Who's your favourite team and why?

[Publicus]

If I had to pick it would be:

1. Saxo Bank (complete team; competes most of the year)
2. Caisse (I've always been impressed with Valverde and LL Sanchez)
3. Astana (but purely on I want AC to find success)
4. Garmin (they are an American team and CVV seems like a good guy)
5. Liquigas (new found appreciation for the potential of the team; though I'm not sure if they can gel enough to leverage that potential).

More of a fan of riders:

1. AC
2. Valverde (separate and apart from his doping)
3. Jens!
4. Spartacus
5. LL Sanchez

 

[luckyboy]

Bbox, FdJ, Ag2r, Cofidis - mixture of having my favourite riders, attacking and being French/clean.

To a lesser extent Euskaltel. And I'd like to see Astana do well this year.

 

[Polish]

Tie between RadioShack and Astana when Vino is Team Leader.

They are my favorites because of the intrigue, explosiveness, and tactical geniusness.

 

[soOpOSMthanks!]

Cervelo Test Team and Garmin-Transitions.

 

[pmcg76]

An Post-Sean Kelly team and wherever the other Irish guys are, I suppose Cervelo would be the big team I like most but it depends on individuals riders more than teams really.

Like Dim, I was a fan of PDM when I started folowing the sport.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

You mean you like the way Columbia scoops off riders from development teams, to benefit from the work of others?

Could you give me some examples?

 

[taiwan]

Probably Cervélo, because they're promising a good season of viewing. I might really enjoy following Katusha this year, as they have a really solid roster for the classics. Finally Androni Giocattoli-Diquigiovanni should be mentioned, as they have a really long name, and they perform well (though they may be slightly sketchy: they've had a few riders test positive recently).

 

[pmcg76]

Could you give me some examples?

Not that I mind but Tejay Van Garderen came from Rabo Continental and I think Gudhummer(Danish Guy) was earmarked for Saxo Bank. In fairness, quite a few guys have gone from Rabo Continental to other teams.

 

[sTTevie]

whatever team(s) Gilbert or Boonen are ridin' for ...

 

[BroDeal]

Tie between RadioShack and Astana when Vino is Team Leader.

How can anyone be a fan of Radio Shack? They have barely done anything other than hold a training camp. Why don't you just admit you are a fan of Armstrong and would claim to be a fan of any team he was on?

 

[gingerwallaceafro]

My favourite is Team Sky because they are British. 'Nuff said.

They have Sir. Bradley of Wiggins, who is fookin' royalty don't you know?

Edvald Boasson Hagen, who like our viking ancestors, will conquer all with no fear..

And a whole raft of new British Tour de France winners and many more....

Plonks fishing rod down on rod rests, adjusts personal tackle with tongue in cheek, and expects a quick bite...

 

[Cerberus]

Not that I mind but Tejay Van Garderen came from Rabo Continental and I think Gudhummer(Danish Guy) was earmarked for Saxo Bank. In fairness, quite a few guys have gone from Rabo Continental to other teams.

The Danish guy is Guldhammer and while he did consider a contract with Saxo Bank and did go on a training camp with them at one occasion that hardly makes him their property. He was riding for Capinordic IIRC which is in no way affiliated with Saxo Bank.

 

[theyoungest]

Not that I mind but Tejay Van Garderen came from Rabo Continental and I think Gudhummer(Danish Guy) was earmarked for Saxo Bank. In fairness, quite a few guys have gone from Rabo Continental to other teams.

Exactly, but what I'm trying to say is that Columbia sort of presents itself as this young, fresh team which gives developing riders a chance, when in fact they just take a nearly finished "product" and finetune it a little. If they were to start a development team, they'd show true--not economically motivated--dedication to making young riders better.

 

[Torrrr]

As a team, Garmin oddly. Odd because there are individuals throughout the rest of the peloton who I'd rather support in a one on one race to the line.
Many of my favourite cyclists - the usual suspects mentioned elsewhere in this thread plus Fuglsang - happen to be on Saxo Bank so I'll mostly be cheering some guy in a Saxo jersey, although I can't bring myself to like them as a team.
As a Brit I guess I should say Sky but, even this early in the season, I'm finding it hard to find a reason to like them. Riders I previously liked seem to have fallen in my estimation simply for pulling on the jersey. I really liked EBH from seeing him in 2008 ToB but felt huge relief when he didn't win today.

 

[theyoungest]

As a Brit I guess I should say Sky but, even this early in the season, I'm finding it hard to find a reason to like them. Riders I previously liked seem to have fallen in my estimation simply for pulling on the jersey. I really liked EBH from seeing him in 2008 ToB but felt huge relief when he didn't win today.

For me, somehow Sky has the same lack of likeability that a club like Man City has. It's all money, no soul. Maybe in a few years time.

 

[luckyboy]

Also, Liquigas - they have an exciting GT team this year (well, last year too, but Kreuziger & Nibali are a year older). Struggling to remember Bennati do anything last year though

 

[Von Mises]

Started watching cycling more closely in mid 90-s, Casino was first favorite team. Since then I am mostly rooted for French teams.

Now Cofidis, Ag2r, FdJ. They have may interesting and promising riders (especially Cofidis).

Cervelo, BMC, Garmin, Saxo are okey too.

 

[richwagmn]

Pretty simple question really. Thoughts?

Quickstep - contains Tom Boonen.
Saxo Bank - contains Fabian Cancellara.

My two favorite riders.

 

[pedaling squares]

I'm like most of you, don't really root for a team so much as individual riders. I've liked the Saxo crew for the last few years, both for their riders and the way they are competitive all year. I like some of the Garmin group too, and I have no problem with JV, minus the sideburns. Soooo 2004 Johnny! One team I like lately is Cervelo. I like what they seem to represent, I like their effort over the full schedule, I like the way their boys ride the races. I'll be happy when they land that really big win.

Liquigas gets my respect for having a kit you can easily pick out in the bunch from the heli shots.

 

[Kingsley A]

Exactly, but what I'm trying to say is that Columbia sort of presents itself as this young, fresh team which gives developing riders a chance, when in fact they just take a nearly finished "product" and finetune it a little. If they were to start a development team, they'd show true--not economically motivated--dedication to making young riders better.

Is this really true? Cavendish was nothing away from the velodrome when he joined them. Cholick and EBH have clearly benefited from their time at HTC before moving on. I suspect the same will be the case with Tony Martin when his contract expires.

The Man City analogy that theyoungest made may be a good one but for different reasons. One is not going to win the Champions League there, but a couple of years experience with them will greatly improve one's chances of being signed by a team with a realistic chance of enabling one to do so in the future.

No. On second thoughts it is a week analogy but even if they have poached talent from lesser teams they have certainly also leached young talent to other PT squads after helping those rider's development.


Back on topic, I have to admit nationalist bias plays a part in it. I am still in a state of cognitive dissonance regarding the new British PT team and my long standing dislike of their title sponsor and it's parent company but they still excite me.

I Like Garmin. I am one of the minority who think their blue/orange argyll strip looks good. It's nice and easy to spot on TV.

BMC and Cervelo are hard not to like. Building from the ground up rather than buying their way in and steadily improving (and already being hugely impressive, especially in Cervelo's case).

Vacansoleil excite me after the tail end of last season and they seem to be carrying on where they left off this year.

On the whole though, as many others have said, I am pretty neutral about teams and my team support is mostly limited to whether they will get invites to races or not. This is mostly based on whether I think their presence will make for more exciting racing.

 

[luckyboy]

The Man City analogy that theyoungest made may be a good one but for different reasons.

Ok, so if..

Columbia = Man City
Sky = Man Utd
Garmin = Wigan

What are the other teams?



Anyway, as people say they follow riders more than teams - in addition to the French teams, Liquigas and Euskaltel, I'd add Gilbert and Syl. Chavanel (though not their teams). I really don't have any Anglo-bias.

 

[flyor64]

Danny Van Haute ? Best thing about the squad. Guy is also a great coach on the track.

Sure, I'll go with Danny. I was actually thinking about the free jelly beans, the cool kit, and (albeit lamely) using humor to echo what most have said already in the post...that I don't really have a favorite team, but rather certain riders.

I do agree, though, that I have teams I don't like...and when a rider I support goes to one of those teams, my estimation of him drops. An irrational and emtotional reaction, but honest I'd say.

 

[flyor64]

Ok, so if..

Columbia = Man City
Sky = Man Utd
Garmin = Wigan

What are the other teams?

While it pains me to say this, wouldn't Chelsea potentially be a better analogy to Sky? And more currently, Man City = Sky?

For Chelsea it took brining in some silverware to get the bad taste out of a lot of folks mouths. Some would say it's still there, that enough silverware hasn't been won to justify the debt...that it's all money and big names...the passion's gone, etc.

For my part, I felt a little off-center about my club after all the big money was spent...that it wasn't the "same club" I supported. The rapid-fire acquisitions of big players, the hiring (and seemingly requisite sacking) of the best managers in the game...and on and on.

Man City IMHO is going through that same scenario now...

And I can't get past how similar it feels with Sky. BUT that will all change when they start bringing in the sliverware...or maybe it won't.

 

[Galic Ho]

I completely misread that, i thought you said he followed cadel around with a scoop..

I had images of auscyclefan excitedly showing visitors to his house his cadel-sh** collection..

Hahaha. That is really funny.

I don't think he is that much of a fanboy.

Though Cadel has made references to poop in his press releases. Most notably last year with the "I pay more attention to bowel movements." I can see where you got the idea from. Made my day, thanks dim.

 

[theyoungest]

The Man City analogy that theyoungest made may be a good one but for different reasons. One is not going to win the Champions League there, but a couple of years experience with them will greatly improve one's chances of being signed by a team with a realistic chance of enabling one to do so in the future.

No. On second thoughts it is a week analogy but even if they have poached talent from lesser teams they have certainly also leached young talent to other PT squads after helping those rider's development.

That's all very well, but when I made the Man City analogy I was referring to Sky, not Columbia.