T of Cal

squired

If I was to put money down, the man I would expect to perform best for Sky in any of the Grand Tours this year is Uran. He seems to be a very talented rider.

In response to inkyfingers comment about no Sky riders being in breaks, I can't comment on other stages, but Kennaugh was away early on in the Etna stage. Sadly that break was brought back, possibly because it included Di Luca.

Pross

mroli wrote:

But I would also say that a combination of illness and injury (EBH and Mick Rogers), lack of something (Wiggins) and slightly uninspiring/disappointing signings (Knees, Hunt, Uran, Zandio) haven't helped. Apolliono seems a nailed on 5/6th for every sprint - but that is a little "meh".

Uran has had a few decent results earlier in the season I thought? 5th in LBL isn't to be sniffed at, 3rd on Stage 7 of Paris - Nice, 2nd in a stage and 4th overall in the Volta Catalunya. Brad has the P-N podium place to show after not racing much this season. To me they are far improved on last season and much better organised but they are still missing the big win / result. I'd agree that Knees, Hunt and Zandio haven't shown much but they aren't likely to be the riders targetting wins.

RichN95.

mroli wrote:

Apolliono seems a nailed on 5/6th for every sprint - but that is a little "meh".

I think he's had a good Giro so far. He's only 21 and in his first GT, so getting in the mix on every 'sprint' stage is pretty decent.

It seems with Sky, that their most talented riders are under 25 - Swift, Uran, Thomas, EBH, (maybe include Stannard and Appollonio) - so they're still building at the moment.

Pross

He's a potential points jersey contender too as I believe he can climb better than many of the sprinters. Sky seem blessed with a lot of people who can contend a bunch sprint (Henderson, EBH, Swift, Apollonio and maybe Sutton & Swift) without having an out-and-out top sprinter but hopefully Swift will fill that role.

cougie

Yeah I think they'd be better off going for stages rather than the GC Appolonio, Uran and Downing could easily take a couple out. Its just being let off the hook they need.

inkyfingers

cougie wrote:

Yeah I think they'd be better off going for stages rather than the GC Appolonio, Uran and Downing could easily take a couple out. Its just being let off the hook they need.

I don't think anybody has ever won a GT stage easily!

andyp

squired wrote:

Given how Swift seems to be developing, would Sky bother with attempting to sign Cav for next season?

The great thing is that Swift hasn't just managed some wins this season, but wins in high-level races. Hopefully he will manage to bag another win before the race finishes at the weekend.

He's won stages of the Tour Down Under (x2), Castilla y Leon, Tour of Romandie and now the Tour of California.

Do any of them really count as high level wins?

cal_stewart

Sky seam to be a team building for the future, Most of there better riders are a few years away from there best and maybe its a knock on from there doping stance?

They don't have the best GT team by a long shot but with some of the one day riders stages would be a good target for them. To be fair I don't think they have the climbing support for GT's yet and it would take a few years to get that, so if its wins they want in the next couple of years in a GT then cav would be a good signing as their leadout looks well drilled

B3rnieMac

don't you mean cavy?

cal_stewart

never called him cavy as that sounds fu@King webbo.

camerone

B3rnieMac wrote:

don't you mean cavy?

It's the other user name that calls him cavy.........

rick_chasey

Anyone watching the ToC?

I'm covering US hours for work at home and christ it's dull. Makes my work look thrilling.

pitchshifter

I don't think I can't stand another hour of Phil and Paul chatting rubbish..

cogidubnus

got it on eurosport. Kirby has just told us about a walk from Rotherham to Sheffield. And we have had a debate about rain wear. You can tell its a dull stage

Moomaloid

ToC is always dire.... i was hoping for something with the parcour of the first stage and then they canceled it. fingers crossed for tomorrows stage... still, you;d think they could come up with a more interesting route...

Le Commentateur

Rick Chasey wrote:

Anyone watching the ToC?

I'm covering US hours for work at home and christ it's dull. Makes my work look thrilling.

Those seemingly endless straight farm roads.... a bit like in that scene from North By Northwest, except without the momentary excitement of the peloton being buzzed by a crop duster.

RichN95.

Oh look, Sky have learnt about crosswinds. Uncle Dave must have given them a powerpoint presentation.

seven7faces

wake me up when there's 200m to go please

seven7faces

odd sprint

rick_chasey

Good long sprint.

Had to do it mind.

Sky took it up 500m too early again.

Didn't matter though.

Cleat Eastwood

poor jens did you see him on his own.

cougie

Did freire knock Ben swift out of line ? He was 3rd into the corner and about 7th out of it.
Baden cookes spill was funny but hope the guy taken out by Jens' bike is ok - nasty blow to the head.

Abdoujaparov

Rick Chasey wrote:

Good long sprint.

Had to do it mind.

Sky took it up 500m too early again.

Didn't matter though.

Maybe a little bit early, but would have been perfect if swift had been in the line.

Were they riding for henderson though? Swift working at the front earlier on suggests yes but dropping henderson off so far from the line suggests no. And you'd have thought they'd care more about the points jersey.

Freire must be absolutely gutted. If he'd have held henderson's wheel, he'd have won that. Really poor showing from him.

Great work by sky again!

thamacdaddy

Only this morning henderson was saying on twitter he is working for the yellow jersey leadout at the mo but hopes to go for a sprint later on.

I really think coming out of the corner and where he launched from (about 400m) he was actually following this plan and when no one came past he just carried on with it not realizing Swift had lost his wheel.

Greghenderson1 Greg Henderson
@stueethedog normally sprint. First race in 6wks so maybe later in the week I'll get a go at sprinting for the win.At the mo.Leadout yellow

inkyfingers

thamacdaddy wrote:

Only this morning henderson was saying on twitter he is working for the yellow jersey leadout at the mo but hopes to go for a sprint later on.

I really think coming out of the corner and where he launched from (about 400m) he was actually following this plan and when no one came past he just carried on with it not realizing Swift had lost his wheel.

I think that's what happened. Not sure if Swift just didn't quite have the legs or whether he just lost too many positions in all the corners and chaos that was going on. Good win for Henderson though, Sky seem to have finally cracked this lead out business.

scwxx77

Le Commentateur wrote:

Those seemingly endless straight farm roads.... a bit like in that scene from North By Northwest, except without the momentary excitement of the peloton being buzzed by a crop duster.

I'm beginning to think David Lynch is directing these stages with all the yellow line tracking shots. More like Straight Story than it is Lost Highway though.

yourpaceormine

GH is quoted (over at the comic) as saying that he was meant to be leading Swift out, he started at 4-500m out as he was meant to, realised Swift had been knocked out of the line then carried on.

Sky's leadout train looks to be much better this year, would there be room for asprinting megastar to join the team next year?

Abdoujaparov

yourpaceormine wrote:

GH is quoted (over at the comic) as saying that he was meant to be leading Swift out, he started at 4-500m out as he was meant to, realised Swift had been knocked out of the line then carried on.

Sky's leadout train looks to be much better this year, would there be room for asprinting megastar to join the team next year?

Not sure I want Cav to join Sky - the team would just become his lead out train.That said, it's their best chance of major success so if I were them and had the option, I'd probably snap him up.

I'm sure I haven't been following the Cav to Sky thing as closely as many on here, but from the comments I've seen, including what he said yesterday, I don't think it's a given that it'll happen. His contract is expiring and he's just trying to get the best deal whichever team it's at.

iainf72

Abdoujaparov wrote:

I'm sure I haven't been following the Cav to Sky thing as closely as many on here, but from the comments I've seen, including what he said yesterday, I don't think it's a given that it'll happen. His contract is expiring and he's just trying to get the best deal whichever team it's at.

The rumour says he's signed a "pre-contract". I expect they'll be throwing silly money at him.

Also reported in Holland (I think) that Porte has signed for Sky (if I will be my usual cynical self, I'd suggest he's a bit of a duff buy)

Gingerflash

any word on the guy who cracked his head on the road in the tangle with Voigt? It looked very nasty indeed.