Tour Rider Selection and Roles

[auscyclefan94]

Interesting to see BMC leave out MORABITO I thought he would be almost a definate at the start of the year. CUMMINGS imo is a good inclusion for the team and will bolster the climbing stocks but I would have prefered if he and MORABITO had been included in the team to slightly bolster the climbing maybe at the expense of a strong man. Considering theyve already got BURGHARDT and HINCAPIE I would have got rid of one of QUINZIATO or SCHAR - probably SCHAR. However all considered they have a stronger line up than last year and hopefully TJ can really step up and be consistently strong in the big mountains.

I am surprised, as I rate Morabito as a good climber. Cummings is a risk, because other than showing some form in the Suisse TT, he has shown very little this year, mostly due to injury. I would have definitely not have got rid of Schaer because Schaer is a good work horse on the flat and has been climbing relatively well for BMC.

 

[karlboss]

For the mtn finishes, its very rare that the domestiques are still there when the actual time gaps appear between the GC contenders so at that point its usually mano-a-mano anyway.

I wasn't referring to mountain finishes, Gilbert will be nowhere near. However to launch an attack from 1km short of the summit of the penultimate climb, setting up a downhill and climb by Evans...name someone better.

 

[blaxland]

I am surprised, as I rate Morabito as a good climber. Cummings is a risk, because other than showing some form in the Suisse TT, he has shown very little this year, mostly due to injury. I would have definitely not have got rid of Schaer because Schaer is a good work horse on the flat and has been climbing relatively well for BMC.

+1 agree Aus.But i still think their team seems very well balanced with multiple stage hopefulls.As some others have posted Evans should play a watch and see role in regaurd to wiggins,then pounce on those rare oppertunities one gets during the tour.It only takes one good/bad day and its all over"Hopefully im wrong thinking its only a two horse race?

 

[greenedge]

Happy to see you finally back ACF.

Morabito would have been a good choice in my view as if needs be he can pull on the flat and he can go well on climbs.

Geniez i think should have been chosen for Argos- i can understand his frustration.

No Spilak for Katusha. They have some strong riders but they are not to the calibre of BMC or Skys', and they have just as much money.

I feel sad for Fuglsang not going to the TDF- though he did go bad at Suisse. He should be able to provide Andy with good support at the Vuelta.

 

[Krebs cycle]

I wasn't referring to mountain finishes, Gilbert will be nowhere near. However to launch an attack from 1km short of the summit of the penultimate climb, setting up a downhill and climb by Evans...name someone better.

Never suggested that. Read my post again. If he gets in a breakaway....

 

[Discreet Brajkovic]

Tour de France 2012 Radio Shack Nissan Trek !!!

A parody of what the lead up to the Tour de France 2012 race must be like in the Radio Shack Nissan Trek camp using the Downfall Meme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KSmE2u3rKo&feature=player_embedded

 

[*Falze*]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KSmE2u3rKo&feature=player_embedded

Very Good. I like it a lot.

Best Young rider

 

[LaFlorecita]

I feel sad for Fuglsang not going to the TDF- though he did go bad at Suisse. He should be able to provide Andy with good support at the Vuelta.

After being left out of the tour squad Birdsong might be looking for a new team.. And if he is doing so then he won't be part of the Vuelta squad either.

 

[cineteq]

Omega Pharma-Quick Step
Sylvain Chavanel
Kevin De Weert
Dries Devenyns
Bert Grabsch
Levi Leipheimer
Tony Martin
Jerome Pineau
Stijn Vandenbergh
Peter Velits

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=52619

 

[karlboss]

Omega Pharma-Quick Step
Sylvain Chavanel
Kevin De Weert
Dries Devenyns
Bert Grabsch
Levi Leipheimer
Tony Martin
Jerome Pineau
Stijn Vandenbergh
Peter Velits

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=52619

Must have seen my post about sprinters

 

[Gloin22]

Exactly how I predicted the squad except instead of Ciolek they took Stjin.

There's good focus on GC and stage hunting.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

After being left out of the tour squad Birdsong might be looking for a new team.. And if he is doing so then he won't be part of the Vuelta squad either.

I don't think that is true, rsnt future is such a shambles I doubt it really matters if other riders might be looking elsewhere. maybe he wont lead the vuelta, but really why should he? I doubt Andy will be there next year, doubt they won't take him. Actually birdsong missing out is good news for Schleck who should in turn get a decent fresh helper.

Geniez already announced he would leave after his omission of the tour and still expects to ride vuelta for a gc.

 

[dlwssonic]

I am surprised, as I rate Morabito as a good climber. Cummings is a risk, because other than showing some form in the Suisse TT, he has shown very little this year, mostly due to injury. I would have definitely not have got rid of Schaer because Schaer is a good work horse on the flat and has been climbing relatively well for BMC.

Great to have you back ACF, where have you been?
I believe its because morabito has still not fully recovered from his crash at california. He was pretty bad at the dauphine but I thought he will still get the spot as he could build up form for the tour.
Maybe BMC trusted cummings more as he looked better in suisse than morabito did and he has been improving. Hopefully by the tour he should be good. He also on paper is a better climber than morabito, just the many injuries hampered his season.
Yeah schar has been great this season and his climbing was quite impressive at the dauphine and he is really strong.
I would rather take out quinziato for morabito but maybe BMC believe evans does not need that many mountain domestiques.

 

[The Hitch]

I don't think that is true, rsnt future is such a shambles I doubt it really matters if other riders might be looking elsewhere. maybe he wont lead the vuelta, but really why should he? I doubt Andy will be there next year, doubt they won't take him. Actually birdsong missing out is good news for Schleck who should in turn get a decent fresh helper.

Geniez already announced he would leave after his omission of the tour and still expects to ride vuelta for a gc.

Ding ding ding ding ding ding

10 000 posts.

You have just made a very elite group of juveniles throwing their life away on the internet boards. As acting leader on account of ACF taking a break to make a run at politics, i urge you to draw some blood from your finger with a needle, burn a picture of a saint and promise to never betray your new brothers (though looking at the members list, you may choose to skip the last one).

 

[Arnout]

Ding ding ding ding ding ding

10 000 posts.

You have just made a very elite group of juveniles throwing their life away on the internet boards. As acting leader on account of ACF taking a break to make a run at politics, i urge you to draw some blood from your finger with a needle, burn a picture of a saint and promise to never betray your new brothers (though looking at the members list, you may choose to skip the last one).

I'm happy I'm not such a spam bot when reading this post

 

[SafeBet]

Not sure it was mentioned before, but Vanotti should be in the Liquigas roster as Oss.

 

[Paap85]

Any news from Garmin? Talansky doing the tour?

 

[gustienordic]

Any news from Garmin? Talansky doing the tour?

Talansky is not doing it I don't think... he is still young!

 

[*Falze*]

Bradley Wiggins will lead the team after his consecutive victories at Paris-Nice, Tour de Romandie and Critérium du Dauphiné, and will be joined by Edvald Boasson Hagen, Mark Cavendish, Bernhard Eisel, Chris Froome, Christian Knees, Richie Porte, Michael Rogers and Kanstantsin Siutsou.

From Sky's Website - As most people suspected. Knees over Pate.

 

[Publicus]

So Sky is all in on Bradley's bid for the overall. This should be interesting....

 

[dlwssonic]

Wow cav really only has knees, eisel and EBH.
I'm not sure if the others will work for him.

 

[theyoungest]

Wow cav really only has knees, eisel and EBH.
I'm not sure if the others will work for him.

They have the following riders to bring back breaks, and lead out the sprint:

Johannes Fröhlinger (GER), Patrick Gretsch (GER), Yann Huguet (FRA), Matthieu Sprick (FRA), Tom Veelers (NED), Koen de Kort (NED), Albert Timmer (NED), Roy Curvers (NED).

 

[roundabout]

What if one of them gets in a break? Together with someone from Greenedge?

 

[Ferminal]

What if one of them gets in a break? Together with someone from Greenedge?

It will probably not happen before the Alps, people will have a few goes at beating Cav/Sagan before they are demoralised.

But I can't see Sky getting much help on the remaining three flat stages before Paris.

 

[roundabout]

Agreed. People might feel that they have a better chance of beating Slim Cav this year.