Will Sky win all 3 GT's this year?

[Miburo]

Not if Richie riders the Tour and Henao the Giro.

Porte rode the Vuelta last year and though he was just beaten by Menchov on one MTF, he was certainly nowhere near his top form, even if he is domesiqueing at the Tour.

What is porte's top form?

He just reached a completely different level by leaving saxo

 

[Froome19]

What is porte's top form?

He just reached a completely different level by leaving saxo

Is this an attempt at trolling?
If so, it really is pretty pathetic..

 

[postmanhat]

Not if Richie riders the Tour and Henao the Giro.

Porte rode the Vuelta last year and though he was just beaten by Menchov on one MTF, he was certainly nowhere near his top form, even if he is domesiqueing at the Tour.

Porte looks nailed on for The Tour after Paris-Nice. Think he said as much in the interview afterwards? Maybe Heano there as well given the amount of climbs compared to the Giro?

 

[Angliru]

Anyone going to believe this guy?

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/537362/david-brailsford-sky-are-not-robots.html

I really can't understand how a team that is as detail oriented as Sky can twice in 2 years (2011 Vuelta and 2013 T-A) in crucial stages have their riders lose valuable time and state that their gearing was not appropriate for the parcours. Brailsford doesn't even acknowledge that as an issue in their losing T-A.

 

[The Hitch]

Is this an attempt at trolling?
If so, it really is pretty pathetic..

Looks to me like a follow up question and a statement of fact

 

[mewmewmew13]

the jig's up

 

[Angliru]

Is this an attempt at trolling?
If so, it really is pretty pathetic..

Well, Porte has reached an entirely new level since leaving Saxo, you can't dispute that. At what point while he was at Saxo was he simply riding opponents off of his wheel in the mountains? He's always been an exceptional time trialist but at no time do I recall such explosive climbing on his part. He went by Menchov as if being towed by the race moto.

 

[postmanhat]

Maybe Sky should adopt 'Human' by the The Human League as their anthem, the chorus might tug at the heartstrings of a few doubters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ysoohV_zA


Nice topic Angrilu How many successful team managers have admitted they completely cocked it up?

 

[Angliru]

Maybe Sky should adopt 'Human' by the The Human League as their anthem, the chorus might tug at the heartstrings of a few doubters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ysoohV_zA


Nice topic Angrilu How many successful team managers have admitted they completely cocked it up?

What I also found interesting is that Brailsford has gone from stating that their goal is to dominate to now say that winning all the time isn't good (or something to that effect, pardon my horrible memory). Seems maybe the robot references have touched a nerve. Also I can't imagine in what way he finds their strategy of maintaining complete control of races as being exciting.

 

[postmanhat]

Well, Porte has reached an entirely new level since leaving Saxo, you can't dispute that. At what point while he was at Saxo was he simply riding opponents off of his wheel in the mountains? He's always been an exceptional time trialist but at no time do I recall such explosive climbing on his part. He went by Menchov as if being towed by the race moto.

You could also argue, how many riders have 'improved' under Saxo over the last few years? Maybe Porte just needed to go to a decent team

 

[Parrulo]

Pre 2010 exodus saxo bank had the bets team in the world with riders that became who they are there. Riis has been having troubles rebuilding the team but that is because his budget isn't all that great.

 

[del1962]

Well, Porte has reached an entirely new level since leaving Saxo, you can't dispute that. At what point while he was at Saxo was he simply riding opponents off of his wheel in the mountains? He's always been an exceptional time trialist but at no time do I recall such explosive climbing on his part. He went by Menchov as if being towed by the race moto.

He is obvioulsy progressing as he gets older, and is also a lot happier at Sky, perhaps it helps him being on an anglo team, he may not have been happy at Saxo with his comparitively low pay. I wonder how Roche will do at Saxo

 

[Angliru]

You could also argue, how many riders have 'improved' under Saxo over the last few years? Maybe Porte just needed to go to a decent team

At the same time Saxo was decimated by the exodus of so many quality riders. They were literally scraping the barrel to fill their roster with the limited funds they had. This year they've had more capital to work with in recruiting a higher level of talent. Porte just seemed less motivated at Saxo IMO. Maybe Contador's presence conflicted with many of the events that Porte could've excelled but even while riding in support he was a shadow of the rider he is at Sky. Maybe it's just the natural maturation of a rider.

 

[Angliru]

He is obvioulsy progressing as he gets older, and is also a lot happier at Sky, perhaps it helps him being on an anglo team, he may not have been happy at Saxo with his comparitively low pay. I wonder how Roche will do at Saxo

Both of those could certainly be factors. I'm sure Riis could only offer so much with the limited budget and sponsor issues he had at the time.

 

[happytramp]

I wonder how Roche will do at Saxo

Slightly better than AGR, not as good as if he'd joined Sky.

 

[Netserk]

Porte had a contract for 10-11. After his amazing 10 season he wanted to be paid more in 11. Riis only wanted that if the contract was extended. Porte didn't want to extent his contract, but only more money.

It ended with no more money and no extension. Porte wasn't happy at all to put it mildly.

 

[trevim]

You could also argue, how many riders have 'improved' under Saxo over the last few years? Maybe Porte just needed to go to a decent team

Porte's problem wasn't the team. He performed on the last TT of both Giro and Tour in 2011; one has to wonder how he was completely useless as a domestique for Contador.
Climbing wise, not even in 2010 he was a good climber. He got a huge lead in Aquila and then it was a matter of losing a bit each day without having a really bad day and with a very competent team devoted to him, specially Sorensens and Larsson.
Anyway this much is true: he's a completely different rider since the first race with Sky with that great win in Algarve showing climbing skills he had never shown previously.

 

[trevim]

Pre 2010 exodus saxo bank had the bets team in the world with riders that became who they are there. Riis has been having troubles rebuilding the team but that is because his budget isn't all that great.

And also because the new signings are seriously under performing:
- Breschel: can he still win races?
- Bennatti: I expected he could win some small races at least so that the team wasn't banking just on Contador to take them throw the season.
- Kreuziguer: I'll give a pass on this one considering he was ill somewhere after Mediterran and he was a good domestique in Tirreno.
- Duggan: no expectations really.
- Kump: he crashed right, anyway maybe he can still get a win somewhere this season
- Zaugg: let's wait until Lombardia
- Rogers: yeah right...
At the end of day it's a team fully dependent on Contador to perform, which is a shame for a team that use to be as huge as Saxo Bank. Just look at 2009/2010 with wins from a bunch of riders including Haedo, Larsson, Sorensen, Shlecks, Rasmussen, Porte, Voigt, Cancellara, Bak, Fugslang.

 

[maxmartin]

who knows what kind of state W is in? maybe after winning Tour he does not possess any motivation, although amazing RP can substitute W easily

 

[Angliru]

And also because the new signings are seriously under performing:
- Breschel: can he still win races?
- Bennatti: I expected he could win some small races at least so that the team wasn't banking just on Contador to take them throw the season.
- Kreuziguer: I'll give a pass on this one considering he was ill somewhere after Mediterran and he was a good domestique in Tirreno.
- Duggan: no expectations really.
- Kump: he crashed right, anyway maybe he can still get a win somewhere this season
- Zaugg: let's wait until Lombardia
- Rogers: yeah right...
At the end of day it's a team fully dependent on Contador to perform, which is a shame for a team that use to be as huge as Saxo Bank. Just look at 2009/2010 with wins from a bunch of riders including Haedo, Larsson, Sorensen, Shlecks, Rasmussen, Porte, Voigt, Cancellara, Bak, Fugslang.

Of course, this is just March. I can see Kreuziger getting a result somewhere. Benatti has to win a sprint or 2 at some point. Roche of course wasn't exactly prolific prior to signing up but he has had many close losses so hopefully Riis can get him over the hump. Breschel I'd wait till classics season is over before passing judgement. Rogers I personally never warmed to any way and with his 2012 performance so far he really isn't helping.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

He is obvioulsy progressing as he gets older, and is also a lot happier at Sky, perhaps it helps him being on an anglo team, he may not have been happy at Saxo with his comparitively low pay. I wonder how Roche will do at Saxo

Roche will probably perform very similar as before. Perhaps he can improve a little tactically or maybe by shifting his focus from the Tour to something else, can he find additional motivation to bag a small win.

With Michael Rogers you never know. He often goes from donkey to race horse and back again depending on the position of the moon.

 

[Jan the Man]

I voted one. I think the 55km TT will give Wiggins enough in the Giro.

I still expect Contador to win the Tour. The Vuelta, I think will be contested between Rodriguez, Valverde and Contador if he rides.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Pre 2010 exodus saxo bank had the bets team in the world with riders that became who they are there. Riis has been having troubles rebuilding the team but that is because his budget isn't all that great.

it has nothing to do with budget, riis has lost his touch for number of years now. now we all know that touch in 2005 was called blooddoping, now those days are gone, the days of his magic are gone too. I remembner 8 years ago how people said, yes, riis is different, he does special trainingcamps etc, that makes the riders better. I lol'd then and I lol now. because riis never had a huge budget, he always had to do with 2nd row riders, hamilton, basso, voigt, julich, kroon, sastre etc were no starts when they came to riis, far from it in fact.

about porte what speaks for him is that he's only been cycling since his 21 year, he was a huge itt talent but has since saox dropped in weight 4 kg of 66 kg, which is considerable. his itt has gotten worse as well, see last year, his climbing improved a lot though. still before p-n I couldn't count the posts of all the whiners complaining how weak the field was and anyone could basically win it. richie porte won a p-n in which chavanel almost podiumed, see how well chavanel has done in p-n gc's before this year. simple as that

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I voted one. I think the 55km TT will give Wiggins enough in the Giro.

I still expect Contador to win the Tour. The Vuelta, I think will be contested between Rodriguez, Valverde and Contador if he rides.

valverde won;t do the vuelta. quintana will be leader there

 

[Jan the Man]

valverde won;t do the vuelta. quintana will be leader there

I see. Quintana could podium. I don't know how well he will go over three weeks though.