, particularly if Sastre is not riding.

Hushovd, Haussler and a possible Sastre should be enough for an invite. It'd be slightly criminal if it weren't actually.

 

[maltiv]

Big ask not invite last years green jersey, one of the best performing teams of last year and they are performing this year at least with haussler

Indeed, it would be absolutely crazy not to invite them, but you never know. Personally, I think BMC and Katusha will not get an invite, unless they start delivering some real results.

 

[ike2112]

Sad in terms of Rodriguez missing the tour, I believe it would be his first ride and he has his heart set on being there come july. Not 100% sure but i think that was one of the reasons he left caisse

He said in an interview that he left for Katyusha in order to have a leading role in the Ardennes classics.
Then the Russians also signed Kim Kirchen and Aleksandr Kolobnev days/weeks after him!
They're very strong for the hilly classics but I don't believe they have a leader, they'll ping people off the front and try and wear everyone else out chasing, knowing that nobody else has 4 options as good as they do.

Kim Kirchen will likely get the GC lead in TdF, Rodriguez more likely to get the Vuelta if they bother with it this year.
Katyusha could be down the list for a Tour invite, but I think they've got a lot more going for them than BMC or Skil-Shimano.

Tgs, sensing some forum criticism/debate is more an affliction than a superpower!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But Rodríguez also stated that their willingness to promise him a slot at the Tour was a huge motivating factor behind the move - at Caisse he had never been considered for it, and always did the Giro and Vuelta, mainly as he's mostly a mountain goat so those races suit him better, and partly because Caisse probably have a sponsor's commitment to putting x number of Frenchmen in the Tour team.

 

[velosiped]

There should have been a maximum of six riders for each team. Then the captains would have to take a more active role through the race.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

He said in an interview that he left for Katyusha in order to have a leading role in the Ardennes classics.
Then the Russians also signed Kim Kirchen and Aleksandr Kolobnev days/weeks after him!
They're very strong for the hilly classics but I don't believe they have a leader, they'll ping people off the front and try and wear everyone else out chasing, knowing that nobody else has 4 options as good as they do.

Kim Kirchen will likely get the GC lead in TdF, Rodriguez more likely to get the Vuelta if they bother with it this year.

!

Although I agree he will aim for the ardennes i remember him being quoted saying he really wants to ride the tour and win a stage.

ANyway I agree, Katusha should surely get a spot.


EDIT: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rodriguez-to-race-his-first-tour-de-france

 

[auscyclefan94]

To add to your good points already made...

Evans is focusing on the Giro. He stated it publicly. That's not going to help convince Prudhomme that BMC are going full-out for the Tour.

Vacansoleil have been the most effective team this season to date. Other than at Omloop (where they had men in the 2 early breaks), I think that they have either podiumed or worn a jersey in every single race they have entered. That's a pretty good success rate. Yes we're only just in March. But this effectiveness of strategy and willingness to mix it up in races will have been noticed. On the other hand I'm not sure the average fan knows what BMC's jersey even looks like yet.

Not just the giro...

 

[auscyclefan94]

will having one extra team in BMC really bring much more to the table? What do they really offer? They offer Evans, in a Tour which is already overloaded with GC contenders, they offer little else - a couple of classics specialists, the most notable of which don't want to ride, and some other riders including some ex-Astana names and then some riders who were considered insulting by the Tour of West Flanders. I fail to see how having them around will spice anything up more than having Vacansoleil around. It's all about Evans, Evans, Evans. If Cadel gets injured or is out of form or for whatever reason can't ride or doesn't ride well, the team is just a waste of an invite. Vacansoleil have surprising depth given the type of team they are and, as has been noted, they have some French names, including two - one in particular - who have much of France quite excited. With no Agritubel around, there are no French underdog teams (there are actually, Bbox and Cofidis, but as they're ex-ProTour they are in the guarantee) at the lower level who can step up - Saur are probably too small to be considered seriously against the likes of BMC and Vacansoleil, and the fact that Vacansoleil have some acclaimed French riders could prove invaluable. Skil's willingness to bring in French riders was part of how they got the 2009 invite.

I think we're also forgetting that, last year, at the few wildcard invites they got, BMC were nothing more than a breakaway team themselves, and a far less effective one than Vacansoleil too.

Am I talking to a brick wall? Lets just wait until mid april and we'll see who really has the goods!

At least BMC have gotten their act together with training camps... when their's a ttt in a gt you want to do well in you go out on the course and practise on it... i think between MPE and TA they are riding the Monte terminillo which is the first MTF of the giro. 16km long

 

[pmcg76]

There is a feature on BMC in this months ProCycling magazine, I didnt know Evans was focusing on the Giro/Tour double. I cannot see him perfroming in both and judging by the article, he seems quite keen on the Giro. I think he has a more realsitic shot at winning the Giro and would be better than placing Top 10 at the Tour.

To date, I think Sky and the Shack have done enough to secure their spots, Vacansoleil are currently outperfroming BMC but it might be more realsitc to wait until after the classics before writing of anybody.

I once mentioned Saur-Saujasun as a contender and I think they have done pretty well so far this season.

 

[Anonymous]

So BMC have resorted to racing against themselves..

How many wins have they notched up with this novel approach?

This is great.. 2010, the year we get to take the **** out Cadels entire team, instead of just Cadel.

 

[auscyclefan94]

So BMC have resorted to racing against themselves..

How many wins have they notched up with this novel approach?

This is great.. 2010, the year we get to take the **** out Cadels entire team, instead of just Cadel.

Sky... the team that doesn't want to lead or control a race!
... the team of victims
... the team that everyone is against


It will be the year of everyone bagging you about all the excuses of when sky doesn't win

Hey do you also know that John Lelangue is following you on twitter?

You just wait, BMC's season really starts tonight at Monte pasch Eroica where Evans will rip it apart and BMC will bash sky like a baby seal!!!!

 

[tgsgirl]

At least BMC have gotten their act together with training camps.

Hold the phone, they've got training camps? I'm sure no one has ever thought of that approach!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Hold the phone, they've got training camps? I'm sure no one has ever thought of that approach!

I was making that comment in comparison to Lotto who don't have clue!

 

[tgsgirl]

I was making that comment in comparison to Lotto who don't have clue!

Now that you mention it, I do remember them going to Mallorca over the winter specifically to sit around and twiddle their thumbs.

http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.696848
(Dutch video of Lotto's training camp, sorry, vacation in Mallorca)

 

[karlboss]

Evans has more chance at the Giro than the tour? why? only 3 mountain top finishes, 2 seemingly perfect for evans not to win, but not to lose much time to anyone and a long TT. On that course I can see Evans taking Schleck...but not contador. Giro 6 mountain top finishes, a mountain TT...The only thing that makes it more an evans thing is Alberto and Andy won't be there.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Now that you mention it, I do remember them going to Mallorca over the winter specifically to sit around and twiddle their thumbs.

http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.696848
(Dutch video of Lotto's training camp, sorry, vacation in Mallorca)

Well, i guess when evans had to organise the ttt training camp and the team didn't even recon the ttt course well that's why I am saying that i am pleased that they are doing proper recon of the course.


Geez, some people you really have to spell every single letter of what you are saying.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey do you also know that John Lelangue is following you on twitter?

i think i may have posted the odd rtbf link from time to time, he probably follows all rtbf tweets..possibly... (if hes still involved with them, i dont know). I keep my cadel mickey taking off twitter.. i save it all for you x

You just wait, BMC's season really starts tonight at Monte pasch Eroica where Evans will rip it apart and BMC will bash sky like a baby seal!!!!

Ive put this in my "things ausycyclefan says that could come back to bite him on the ****" folder..

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Am I talking to a brick wall?

Considering the entire gist of your argument is "BMC should be invited to the Tour because I'll cry if Cuddles misses out", I could say the same. And then you get shirty when other people's points are repetitive.

Just say, "it doesn't matter what points anyone makes, I will be upset if BMC are not invited because I will miss Cadel at the Tour even if nobody else will" rather than hyping up BMC and slagging off other teams unnecessarily. If anything, at least it'll be honest.

 

[auscyclefan94]

i think i may have posted the odd rtbf link from time to time, he probably follows all rtbf tweets..possibly... (if hes still involved with them, i dont know). I keep my cadel mickey taking off twitter.. i save it all for you x




Ive put this in my "things ausycyclefan says that could come back to bite him on the ****" folder..

Sometimes you have to make bold and brave predictions so if you get it right you will feel superior to everyone else!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Considering the entire gist of your argument is "BMC should be invited to the Tour because I'll cry if Cuddles misses out", I could say the same. And then you get shirty when other people's points are repetitive.

Just say, "it doesn't matter what points anyone makes, I will be upset if BMC are not invited because I will miss Cadel at the Tour even if nobody else will" rather than hyping up BMC and slagging off other teams unnecessarily. If anything, at least it'll be honest.

I will be annoyed but you keep making the same point which I rebut and you keep making the same point after I do that.

From a cycling perspective I would rather more GC teams than breakaway teams who are there to make the race a little bit interesting before the sprint.

 

[luckyboy]

The only thing that makes it more an evans thing is Alberto and Andy won't be there.

You speak the truth. Can't see him winning the Giro whatever he does tbh. Goes without saying for the Tour.