Wiggins and Cavendish told to prioritise events in 2012

[Fus087]

Hunter spent a few laps of the Olympics pacing the bunch.

Why not, probably got a nice payday and it's not like he ever had a shot of being there at the end.

And now he used that money to pay Jay Robert Thomson for pulling back the break in the South African championships.

 

[greenedge]

Wiggins can go for yellow/ work for Cav in the RR and ride for himself in the ITT. We saw that last year from the Vuelta.
I am not so sure about Cav though- his team will have to do a lot of work for him/ Wiggins and going for Green then gold might be unfeasible.

 

[JRanton]

There will also be other nations with interest in contesting the sprint helping out.

Thomas will not be there (he is going to focus on the Track)
Cav, Wiggo, Froome, Stannard + 1 other seems the most likely grouping. Maybe Dowsett, maybe Millar, maybe Swift for leadout.

2 of the same group for the ITT (Wiggo obviously, then it could be any of Froome, Stannard, (Millar or Dowsett), I'd be thinking Froome but could be surprised. Stannard is no ITT slouch)

Cummings always seems to get overlooked but he was incredibly strong at the worlds and by all accounts he was the only BMC rider who was in excellent shape for the early part of this season before his crash in Algarve. One potential problem is that all of them apart from possibly Stannard will be riding the Tour and you never know if their form will hold up.

Thomas, Swift and Kennaugh will be on the track so they aren't options. Rowe, Blythe and Fenn aren't ready for such a race.

Hunt and Dowsett are possibilities but they'd definitely be behind Millar (if CAS rules in his favour), Cummings and Stannard in the pecking order (assuming Cavendish, Wiggins and Froome are certainties).

The route doesn't really suit JTL otherwise he'd probably be there (and win it of course).

 

[orangerider]

Cavendish will just focus on stage wins on pancake flats with other teams doing the breakaway chasing. He's already more than proven he can be plenty competitive in bunch sprints without a leadout train.

 

[Catwhoorg]

Cummings always seems to get overlooked but he was incredibly strong at the worlds and by all accounts he was the only BMC rider who was in excellent shape for the early part of this season before his crash in Algarve. One potential problem is that all of them apart from possibly Stannard will be riding the Tour and you never know if their form will hold up.

You are right I did overlook him. Assuming he bounces back from his injury in good shape he is ideal for the 5th spot.

What a selection problem to have, a few years ago we would be struggling to get 5 warm bodies capable of keeping up with the field.

 

[hatcher]

Also there's a huge difference between "prioritising" and "not going for".

 

[The Hitch]

Wiggins can go for yellow/ work for Cav in the RR and ride for himself in the ITT. We saw that last year from the Vuelta.
I am not so sure about Cav though- his team will have to do a lot of work for him/ Wiggins and going for Green then gold might be unfeasible.

Tt came before Rr in worlds. not so in Olympics.

 

[Caruut]

And how would the GB public react if the gold is tainted that way?

The GB public would think that Eisel riding in front meant he was trying to beat him.