Which Teams for World Tour next year?

[Praetor]

I would say Europcar or Cofidis (if they get into the top 20) over FDJ. They really don't look like they have the quality for the WorldTour.
I mean I like them, but their squad isn't great is it?

I think Europcar has the same problem as 1t4i. If they don't bring Voeckler and/or Rolland (Kittel and Degenkolb), they might as well stay home.

FDJ don't even have a name like Voeckler or Kittel, but with Casar, Fedrigo, Pinot, Hutarovich, Roux, Geslin and others, they have riders who can add something to the World Tour, I don't think Europcar has as many of those.

Cofidis is kind of in between the two, they have a little bit more to offer, but still not enough.

 

[Luke Schmid]

I would say Europcar or Cofidis (if they get into the top 20) over FDJ. They really don't look like they have the quality for the WorldTour.
I mean I like them, but their squad isn't great is it?

In my view FDJ is alot stronger than Europcar and Cofidis. Yes Voeckler and Rolland are stars but after that there is not much at all. Cofidis have a few good riders but I think there is not the overall quality that FDJ have.
FDJ have a very well balanced squad and can possibly do something in all terrians.

 

[Mondrian]

As much as I agree with this, this forum isn't the right place to discuss it. Nor more please you guys.

Sorry if my post steered the discussion towards doping as that was not my intention, I was merely looking at it from a team managers point of view - so hope luckyboy is ok with this post. For the record I was questioning the wisdom (or probability) of Riis signing Cobo given the post Vuelta whispers and the fact that Contador may well be sanctioned and how hard that would hit the team if it ended up with their 2 top tour guys being banned - the fact that they are both spanish or dopers is/was irrelevant in my eyes.

As for the validity of the whispers - I agree with the moderator that this topic is not the place for it but i would have been equally surprised if Christophe Le Mével had won 2011 Tdf.

 

[Mondrian]

In my view FDJ is alot stronger than Europcar and Cofidis. Yes Voeckler and Rolland are stars but after that there is not much at all. Cofidis have a few good riders but I think there is not the overall quality that FDJ have.
FDJ have a very well balanced squad and can possibly do something in all terrians.

I actually think some teams went out for points and others took the riskier strategy of going for the big wins. I would say FDJ wisely went for the points whereas cofidis went for the wins - if you ask me both deserve a spot in the protour as does eurocar as they really animated Tdf.

 

[Luke Schmid]

I actually think some teams went out for points and others took the riskier strategy of going for the big wins. I would say FDJ wisely went for the points whereas cofidis went for the wins - if you ask me both deserve a spot in the protour as does eurocar as they really animated Tdf.

I was looking at riders not points when I made up my mind. For instance I think Geox were weaker than their points indicated because they had alot of riders who either got their points in 2010 or by winning at a lower level. FDJ get a bit of bonus in my view because of there diverse squad but I also think they have more strong riders than Europcar and Cofidis. Who would you leave out of the protour to let Europcar and Cofidis in?

 

[Mondrian]

I dont think Cofidis are seeking protour and are aiming for for pro continental status. Geox seems to have failed with securing a sponsor so that leaves Ag2r, FDJ, EE, Europcar & IT4I gunning for the 3 remaining spots as none seem to have enough points to break into the required top 15 for automatic selection. Of those i would say that EE & IT4I are in weakest position - EE had a poor show and their budget has also been cut down while IT4I have the least number of points which places them at a numerical dis-advantage so by process of elimination I would say Ag2R, FDJ & Europcar are the obvious teams to be selected - none of them have an ethical question mark so there shouldn't be any hick-ups with their application (ala Geox in 2011).

 

[just some guy]

I have a feeling Old Skil will get a WT spot.

 

[Nicosix]

There is no chance for that since they are way out the top 20 which is a must be before hoping for anything.

There are only 4 teams in the game : Ag2R, FDJ, Europcar and Euskaltel

 

[just some guy]

There is no chance for that since they are way out the top 20 which is a must be before hoping for anything.

There are only 4 teams in the game : Ag2R, FDJ, Europcar and Euskaltel

We are dealing the UCI here

 

[CobbleStoner]

We are dealing the UCI here

exactly
and the french teams don't need WT to get in and animate the TdF, EE will get an invitation to the Vuelta as a conti, 1t4i needs it and the WT needs 1t4i more than they need FDJ, AG2R, Europecar, or EE

Old Skil in

 

[luckyboy]

UCI has released the sporting ranking. Expected faces are in (inc. GreenEdge + Lotto), fighting for the final 3 spots are...

16. AG2R La Mondiale

17. Geox – TMC

18. FDJ

19. Euskaltel – Euskadi

20. Team Europcar

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/ENews/ENe...es/UCI/UCI5/layout.asp?MenuID=MTYxNw&LangId=1



Look like 2 French teams are in, plus Euskaltel.

 

[pastronef]

good to see Lotto is in

shame for the former Skil team

anyway I hope Euskaltel goes Pro Continental, so they won't have to do TDU, Poland, the cobbled classics, Beijing, Eneco etc and waste money to travel if they have budget issues.
they can focus on the races they do care about.
ASO will give them a spot anyway

 

[jens_attacks]

geox still there?maybe gianetti found a sponsor...

 

[ingsve]

Seems like the ranking fits perfectly with the UCIs own list so far at least. Even though the relative ranking of the top 15 isn't given the teams are correct and for the 16-20 teams the order is also confirmed to be correct.

 

[Parrulo]

it really is disgusting to see big teams just jumping their way straight to world tour status simply because they have money to hire a truckload of riders or in greenedge's case a truckload sprinters, who gain way too much points in this rankings. . . .

 

[JRanton]

Seems like the ranking fits perfectly with the UCIs own list so far at least. Even though the relative ranking of the top 15 isn't given the teams are correct and for the 16-20 teams the order is also confirmed to be correct.

Yup, great work from Nicosix.

 

[roundabout]

It's disgusting to see a team that was largely anonymous this year make top 20 by buying up Asian Tour points.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

It's disgusting to see a team that was largely anonymous this year make top 20 by buying up Asian Tour points.

Do you really think it's a bad thing that riders who do very well on non-European Tours are now more likely to get a ride on a big European team? I'd say that's one of the few good things about the system. Other teams will pick up on Ag2r's cleverness and there will likely be a stream of riders breaking into the European scene by winning Asian or American races.

 

[Midnightfright]

Do you really think it's a bad thing that riders who do very well on non-European Tours are now more likely to get a ride on a big European team? I'd say that's one of the few good things about the system. Other teams will pick up on Ag2r's cleverness and there will likely be a stream of riders breaking into the European scene by winning Asian or American races.

I can see your point. The problem is more that you can just "buy" points ad opposed to them being based on previous seasons performance.

 

[roundabout]

Do you really think it's a bad thing that riders who do very well on non-European Tours are now more likely to get a ride on a big European team? I'd say that's one of the few good things about the system. Other teams will pick up on Ag2r's cleverness and there will likely be a stream of riders breaking into the European scene by winning Asian or American races.

It's more of a response to Parrulo's post about GE. And I don't really mean AG2R but a different team in the 16-20 bracket that is so bad that their AT transfers are 3-5 in UCI points in the team.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

it really is disgusting to see big teams just jumping their way straight to world tour status simply because they have money to hire a truckload of riders or in greenedge's case a truckload sprinters, who gain way too much points in this rankings. . . .

It's disgusting to see a team that was largely anonymous this year make top 20 by buying up Asian Tour points.

Don't hate the player, hate the game

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Does a team like ag2r euskaltel or cofidis need world tour status? I mean what benefit does exposure in north america or china bring such companies? Cutting cloth accordingly in such times might be of longer-term benefit; and continuity of teams does,i think,assist fans in identifying with the sport.

 

[ingsve]

According to Danel Benson on twitter "Skil" missed out on a WT shot (being top 20) by 4 points which is less than Nicosix calculations indicate (56 points). I wonder if there is a slight mistake somewhere or if they have registered another signing with the UCI that isn't public yet.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I can see your point. The problem is more that you can just "buy" points ad opposed to them being based on previous seasons performance.

Well yes, but this is a consequence of the weak team structure in cycling. Fans identify with riders far more than teams and teams tend to be short lived. Race organisers and fans care about the big riders being at big races more than they do about the health or strength of teams. So any automatic seeding system for race entry will, under those conditions, always favour current roster over results earned. Which I personally hate.

But despite hating the system overall, I do actually think that one real gain the new system brings is that teams will be forced to get over their general scepticism of riders who do well in non-European Continental Tours. If the system stays the same, you will see the teams looking for promotion or looking to avoid relegation scouring the world for non-European riders with big points. Some of them will sink when they get to Europe, but at least we'll get the chance to see how many can swim.

I think it's great that we'll see riders like Sohrabi and Teklehaimanot in races with much strong fields.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

it really is disgusting to see big teams just jumping their way straight to world tour status simply because they have money to hire a truckload of riders or in greenedge's case a truckload sprinters, who gain way too much points in this rankings. . . .

Hate the game, not the player.
I am 100% against teams getting into WT on first season, but them the rules, and at least greenedge respected other teams contracts unlike sky etc did.

I can see your point. The problem is more that you can just "buy" points ad opposed to them being based on previous seasons performance.

the wt is flawed, creating unhealthy trends in which the teams choose to transfer riders. I don't like it.
However the increased focus on outside markets might be one of the few pluses.

Don't hate the player, hate the game

only saw this now. as you can see i agree.