Transfers and Rumours 2011 > 2012

[Libertine Seguros]

Anyone else think it's stupid to sign youngsters for the cobbled classics? Experience counts, and cobbles riders have a decent shelf life. Better with someone like Roger Hammond than Boasson Hagen, but I may be going too far there.

I don't think it's stupid to sign youngsters for the cobbled classics.

They just shouldn't expect them to be leaders or rely on them without having a more experienced hand there. Otherwise the torch never gets passed, and what better way for talented young riders to learn the ropes than by giving them an experienced guy who can lead or at least co-lead (taking pressure off their shoulders) thus meaning they will be ready to take over when the elder rider inevitably retires.

 

[Jamsque]

I have no doubt that Thomas learned a huge amount from Flecha this spring.

 

[Parrulo]

I have no doubt that Thomas learned a huge amount from Flecha this spring.

mostly on P-R when he had his first class of "how to **** off lars boom 1 on 1"

joking ofc. but ya i have to agree with you.

 

[Gloin22]

I think Thomas can win something big next year. With Olympics he is not gonna ride TDF so his main goal should be Classics. This year he couldn't go full out in Classics, next year he will.

 

[Andy99]

Cav today, perhaps chatting to next years DS...

sorry for the big pic - I had no idea it would be this bl**dy big..

 

[King Of The Wolds]

The HTC bashing is getting a bit silly.

In the past few weeks, they've come top 10 in a brutal GT, won a TTT, a hilly ITT, 2 races from Albasini - 1 hilly and 1 from a breakaway, and won one on a uphill finish that people were tipping JRod or Vino for beforehand.

OK, in the meantime, Cav's won a couple of sprints, one of which was controlled perfectly by his team, but give me the name of another team which has shown as much versatility as they have recently.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Btw, Cipo's gonna have a field day with that treble chin.

 

[Andy99]

The HTC bashing is getting a bit silly.

Couldn't agree more. I really don't understand it. Its bike racing, and they race to win. What's wrong with that.

 

[hatcher]

Yep, it's made me start to root for them a little.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Couldn't agree more. I really don't understand it. Its bike racing, and they race to win. What's wrong with that.

They have a method which works, and they stick to it. All functional, no soul. It's like saying we shouldn't be bored and dislike Michael Schumacher when he's driving away from the field in 12 parades a season.

Do I think HTC are beholden to entertain me? No, this isn't pro wrestling.

But we don't watch cycling out of duty. We watch it because we enjoy it. HTC's methods may be successful, but it isn't enjoyable. I watch the sport to be entertained, and HTC's method hinges upon making sure as little entertainment as possible is allowed to happen. Hence I root for people who try to make the sport entertaining.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

All functional, no soul.

I can accept you aren't entertained by them, but that bit's just BS. Do you think the other teams ride with soul? From the heart? Just for the hell of it? Or do you think, just like HTC, they do whatever it takes, whatever they can, from a functional perspective, to give themselves the best chance to win a race?

 

[boomcie]

They have a method which works, and they stick to it. All functional, no soul. It's like saying we shouldn't be bored and dislike Michael Schumacher when he's driving away from the field in 12 parades a season.

Do I think HTC are beholden to entertain me? No, this isn't pro wrestling.

But we don't watch cycling out of duty. We watch it because we enjoy it. HTC's methods may be successful, but it isn't enjoyable. I watch the sport to be entertained, and HTC's method hinges upon making sure as little entertainment as possible is allowed to happen. Hence I root for people who try to make the sport entertaining.

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[Parrulo]

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i am going to go ahead and just say it

there is a site to make those pics with good quality boomcie no need to use paint

 

[boomcie]

i am going to go ahead and just say it

there is a site to make those pics with good quality boomcie no need to use paint

Who needs f-ing websites? Handicraft rocks.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I can accept you aren't entertained by them, but that bit's just BS. Do you think the other teams ride with soul? From the heart? Just for the hell of it? Or do you think, just like HTC, they do whatever it takes, whatever they can, from a functional perspective, to give themselves the best chance to win a race?

I think some teams have soul. Some riders and teams epitomise what I like about the sport (Euskaltel, FDJ), some epitomise what I dislike about the sport (HTC).

Even the other teams that want to take everything to sprints and TTs, like Sky and Garmin, feel less like everything is calculated in a slick business meeting with excel spreadsheets and the equivalent of the guys with computers working out when Schumacher had to take his pitstop.

A lot of teams are trying to do whatever it takes to win - but that entails playing the 1-2 card, late attacks, train-hopping, and so on. HTC's method is as mind-numbingly tedious as it is crushingly effective. As I've said before, the sprint itself is sometimes quite interesting (especially if Cavendish is out of form or somebody like Danilo Hondo finds a way to derail the train before Renshaw and co. start muscling people around again) but it's predicated on minimising risks. Most of the most entertaining things about the sport involve taking risks, whether it be risking blowing up later with a big attack, involving yourself in a high speed bunch sprint or tactically sacrificing oneself. Most teams need to take tactical risks in order to improve their chances of winning, whereas HTC start off most stages with the deck stacked in their favour, so they seek to neutralise these.

 

[theyoungest]

I think some teams have soul. Some riders and teams epitomise what I like about the sport (Euskaltel, FDJ), some epitomise what I dislike about the sport (HTC).

Even the other teams that want to take everything to sprints and TTs, like Sky and Garmin, feel less like everything is calculated in a slick business meeting with excel spreadsheets and the equivalent of the guys with computers working out when Schumacher had to take his pitstop.

A lot of teams are trying to do whatever it takes to win - but that entails playing the 1-2 card, late attacks, train-hopping, and so on. HTC's method is as mind-numbingly tedious as it is crushingly effective. As I've said before, the sprint itself is sometimes quite interesting (especially if Cavendish is out of form or somebody like Danilo Hondo finds a way to derail the train before Renshaw and co. start muscling people around again) but it's predicated on minimising risks. Most of the most entertaining things about the sport involve taking risks, whether it be risking blowing up later with a big attack, involving yourself in a high speed bunch sprint or tactically sacrificing oneself. Most teams need to take tactical risks in order to improve their chances of winning, whereas HTC start off most stages with the deck stacked in their favour, so they seek to neutralise these.

A bit of a culture clash, I guess. German/American efficiency doesn't appeal to you. Whereas to some the Euskie boys struggling on anything other than a climb is pitiful to watch.

Personally I admire the way HTC always manages to come away with a win. Even when they send their weakest line up imaginable (Gatis Smukulis in Catalunya, anyone?).

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Plus, how many other teams would put a guy in 3rd place two days from the end of a Grand Tour in the leadout train? How many other teams would put the maillot jaune of the Tour de France in the leadout train?

I'm sure you can spin this as 'great team spirit' or willingness to work for teammates if you really like HTC (or don't like HTC but want to wind me up), but frankly, that the thought of asking people in those positions to do that job even crosses their mind is a sad thing.

 

[El Pistolero]

A bit of a culture clash, I guess. German/American efficiency doesn't appeal to you. Whereas to some the Euskie boys struggling on anything other than a climb is pitiful to watch.

Personally I admire the way HTC always manages to come away with a win. Even when they send their weakest line up imaginable (Gatis Smukulis in Catalunya, anyone?).

That's what I hate about them

 

[auscyclefan94]

Cavendish to BMC???? I think I would die!

 

[The Hitch]

Cavendish to BMC???? I think I would die!

Relax.

The idea that Cav might be somewhere other than Sky or HTC next year only proves to demonstrate how much cycling transfers try to be like football ones.

There people think of random transfers so there will be rumours and lots of chat about it.

If Cav isnt signed by Sky by October then having 7 Sky riders and David Millar tow him a striped jersey might do the trick.

 

[LukeSchmid]

Just like Kruiskwijk

In all seriousness, does that mean BMC are left with nothing? No Boonen or Gilbert?

Unless they want to replace Ballan I think BMC should be trying to get sprinters and climbers not more classics type riders. They deperately need someone who they can send to a GT other than Evans who can do something, whether it is a quality sprinter or a rider who can challenge for the top 10. At the moment any GT team they send without Evans is very, very weak.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Unless they want to replace Ballan I think BMC should be trying to get sprinters and climbers not more classics type riders. They deperately need someone who they can send to a GT other than Evans who can do something, whether it is a quality sprinter or a rider who can challenge for the top 10. At the moment any GT team they send without Evans is very, very weak.

Hmmm, I do agree they need a sprinter but who would you get?

I would like them to one or two riders into the team who are guys who can get results. Don't get 5 or 6 guys who are good but aren't really cutting it.

Relax.

The idea that Cav might be somewhere other than Sky or HTC next year only proves to demonstrate how much cycling transfers try to be like football ones.

There people think of random transfers so there will be rumours and lots of chat about it.

If Cav isnt signed by Sky by October then having 7 Sky riders and David Millar tow him a striped jersey might do the trick.

I am relaxed. He was just talking to max Sciandri who he would of worked with.

 

[blaxland]

Hmmm, I do agree they need a sprinter but who would you get?

I would like them to one or two riders into the team who are guys who can get results. Don't get 5 or 6 guys who are good but aren't really cutting it.

I am relaxed. He was just talking to max Sciandri who he would of worked with.

Well before Greenedge get all the good Aussie sprinters.I would go after Matt Goss,that guy has class written all over....Maybe Howard?But both are being targeted by Greenedge....What about Kittel??????

 

[LukeSchmid]

Hmmm, I do agree they need a sprinter but who would you get?

I do not know, Leigh Howard perhaps.

 

[LukeSchmid]

Well before Greenedge get all the good Aussie sprinters.I would go after Matt Goss,that guy has class written all over....Maybe Howard?But both are being targeted by Greenedge....What about Kittel??????

Goss would be great acquistion for any team. Kittel would be good as well.