Vuelta wildcards announced

[MatParker117]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vuelta- ... -2015-race

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Cofidis, Team Colombia, Europcar and MTN-Qhubeka

Surprised Colombia got in as they've done *** all in the giro.

 

[gmedina]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vuelta-a-espaa-announce-teams-for-2015-race

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Cofidis, Team Colombia, Europcar and MTN-Qhubeka

Surprised Colombia got in as they've done **** all in the giro.

What are you talking about? Team Colombia has been unlucky not to get a win in the Giro. Last one, iirc, Duarte had many top 10s, including two 2nd places, Pantano had a heart-breaking 3rd place, and Duque and Avila were at least top 10 in the sprints twice. It was a similar story in 2013.

In fact, I saw more of them in the Giro than teams like Lotto or Cannondale.

Team Colombia is not a GC team, they were going for stage wins and have been unlucky or not timing it right. But regardless, they have aggressive riders and this year TC won team classification at Tour San Luis, Rodolfo Torres got 2nd overall (he also got the climber's jersey) as well as just winning the mountain classification at TA. So, yeah...I think they do deserve it.

 

[Escarabajo]

Colombia Team is celebrating.

I am happy but TBH I don't think they are going to the Vuelta on their own merits. It is more based on good relation between Spanish and Colombian cycling.

http://www.revistamundociclistico.com/r ... spana.html

http://www.revistamundociclistico.com/r ... ancia.html

 

[staubsauger]

United Healthcare would've deserved an invitation with Brajkovic going for a stage win or a top 10. Colombia is a pure non-class act.

Well, maybe they are somehow sharper in late summer. Wouldn't rule that out to be honest!

 

[gmedina]

Re:

United Healthcare would've deserved an invitation with Brajkovic going for a stage win or a top 10. Colombia is a pure non-class act.

Well, maybe they are somehow sharper in late summer. Wouldn't rule that out to be honest!

How is Team Colombia a pure non-class act?

 

[slosada]

I honestly don't see how one can defend Team Colombia: It's a scam. Corti takes 3M euros per year from Colombian government... Hires an Italian staff, gets a number of contracts for his own benefit. Riders start the season freezing their a$$es or train in rollers inside a hotel room (probably run by another Corti friend), instead of riding where fellow escarabajos do. The Team must go every stage on the break to promote the bike brand, but no other ambition.
As the time passes on the results are poorer... Like 3 stages in 2013 and 3 in 2014, but in a lower category. They have the most known Colombian journo in the payroll to lie about the results and keep the status quo... But riders have to beg for their salaries every year and leave the team unhappy.
As much as I want the Team to succeed, under current conditions, they give a bad name to Colombian cycling

 

[markene2]

How Colombia got the wildcard instead of United Healthcare is a mystery. Brajkovic has been in the leaders jearsy in the race before, he could have gone for a top 10

 

[luckyboy]

ASO/Unipublic probably prefer a team that sends people out to attack over some guy anonymously ride into 7th place on GC

Good GT for MTN - maybe one of their sprinters can take a stage once everybody leaves to prepare for the Worlds

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

How Colombia got the wildcard instead of United Healthcare is a mystery. Brajkovic has been in the leaders jearsy in the race before, he could have gone for a top 10

Maybe Colombia Team sucks nowadays but the Argument of inviting United Healthcare based on Brajkovic is even weaker.