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Tour of California Teams

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Michele

Michele

Mar 26, 2009
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Seems like a fair startlist; the only selection I would change is the Bontrager Livestrong team.
I would have liked to see Competitive Cyclist at its place as Mancebo was a stage winner in past editions.
 
BeachBum

BeachBum

Jul 7, 2009
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60
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I dunno, seems like pretty much the same ProTour teams they had last year, HTC gone so AG2R takes their place. Sky + Saxo not invited (maybe they didn't want to come?). Rabo's has been coming the past 3-4 years (they bought a US bank that has lots of branches in CA), Liqi has been coming past several years, as has QuickStep. Of course you knew that RadioShack, BMC and Garmin were coming.
 
Ryo Hazuki

Ryo Hazuki

Mar 31, 2010
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this lisn't wont hold at all. as colombians team get auto wildcards and satelite teams like radioshack u23 can't ride

same happened last year in tour of utah
 
M

Mambo95

Jul 2, 2009
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BeachBum said:
I dunno, seems like pretty much the same ProTour teams they had last year, HTC gone so AG2R takes their place. Sky + Saxo not invited (maybe they didn't want to come?). Rabo's has been coming the past 3-4 years (they bought a US bank that has lots of branches in CA), Liqi has been coming past several years, as has QuickStep. Of course you knew that RadioShack, BMC and Garmin were coming.
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Sky are doing the Tour of Norway with EBH instead. I image it's the same story with Saxo, being Scandinavian.
 
Daniel Benson

Daniel Benson

Administrator
Moderator
Mar 2, 2009
683
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It probably comes down to riders, as much as it does teams. For example, with Skil/1t4i you know they'll send their best team as they're not in the Giro. Also they're on Felt bikes and I'm sure that was a factor. I'm not sure about Sky's position though. They sent a decent team to the race last year but it may not fit with their overall plans with the Olympics being such a emphatic target.
 
MacRoadie

MacRoadie

Aug 3, 2009
3,217
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No Kenda 5 Hour Energy, no Team Type 1, and no Jelly Belly, but Exergy gets a nod? WTAF? Who the hell is Exergy?

All Bontrager Livestrong has proven is that they can crash themselves out pretty good on a training ride.
 
Race Radio

Race Radio

Aug 13, 2009
12,855
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MacRoadie said:
No Kenda 5 Hour Energy, no Team Type 1, and no Jelly Belly, but Exergy gets a nod? WTAF? Who the hell is Exergy?

All Bontrager Livestrong has proven is that they can crash themselves out pretty good on a training ride.
Click to expand...

Agreed. English and Gaimon broke Marc de Maar's Mt Lemon record last month. It would have been a great addition to have more climbers who could hang on the key parts of the race......instead we have a junior team and a pay to play team
 
MacRoadie

MacRoadie

Aug 3, 2009
3,217
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Race Radio said:
Agreed. English and Gaimon broke Marc de Maar's Mt Lemon record last month. It would have been a great addition to have more climbers who could hang on the key parts of the race......instead we have a junior team and a pay to play team
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Jelly Belly has been everywhere this year too, really working to prove their case.

They should have gone to 18 teams to account for all the pack fodder and no-hopers that are gonna get shelled on the bumps.
 
El Oso

El Oso

Apr 17, 2009
402
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Ryo Hazuki said:
this lisn't wont hold at all. as colombians team get auto wildcards and satelite teams like radioshack u23 can't ride

same happened last year in tour of utah
Click to expand...

Is Bontrager Livestrong still a satellite team?

The structure of the merger could mean that they are not. IIRC the entity that was Team Radio Shack (or at least the UCI team) no longer exists; it ended and everybody went to Leopard. If that were the case then technically Bontrager Livestrong would be a completely separate (i.e. not satellite) team. ... yes, it is utter BS and they are really a satellite team, but they got around the rule.

That being said Bontrager Livestrong should have have gotten an invite. I would much rather see Competitive Cyclist with Mancebo and Jelly Belly whose been a staple of the ToC than Bontrager Livestrong and Exergy.
 
El Oso

El Oso

Apr 17, 2009
402
0
9,280
Why would they take AG2R instead of Sky or Saxo Bank? They are the only team I can see without an American connection. I can see why the organizers would be cautious with Saxo due to the AC issues, but I would thing Specialized would put a lot of pressure to have them invited. Sky would at least send Pate. I'm not sure what Rogers' programme is for this year, but as a defending champion he should be considered.
 
Froome19

Froome19

Dec 30, 2011
3,547
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It doesnt really matter who they have selected, everybody knows it will just become a showdown between Radioshack and Garmin as those are the only big teams, whose riders peak for the race. Sagan will win a couple of stages if he is racing but I think he is racing the tour so his programme may be different than that of previous years.
Would really like to see a lot from United Healthcare, they did well last year and i think Deignan could do something plus Sutherland again and fingers crossed Kai Reus will be racing.
It would be nice to see something from teams like Spidertech and Bissell. Obviously they will get in the breaks but it would be nice for them to get a win from a break, (though doubtful)as it is the biggest race of the season for them.
 
Duartista

Duartista

Apr 14, 2011
998
0
0
Ryo Hazuki said:
this lisn't wont hold at all. as colombians team get auto wildcards and satelite teams like radioshack u23 can't ride

same happened last year in tour of utah
Click to expand...
The UCI changed the rules this year, so those automatic invites no longer apply to HC races. That said, I thought Movistar Continental were sure for an invite. So did they, going by their website.
 
B

biokemguy

Jan 18, 2010
277
0
0
lame; no Jelly Belly

MacRoadie said:
No Kenda 5 Hour Energy, no Team Type 1, and no Jelly Belly, but Exergy gets a nod? WTAF? Who the hell is Exergy?

All Bontrager Livestrong has proven is that they can crash themselves out pretty good on a training ride.
Click to expand...

+1

Organizers apparently failed to realize what a fan favorite Jelly Belly is at this race.
 
*G*K*S*

*G*K*S*

Mar 10, 2009
280
0
0
El Oso said:
Why would they take AG2R instead of Sky or Saxo Bank? They are the only team I can see without an American connection. I can see why the organizers would be cautious with Saxo due to the AC issues, but I would thing Specialized would put a lot of pressure to have them invited. Sky would at least send Pate. I'm not sure what Rogers' programme is for this year, but as a defending champion he should be considered.
Click to expand...

Horner 2011
Mick 2010
 
CQmanager

CQmanager

Sep 28, 2011
413
0
0
F this. Lance still in charge and got Cali covered so his dev team got an invite over CC and Jelly Belly? Exergy is a good team and I have nothing against them, they even sponsor a women's team and I do not care about TT1. I thought NetApp had a good showing last year and Barta was the most aggressive rider so too bad (good for them) they are doing Giro in stead of Cali.
 
Libertine Seguros

Libertine Seguros

Feb 20, 2010
32,227
13,697
28,180
El Oso said:
Why would they take AG2R instead of Sky or Saxo Bank? They are the only team I can see without an American connection. I can see why the organizers would be cautious with Saxo due to the AC issues, but I would thing Specialized would put a lot of pressure to have them invited. Sky would at least send Pate. I'm not sure what Rogers' programme is for this year, but as a defending champion he should be considered.
Click to expand...

Glava Tour of Norway. You make the assumption the teams wanted to go to Cali but were turned down in favour of Ag2r; maybe they simply said "sorry, this year it just doesn't suit the calendar we're looking for".
 
Race Radio

Race Radio

Aug 13, 2009
12,855
1
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Kevin Livingston is the competition director for ToC. He also lives in Lance's basement. Guess it is not surprising that he chose to screw Frankie.
 
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