You've officially been Europcar'd!

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burning

burning

Feb 29, 2012
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nobilis said:
I can really see Europcar replacing Ag2R as WT team next year. It's a more complete team that can do well on different terrains.
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Europcar is definitely better than Ag2r,Saxo,Euskaltel,Astana and probably better than Lampre,Lotto,FDJ
They should have gotten a protour license this year

edit: edited out Vacansoleil because they have been doing really well this year
 
Cancellator

Cancellator

Mar 4, 2012
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nobilis said:
I can really see Europcar replacing Ag2R as WT team next year. It's a more complete team that can do well on different terrains.
Click to expand...

I only started watching cycling seriously last summer, and maybe Ag2R have a rich history but I've rarely see their riders doing well... anything. Roche did something in a Tour stage at some point I think? That's all I can remember.
 
nobilis

nobilis

Oct 18, 2009
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burning said:
Europcar is definitely better than Ag2r,Saxo,Euskaltel,Astana and probably better than Lampre,Lotto,FDJ
They should have gotten a protour license this year

edit: edited out Vacansoleil because they have been doing really well this year
Click to expand...

You're right. I guess there are about 10 indisputable WT teams then about 15 teams that are solid candidates for the top races. Europcar are definitely among the top-15 but we have that stupid UCI system for selection of WT teams.

Cancellator said:
I only started watching cycling seriously last summer, and maybe Ag2R have a rich history but I've rarely see their riders doing well... anything. Roche did something in a Tour stage at some point I think? That's all I can remember.
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The problem with Ag2R the last few years is that they have solid riders for top 10 in GT and other stage racers but wih no prolific winners, not like the time they had Kirsipuu for instance. They recruited Casper this year but he's been unlucky this year and maybe on the decline and Manuel Belletti is not more successful neither.
 
S

Swede1

Jun 7, 2011
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This team keeps pulling out incredible performances. Voeckler will probably be a beast in the ardennes and also win a couple of stages in the tour. I wouldnt be surprised if he won something like amstel. rolland will probably ride a strong tour gc, and then Kern will win the Dauphine. And of course Turgot will become a classics powerhouse. Every thing else I have to say belongs in the clinic. ;)
 
Forunculo

Forunculo

Jul 25, 2011
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Rolland will crash into the TT wall but in a lesser degree than the bros. Yet is unproven his behavior as a GC rider and like a guy told in this thread before UK postal will do a heavy tactical race, and possibly Katusha, BMC and perhaps OPQS if Levi or Tony are in fight.

We must pray for Andy, Bruyneel and their RSNT to smash the tactics...
 
G

greenedge

Mar 27, 2011
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Kern will go well in the ITT's and Rolland will be great in the mountains, hopefully he can limit losses in the TT's and improves in that department. Voeckler can hopefully do late attacks as well to get stage wins but he shall not get as much freeedom as last year.

Rolland/ Voeckler will go well in the Ardennes.
I also want Europcar to do the Vuelta, the route suits Rolland and it will be good prepedation for the WC for their French riders.
Jerome, Voeckler and Turgot have all been good in the Classics so far (congrats).
 
G

greenedge

Mar 27, 2011
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burning said:
Europcar is definitely better than Ag2r,Saxo,Euskaltel,Astana and probably better than Lampre,Lotto,FDJ
They should have gotten a protour license this year

edit: edited out Vacansoleil because they have been doing really well this year
Click to expand...
Nice to see GE not in that list.
 
Duartista

Duartista

Apr 14, 2011
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I'm not so sure about this. Kern has been struggling to return from tendonitis and has been way off the pace. Rolland has also picked up a knee problem. Turgot was impressive yesterday, but let's not forget Ladagnous was looking better until he punctured, and that FDJ are so far having a better season than the little green ones.
 
jens_attacks

jens_attacks

Sep 8, 2009
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Duartista said:
I'm not so sure about this. Kern has been struggling to return from tendonitis and has been way off the pace. Rolland has also picked up a knee problem. Turgot was impressive yesterday, but let's not forget Ladagnous was looking better until he punctured, and that FDJ are so far having a better season than the little green ones.
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yes duartista you're right but everything will be ok when this comes

images


europcar will entertain us big time in july that's for sure;)
 
roundabout

roundabout

Jun 7, 2010
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Disclaimer: I cheered for Turgot in the sprint over Ballan yesterday.

But

Can anyone remind me again, how I should feel about Tommy "I don't know why I am doing so well at 32" Voeckler?

And why exactly does the "band of friends" have so many supporters despite their cherry picking of races.
 
Ryo Hazuki

Ryo Hazuki

Mar 31, 2010
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Froome19 said:
Kern I have tipped for big things this season...
I think a dauphine GC victory is well within his grasp and i think that with how he was building up to the tour before his injury he can defnitely do a good tour.
Also bear in mind that he won the French Nats TT so he isnt too bad a TT either at least better than the other 2, considering the course this year that may very well come into play.
Also i believe that Voeckler can do well in any race especially ardennes if he sets his mind to it due to his incredible determination.

Ummmm... He is columbian, if that means anything to you;)
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I honestly don't know any good climbers from british columbia :eek:
 
taiwan

taiwan

Aug 18, 2009
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Dang I had Damien Gaudin as my dark horse for a top ten because he's won the espoirs and last year he was in the top 20 with a few other decent results. Glad Europcar got a result anyway though.
 
Magnus

Magnus

Apr 8, 2010
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roundabout said:
Can anyone remind me again, how I should feel about Tommy "I don't know why I am doing so well at 32" Voeckler?
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Why shouldn't he be doing good at 32?

He's a male cyclist not a female tennis player.
 
Magnus

Magnus

Apr 8, 2010
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roundabout said:
Why should he suddenly be much better at 32? It wasn't exactly a steady improvement but more like a perforamance explosion last year.
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I'm not saying his TdF performance wasn't a surprise, but on the other hand he has become better and better as a break-away rider since 2004. Meanwhile it's not like he has targeted GC's (and that's probably a good thing). Certainly he finds him self in the shape of his life in a favourable position with a team that really stepped up in a TdF where it was not that difficult to stay with the main contenders in the mountainstages. Kind of a perfect storm situation.
 
Magnus

Magnus

Apr 8, 2010
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roundabout said:
And why did the team step up? Lunar cicles?
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Probably for the same reason Saxo Bank stepped down (or I suppose for the exact opposite reason if you're going to be pedantic about it).
 
mr. tibbs

mr. tibbs

Mar 10, 2009
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roundabout said:
I've read it all last year. Maybe it's time to come up with new material since Voeckler himself doesn't know why he did so well.

And why did the team step up? Lunar cicles?
Click to expand...

I don't see the problem with Magnus's reasoning. In fact, it seems pretty sound to me. Do you really doubt those explanations just because you've heard them before?
 
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