2011 Worlds Road Teams

Doobz

Just saw a tweet from Mark Renshaw - Pretty shocked...

Surprise surprise.... No world champs for me. Would like to say I understand but I don't. Guess I need to prove myself?

rc856

Just read the team news on Cyclingnews. Pretty surprised myself.
Surely he was worth a place on the squad unless the tactics just didn't suit him...although with Goss as leader, would they not be going for a sprint??

rebs

Am supraised. But with Goss they must be hoping he can get away in a smaller group to win. Think only 1 team really wants a bunch sprint?

graeme_s-2

Maybe they don't trust him to ride hard against Cav? :?

Le Commentateur

Yes they're worried he'll do a "Wigelius", or maybe that's the line his enemies have been whispering anyway.

rebs

I really cant see why Renshaw would even work with Cav. They will be on seperate teams next season. they have no incentive to work together anymore.

Don't think their would be any secrete if Eisel worked for Cav if they do end up at the same team etc. I cant think of any Sky riders who would be at the worlds and would be happen to work for Cav who isn't British. Am sure if EBH goes he'll want to run his own chances.

The Irish Scouser (Brammier) would possible work for Cav as they have been mates for years.

Yellow Peril

I think the Aussies definitely think that Renshaw's loyalties will not be with the green and gold but the red white and blue. I wouldn't even put it down to being mates, they have a good business arrangement.

Tusher

Sad news for Renshaw.

durhamwasp

Unbelievable!

Definitely something going on in the background there, its obvious Renshaw should be in the team. Seems quite unlikely that he would blatently work for Cav, especially with them being on different teams next year.

Wonder if leaving him as a reserve means he can promise not to work for Cav and they call him back into the team??? Though his twitter would suggest he might refuse that route in.

ozzzyosborn206

i wonder if it has anything to do with him not going to greenedge, i would be surprised if they hadn't asked him to ride for them, maybe he said no, so they thinking screw you we don't need you. I think it is a similar reason for Blythe not being at Sky and not being near the worlds squad

RichN95.

ozzzyosborn206 wrote:

i wonder if it has anything to do with him not going to greenedge, i would be surprised if they hadn't asked him to ride for them, maybe he said no, so they thinking screw you we don't need you. I think it is a similar reason for Blythe not being at Sky and not being near the worlds squad

Blythe didn't get picked because Cavendish and Swift are better than him.

rebs

I don't think Blythe hasn't given a chance in the worlds because he isn't a Sky man. I just think that Britain actually has better options then Blythe. He is very similar to Swift and if you compare them Swift wins hands down. I cant see who you would replace Blythe with. He is a solid rider but he isn't going to be chasing down breaks and other riders are far better sprinters and leadout men.

Think Aus has missed a chance not picking Renshaw. The moment it looks like he is working for Cav (Have said I find it very hard he ever would). Every Aussie in the world would be on his back.

Who is likely to be in the Aussie Team. Goss as team leader. Hayman, Rogers, Hausler? O'Grady has been show form. I would be supraised Evans would be apart of it?

Tusher

DIdn't the Aussie's leave Robbie McEwan out last year?

iainf72

rebs wrote:

I cant see who you would replace Blythe with. He is a solid rider but he isn't going to be chasing down breaks and other riders are far better sprinters and leadout men.

Isn't he?

If I was Italian / Belgie / Dutch etc, I'd try get a group away and make GB chase. If you get to the finish with Cavendish, you'll lose. So you need to make him burn his team and get rid of him somewhere. His overwhelming superiority in the sprints has to mean people try something different.

Tusher

iainf72 wrote:

His overwhelming superiority in the sprints has to mean people try something different.

Which is, sadly, likely to lead to tears in Copenhagen for GB. So many teams all aiming to prevent Cav getting within sight of the finishing line. And if they link up together.............we're doomed.

rebs

I see what you are saying Iain. I said the same further up the thread. I'm just not sure what Blythe can do that anyone of the GB guys selected cant do? Not saying he is useless by no means.

Chris James

My aussie sister in law is mates a couple fo cyclists who used to be at teh fringes of the national squad about 10 years ago.

They ended up packing it in as they believed that the selectors used to pick their favourite riders, regardless of form, over others. Maybe not much has changed?

iainf72

rebs wrote:

I see what you are saying Iain. I said the same further up the thread. I'm just not sure what Blythe can do that anyone of the GB guys selected cant do? Not saying he is useless by no means.

Possibly not. I was just looking at it from the perspecitive of who's done long races, things like that.

Blythe hasn't really done many but he's done work for Gilbert in some of them I suppose.

Yellow Peril

iainf72 wrote:

rebs wrote:

I cant see who you would replace Blythe with. He is a solid rider but he isn't going to be chasing down breaks and other riders are far better sprinters and leadout men.

Isn't he?

If I was Italian / Belgie / Dutch etc, I'd try get a group away and make GB chase. If you get to the finish with Cavendish, you'll lose. So you need to make him burn his team and get rid of him somewhere. His overwhelming superiority in the sprints has to mean people try something different.

Which is exactly the tactic used to screw Cav over in the Commonwealth Games. Gordon McAuly et al were away from the gun and Cav's teammates (all heroes in my opinion as most were just club riders after the Kennaugh's pulled out the Comp) toasted themsleves trying to pull the race back together. I think we do have good riders and it would be as well to make sure the likes of Thomas, Kennaugh etc get an opportunity to sit in on breaks, get a free ride, knowing if it all comes back together we have an ace in the pack

Doobz

British Cycling Confirms Team For UCI Road World Championships

Mark Cavendish
Steve Cummings
Chris Froome
Jeremy Hunt
David Millar
Ian Stannard
Geraint Thomas
Bradley Wiggins

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/a ... d-Champs-0

Tusher

Shame for Dowsett, although I can see the selectors had a difficult decision to make.

Pross

Lots of experience there and plenty of workhorses. If other teams do try the break tactic then surely GB's response should be to get someone with a reasonable finish (Hunt, Stannard or G?) into the break and just let them sit there. It wouldn't be popular but I think it would be legitimate given they have the best sprinter in the world if it comes back together.

rick_chasey

Pross wrote:

Lots of experience there and plenty of workhorses. If other teams do try the break tactic then surely GB's response should be to get someone with a reasonable finish (Hunt, Stannard or G?) into the break and just let them sit there. It wouldn't be popular but I think it would be legitimate given they have the best sprinter in the world if it comes back together.

Easier said than done.

It will take a lot for a Brit to get into the break.

I'd imagine they'd only be let go if a Freire type rider goes along with them.

inkyfingers

Looks the right team for the course to me, Cav certainly shouldn't be isolated until maybe the very end with a team like that...whether he'll still be in a race winning position at that point is anyones guess!

I know it won't be easy but they need to at least try and get someone like Jez Hunt into the break to save themselves from having to control the race like HTC for 250KMs.

Looking forward to it already, hopefully it will be an eventful race!

rick_chasey

inkyfingers wrote:

Looks the right team for the course to me, Cav certainly shouldn't be isolated until maybe the very end with a team like that...whether he'll still be in a race winning position at that point is anyones guess!

I know it won't be easy but they need to at least try and get someone like Jez Hunt into the break to save themselves from having to control the race like HTC for 250KMs.

Looking forward to it already, hopefully it will be an eventful race!

HTC train tactics don't work in one day races.

durhamwasp

Strong GB team that! Plenty of good support for Cav.

Pross

Rick Chasey wrote:

Pross wrote:

Lots of experience there and plenty of workhorses. If other teams do try the break tactic then surely GB's response should be to get someone with a reasonable finish (Hunt, Stannard or G?) into the break and just let them sit there. It wouldn't be popular but I think it would be legitimate given they have the best sprinter in the world if it comes back together.

Easier said than done.

It will take a lot for a Brit to get into the break.

I'd imagine they'd only be let go if a Freire type rider goes along with them.

Of course - cycling tactics are always easier said than done. An early break should be pulled back from any country with aspirations who isn't represented so hopefully won't all be left to GB unless it is quite late in the race.

inkyfingers

Rick Chasey wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

Looks the right team for the course to me, Cav certainly shouldn't be isolated until maybe the very end with a team like that...whether he'll still be in a race winning position at that point is anyones guess!

I know it won't be easy but they need to at least try and get someone like Jez Hunt into the break to save themselves from having to control the race like HTC for 250KMs.

Looking forward to it already, hopefully it will be an eventful race!

HTC train tactics don't work in one day races.

You know what I mean!

tailwindhome

Why is Cadel Evans not on the Aussie Team?


Any thoughts on the Irish team? Looks as strong as we have have for many years.

rick_chasey

TailWindHome wrote:

Why is Cadel Evans not on the Aussie Team?


.

Apparently he's hung up his wheels for the year.

Doobz

Ze germans look pretty strong too.. Kittel could be in with a chance..