Team GB Olympic Road Race Team

c_nichols
c_nichols Posts: 27
edited July 2012 in Pro race
Team has been announced this morning and is:

Mark Cavendish, Chris Froome, David Millar, Ian Stannard and Bradley Wiggins.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18701660

Pretty much as expected I reckon. Lots of protection and some big engines in there to help Cav over Box Hill and onwards!!
«1

Comments

  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    A good team that as not only will they be able to pull like crazy and over the bergs, but the three of them can TT very strongly.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    frenchfighter wrote:
    A good team that as not only will they be able to pull like crazy and over the bergs, but the three of them can TT very strongly.

    Millar and Wiggins to ride the TT, I would think
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    It's Froome and Wiggins for the TT.

    Pity that Ben Swift isn't there as backup, but I guess that's a luxury they can't afford.
  • shockedsoshocked
    shockedsoshocked Posts: 4,021
    I thought Brailsford was against riders with previous doping history? Except when it suits him seemingly. Must have been the nuances of this policy he was discussing with Millar when the Gendarmes kicked the door in. Prick.
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

    PTP Runner Up 2015
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    I thought Brailsford was against riders with previous doping history? Except when it suits him seemingly. Must have been the nuances of this policy he was discussing with Millar when the Gendarmes kicked the door in. Prick.
    No that's a Sky policy, dictated by BSkyB themselves. Brailsford and British Cycling have picked Millar for every World Championships since his ban, so this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's been paying attention.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • esspeebee
    esspeebee Posts: 174
    The courts decided that they can't exclude an athlete from Olympic selection because of past doping bans. Given that, on current performance, you can't really not pick Millar.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    I thought Brailsford was against riders with previous doping history? Except when it suits him seemingly. Must have been the nuances of this policy he was discussing with Millar when the Gendarmes kicked the door in. Prick.

    Mi-aow!
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    I thought Brailsford was against riders with previous doping history? Except when it suits him seemingly. Must have been the nuances of this policy he was discussing with Millar when the Gendarmes kicked the door in. Prick.

    They didn't just kicked the door in, there were smoke grenades thrown in and everything. At least as I remember it.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    RichN95 wrote:
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    I thought Brailsford was against riders with previous doping history? Except when it suits him seemingly. Must have been the nuances of this policy he was discussing with Millar when the Gendarmes kicked the door in. Prick.
    No that's a Sky policy, dictated by BSkyB themselves. Brailsford and British Cycling have picked Millar for every World Championships since his ban, so this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's been paying attention.


    How dare you talk with such sensibleness Richard! Gah, don't you know this is a bike forum?

    With regard to the team - so as was expected basically....looks good, lets hope they all get through this thingum in france now...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • LeicesterLad
    LeicesterLad Posts: 3,908
    RichN95 wrote:
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    I thought Brailsford was against riders with previous doping history? Except when it suits him seemingly. Must have been the nuances of this policy he was discussing with Millar when the Gendarmes kicked the door in. Prick.
    No that's a Sky policy, dictated by BSkyB themselves. Brailsford and British Cycling have picked Millar for every World Championships since his ban, so this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's been paying attention.

    :lol:
    http://www.twitter.com/InTheGC http://www.InTheGC.com http://www.facebook.com/intheGC
  • shockedsoshocked
    shockedsoshocked Posts: 4,021
    RichN95 wrote:
    ShockedSoShocked wrote:
    I thought Brailsford was against riders with previous doping history? Except when it suits him seemingly. Must have been the nuances of this policy he was discussing with Millar when the Gendarmes kicked the door in. Prick.
    No that's a Sky policy, dictated by BSkyB themselves. Brailsford and British Cycling have picked Millar for every World Championships since his ban, so this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's been paying attention.

    Yes I understand that, but an event he was previously banned from competing in until it's practically starting, taking the place away from a younger rider with no history who in my opinion would deserve to be picked over Millar. Same as Chambers, I suspect there wouldn't have been any interest in overturning their ban if the games weren't in London. Hardly a strong stance on chargers.
    "A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"

    PTP Runner Up 2015
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    So your quarrel is whether or not Millar is better than the young rider..?

    Nothing else had anything to do with BC, Sky, Brailsford, Millar or anyone other than WADA or the BOA....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,548
    Surely you pick a team based on their ability to deliver a medal? Therefore picking four strong rouleurs and the best sprinter in the world is the best option to meet that goal.

    Who would you pick in place of Millar who'd be better?
  • ToeKnee
    ToeKnee Posts: 376
    Well I'll be hoping Cav does not win the RR ... and that anything Chambers is associated with fails too ... the later being a near certainty anyway.
    Seneca wrote:
    It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
    Specialized TriCross Sport+Ultegra+Rack&Bag+Guards+Exposure Lights - FCN 7
    Track:Condor 653, MTB:GT Zaskar, Road & TT:Condors.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    ToeKnee wrote:
    Well I'll be hoping Cav does not win the RR ... and that anything Chambers is associated with fails too ... the later being a near certainty anyway.

    So every other team in the Road Race will have an unimpeachable record going back to at least 2000 then will they?
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • LeicesterLad
    LeicesterLad Posts: 3,908
    Millar Served his cycling ban and has since shown remorse where others havn't.

    His lifetime Olympic ban has been proven to be unworkable and unlawful. Those are the facts.

    He is simply the best man for the team, super domestique, friend, training partner to Cavendish. There is no younger rider with better capabilities. If you want to win a medal, you pick your best team. Millar has shown more than his worth (thinking of the Worlds here)

    There have been plenty of arguments as to why Millar shouldn't be riding, none of them seem to carry much weight beyond personal opinion.
    http://www.twitter.com/InTheGC http://www.InTheGC.com http://www.facebook.com/intheGC
  • Monty Zoncolan
    Monty Zoncolan Posts: 341
    I'm heartened to see that line up announced and really looking forward to the Olympic RR as a much needed post-le-Tour pick up.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    ToeKnee wrote:
    Well I'll be hoping Cav does not win the RR ... and that anything Chambers is associated with fails too ... the later being a near certainty anyway.

    I doubt either of them will be particularly bothered TBH.
  • derbygrimpeur
    derbygrimpeur Posts: 822
    LeicesterLad wrote:
    Millar Served his cycling ban and has since shown remorse where others havn't.

    His lifetime Olympic ban has been proven to be unworkable and unlawful. Those are the facts.

    He is simply the best man for the team, super domestique, friend, training partner to Cavendish. There is no younger rider with better capabilities. If you want to win a medal, you pick your best team. Millar has shown more than his worth (thinking of the Worlds here)

    There have been plenty of arguments as to why Millar shouldn't be riding, none of them seem to carry much weight beyond personal opinion.

    this
  • ToeKnee
    ToeKnee Posts: 376
    LeicesterLad wrote:
    Millar Served his cycling ban and has since shown remorse where others havn't.

    His lifetime Olympic ban has been proven to be unworkable and unlawful. Those are the facts.

    He is simply the best man for the team, super domestique, friend, training partner to Cavendish. There is no younger rider with better capabilities. If you want to win a medal, you pick your best team. Millar has shown more than his worth (thinking of the Worlds here)

    There have been plenty of arguments as to why Millar shouldn't be riding, none of them seem to carry much weight beyond personal opinion.
    I am happy for him to earn a living on the cycling circuit. As you say, he has shown remorse.
    I believe that the lifetime Olympic ban should never have been lifted - it's one event every four years. Sadly laws have been put in place preventing this ban.
    Yes, it is personal opinion but based on morals - something the country, to it's detriment, has lost.
    Seneca wrote:
    It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
    Specialized TriCross Sport+Ultegra+Rack&Bag+Guards+Exposure Lights - FCN 7
    Track:Condor 653, MTB:GT Zaskar, Road & TT:Condors.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    ToeKnee wrote:
    LeicesterLad wrote:
    Millar Served his cycling ban and has since shown remorse where others havn't.

    His lifetime Olympic ban has been proven to be unworkable and unlawful. Those are the facts.

    He is simply the best man for the team, super domestique, friend, training partner to Cavendish. There is no younger rider with better capabilities. If you want to win a medal, you pick your best team. Millar has shown more than his worth (thinking of the Worlds here)

    There have been plenty of arguments as to why Millar shouldn't be riding, none of them seem to carry much weight beyond personal opinion.
    I am happy for him to earn a living on the cycling circuit. As you say, he has shown remorse.
    I believe that the lifetime Olympic ban should never have been lifted - it's one event every four years. Sadly laws have been put in place preventing this ban.
    Yes, it is personal opinion but based on morals - something the country, to it's detriment, has lost.

    Out of interest who do you want to win the Olympic title then? You'll be hard pressed to find a top team where no riders have at least a doping shadow over them.
  • markyboy2005
    markyboy2005 Posts: 465
    ToeKnee wrote:
    LeicesterLad wrote:
    Millar Served his cycling ban and has since shown remorse where others havn't.

    His lifetime Olympic ban has been proven to be unworkable and unlawful. Those are the facts.

    He is simply the best man for the team, super domestique, friend, training partner to Cavendish. There is no younger rider with better capabilities. If you want to win a medal, you pick your best team. Millar has shown more than his worth (thinking of the Worlds here)

    There have been plenty of arguments as to why Millar shouldn't be riding, none of them seem to carry much weight beyond personal opinion.
    I am happy for him to earn a living on the cycling circuit. As you say, he has shown remorse.
    I believe that the lifetime Olympic ban should never have been lifted - it's one event every four years. Sadly laws have been put in place preventing this ban.
    Yes, it is personal opinion but based on morals - something the country, to it's detriment, has lost.

    You may believe that the lifetime Olympic Ban should not have been lifted, but the people who make the rules did. In fact they made it very clear that the BOC guidelines were not in keeping with WADA's code (which they signed up to) and was also not in line with almost all other countries Olympic committee rules.

    Laws have not been put in place preventing the ban, the ban was not lawful and was therefore not enforceable. In fact if anything some "laws" have been removed to bring BOC in line with the rest of the world.

    On the subject of morals, I don't think you can assume that your belief that Millar should not be in the Olympic team elevates them beyond someone who does. Perhaps the moral high Ground should be taken by the people who believe in giving remorseful athletes a second chance?

    I for one do not see how a belief that Millar should have an Olympic lifetime ban is a position of moral value that is better than the current moral yardstick for the UK as a whole....I don't get the connection.

    As others have said, the best team should be selected from within the legally selectable pool - that is what has been done and I really hope it results in gold for GB.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,695
    markyboy2005 wrote:

    some "laws" have been removed to bring BOC in line with the rest of the world.

    On the subject of morals, I don't think you can assume that your belief that Millar should not be in the Olympic team elevates them beyond someone who does. Perhaps the moral high Ground should be taken by the people who believe in giving remorseful athletes a second chance?

    I for one do not see how a belief that Millar should have an Olympic lifetime ban is a position of moral value that is better than the current moral yardstick for the UK as a whole....I don't get the connection.

    Becasue his argument crumbles without it? :P
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Yellow Peril
    Yellow Peril Posts: 4,466
    Froome over Millar in the TT. Is that just younger legs= better chance of recovery following the RR or is he the better TT'er now? Millar was no slouch in the prologue the other day.
    @JaunePeril

    Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
  • Tusher
    Tusher Posts: 2,762
    I was about to ask the same thing, YellowPeril. (And I still feel very sorry for Dowsett not being picked, although I can understand why).
    But surely Miller is a better TTer than Froome?
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    Froome did beat Millar in that prologue though, and also beat him in the 53k Dauphine TT.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    It probably came down to a battle of Daily Mail Olympic outrages.

    Ex-doper v Plastic Brit

    Plastic Brit wins.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    Think Millar would be a certain top 10, maybe top 5, and an outside podium chance. Froome is a bit in the ascendancy, beat Millar in the recent long TT, and imo probably has a better chance at producing something fantastic, but also more chance of getting it all wrong.

    Safe pick in Wiggins, abd the boom or bust pick in Froome.
  • patchy
    patchy Posts: 779
    I wonder if there's a bit of PR angle in the TT pick also. This way, Holy Dave can say he's only doing the Olympics for Cav - selfless etc - rather than for personal glory.

    You can read that as honourable or cynical depending on your stance on Mr Millar, of course.
    point your handlebars towards the heavens and sweat like you're in hell
  • Yellow Peril
    Yellow Peril Posts: 4,466
    patchy wrote:
    I wonder if there's a bit of PR angle in the TT pick also. This way, Holy Dave can say he's only doing the Olympics for Cav - selfless etc - rather than for personal glory.

    You can read that as honourable or cynical depending on your stance on Mr Millar, of course.


    Not a bad team overall, it's got a real shot at the podium. Adidas will be designing a special hair shirt for Dave right now. I suppose if any of the team get spannered in the Tour there are no issues with announcing replacements?
    @JaunePeril

    Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition

Categories