Criticism of the Sky train (may contain spoilers)

RichN95.

nic_77 wrote:

Yep. I commended Rich for his insight on the other thread too. Another analogy... when Messi has a quiet game you often don't hear much about it, when in fact we should be raving about the undoubtedly superb defensive performance that has nullified his usual impact. Allowed to roam unchecked Messi provides a cheap thrill but no lasting intrique. As ever the answer lies in balance.

Sports fans who cannot see the beauty in defending are missing half of the spectacle. I pity them.

I think you're being a bit harsh on Messi there. He's genuinely very.very special. You make him sound as though he's Ashley Young or Sami Nasri.

rjgr

Lurk a lot rarely post but thought you are all missing a key point:

There are a few posters touching on the theme but no one has yet focused on the influence of the manager.

I suggest that like his mate/mentor Alex Ferguson, Dave Brailsford is an exceptional motivator/ man manager who also has the personality (hair dryer!?) to persuade big egos to conform with his/the coaches overall team plan.

The recruitment looks for the diesel engines and the training and the minor races are all designed to hone the model. Where others see no plan 'B' Brailsford sees loyalty, teamwork and well paid employees, super fit, well trained, doing as they are instructed. I think the parallel is the teamwork, drill, loyalty of a military unit. Armies win battles based on superior numbers, better logistics and smarter generals. Heros operating on courage and guts win medals and are great inspiration for books and films but they don't win wars.

That's why Sky has a model that scares the competition on GT's but isn't up to dealing with 'heroes' in the one day classics. If they won everything there would be no point watching, but they are not and I am looking forwards to seeing if they can roll out last years model and win the Giro when everyone else has had a year to devise a plan to counteract the train or more accurately exploit Wiggins' perceived weakness.

/sanctimonious waffle/off

Libel score = 0

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RichN95.

rjgr wrote:

Lurk a lot rarely post but thought you are all missing a key point:

I think some of us have already got to that point. Although I would suggest that Brailsford's not really like Ferguson. I think Brailsford knows his limits and doesn't dictate strategy, while Ferguson does. Both delegate coaching to others. Brailsford is more similar to Bob Stapleton, Billy Beane or even Clive Woodward.

The one who moulds the team is most likely Rod Ellingworth - who Stapleton thought was one of the best minds in cycling.

iainf72

rjgr wrote:

I suggest that like his mate/mentor Alex Ferguson, Dave Brailsford is an exceptional motivator/ man manager who also has the personality (hair dryer!?) to persuade big egos to conform with his/the coaches overall team plan.

I gather from people who've worked with him that he's not a great motivator, but he's a phenomenal organiser. He finds the right people and then gives them an environment to work in that gets results.

philbar72

he's a process man. its very simple. as ian puts in the previous post he encourages those with the coaching talent to improve their cadre of racers. its very effective.

ddraver

I think it's even simpler that that guys. Without wanting to sound like a management consultant, they give the riders the tools to be the best they can be. Whether that is better coaching, better back up, better psychology or just better bidons, they provide it. If a rider cannot make the most of that he is quietly let go. AS we ve discussed ad nauseum (have that AtC! ) there are very few other teams working like that, and those taht are simply don't have the money to do it to the extent that Sky do. Have a look at Sky's home base as an example...

Combine that with a specific team effort to win a specific race - which, other than US Postal/Disco - I don't think any team has every really done before (maybe Lemond did) and you get results!