Who will be this season's Radioshack GT GC Leader

[Yeahright]

What really made my day was watching the replay of the stage on steephilltv and seeing Horner seemingly riding tempo for Leipheimer. Leipheimer in his typical hunkered down nose-to-the-stem position, cozy in the womb of Horner's draft, when upon overtaking I believe Sutherland, Leipheimer loses his wheel! Horner continues on dropping both of them and takes the stage.
In the entire time leading up to Sutherland, Leipheimer never takes a turn, it's always Horner. Horner dropping him was poetic justice for me.

Given that prior to the stage you speak of, Levi was the team leader so why would he be taking a turn?? When would you see any team leader on the front of his team on a climb while he still has domestiques riding pace for him??

Did you see Horner take a turn on the front today? Of course not and nor should he have.

 

[La Pandera]

Given that prior to the stage you speak of, Levi was the team leader so why would he be taking a turn?? When would you see any team leader on the front of his team on a climb while he still has domestiques riding pace for him??

Did you see Horner take a turn on the front today? Of course not and nor should he have.

I stand corrected. I was under the understanding that they went into the ToC as co-leaders but the CN report of that stage indicates that Horner was in fact riding for Leipheimer and was given the okay to go for the win.

 

[theyoungest]

And what is the best U23 team on the planet?

You think that's Trek-Livestrong? Really?

 

[Clemson Cycling]

No I was wrong and will admit it. Probably the second best on the planet behind Rabobank. They put 5 riders on Pro Tour teams last year and had some impressive results down the stretch (especially towards the end of the season).

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Thüringer Energie Team only put 2 riders on Pro teams this year... but those two have been two of the four highest impact rookies (Degenkolb and Kittel, the others being Matthews and Guardini).

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Rabobank Conti is nowhere near as dominant as they were from 2002-2005... but they still bring the large majority of Dutch pro's. They also shifted from having some foreign riders and brining them up, to now being an almost pure Dutch team.
This also effects their performance a bit. But it's understandable as they were tired of Pro Tour teams like HTC stealing their non-Dutch talents (Van Garderen etc.) away.
Still, the impact of the Rabobank TT3/Continental program has had a profound effect on Dutch cycling and seriously elevated the level of Dutch riders.

But the best development team? I don't know, Australians are producing some fine riders the last years as well, I believe that's Jayco's work right?
The British and Americans are trying, and have produced some talent, but not so much in quantity as the pre-mentioned teams.
Same goes for Thüringer... some major talents, but not so much in quantity.

 

[greenedge]

Next big talents from australia after olympics will be Durbridge and a rider called Scott Law. We are also quite strong in the MTB department/ should go well at olympics on track. I have to say GB produce strong riders and so does the Netherlands. I think America has also produced strong riders as of late.

 

[Bavarianrider]

What will the lineup look like?

Horner, Leipheimer, Klöden, Zubeldia, Brajkovic, Busche + ?

By the way, is this the last year of Radio Shack as the mainsponsor? How's the situation, will they continue the sponsorship?

 

[Parrulo]

What will the lineup look like?

Horner, Leipheimer, Klöden, Zubeldia, Brajkovic, Busche + ?

paulinho. . . remember him? the guy that saved last year's tour for the shack

every1 keeps saying RS won't be the sponsor for next year but no1 is sure so far

 

[Clemson Cycling]

I wonder if Nissan is going to take over the main sponsorship. Cycling seems to be a good fit with their new Leaf and Horner and Levi are skipping the US Pros to attend a sponsor event (my thinking is that it must be pretty big to skip one of the biggest events on the US calendar and the fact that Levi had a really good chance to win the time trial).

 

[patrick767]

And form what I have observed Chris Horner is hands down their best rider. He was better then Armstrong

Go Chris GO.......I personally believe you could win the TDF is given the correct support.

He was better than a guy who won the TdF seven times in a row? Unless you're just referring to last year's TdF and that race alone, that's a freaking huge stretch. Also, I give him a snowball's chance in hell of riding away from Contador and Schleck. Look, I'm happy for the guy. He's a good rider and his ToC win was well deserved, but let's be realistic here.

 

[El Oso]

I wonder if Nissan is going to take over the main sponsorship. Cycling seems to be a good fit with their new Leaf and Horner and Levi are skipping the US Pros to attend a sponsor event (my thinking is that it must be pretty big to skip one of the biggest events on the US calendar and the fact that Levi had a really good chance to win the time trial).

Nissan did a good job of making themselves visible at the TOC. However, right now I would want to wait as long as possible before entering into any sponsorship deal with Retirement Shack. Even though he's retired this is still viewed as Lance's team and any sponsorship would seek to gain the benefits of associating with Lance. Lance fanboys generally provide good business for sponsors (See Trek). This positive association has been whittled away by the investigation and I would think an indictment would only make the benefits diminish.

 

[jaylew]

Next big talents from australia after olympics will be Durbridge and a rider called Scott Law.

I'd definitely include Lachlan Morton.

 

[Boeing]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/brajkovic-aims-high-for-tour-de-france

Brajkovic says its him now

Horner said he will ride for a podium after TOC

 

[bobs nob]

Ok, kids, put the crack pipe down and step away from the keyboard

Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa WHOA

When He Who Can Not be Named Retired, Cycling as a Sport Ceased to exist. This board and all references to various races since July 2005 are merely fig trees of your imagination. You've got a lot to learn....

 

[Bavarianrider]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/brajkovic-aims-high-for-tour-de-france

Brajkovic says its him now

Horner said he will ride for a podium after TOC

Radio Shack would be totally crazy to have Brajkoveic as a leader while having Klöden Leipheimer, and Horner. Come on no way.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

bruyneel is totally into brajkovic who can never do 3 weeks with that feeble body of his. much overrated. they should wait first week and decide after first mountains between horner and kloden. rest should work

team:

kloden
leipheimer
horner
zubeldia
paulinho
brajkovic
muravyev
popovych
rast/hunter

 

[gregrowlerson]

Kloden!

Hopefully....

The Shack should enter the TDF with an open mind as to their team leader. They may even have the strongest team in the race in the mountains. When it comes down to the last 15 riders with 10kms to go to Luz Ardiden, 4 Radioshack riders may be among the elite bunch. Probably just a matter of seeing who is still in with a chance come stage 12 (one of the big 4 will likely have some bad luck or horrible form before then), and then seeing who is up there on GC after the first MTF. Then do their best to get that rider onto the podium in Paris. Jani is unlikely to be their best performer, but it's not out of the question that he could suddenly break out into a top 5 contender. Remember that Kloden hadn't done too much prior to the '04 TDF and finished 2nd.

 

[MrRoboto]

I would think Klöden is their best chance in the tour. Klöden seems to be more happy being a domestique though, so you never know with him.