Re: Re:
BMC's Tour team is clearly going to be a lot stronger than AG2R and probably stronger than MTS as wellThe Hegelian said:wirral said:The Hegelian said:Three big questions lingering over Porte:
1. Team. For all their budget, BMC have never bothered to build a proper GC squad capable of defending in the mountains (let alone attacking). Even when Evans won it was more of a roluer squad. Porte will be isolated often and early in key stages.
2. Head. He doesn't seem to have that hard ruthless edge you need to really go for the jugular in a GT. Probably makes him a more decent bloke than most GT contenders, but it's a liability that has already been exploited by others a bit. Definitely closer to Wiggins than Hinault on the spectrum.
3. Luck. He's obviously had his fair share of misfortune. But in the same breath, if 1 & 2 were stronger, I bet his luck would magically get better.
Well put.
I think I wrote in another thread that some other GC leaders in different teams would be going toe-to-toe with their DS demanding the whole team is built around them and their GC ambitions. This is not Richie's style and the result is he is left standing on the side of the road waiting over a minute for a spare wheel sans team mates.
You'd think though that at least BMC would have a strong interest in building a decent squad for him - they're basically on the cusp of non-existence. But no, they seem to just float along expecting it all to just happen.
Meanwhile, look at AG2R - they're really trying to get on even terms with Sky, with much less $$. And Michelton has built an incredible climbing/GC squad in a matter of 2/3 years. It's not rocket science: just hire some quality climbing doms!