Tour teams - Your pick

[auscyclefan94]

On CN recently, It has been reported that if they announced who would be ridingthe tour next year that many teams would be dissapointed.
Prudhommes says;

In recent years we selected 20 teams. Even if we expand to 22 teams, the maximum permitted number, it is a difficult choice," explained Prudhomme.
"This year seemed the transfer market in cycling seemed to like that of football. The big names are dispersed across more teams and there are many new strong formations," he added
"So there remain four to six wildcards to distribute," explained Prudhomme. "And that is not much. There are certainly 26 or 27 teams that participate and are worth [riding] the Tour."

The possible tour squads are looking to be
AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)
Astana (KAZ)
Caisse d’Epargne (ESP)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP)
Footon-Servetto (ESP)
Française des Jeux (FRA)
Liquigas-Doimo (ITA)
Omega Pharma-Lotto (BEL)
Quick Step (BEL)
Rabobank (NED)
Saxo Bank (DEN)
Team Columbia-HTC (USA)
Team Milram (GER)
Bougyes Telecom
Cofidis
Lampre
Radio Shack,
Team Sky,
BMC Racing,
Vacansoleil,
Saur Sojasun,
Katyusha,
Garmin-Transitions,
Cervélo
Skil-Shimano.

According to CN the uncertain teams for a tour berth are bolded
Pick your 22 tour squads out of the prior listed

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Saur Sojasun and Vacansoleil are out, I think.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Saur Sojasun is out.

And Skil or Vacansoleil, depending on how they perform at the beginning of the season. 3 Dutch teams, with 2 weaker ones, is overkill, given the competition and French national sponsor interests.

I think Skil is the one who has most to prove now, despite the fact that they were in de Tour organisers good books for their role in the 2009 edition, especially for animated racing in stages that others flat-lined to protest. If Vacansoleil hadn't had the fall that it did, I would have expected Skil to participate. Now I expect Vansoleil's participation to be more likely, as they showed themselves to be a class above Skil-Shimano.

Both made strategic signings for Tour participation, but I suspect that Vacansoleil contracted the better argument, Brice Feillu. It might just be enough, if there are indeed 22 teams welcome at the start.

Otherwise both are out.

 

[Polish]

Pay Eddy and Alfredo NOT to come

I agree with Moose and Francois.

And if you need to drop 2 more teams to get down to 20, I would add RadioShack and Astana. Seriously - it would end up being a more exciting race!

 

[Anonymous]

Lampre is one of the 16

I don't know if it hinges on them keeping their license or not, but Lampre is the 16th team with guaranteed entry based on the September 2008 agreement.

Astana is definitely in, unless maybe they fail to submit the bank guarantee. The way they're treating Pereiro raises the money problem flag again. I saw the Astana roster at http://www.albertocontador.com, at the Astana Fans site (they included Pereiro but didn't have Josep Jufre Pou), and a number of news stories, but they all only had 23 riders. I always thought the minimum was 25.

I wouldn't mind seeing karma keep Radio Shack out. Other than that, it all comes down to early season performance. Having two extra teams might mean more guys interested in getting into breakaways, but I doubt if it would affect any of the jerseys. Cheers

 

[Publicus]

I don't know if it hinges on them keeping their license or not, but Lampre is the 16th team with guaranteed entry based on the September 2008 agreement.

Astana is definitely in, unless maybe they fail to submit the bank guarantee. The way they're treating Pereiro raises the money problem flag again. I saw the Astana roster at http://www.albertocontador.com, at the Astana Fans site (they included Pereiro but didn't have Josep Jufre Pou), and a number of news stories, but they all only had 23 riders. I always thought the minimum was 25.

I wouldn't mind seeing karma keep Radio Shack out. Other than that, it all comes down to early season performance. Having two extra teams might mean more guys interested in getting into breakaways, but I doubt if it would affect any of the jerseys. Cheers

I think this incident with Pereiro has the potential to sink Astana before the season officially starts. They are already essentially on probation, why tempt fate? How much could the contract with Pereiro be? Something doesn't seem right about the entire situation. Heck, I'd want to have all my wages paid in advance given this kind of drama.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I not so sure it's as clear cut as all that.
First off, I reckon Prudhomme will opt for 21 teams, not 22, since they are sticking with 9 rider teams.
Secondly, the French will look after their own, first and foremost. While Saur Sojasun look like an obvious drop out, remember Big Mat Auber?
Crap team, but always handed an invite.

I think Vacansoleil and the unlucky Skil are looking down the gun barrel, but I also think one shock is on the cards........
( I hope others a right and SS get the chop, though.)

 

[ingsve]

What makes this so difficult is because there are so many top GC contenders that are not in the already guaranteed squads.

Personally I hope they can still find a way to stop Footon Servetto from participating but I'm guessing it would be hard for them to justify.

 

[Ripper]

What makes this so difficult is because there are so many top GC contenders that are not in the already guaranteed squads.

Personally I hope they can still find a way to stop Footon Servetto from participating but I'm guessing it would be hard for them to justify.

Less hard than you think ... I doubt Footon will be there.

 

[phillop]

AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)
Astana (KAZ)
Caisse d’Epargne (ESP)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP)
Footon-Servetto (ESP)
Française des Jeux (FRA)
Liquigas-Doimo (ITA)
LAMPRE (ITA)
Omega Pharma-Lotto (BEL)
Quick Step (BEL)
Rabobank (NED)
Saxo Bank (DEN)
Team Columbia-HTC (USA)
Team Milram (GER)
Bougyes Telecom
Cofidis

Radio Shack
Cervelo Test Team
Garmin
Katusha
Team Sky
Vasconsoleil

i think the very dissapointed team he would be refering to is bmc, they wont invite a team that will solely ride to support a rider that will struggle to make the top 10 (look at the quality of the riders that will race next year compared to when evans was getting 2nd)
the 1st 4 I listed are surely shoe ins for the 1st four spots. Did prudhome not tell carlos sastre that there will always be a place for him at le tour after his victory????
the other 3 will must be in on the strength of their teams, and have a look whos on skys roster and who they will likely take to le tour, i think they will be their, if their is the 21st and 22nd spots availible. I also think Vasconsoleil have bought them selves in to the race with the signing of the fellius'.
skill-shimano just arent strong enough to warrant a invite, while they animated the race last year, they were not close or looked remotely likely to get a result, and their are plenty of teams that will "animate the race next year in their place, theyve had their chance. i think Saur Sojasun would possibly be the one to get the nod if one of my choices are wrong, theres not many french teams in the race this year, surely theyd love to be able to include this team, but with the competition for invites, and the fact this is their first year as a pro conti team, i think they will have to be left out.

 

[kurtinsc]

Well, I am hoping BMC gets in. They're the team I'm adopting this season so I'd like to see them get a shot. If not I guess I'll be watching the Giro or Vuelta (or wherever Evans races) more closely then usual.

 

[Francois the Postman]

I think L'Equipe put Vacansoleil and Saur-Sojasun on even odds, with Skil a low rank outsider. If the French themselves think Saur is only even odds, it must be lower. Since the Tour starts in the NL, and there are several good arguments for a 2nd Dutch team of Vacansoleil's calibre, I took the "one dispointed team" as a reference to Skil (getting passed up after being thanked for positive participation must be gut-wrenching).

Or maybe to Saur-Sojasun, who sound so far like they have genuine expectations that they will be invited. Which IMO opinion is sponsor based, not quality based. Does the Tour pass on a new French sponsor getting into the sport?

"Normally" they indeed would gotten the nod, no questions asked. But for once we don't live in normal times. With stars scattered all over the place, and a Tour that actually starts in the NL (anywhere else and I would have dismissed Vansoleil in favour of Saur - even with 3 French riders, 1 appealing one), and Evans with a rainbow jersey (without that jersey BMC would certainly have to sit one out), I think they are the ones that really should worry.

BMC would be a true shock, one I haven't discounted quite yet, but they'd have to put in a truly shocking opening season, Evans especially, before I'd see that even being considered. And opposed to Saur, Vacansoleil doesn't seem to count themselves in yet, but have far more arguments going for them than Saur. So when there is talk about a team that will be disappointed, I would not be totally surprised if for once they were actually talking about a French team.

I'm also not 100% convinced it will be 22, and not 21. I suspect that a leap to 22 teams+entourage is slightly more likely, all the more if #22 is from a (press) market that is already present anyway.

If it wouldn't work well it might mean 21 in the future, hoping that some of the current teams would auto-disqualify for 2011 considerations. Or actually become a "tested" argument for smaller teams in the future, something they are already considering but might be a hard sell to sponsors. Why not give yourself a test-run with 22 that might work (everyone happy), or give you an actual argument when making your case with sponsors, for team size reduction.

But for the ASO, 22 "all worthy" teams with sponsor, market, and audience interest has got to be appealing, even if it will put a strain on logistics (and maybe this year only, as it is a rather unexpected luxury of sorts that wasn't foreseen when all the other decisions were made).

Whichever way, I'm sure ASO will try to postpone an actual decision as long as possible, hoping that this conundrum will solve itself in the early season. By misfortune, scandal, or invisibility of any of the teams who are quite understandably "hoping" right now.

 

[Anonymous]

On CN recently, It has been reported that if they announced who would be ridingthe tour next year that many teams would be dissapointed.
Prudhommes says;



The possible tour squads are looking to be
AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)
Astana (KAZ)
Caisse d’Epargne (ESP)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP)
Footon-Servetto (ESP)
Française des Jeux (FRA)
Liquigas-Doimo (ITA)
Omega Pharma-Lotto (BEL)
Quick Step (BEL)
Rabobank (NED)
Saxo Bank (DEN)
Team Columbia-HTC (USA)
Team Milram (GER)
Bougyes Telecom
Cofidis
Radio Shack,
Team Sky,
BMC Racing,
Vacansoleil,
Saur Sojasun,
Katyusha,
Garmin-Transitions,
Cervélo
Skil-Shimano.

According to CN the uncertain teams for a tour berth are bolded
Pick your 22 tour squads out of the prior listed

I think it will be 21 teams to include Radio, Sky, BMC, Katusha, Garmin, Cervelo

If it is 22 teams, then I reckon Vacansoleil get the nod over Skil. Vacansoleil had a great showing in the Vuelta, and I think they deserve a shot (not to say SS don't deserve a shot, but I reckon their the 23rd choice).

That said, something will happen with Astana next year. Talk about Periero is suss (as publicus mentioned), the salaries may be an issue again, and we know that a single positivee test from any of their squad and AC is out. I dare say, if there is a positive, AC out, ASO says good-bye Astana.

So, assuming Astana get done, AC moves to Caisse/Garmin/OP-Lotto (joke), another spot opens up and SS get in as the 22nd team.

 

[Anonymous]

..............Evans with a rainbow jersey (without that jersey BMC would certainly have to sit one out), I think they are the ones that really should worry.

BMC would be a true shock, one I haven't discounted quite yet, but they'd have to put in a truly shocking opening season, Evans especially, before I'd see that even being considered. And opposed to Saur, Vacansoleil doesn't seem to count themselves in yet, but have far more arguments going for them than Saur. So when there is talk about a team that will be disappointed, I would not be totally surprised if for once they were actually talking about a French team.

Agreed.

I can't see BMC not getting an invite, and this is purely based on the Rainbow Jersey, and not the rider wearing it.

The thought of having the WC in the lead group in the mountains is too tempting for any GT organiser, becoz it is so rare. Better yet, potentially having a Rainbow Jersey on the podium is a rare sight.

With two flat WC courses in the next two years, and the WC course usually more suited to the specialist one-day races the ASO just could'nt pass this opportunity up, IMO, it may never happen again

 

[Veiding]

On CN recently, It has been reported that if they announced who would be ridingthe tour next year that many teams would be dissapointed.
Prudhommes says;



The possible tour squads are looking to be
AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)
Astana (KAZ)
Caisse d’Epargne (ESP)
Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP)
Footon-Servetto (ESP)
Française des Jeux (FRA)
Liquigas-Doimo (ITA)
Omega Pharma-Lotto (BEL)
Quick Step (BEL)
Rabobank (NED)
Saxo Bank (DEN)
Team Columbia-HTC (USA)
Team Milram (GER)
Bougyes Telecom
Cofidis
Radio Shack,
Team Sky,
BMC Racing,
Vacansoleil,
Saur Sojasun,
Katyusha,
Garmin-Transitions,
Cervélo
Skil-Shimano.

According to CN the uncertain teams for a tour berth are bolded
Pick your 22 tour squads out of the prior listed

Lampre should not be on the list?

Do not believe that Footon will come in and it gives an extra room for Vacansoil which takes the place in front of Skil and Sojasun. (Provided that there are 22 teams invited)

 

[Kingsley A]

I made a Post on this topic a few days ago on a related thread (although I was probably a little off topic).

It does now seem that my understanding of who had the automatic invites was wrong and I would like to know by what criteria Garmin and Katusha aren't on that list. However the 16 confirmed in this thread, plus those two still add up to the 18 I cited as guaranteed.

I still believe that if it is only 20 teams the additional 2 will be Cevello and Radio Shack. If it's 22 BMC and Sky will be the additional teams. From a sporting perspective Vacansoleil should certainly be there but I suspect they will be unlucky. Likewise I think that Saur-Sojasun will be extraordinarily lucky to be included.

Barring the exclusion of one of the established 16 (and Astana suddenly look shaky again with the Pereiro debacle) I do think if it's 20 teams we already know. If it's 22 we need to perm 2 out of 3 with Saur-Sojasun as an unlikely but not impossible outsider.

 

[Ferminal]

I agree with Moose and Francois.

And if you need to drop 2 more teams to get down to 20, I would add RadioShack and Astana. Seriously - it would end up being a more exciting race!

Sure would be, unfortunately the ASO have that "agreement" with Bertie.

What would it take for Astana to not get invited despite that?

I guess the bigger question is what would it take for the Shack not to get invited...

 

[auscyclefan94]

ASO run paris Roubaix right? If BMC is going to that race, wouldn't you think that means they look favourably at BMC even though their classics and grand tour squad may be different?

 

[auscyclefan94]

I made a Post on this topic a few days ago on a related thread (although I was probably a little off topic).

It does now seem that my understanding of who had the automatic invites was wrong and I would like to know by what criteria Garmin and Katusha aren't on that list. However the 16 confirmed in this thread, plus those two still add up to the 18 I cited as guaranteed.

I still believe that if it is only 20 teams the additional 2 will be Cevello and Radio Shack. If it's 22 BMC and Sky will be the additional teams. From a sporting perspective Vacansoleil should certainly be there but I suspect they will be unlucky. Likewise I think that Saur-Sojasun will be extraordinarily lucky to be included.

Barring the exclusion of one of the established 16 (and Astana suddenly look shaky again with the Pereiro debacle) I do think if it's 20 teams we already know. If it's 22 we need to perm 2 out of 3 with Saur-Sojasun as an unlikely but not impossible outsider.

On the CN article yesterday it said that katyusha (that's how CN spelt it) and garmin's spots at the tour weren't guranteed

 

[Kingsley A]

On the CN article yesterday it said that katyusha (that's how CN spelt it) and garmin's spots at the tour weren't guranteed

I know. Which is why I said this in the post you quoted:

It does now seem that my understanding of who had the automatic invites was wrong and I would like to know by what criteria Garmin and Katusha aren't on that list.

The CN article states that they aren't on that list (although I find it hard to imagine either will be excluded) but gives no explanation of why.

As I said in my original post, my understanding may be wrong, and now it has been shown that it clearly is, but I would still like to know the criteria that are used (preferably in shorthand so I don't have to wade through god knows how many pages of UCI and/or ASO regulations)

What exactly is the agreement between ASO & UCI with regard to TdF invites?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I'd like to see Vacansoleil at the tour personally.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I know. Which is why I said this in the post you quoted:



The CN article states that they aren't on that list (although I find it hard to imagine either will be excluded) but gives no explanation of why.

As I said in my original post, my understanding may be wrong, and now it has been shown that it clearly is, but I would still like to know the criteria that are used (preferably in shorthand so I don't have to wade through god knows how many pages of UCI and/or ASO regulations)

What exactly is the agreement between ASO & UCI with regard to TdF invites?

I'm not sure but i think at paris Nice, remember how the uci were threatening the pro teams about them racing in Paris Nice (ASO) they would have their liscence taken off or sumthing like that?
Just a guess why the tour berth isn't certain
Sky has only just formed, Garmin only formed in 2008, Katusha only formed at the start of this year and Retirement shack have only just formed. The teams must have at least be around for a certain period of time.

 

[Veiding]

What exactly is the agreement between ASO & UCI with regard to TdF invites?

The only teams guaranteed entry to the 2010 Tour (as with the 2009 Tour) are the teams with ProTour status as of September, 2008

Link: http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/554

 

[Ripper]

BMC will be in the tour. Unless something "strange" happens, they've got stuff the tour wants (wc jersey that will be visible in the race, a GC candidate, invites from other big races).

Astana will be there unless (once again) something "strange" happens.

Um, read the memo - Lance and le Tour are friends again. Geri-Shack will be there.

With Garmin being "clean" and having had top 5's twice, they will get an invite.

I am not convinced Sky will be invited. If they are, it will be at the cost of one of the smaller teams ... Vacansoleil, Saur Sojasun, or Skil-Shimano.

 

[auscyclefan94]

BMC will be in the tour. Unless something "strange" happens, they've got stuff the tour wants (wc jersey that will be visible in the race, a GC candidate, invites from other big races).

Astana will be there unless (once again) something "strange" happens.

Um, read the memo - Lance and le Tour are friends again. Geri-Shack will be there.

With Garmin being "clean" and having had top 5's twice, they will get an invite.

I am not convinced Sky will be invited. If they are, it will be at the cost of one of the smaller teams ... Vacansoleil, Saur Sojasun, or Skil-Shimano.

+1
I think BMC will be there ahead of Sky, due BMC having a main goal to contend for overalla nd Sky having no sprinter, no gc guy and JL's association with ASO