Who should Sky be trying to hire?

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  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    Flecha also got on the podium at Paris Roubaix and Lofkvist got 2nd in Montepaschi Strade Bianche.

    Sky were unlucky that EBH got sick in the latter stages of MSR as he would surely have figured in the bunch sprint. EBH would have been well fancied for a cobbled classic this year (having won Ghent Wevelgem last year) if he hadn't been injured for that part of the season. The only classics they didn't really feature in were the Ardennes, the Sky squad definitely lacks a contender for these.

    Sky can be critiscised a lot but not really for their classics performances.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,241
    inkyfingers wrote:
    Flecha also got on the podium at Paris Roubaix and Lofkvist got 2nd in Montepaschi Strade Bianche.

    And let's not forget Ian Stannard's podium at KBK too.

    The classics was the best bit of Sky's season. They did better than Quick Step.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Give them time. They've taken a lot of riders and some totally green management and tried to get things going. My only concern is that they've hyped themselves up too much, too much PR about how wonderful they are, rather than admitting it's a big lesson and it'll take years to perfect.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    RichN95 wrote:

    The classics was the best bit of Sky's season. They did better than Quick Step.

    I'm not so sure. They did pretty well, but Boonen ride in Flanders was good. And in Roubaix he was the only one who bothered to try and chase Chinny.

    Sky did their usual trick of riding on the front at a wierd point in the race during Flanders. I cannot figure that out.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,241
    iainf72 wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:

    The classics was the best bit of Sky's season. They did better than Quick Step.

    I'm not so sure. They did pretty well, but Boonen ride in Flanders was good. And in Roubaix he was the only one who bothered to try and chase Chinny.

    Sky did their usual trick of riding on the front at a wierd point in the race during Flanders. I cannot figure that out.

    One win & four podiums (Sky) v Four podiums (QS)

    You could probably argue it either way, but they were certainly comparable to the classics specialists, which certainly shows Sky took the classics seriously.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Yes, they started very well things went downhill from the start of April onwards, Flecha's P-R podium was a highlight. But after that, there was only Wiggo in the Giro prologue and EBH won the final stage of the Dauphiné. But that was it, excluding the small wins in the Tour of Picardy, Brixia and Walloonia which are normally below the radar of a bigger team.
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Kléber wrote:
    Yes, they started very well things went downhill from the start of April onwards, Flecha's P-R podium was a highlight. But after that, there was only Wiggo in the Giro prologue and EBH won the final stage of the Dauphiné. But that was it, excluding the small wins in the Tour of Picardy, Brixia and Walloonia which are normally below the radar of a bigger team.

    Eh? I'm sure they're in it to win it if not why would a tram be sent?

    Sky were positive about the Tour but haven't talked them selves up to be all conquering. That is done by the minority on this forum so they can beat them down.

    I'd give a 7/10 so far for a debut season.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Gazzaputt wrote:

    Sky were positive about the Tour but haven't talked them selves up to be all conquering. That is done by the minority on this forum so they can beat them down.

    Nah, that's a response to things like Wiggins "Man United vs Wigan" comments. :wink:
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,241
    iainf72 wrote:

    Nah, that's a response to things like Wiggins "Man United vs Wigan" comments. :wink:

    Manchester United didn't win anything for the first four years that Ferguson was manager. You have to give these things time.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    RichN95 wrote:

    Manchester United didn't win anything for the first four years that Ferguson was manager. You have to give these things time.

    If Team Lux does happen next year, will these rules apply?
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,241
    iainf72 wrote:

    If Team Lux does happen next year, will these rules apply?

    No. They're more like Chelsea or Manchester City - starting with the big stars to begin with.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    RichN95 wrote:
    iainf72 wrote:

    If Team Lux does happen next year, will these rules apply?

    No. They're more like Chelsea or Manchester City - starting with the big stars to begin with.

    Got it!

    How did Fergie turn United around? Was it by buying talent? :wink:
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,241
    iainf72 wrote:

    Got it!

    How did Fergie turn United around? Was it by buying talent? :wink:

    He bought some bargains (Cantona, Schmeichel), some expensive young talent which he developed (Keane, Ince, Pallister, Bruce) and brought through some of the home grown youth (Giggs, Neville etc).

    And he got rid of the superstars who spent too much time in the pub (Wiggins, er sorry, I mean McGrath, Whiteside)

    Any way let's not labour the analogy too much.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • pedro118118
    pedro118118 Posts: 1,102
    The cycling press seem to be suggesting that Chinny and Richie Porte on the wish list - both of which would be incredible for different reasons. With Porte you get great young stage race potential. With Chinny, you get a massively high-profile superstar and super-domestique for Wiggo at the Tour. That said, he won't come cheap and if Wiggo has set the benchmark on pay structure, he'll be demanding £2m+ a year?!
  • pedro118118
    pedro118118 Posts: 1,102
    The cycling press seem to be suggesting that Chinny and Richie Porte on the wish list - both of which would be incredible for different reasons. With Porte you get great young stage race potential. With Chinny, you get a massively high-profile superstar and super-domestique for Wiggo at the Tour. That said, he won't come cheap and if Wiggo has set the benchmark on pay structure, he'll be demanding £2m+ a year?!

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