Tour Rider Selection and Roles

[hatcher]

Regarding AG2R, does anyone know if Gadret will be going to the Tour? He was looking OK in Suisse, but I'd imagine he might be a bit tired. Peraud has looked pretty bad. Roche seems to be coming into form though, fingers crossed for him.
Also, Lofkvist seems to be showing some signs of life in Suisse. Will be interested to see how he TTs. I hope Sky consider him for the last spot. Would like to see him at the tour. I'm always surprised he's not part of team Tenerife - he seems to fit the criteria perfectly.

I do think Lofkvist has a shot. Sivtsov has a big advantage due to being in the Wiggins group all year, but they seem to be using him up earlier and earlier in the difficult stages. Might be nothing, but it might be telling.

 

[MADRAZO]

Team Sky will propably look like this:

Wiggins
Froome
Rogers
Porte
Boasson Hagen
Sivtsov
Cavendish
Eisel
Lövkvist if he does will in TDS

Otherwice Knees or Pate

Too bad Nordhaug has been sick, in topform he could have been quite useful.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

If Sky have to defend yellow for a long time, they need a couple of work horses for the flat as well. I'd say Pate and even Knees fits that bill better than Löfkvist, maybe Sioutsou too - he's used quite early at the Dauphine although he is a good climber. I can't see them using Froome, Porte, Rogers and EBH at the beginning of stages.

 

[hatcher]

One of Knees or Pate will almost certainly be there. To me the only question left is whether Sivtsov, Lofkvist or both Knees and Pate go. That may depend on how they choose to use EBH.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

One of Knees or Pate will almost certainly be there. To me the only question left is whether Sivtsov, Lofkvist or both Knees and Pate go. That may depend on how they choose to use EBH.

That's my thinking as well. Working on the flat as opposite to big mountains might even be better for EBH's legs if he's allowed to ride for himself on a couple of stages. Although the Dauphine seems to indicate he will be the one to kill himself at the bottom of the final climbs.

 

[MADRAZO]

I would propably pick Knees or Pate over Lövkvist too for the last spot, unless he does really well in TDS, but I just think he will get the spot anyway, as I heard he seemed confident about that and also it is a pretty close choise.

Sivtsov however must be certain, a superhelper for all terains, and a rider that should fit the team very well

So I only think the last spot is uncertain

 

[airstream]

Sasha Kuschynski to start the Tour! So probably we should leave out Horrach, Caruso or Florencio. I suppose this will be Horrach. I don't know how it goes with Hutarovich, but it might be the record Tour by the number of the riders from Belarus (4). Sincerely hope for it.

 

[Justin Pain]

In my opinion Wiggins, Froome, Rogers, Porte, EBH, Cavendish, Eisel, Pate are all safe.
The final spot will be between Sivtsov/Lövkvist/Knees. Sky probably wants a powerhorse for the flat who also can climb. All those three fits that bill. The one in best shape will get the ticket.

Knees have earlier got a role as Wiggins personal helper and "wind-catcher", just as Eisel is for Cav. Maybe he is the hotest candidate.

 

[Lexman]

Degenkolb not going to the TDF

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/de...rd&utm_medium=extra&utm_campaign=crosspromosw

 

[Froome19]

Degenkolb not going to the TDF

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/de...rd&utm_medium=extra&utm_campaign=crosspromosw

What a shame, it was his own decision though so I am expecting big things later in the season.
Though admittedly he would have been hampered by kittel.

 

[gustienordic]

Capecchi and Caruso are rumoured to ride Vuelta as captains for Liquigas and they already rode the Giro. It's unlikely they'll do 3 GTs at their age.
I have doubts on Agnoli as well. Plus, Liquigas won't need to control the race on the mountains so why bringing so many climbers?
Paterski should be there. I'd bring Duggan as well, he's in very good form. Even Viviani would be better.

Last spot my man Moreno.

Viviani will definately not be going, unless he will only do the first week... he is peaking for the track for London.

 

[Climeon]

RadioShack-Nissan preliminary roster
2012 Tour de France
Fabian Cancellara
Jakob Fuglsang
Tony Gallopin
Linus Gerdemann
Markel Irizar
Andreas Klöden
Maxime Monfort
Yaroslav Popovych
Gregory Rast
Hayden Roulston
Andy Schleck
Fränk Schleck
Jens Voigt
Haimar Zubeldia
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/06/news/horner-to-miss-the-tour-de-france_223276

 

[norwegian]

One of Knees or Pate will almost certainly be there. To me the only question left is whether Sivtsov, Lofkvist or both Knees and Pate go. That may depend on how they choose to use EBH.

And the use of Edvald may have been a little more difficult to decide after CdD.

 

[cineteq]

RadioShack-Nissan preliminary roster
2012 Tour de France
Fabian Cancellara
Jakob Fuglsang
Tony Gallopin
Linus Gerdemann
Markel Irizar
Andreas Klöden
Maxime Monfort
Yaroslav Popovych
Gregory Rast
Hayden Roulston
Andy Schleck
Fränk Schleck
Jens Voigt
Haimar Zubeldia
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/06/news/horner-to-miss-the-tour-de-france_223276

No Horner.

 

[Lexman]

No Horner.

since he finished 2nd in T-A he didn't show anything at all, misses TDS... it's very normal all the more the TDF is not that very though in the mountains so the best climber of the world will not be missed

 

[Moviefan1203]

It's really surprising to not see Horner on that list.

 

[airstream]

I don't think Chris is not fit. With such a number of protected riders, the team just can't include too many mountain domestics. Monfort, Zubeldia and Fuglsang are reserved. 4 is too much.

 

[TechnicalDescent]

Sad that Horner's last and likely final tour ended the way it did, not knowing where he was or what day it is.

 

[taiwan]

I don't think Chris is not fit. With such a number of protected riders, the team just can't include too many mountain domestics. Monfort, Zubeldia and Fuglsang are reserved. 4 is too much.

But Horner > Monfort, Zubeldia or Fuglsang.

 

[AntonioRossi]

why are roulston and gerdemann even on that list?

 

[greenedge]

I really think Horner should be on the list. Hopefully he is sent to the Vuelta to go well there.

 

[Gubby Allen]

Degenkolb not going to the TDF

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/de...rd&utm_medium=extra&utm_campaign=crosspromosw

Pity as I was looking forward to seeing him on this level but half expected it as I thought him & Kittel going may have caused one or two dilemmas.

 

[vcampbell]

About CN's news: "Andy Schleck is the defending Tour de France champion after Alberto Contador was disqualified per his doping ban."

It's not Cadel Evans? Or it's Pandy because he received his well earned yellow jersey later?

 

[patrick767]

But Horner > Monfort, Zubeldia or Fuglsang.

Fuglsang is the only one even debatable there. Horner is easily stronger than the other two. What is going on with Radioshack? Has Bruyneel completely lost it? Horner should have bailed like Leipheimer did instead of staying with this disastrous team.

 

[airstream]

The thing is that in fact Fuglsang and Monfort got accustomed to work on any terrain whereas Haimar is still a rider of the Tour top-15 and, thus, his spot is undisputed. Again, having 7 climbers out of 9 is a big risk. Probably Bruyneel chose one more flat/hilly gregario in addition to Jens and Fabi more.