What is the most balanced WT-team?

[Vesica]

What is the most balanced WT-team? a.k.a. Which team is most diverse in winning races, for example sprints, mountain stages, TTs, cobbled races, hilly classics etc.

Another example, you can rate Etixx above LottoNL. because Etixx can content in sprints (Cav), TT (Martin), Classics (Boonen, Terpstra etc), GC (Uran), where LottoNL only got Classics (Vanmarcke) en GC (Kelderman).

So we're looking for the most balanced WT-team, discussion is open

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

IAM, just average everywhere.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Novo-Nordisk are equally successful in all disciplines...

 

[TMP402]

The OP provides the answer themselves: Quick Step. Weaker than a few teams in GC terms, but make up for it with the rest of their skillset.

 

[thequestionmark]

I think you already named the most diverse team. Cavendish is one of the two fastest sprinters, Martin is one of the two best time trialers, they've got the best teams in the flemish classics. You can't discount Kwiatkowski for the ardennes classic. They've only got Uran for GC and climbing. He's had a second place in the Giro, so he's good but not amongst the 4 best.

Besides the Giro di Lombardia you can never rule them out.

 

[greenedge]

EQS are the best all round team.

Behind them teams like BMC, Sky and TCS are always present. BMC just don't have a pure sprinter, but cover many other areas. Sky have Swift and an excellent cadre of riders. TCS have probably 2 of the best 5 riders in the peleton, so will always feature in races.

OGE are a team that can win everywhere except for GT GC's and at cobbled classics, but are also good.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Aside from Quickstep, I also think Katusha deserves a mention. Winning classics, podium opportunities in every stage race (incl. GTs), sprints, breakaway wins. You see them everywhere

 

[Miburo]

If Movistar had some cobbles experience they would destroy this list.

Sky is amazing aswell, have someone in all area's except hilled classics. They even have an ok sprinter.

Gotta give it too EQS though.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

Aside from Quickstep, I also think Katusha deserves a mention. Winning classics, podium opportunities in every stage race (incl. GTs), sprints, breakaway wins. You see them everywhere

Major weakness in TT though.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

If Movistar had some cobbles experience they would destroy this list.

Sky is amazing aswell, have someone in all area's except hilled classics. They even have an ok sprinter.

Gotta give it too EQS though.

They possibly have that as well if Henao can regain his 2013 form after injury.

 

[GP Blanco]

I would go for Movistar, not one of the richest teams like Etixx or Sky but they are competetive in all departments apart from the cobbled classics.

 

[shalgo]

Re:

Besides the Giro di Lombardia you can never rule them out.

Uran was third in the 2012 GdL, so you can't rule out Etixx even there. And I could imagine Kwia doing well there too.

 

[Jspear]

Of course Etixx.
Sky is also pretty balanced. Any reason why G Thomas couldn't do well in the Ardennes if he trained for it? IMO he could do well there.

 

[Gloin22]

Re:

Of course Etixx.
Sky is also pretty balanced. Any reason why G Thomas couldn't do well in the Ardennes if he trained for it? IMO he could do well there.

Not explosive enough up a hill..anyway Henao is perfect for Ardennes.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

QuickStep or Sky. I'd probably pick Sky.

 

[DBotero]

Sky and Etixx are very well balanced.

 

[TMP402]

Sky arguably have superior TTers (Wiggins, Porte, Thomas, Froome, Kiryenka vs Martin, Kwiatkowski, Uran, Terpstra), but Etixx are better for the Ardennes.

 

[thehook]

I vote for Etixx as well. Now if they did not have Uran they would not be there, he is there only GT rider.

With the emergence of Thomas and having Stannard. Sky is a well balanced squad. It can be argued for them. But Etixx has the serious Palmares! Until SkY can crush the classics my choice is Extixx. BMC have Oss a "BEAST" Dom & GVA. And TJ starting to grow into a future GT winner.
GaminDale are a shoestring budget squad to me. They cannot keep a serious rider in a contract year. Example: Keep Talansky (probably much cheaper) and let Sep V walk out the door.

 

[Asero831]

Can we enlist here the top 5 teams with the biggest budget?

 

[nepetalactone]

Re:

Sky arguably have superior TTers (Wiggins, Porte, Thomas, Froome, Kiryenka vs Martin, Kwiatkowski, Uran, Terpstra), but Etixx are better for the Ardennes.

Etixx is 2 for 3 in TTT WC though! ...And Wiggo's TT career is over.

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Sky arguably have superior TTers (Wiggins, Porte, Thomas, Froome, Kiryenka vs Martin, Kwiatkowski, Uran, Terpstra), but Etixx are better for the Ardennes.

Etixx is 2 for 3 in TTT WC though! ...And Wiggo's TT career is over.

These are both obviously true. The TTT thing is more about politics and season goals though

2012: no Porte, Wiggins or Froome (Sky finished 9th)
2013: no Wiggins (Sky finished 3rd)
2014: no Froome or Porte (Sky finished 4th)

I think they stand a good chance this year IF they can have Porte, Froome (although realistically at best one of those will do it), Sitsov, Kiryenka, Thomas and Pate/Rowe/Stannard