Winless teams

[Eric8-A]

I chose BMC for the reason that only Cadel and Marcus Burghardt gave BMC stage wins last season.

 

[auscyclefan94]

But what do BMC win then?

I think Ballan is a good chance to win Monte Paschi Eroica and looks to be coming back to his best. watch out for him in De Ronde! Van avermaet and quinziato are also looking strong.

Ballan and Van avermaet are showing good form and they both should feature in Monte paschi Eroica. Quite a few riders have showed some decent form but haven't quite had the luck.

Is it really better to win a crappy little stage of an average stage race or an actual semi classic or a decent stage race a bit later in the season?

I accidentally voted BMC But I guess that means we are winning this poll so we have won something!

My pick is Astana.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ballan and Van avermaet are showing good form and they both should feature in Monte paschi Eroica. Quite a few riders have showed some decent form but haven't quite had the luck.

Is it really better to win a crappy little stage of an average stage race or an actual semi classic or a decent stage race a bit later in the season.

I accidentally voted BMC but I think Astana will be last to pick up a win.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

My pick is Astana.

Never change, ACF.

 

[Francois the Postman]

This poll isnt fair. Everyone is voting BMC just to wind up ACF..

You may as well start a poll entitled "do you want to wind up ACF" yes or no?

To clarify, i think it will be BMC, i hope its Layopard

LOL. Excellent.

"Shame on everyone else for doing it for the wrong reason, but to clarify: I am doing it for the right one!"

So, what you mean to say is that everyone can actually have come to that opinion regardless of ACF then?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think it will be bmc or astana. Leaning more towards astana tho, cadel will probably win something before then. Leopard and saxo should get something soon, Euskatel also.

Is it really better to win a crappy little stage of an average stage race or an actual semi classic or a decent stage race a bit later in the season?

That's besides the point. BMC have been racing these 'crappy little stage' just like the other teams, only they haven't succeeded. I highly doubt they went there with an attitude 'who cares about this race, it's small and crappy, and I don't want to win'.

Belittling the races, to lesser the blow for bmc is quite unfair.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I think Ballan is a good chance to win Monte Paschi Eroica and looks to be coming back to his best. watch out for him in De Ronde! Van avermaet and quinziato are also looking strong.

Ballan and Van avermaet are showing good form and they both should feature in Monte paschi Eroica. Quite a few riders have showed some decent form but haven't quite had the luck.

To be fair, this is all true.
Ballan has already been in the mix, twice in the past week. Simply beaten by faster sprinters in a sprint.
He could win something fairly soon.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

To be fair, this is all true.
Ballan has already been in the mix, twice in the past week. Simply beaten by faster sprinters in a sprint.
He could win something fairly soon.

He does appear to have form, but the races he should be amongst it there are others who could win also. So he is a tough one top back.

who knows maybe kristoff will win a race soon

 

[L'arriviste]

To be fair, this is all true.
Ballan has already been in the mix, twice in the past week. Simply beaten by faster sprinters in a sprint.
He could win something fairly soon.

Agree, but I still voted for BMC. In fact, the poll is excellent because it's a difficult choice - it could really be any of Saxo, BMC, Astana and Leopard. Leopard looks toothless for this time of the year. Astana's gas pipeline has production problems. It's almost cynical, the blatant GT focus these teams have now.

I think in the end I voted for BMC because none of their riders seem to have the finishing touch. Hincapie did his usual Classics season - up there but no wins. Ballan had a really good late season last year but just couldn't rack up a win. Kroon looked hot in spring but then did his face in before proving the point. So didn't they end up having to wait for Evans and Burghardt to open the account?

 

[boomcie]

Had to go for Astana. What an unpleasant (euphemism) team. At least BMC has the backing of someone who actually loves the sport. And yes, I mean ACF.

 

[Parrulo]

Do we not think that Christian's LEOPARD TREK® fandom is an adequate winding-up substitute for ACF's BMC fandom if we wanted to be a bit more honest? I find his insistence on typing LEOPARD TREK® like Trek told him to and defence of Schleck's laziness regarding actually challenging for races to have the same endearing nature.

I see BMC winning something like Dwars door Vlaanderen if they do it. Which would be funny since it's the race they were kicked out for not fielding a good enough team at last year.

ya i agree with the christian part. ACF was a fan of bmc in a much more childish(in a good way) and innocent way. could get annoying from time to time but overall it was understandable.

anyway i voted bmc but tbh i forgot about ballan who should prolly win something soon.

euskaltel will win something soon in one of the spanish smaller stage races (like murcia).

overall i hope its leopard but both astana and saxo should be in the race for that spot.

about those teams overly focusing on GT's in saxo's case saxo has been the best team for the past years but they were completely raped last year (even matti left something i never thought would happen cus after all with canc gone he was the leader for the cobbles) so we have to give riis time to put his team back together, imo it won't take him long, but atm he has contador so focusing on GT's is he best thing he can do.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Agree, but I still voted for BMC. In fact, the poll is excellent because it's a difficult choice - it could really be any of Saxo, BMC, Astana and Leopard.

That is exactly the reason I haven't voted!

Had to go for Astana. What an unpleasant (euphemism) team. At least BMC has the backing of someone who actually loves the sport. And yes, I mean ACF.

In fairness, Astana has a sport loving fan who regularly posts on here, too.

 

[jaylew]

Cancellara to win the final stage TT at T-A, but Benna could get one of the stages before that
Contador to win at Murcia or Catalunya (or at the very latest, Castilla Y Leon) Porte could also take the P-N TT.

An Astana, BMC, or Euskaltel will likely come in a more random way and is harder to predict. For me, it has to be one of those three. Vino v. Sammy v. Cadel?

Agree, but I still voted for BMC. In fact, the poll is excellent because it's a difficult choice - it could really be any of Saxo, BMC, Astana and Leopard.

Curious as to why you leave out Euskaltel? Where do you see them getting their 1st?

 

[L'arriviste]

Cancellara to win the final stage TT at T-A, but Benna could get one of the stages before that
Contador to win at Murcia or Catalunya (or at the very latest, Castilla Y Leon) Porte could also take the P-N TT.

An Astana, BMC, or Euskaltel will likely come in a more random way and is harder to predict. For me, it has to be one of those three. Vino v. Sammy v. Cadel?

Curious as to why you leave out Euskaltel? Where do you see them getting their 1st?

Dunno, really. Figured they'd pop up somewhere with some sort of win - but then I haven't looked at their schedule. But yeah, they could be on there too!

 

[theyoungest]

Time to start up a Belgian maffiosi to rival the Dutchies me thinks.

You're taking care of affairs more than adequately on your own.

As for the poll: Bennati will get compensation for all those second places, and win Milan-San Remo. But Cancellara will probably win the Tirreno TT, so they'll have their first win already. Surely Euskaltel and Saxo will pick up a win somewhere in Spain, and Astana will win a Tirreno stage. BMC... Ballan is their most likely bet, but I don't see it happening. Evans... nah. So BMC it is.

 

[boomcie]

Time to start up a Belgian maffiosi to rival the Dutchies me thinks. I can also pretend I'm Spanish if things are getting too hot.

How can you be the founder of a Belgian Crime Syndicate if your allegiance clearly lies with Spain?

Also, I believe we should leave the filthy business to the Dutch, they are doing just fine.

 

[El Pistolero]

How can you be the founder of a Belgian Crime Syndicate if your allegiance clearly lies with Spain?

Also, I believe we should leave the filthy business to the Dutch, they are doing just fine.

Well, I don't have a Rabobank avatar for starters

And my sole business would be to **** of the Dutch, ACF and the Schlecks whenever I get the chance

--

The Basques will get a win at Murcia by the way. Leopard will be dead last.

 

[boomcie]

Well, I don't have a Rabobank avatar for starters

That is a kick in the groin! I lost a bet, as you probably knew.

 

[Christian]

To clarify, i think it will be BMC, i hope its Layopard

Again, not in the least surprised, yet still a little disappointed about your attitude ... you out of all people should know what it feels like to be the social pariah, the outcast, the scapegoat ...

his insistence on typing LEOPARD TREK® like Trek told him to

Please refrain from posting the sign "®" behind LEOPARD TREK, as it sends the message of LEOPARD TREK being a commercial team with the goal of making financial profits. May I remind you that this is not the case, since LEOPARD TREK clearly defines its goal to be "true racing". You may post the sign "®" when you speak of the company TREK.

Since you are a linguist, I was other the impression you would appreciate clarification as on how to pronounce and spell a certain name. This way, you don't have to lecture us about how to pronounce it, as it happened with Movistar for example.

My point is, since we were clearly instructed on how to spell and pronounce it, why not use the correct spelling and pronounciation? Again, you being a linguist, I assume you know how in Spanish for example, simply forgetting an accent can constitute a serious grammatical error and change the meaning of the word. We could all just stop using correct spelling altogether "and descend into anarchy", as they say on The Big Bang Theory. "We could also stop using the letter "M", but to be honest I think that would be isslead and oronic".

defence of Schleck's laziness regarding actually challenging for races

Anytime this comes up now I'm just gonna go ahead and say ANDALUCIA


As for LEOPARD TREK's first win, I think their best chances are Paris-Nice and Tirreno Adriatico. They might win something at Driedaagse as well (Robert Wagner won there last year), but those chances are a bit lower I'd say. In Eroica chances are pretty low, but maybe Wegmann can pull off a nice Top-10

 

[Captain_Cavman]

...
As for the poll: Bennati will get compensation for all those second places, and win Milan-San Remo. But Cancellara will probably win the Tirreno TT, so they'll have their first win already. Surely Euskaltel and Saxo will pick up a win somewhere in Spain, and Astana will win a Tirreno stage. BMC... Ballan is their most likely bet, but I don't see it happening. Evans... nah. So BMC it is.

+1 My thinking exactly.

Don't want to join the bandwagon but four teams have excellent opportunities to pick up wins in the next few weeks. BMC just have maybes.

 

[Andy99]

I went for Leppard Trek. Not really sure why - but for some reason they just don't seem to inspire confidence.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Astana - if Vino doesn't get his Liege wish, it will be a while for them compared to the others.

 

[Sasquatch]

Are we sure BMC will win a race this year?

Where's the poll option saying that a team won't win a race (name them)?

 

[boomcie]

Are we sure BMC will win a race this year?

Where's the poll option saying that a team won't win a race (name them)?

Donckers koffie-Jelly Belly

 

[Havetts]

Donckers koffie-Jelly Belly

Hahahaha, oh wow. That name just makes me happy thinking about it, but no idea if theyll win a race this season idd .