2014 TdF

Macaloon

Train; wrecked. Hopefully the end of that tedious meme.

Much more protection against lumpy ambushes than long-range mountain escapes. But assuming Kennaugh is sinjured, they don't appear to be leaving any climbers of note behind

Turfle

Lots of pressure on G and Kiryienka in those swingmen sort of roles. Love that Pate is in.

salsiccia1

Macaloon wrote:

sinjured

Is that a typo, or a fantastic new phrase?

Macaloon

Salsiccia1 wrote:

Macaloon wrote:

sinjured

Is that a typo, or a fantastic new phrase?

Who knows But I liked it.

Anonymous

Team Sky left this comment on another persons on facebook:

"We appreciate the support for Wiggo, he’s a great champion and a big part of our team. This year’s Tour line-up has been selected with the nine riders that we believe give us the best possible chance of success."

TMR

muttley_109 wrote:

Skys team announced

Chris Froome
Richie Porte
Geraint Thomas
Mikel Nieve
Bernhard Eisel
Vasil Kiryienka
David López
Danny Pate
Xabier Zandio

Completely petulant, but 'whatever'.*

No interest at all in SKY - apart from Bernie, who is uber. And GT, who is also uber.

* = no offence intended towards Muttley.

TMR

sjmclean wrote:

Team Sky left this comment on another persons on facebook:

"We appreciate the support for Wiggo, he’s a great champion and a big part of our team. This year’s Tour line-up has been selected with the nine riders that we believe give us the best possible chance of success."

Whatever.

OMG - I can't help myself. Sorry

TMR

Joelsim wrote:

But this year he has been hit by illness and is not showing the form of the last couple of years.

Surprised this is even being questioned. Shocking form from Porte this Season so far.

TMR

dsoutar wrote:

Andy reacts to the criticism

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2014/06/andy- ... big-issue/

Sounds like he's been reading the posts on here

I've just read that article and the first thought in my mind was 'Stop being such a pussy FFS!'

What's wrong with him? Has he always been so mentally weak?

blazing_saddles

A bunch of foreigners and Geraint.

powerbookboy

Blazing Saddles wrote:

A bunch of foreigners and Geraint.

Like watching a Premiership Team. Suits Sky nicely.

Is it me or does that look like they're more worried about the lumpy/bumpy than the mountains? Froome looks more exposed in the hills. I guess last year he controlled it almost single handedly, but I think the challenge is going to be stronger this year. They must have enormous faith in Froome's engine.

Interesting times.

Macaloon

Blazing Saddles wrote:

A bunch of foreigners and Geraint.

RoWPostal

ocdupalais

Surprised at how "flat" the Sky line up leaves me... It's a "corporate" selection.
Nobody can accuse Brailsford of not making the hard-nosed decisions, though.
Best mix to fight for for the Tour win (according to DB) Vs squad going from potentially 4 British riders (+ Froome) to 1? And if G carries on his season as he has, and is left lying in Carrefore de l'Arbre... then what? Will the British public continue to give a toss?

On the other hand, it's a solid squad with many bases covered - and might not be expected to boss the climbs from base to summit like in 2012, leaving the field of play open to a new style from them - as well as forcing other teams to take responsibility. Also, perhaps opinion is strong that the opening week's succession of brutal "classics" style stages will nobble any lightweight/climber laden team...

Macaloon

OCDuPalais wrote:

Surprised at how "flat" the Sky line up leaves me... It's a "corporate" selection.
Nobody can accuse Brailsford of not making the hard-nosed decisions, though.
Best mix to fight for for the Tour win (according to DB) Vs squad going from potentially 4 British riders (+ Froome) to 1? And if G carries on his season as he has, and is left lying in Carrefore de l'Arbre... then what? Will the British public continue to give a toss?

On the other hand, it's a solid squad with many bases covered - and might not be expected to boss the climbs from base to summit like in 2012, leaving the field of play open to a new style from them - as well as forcing other teams to take responsibility. Also, perhaps opinion is strong that the opening week's succession of brutal "classics" style stages will nobble any lightweight/climber laden team...

Other than Wiggo, the cupboard would appear to be bare. Pretty dire, given their resources, reputations, and single-minded focus on this race.

joelsim

Looking at the parcours, it's conceivable that the GC won't really get going until stage 13.

Before that it will be a yellow for a sprinter on stage 1, possibly Sagan or Gerrans on stage 2, maybe a new leader with a Cancellara/Van Marcke/GVA on stage 5 depending on how Sagan approaches that stage, then it's anyone's guess until stage 13.

andyp

It's also conceivable that the GC gets going on Stage 2. Or Stage 5.

Who knows.

Yellow Peril

I might be wrong but I thought the Sky project was about converting British track cycling success to WT Road Racing level. I thought that was their raison d'etre? Maybe they consider that box as being ticked and now it is just another WT team...and I think there are probably better conduits for young talent now such as OGE

above_the_cows

OCDuPalais wrote:

Surprised at how "flat" the Sky line up leaves me... It's a "corporate" selection.
Nobody can accuse Brailsford of not making the hard-nosed decisions, though.
Best mix to fight for for the Tour win (according to DB) Vs squad going from potentially 4 British riders (+ Froome) to 1? And if G carries on his season as he has, and is left lying in Carrefore de l'Arbre... then what? Will the British public continue to give a toss?

On the other hand, it's a solid squad with many bases covered - and might not be expected to boss the climbs from base to summit like in 2012, leaving the field of play open to a new style from them - as well as forcing other teams to take responsibility. Also, perhaps opinion is strong that the opening week's succession of brutal "classics" style stages will nobble any lightweight/climber laden team...

And therein lies the problem. What do you do, try and win the race with the best team for the job or try and please a few fair-weather cycling fans who will only watch when a British person/lots of British people are riding?

The members of the British public who can only get behind someone if they share a place of birth with them or they have sideburns still have Cavendish that they can support.

tailwindhome

UK Cycling Expert ‏@ukcyclingexpert · 1h
No Peter Kenneth, Ian Standard or Dan Swift in Team Sky Procycling Team for the Le Tour de France. Only 2 Englishmen: Thomas and Froome.

UK Cycling Expert ‏@ukcyclingexpert · 1h
Lots of backroom staff are English, though: Sir Dave Brailsford, Rob Ellingworth, Nick Kerrison and Fran Millar (daughter of Robert).

Turfle

My 4 year old nephew is handling the Wiggo news more maturely than British cycling fans on twitter.

I was hoping Luke Rowe might sneak into that Stannard role, but can't really argue against Eisel.

TMR

Blazing Saddles wrote:

A bunch of foreigners and Geraint.

You're going to get moaned at! Pop your ear plugs in

above_the_cows

Froome's train... Not sure this is allowed.

CarlosQuintana

"No Peter Kenneth, Ian Standard or Dan Swift"

Who the hell are these people?

TMR

Above The Cows wrote:

The members of the British public who can only get behind someone if they share a place of birth with them or they have sideburns still have Cavendish that they can support.

frenchfighter

TMR wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

A bunch of foreigners and Geraint.

You're going to get moaned at! Pop your ear plugs in

Surprising they do not have an English rider in there. So much for developing English talent.

powerbookboy

Yellow Peril wrote:

I might be wrong but I thought the Sky project was about converting British track cycling success to WT Road Racing level. I thought that was their raison d'etre? Maybe they consider that box as being ticked and now it is just another WT team...and I think there are probably better conduits for young talent now such as OGE

Maybe BC just haven't got anyone who's got the stellar numbers to podium on a GT. Stannard looks like he could get a Classics or 2, but the great unwashed don't give 2 tosses for irrelevances like the Monuments.

Shame the Yates bro's aren't racing. I know, I know, burnout. But still...

Wiggins can put some proper muscle on and have a good go at The Hour and WC TT now. Discussion over (until Sky get swamped and Froome is on his lonesome. But he's still got to be red hot favourite as he could put 1.5min+ into GC in the TT).

joelsim

Orica haven't announced their team yet.

RichN95.

Yellow Peril wrote:

I might be wrong but I thought the Sky project was about converting British track cycling success to WT Road Racing level. I thought that was their raison d'etre? Maybe they consider that box as being ticked and now it is just another WT team...and I think there are probably better conduits for young talent now such as OGE

I think the raison d'etre was to provide a solid pathway to the top pro level so that WT standard riders got WT racing. Before it was all a bit hit and miss if they would get picked up by a team and the type of team that came knocking. And British riders are getting those opportunities (and not just at Sky now).

Of the Brits they could have picked Stannard is injured, Kennaugh has been ill and may instead get opportunities for himself latyer in the season. Swift has been getting opportunities to ride for himself elsewhere. (All three have ridden the Tour for Sky). Edmondson is too young, which leaves Rowe, who is more a a classics rider.

I think Sky have been caught off guard somewhat by their own success which means they may not be the best place to develop now. But the likes while the likes of Orica are great for that, it's not a team to stay with when you are ready to win big things.

Paul 8v

Above The Cows wrote:

Froome's train... Not sure this is allowed.

Mechanical doping

above_the_cows

Paul 8v wrote:

Above The Cows wrote:

Froome's train... Not sure this is allowed.

Mechanical doping

And it's run by a computer. Team Sky hands down.