Greipel's gripe

Kléber

pedro118118 wrote:

I would have thought that Bob S would've taken note of the likes of EBH, Thomas Lovqvist, Kirchen, Hincapie rationale for jumping ship.

At the risk of repeating myself, Cavendish brought far more publicity to the team than Greipel's presence could have offered. The big German rider was going backwards in Paris-Nice.

As for others leaving, this is just a hunch but I think Stapleton knows very well why the riders have left. Cavendish needs five or six riders to support him in a stage race so others have left to take their own chance. Others were offered more money and in the case of Hincapie, he's got a clothing business to promote and BMC wear his stuff, he couldn't afford to back HTC-Columbia.

yourpaceormine

Have to agree I think Greipel would have really struggled up the hills at MSR. Cav did okay - considering.

Has Boonen had a good year so far because he hasn't faced Cav (as Cav can be)? Probably.

Greipel has a right to be frustrated and a bit hacked off, but airing his unhappiness in the media is a surefire way of not getting selected/contract renewed methinks.

As an aside: Cav at Sky - would be nice for British cycling (note not British Cycling), would really raise the sport even higher. But Sky's clear goal is a Britsh yellow jersey in Paris, not a green one. Can a team still race for both - or is that a halycon memory from the seventies (just as the double has become unfashionable)? Cav in a rainbow Sky jersey would do wonders for the general public's perception of the sport. The gold rush of Beijing, Hoy advertising bran flakes, Pennington Hovis clearly have moved mountains. Is cycling back where it was in the sixties with Mr Tom?

frenchfighter

Regarding hills and Griepel, I would say that TdU is a better comparison than the middle mountains of Paris Nice.

pedro118118

Kléber wrote:

pedro118118 wrote:

I would have thought that Bob S would've taken note of the likes of EBH, Thomas Lovqvist, Kirchen, Hincapie rationale for jumping ship.

At the risk of repeating myself, Cavendish brought far more publicity to the team than Greipel's presence could have offered. The big German rider was going backwards in Paris-Nice.

As for others leaving, this is just a hunch but I think Stapleton knows very well why the riders have left. Cavendish needs five or six riders to support him in a stage race so others have left to take their own chance. Others were offered more money and in the case of Hincapie, he's got a clothing business to promote and BMC wear his stuff, he couldn't afford to back HTC-Columbia.

I'm sure there is more interest in Cav than Greipel.

What I'm trying to get across is the question, did an unfit Cav present a better option (in racing terms) than a fit Greipel? Surely a win (or podium) for Greipel would have generated far more publicity and profile that watching Cav huff and puff is way around getting dropped.

For the record, I would put my faith on a fit Cav over a fit Greipel all day every day.

Tusher

Methinks Greipel is bluffing, to a degree. Sure, he was probably hacked off at not being included in MSR- and, given that HTC were already taking a train there, I can't see why they could not also have taken another sprinter along. So, telling an journalist this in an interview is probably just his way of kicking off at Stapleton. And ensuring he takes home a fat pay packet when he signs next year's contract.

But look what happened to Ciolek when he left Columbia. Greipel must know that the same fate will await him if he jumps ship. Better to be the second biggest fish in the pond and get dedicated support in the races Cav does not compete in, and more than likely win them, than risk winning zilch when he comes up against his old sprint train.

And he is, after all, their insurance policy if Cav breaks his collarbone, a leg, decides on visiting a South American dentist for more cosmetic dentistry......

The Prodigy

pedro118118 wrote:

Kléber wrote:

pedro118118 wrote:

I would have thought that Bob S would've taken note of the likes of EBH, Thomas Lovqvist, Kirchen, Hincapie rationale for jumping ship.

At the risk of repeating myself, Cavendish brought far more publicity to the team than Greipel's presence could have offered. The big German rider was going backwards in Paris-Nice.

As for others leaving, this is just a hunch but I think Stapleton knows very well why the riders have left. Cavendish needs five or six riders to support him in a stage race so others have left to take their own chance. Others were offered more money and in the case of Hincapie, he's got a clothing business to promote and BMC wear his stuff, he couldn't afford to back HTC-Columbia.

I'm sure there is more interest in Cav than Greipel.

What I'm trying to get across is the question, did an unfit Cav present a better option (in racing terms) than a fit Greipel? Surely a win (or podium) for Greipel would have generated far more publicity and profile that watching Cav huff and puff is way around getting dropped.

For the record, I would put my faith on a fit Cav over a fit Greipel all day every day.

It appears you have much more confidence in Greipel than most other people.

I can't really see why.

Kléber

Greipel spent Saturday at the zoo. No doubt he especially attracted to the gorillas, the walruses and the sloths

Tusher

Kleber- you are a genius.

What animals remind us of riders?

Or vice versa.


Ricco would be a slimy slug on a cabbage patch.
LA has certain feline qualities.
Hincapie is like a loyal collie.

prawny

msw wrote:

Whoever has the better chance of winning, isn't it all different because Cavendish is the defending champion? Unless he's totally unable to ride, surely it would be unusually cold-blooded to tell him he can't defend the first major Classic win of his career? Also, in a way, disrespectful to the race.

This.

Surely the organisers would want last years winner there? Who'd wear the number 1?