What should Sky do next?

[stefrees]

People throwing these ideas out like it's child's play. Recently in the Armstrong thread, now for Wiggins. Did you see what Cunego had to do to get into the break? Opportunists won't be happy to have these kinds of riders in their breaks. Another datapoint: Cuddles last year. It's not going to happen.

no chance wiggins in breakaway, but EBH could

 

[Mambo95]

People throwing these ideas out like it's child's play. Recently in the Armstrong thread, now for Wiggins. Did you see what Cunego had to do to get into the break? Opportunists won't be happy to have these kinds of riders in their breaks. Another datapoint: Cuddles last year. It's not going to happen.

Even EBH probably won't be allowed in a break as a live green jersey threat. Flecha's their best chance of a stage win from a break. He's riding well.

I think Wiggins and Lofqvist should just keep going as best they can, but not wait for each other. A top ten for one isn't out of reach.

And keep EBH sprinting for points.

 

[riobonito92]

Just a thought: why is a British TdF winner any more likely to emerge than a French one?

 

[Cobblestones]

Just a thought: why is a British TdF winner any more likely to emerge than a French one?

Oh, very good question.

There might be many possible answers based on sport politics, infrastructure, youth programs, etc. or one simple one (in the clinic). Could be fun to discuss.

 

[BroDeal]

Just a thought: why is a British TdF winner any more likely to emerge than a French one?

The Brits with their stiff upper lips are better at handling the suffering of the Tour de France than those wine drinking, cheese eating frenchies. Plus we know from Piltdown Man that England is the birthplace of humanity, so there is more genetic variation that can produce an outlier with TdF winning capabilities. The fact that there has not been one yet is due to concentration on darts and cricket rather than lack of cycling ability.

 

[mowie133]

People throwing these ideas out like it's child's play. Recently in the Armstrong thread, now for Wiggins. Did you see what Cunego had to do to get into the break? Opportunists won't be happy to have these kinds of riders in their breaks. Another datapoint: Cuddles last year. It's not going to happen.

you do no we just said the same thing

 

[Bala Verde]

The Brits should do what they are good at. Spot the queue and move to the end of it, right after France, Belgium and the Netherlands...

They have been waiting for quite a while.

for this Tour... stage hunting.

 

[Cobblestones]

you do no we just said the same thing

Yes we did.

 

[Anonymous]

The obvious answer here is: Hire Allen Lim...

 

[meandmygitane]

+1

People throwing these ideas out like it's child's play. Recently in the Armstrong thread, now for Wiggins. Did you see what Cunego had to do to get into the break? Opportunists won't be happy to have these kinds of riders in their breaks. Another datapoint: Cuddles last year. It's not going to happen.

Whaddaboud LL Sanchez? 20 at 5'03'' before stage 8, now Wiggins is 16th at 7'18''.

I fail to see the big difference, I think Saxo wouldn't chase too hard at the beginning (maybe letting teams with GC riders 10-15 do the job) since Wiggins climbing has been less than stellar.

Sure it may be impractical but not impossible a priori so to say.

And I didn't say it had to be Wiggins

 

[mowie133]

Whaddaboud LL Sanchez? 20 at 5'03'' before stage 8, now Wiggins is 16th at 7'18''.

I fail to see the big difference, I think Saxo wouldn't chase too hard at the beginning (maybe letting teams with GC riders 10-15 do the job) since Wiggins climbing has been less than stellar.

Sure it may be impractical but not impossible a priori so to say.

And I didn't say it had to be Wiggins

wiggins is a way bigger threat...he could tt mins off the top gc guys..just look at evans last year trying the samething,they don't like top riders rideing into form,
wiggins showed last year he is no bunny,he might come good in the last week of rideing they ride names down not how far they are behind in the gc

 

[Mambo95]

I don't think you win the TdF in 2015 (or whenever) by coming 20th and hoping the experience gained will somehow help.

Yeah, you do. Have a look at how T-Mobile (1992, as Team Telekom), US Postal (1997) and Saxo Bank (2000, as Memory card Jack & Jones) started out in the Tour. But two won and the other podiumed within four years. They didn't win much elsewhere in those early years either.

Sure Sky have a bigger budget, but no team has been built overnight.

 

[online-rider]

For all Evald boassen hagens qualities sky need 3 riders in my opinion
Genuine GC man
Mountain Domestique
Sprinter [.........................................................]
sprinters would be easier i rekkon Ciolek suffered at Milram due to a **** team, sky can provide a leadout and so he would be my pick because he is quick Chichi would also be good

Ive got nothing against Ciolek and Chicchi = Damn good riders. But are they any better than Henderson/ Sutton/ Downing...? Um NO theyre not.

 

[Clemson Cycling]

How much is Sky paying Wiggins right now?

 

[jaylew]

Disagree strongly. Cavendish at sky would do more damage than good. Bad move, first thing that would happen is EbH leaves.

I see how a diehard cycling fan would hate to see EBH go, but wouldn't most British fans rather have Cav? He's homegrown, probably still the best sprinter in the world, and would pretty much secure multiple victories at the Tour each year, ensuring positive press for the team. The team would be guaranteed to be a success in the eyes of the public and probably continue for a long time.

I honestly don't see a British Tour winner in the next 5 years and making that the focus is likely to disappoint.

 

[Clemson Cycling]

I see how a diehard cycling fan would hate to see EBH go, but wouldn't most British fans rather have Cav? He's homegrown, probably still the best sprinter in the world, and would pretty much secure multiple victories at the Tour each year, ensuring positive press for the team. The team would be guaranteed to be a success in the eyes of the public and probably continue for a long time.

I honestly don't see a British Tour winner in the next 5 years and making that the focus is likely to disappoint.

I agree, it is a British team designed for British success at the Tour. Wouldn't they want to go out and get the best British rider of all time and build a team around him? As British fans would you rather see a Green Jersey for Cavo or a victory for Hagen?

The Brits with their stiff upper lips are better at handling the suffering of the Tour de France than those wine drinking, cheese eating frenchies. Plus we know from Piltdown Man that England is the birthplace of humanity, so there is more genetic variation that can produce an outlier with TdF winning capabilities. The fact that there has not been one yet is due to concentration on darts and cricket rather than lack of cycling ability.

Sicard is a heck of a prospect, greater then any GC prospect to ever come out of the UK.

 

[Anonymous]

I see how a diehard cycling fan would hate to see EBH go, but wouldn't most British fans rather have Cav? He's homegrown, probably still the best sprinter in the world, and would pretty much secure multiple victories at the Tour each year, ensuring positive press for the team. The team would be guaranteed to be a success in the eyes of the public and probably continue for a long time.

I honestly don't see a British Tour winner in the next 5 years and making that the focus is likely to disappoint.

From comments ive seen, most "british tour de france fans" want to see cav at sky, most "british team sky all year round cycling fans" dont. The consensus is he would upset the balance of the team. Cavs success at columbia has been at the expense of any real GC contention.

How would cav going to sky fit with the teams aim of winning the tour de france?

Personally i think his ego is too big. Sky has a team where most of the riders are pretty laid back, quiet and lacking in ego (maybe with one exception, but his ego is mainly created by the internet forums). Cav just wouldnt fit. I would be dissapointed to see him join sky. I actually think cav would be suited to an italian team that is willing to build the entire team around him. I think hed be very popular in italy. His msr win went down very well with the fans over there, italians seem to appreciate his brashness

 

[Cobblestones]

From comments ive seen, most "british tour de france fans" want to see cav at sky, most "british team sky all year round cycling fans" dont. The consensus is he would upset the balance of the team. Cavs success at columbia has been at the expense of any real GC contention.

which might not be such a big sacrifice for all we know.

How would cav going to sky fit with the teams aim of winning the tour de france?

Realigning goals?

But I think here's the real quandary. Sky put all their eggs in one basket by giving Wiggins a highly paid 4 year contract. Without that, you could adjust; with it, you just have to follow the plan, never mind whether it looks like a good plan or not.

 

[Anonymous]

Its not just the tour. How would hiring a bunch of lead out men affect the classics etc. Half the british fans dont know cycling exists outside the three weeks in july and because of that they see cav winning and think he should be at sky. Its frustrating actually. Its great to see new fans in the sport, but its frustrating that half those fans only think about the tour and know nothing about cycling. But we all have to start somewhere i guess.

Some of us think about the whole year. Flecha and Stannard gave me more pleasure in the spring that cav does in july.

 

[Anonymous]

Its not just the tour. How would hiring a bunch of lead out men affect the classics etc. Half the british fans dont know cycling exists outside the three weeks in july and because of that they see cav winning and think he should be at sky. Its frustrating actually. Its great to see new fans in the sport, but its frustrating that half those fans only think about the tour and know nothing about cycling. But we all have to start somewhere i guess.

Some of us think about the whole year. Flecha and Stannard gave me more pleasure in the spring that cav does in july.

Amen Dim.

The sentiment is correct in my opinion.

 

[LugHugger]

Its not just the tour. How would hiring a bunch of lead out men affect the classics etc. Half the british fans dont know cycling exists outside the three weeks in july and because of that they see cav winning and think he should be at sky. Its frustrating actually. Its great to see new fans in the sport, but its frustrating that half those fans only think about the tour and know nothing about cycling. But we all have to start somewhere i guess.

Some of us think about the whole year. Flecha and Stannard gave me more pleasure in the spring that cav does in july.

+1 Couldn't agree with you more

 

[rata de sentina]

I think a bigger question is what are BMC going to do next. In fact, what did they do last?

What did they do? They did a pretty good job of protecting their man at least up until that final climb. What didn't they do? Blow their own man up. I fancy thnigs are getting a little desperate when the fans of some self-proclaimed uber team are bashing a journeyman team like BMC.

 

[sublimit]

They should ask Garmin for a refund.

Garmin saw Sky coming i reckon..

Actually Wiggens isn't doing too bad though, and Lovquist impresses me and maybe they should try to get him up there next time.

For next year they should offer loads of cash to Garmin to get Ryder Hesjedal and Van Summeren

 

[Lyds97]

Its not just the tour. How would hiring a bunch of lead out men affect the classics etc. Half the british fans dont know cycling exists outside the three weeks in july and because of that they see cav winning and think he should be at sky. Its frustrating actually. Its great to see new fans in the sport, but its frustrating that half those fans only think about the tour and know nothing about cycling. But we all have to start somewhere i guess.

Some of us think about the whole year. Flecha and Stannard gave me more pleasure in the spring that cav does in july.

I've actually really enjoyed finding out more about non-British guys on the team, e.g. Henderson, EBH, and Sky seem to have a nice dynamic at the moment which hiring Cav would definitely scupper. He'd also detract from the British talent that isn't focused on July and the Tour (Stannard a great example). I'm hoping that more British fans are getting into cycling as a year-round sport, at least partially thanks to Sky, and Cav would undo all of that.

I don't think many of us in the UK were expecting Brad to better his 4th place last year, although I have to say I wasn't expecting him to lose so much time in the Alps. Since the team's committed to paying his huge salary for the next few years, they should focus on developing a strong group of mountain domestiques to support Wiggins in the Giro or the Vuelta, while giving the rest of the team free reign at the classics and shorter stage races and targetting stage wins from breaks at the TdF.

 

[Roland Rat]

And your lack of hope in him is based on what? Opinion is all objective, and Im not the only one who beleives G has a big future.

I also do, I'm a big fan of his, but I don't necessarily think his future will be in GTs. Time will tell.

What I don't like about British cycling is that if you're not an out and out sprinter like Cav, then it's all about the TdF. Why? Look at Boardman - as soon as he realised his recovery was not good enough for a GT, he should have concentrated on 1 day races rather than keep plugging away at the TdF. But it seems Brits like Boardman and Wiggins don't have the aggression needed to attack a 1 day race instead of following wheels in a GT to try to reach the podium. I would enjoy seeing G try to change that and win a few classics.