Was BMC theright move for Phinney?

[Boeing]

Yes or No; too early to tell?


and where is the BMC track frame he was all about in the decision?

 

[kurtinsc]

His knee stuff started even before the first BMC camp. I can't blame that team for what this season has been for Phinney.


Most of the races where he could shine in some TT's were missed due to the knee. The cobbled classics were missed. Most of the stuff that fits his current skills on the bike are more early season oriented. Given the injury issues, I'm not sure any other team would have been better for him. We'll see how well it works once he's relatively healthy for an entire season.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Should have gone to HTC.

 

[dlwssonic]

Should have gone to HTC.

alberto contador, cancellara and gilbert should have gone to HTC too because tony martin is there

 

[El Pistolero]

alberto contador, cancellara and gilbert should have gone to HTC too because tony martin is there

Don't forget Cadel Evans.

 

[dlwssonic]

Don't forget Cadel Evans.

in fact every rider should go to HTC. UCI will be brought down and it will become a HTC league. Where HTC will divide its team into 21 teams and they will race against each other. with of cause tony martin winning every race.

 

[Bavarianrider]

alberto contador, cancellara and gilbert should have gone to HTC too because tony martin is there

No because HTC has proofen they can develop young talents n thwe past

 

[The_Z_man]

I voted Yes.

Retirement Shack isn't going to be around much longer, and he was in their pipelline. I think BMC is here to stay. BMC might become a minor sponsor in the future, but I think the management has staying power. The move itself has done nothing to hold him back.

 

[search]

he went to BMC because his father already worked together with Jim Ochewitz at 7-Eleven and he is a close friend of the family. Besides this BMC gave him the opportunity to decide more or less himself how many racing days he wants to do this year. I think if you leave your family and home that early feeling comfortable at your team is a very important factor for the development of your future career, even more important than results.

So, yes, of course it was the right decision.

 

[Ferminal]

Yes, considering the alternative.

 

[Matty_Tucks]

I voted Yes.

Retirement Shack isn't going to be around much longer, and he was in their pipelline. I think BMC is here to stay. BMC might become a minor sponsor in the future, but I think the management has staying power. The move itself has done nothing to hold him back.

I agree that BMC has the staying power - I can see why. It gives them good coverage for their bikes where they might not have much (UK for example).

Radioshack was only going to be around for Lance, I think perhaps another sponsor will come along next year post-Lance proper - all the doping stuff is obviously toxic.

Guess it was between BMC and HTC, both are American-registered teams and it seems therefore logical. Maybe they just offered him a better contract, could you blame him?

 

[happychappy]

He likes the Phonak laser-like focus.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

plus he has some good experienced mentors in BMC

 

[dlwssonic]

I guess BMC gave him a good offer and he feels comfortable in BMC.

 

[Matty_Tucks]

plus he has some good experienced mentors in BMC

Max Sciandri is there now, he used to mentor the young guys at British Cycling.

 

[titleshot]

Too early, he hasnt really done any serious racing yet because of the injuries.

Although I think he should have gone to Katusha, or Astana. Really get him out of his comfort zone.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I don't see why not.

The crashes and injuries are due to inexperience, not team.

 

[Anonymous]

I think it was a better move than staying at Radioshack.

 

[El Oso]

Retirement Shack was not the right answer, it's a dead end. Team is predominantly built around older riders and there is no indication as to whether the team will be around next year. They'd provide no support for Mini-Phinney in the classics (I can't remember seeing any RS riders in the cobbled classics). Probably also a good idea to avoid connections with them given the investigation.

BMC provides a mentor in the form of Hincapie, the comfort of a US base, and, as mentioned, familiarity with Och from 7-Eleven.

Mini-Phinney's injuries can't be considered BMC's fault. With missing the classics and now not doing the Tour lets not forget that he's only 20. Therein comes the problem that he is being over-hyped. He might be too young for the Tour and, IMO the only help he would provide Cadel would be in the TTT.

 

[Angliru]

From what I understand BMC has a long term commitment to the team with a plan of slowly developing it as opposed to the Leopard-Trek/Sky way of immediately going to the top as a juggernaut (or juggernot ).

Also as was stated early he has a long term family relationship with some of the management, making his transition to his first complete year in the big leagues much less stressful. With his experienced parents guiding him I can't see him being given bad advice in terms of what is best for him and his overall career.

As was mentioned, Radioshack's sponsorship isn't thought of as long term, obviously initiated by Armstrong's return to the sport and likely ending with his departure. They have no big name American riders to fly their flag and no
one with even the potential for that stature in their ranks.

 

[kurtinsc]

Retirement Shack was not the right answer, it's a dead end. Team is predominantly built around older riders and there is no indication as to whether the team will be around next year. They'd provide no support for Mini-Phinney in the classics (I can't remember seeing any RS riders in the cobbled classics). Probably also a good idea to avoid connections with them given the investigation.

BMC provides a mentor in the form of Hincapie, the comfort of a US base, and, as mentioned, familiarity with Och from 7-Eleven.

Mini-Phinney's injuries can't be considered BMC's fault. With missing the classics and now not doing the Tour lets not forget that he's only 20. Therein comes the problem that he is being over-hyped. He might be too young for the Tour and, IMO the only help he would provide Cadel would be in the TTT.

+1.

Right now, Phinney's only real ability at bigger races is in TT's and possibly as a leadout man on sprint stages. Maybe he could contest sprints against 3rd or 4th tier sprint talent as well, or do okay in breakaway scenarios or late attacks on flatter stages in smaller races.

 

[Richeypen]

Too early to tell. His lack of results this season is nothing to do with which team he has gone to but rather down to the fact that he is a young developing rider. Unrealistic expectations from the media/fanboys etc have led to people judging this season so far as being disapointing but it is no suprise to the majority.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

No because HTC has proofen they can develop young talents n thwe past

And wait for somebody else to develop young talents, then wave the checkbook at them - eg van Garderen.

If Phinney went to HTC he would have been spending at least a year as nothing more than a leadout.

Phinney is very talented, but let's not kid ourselves: Peter Sagan is the exception, not the norm. Judge whether BMC was the right place to be in two, three years' time.

The sport's history is littered with people who were early successes and then never got to that height again (Cunego, Soler, Rujano for some recent examples) and also people who took a few years to make it to the top but once there became top level riders (Indurain, Sastre, Horner)

 

[hrotha]

Gotta give it to HTC, virtually everyone who goes there improves their results and their performance drops when they leave...

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I think it was a better move than staying at Radioshack.

Most definately, especially when RShack does not appear to have long term plans to continue the team past this season.