BMC TdF team leader

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Comments

  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    morstar wrote:
    Biggest surprise in your list there is Porte. I would have thought the only Sky shake up would be Froome / Wiggins. Assuming Wiggins is not leader, do you still envisage Sky trying to get a 2nd rider in contention other than Wiggins just hanging in a high position without necessarily being leader.
    I still reckons has the necessary to finish higher than most on your list.


    Re Wiggins/Porte I'm hedging my bets in case of a scenario cropping up in which Wiggins isnt on the start line in Corsica. If this were to happen, I reckon with his TT and climbing Porte could still make top 5
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    morstar wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    As a rule of thumb for sports teams, it's better in the long term to back the 24 year old who came 5th last year over the 36 year old who came 7th
    I'm inclined to agree. Just surprised there is a school of thought that says whichever is chosen will most likely achieve a top 10 at best.
    Is it all just a throwback to the bizarre opinion that the 2012 edition was so easy and the bikes just rode themselves?
    From my point of view, I really rate Van Garderen - I think he's a future Tour winner and could podium this year - the sort of talent you want to support fully.
    Evans has done a lot for BMC and deserves respectn and opportunities from them, but his best days have past.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Interesting that Ferrari thinks someone other than the 2 favourites will win - wonder if he has a particular rider in mind as taking a big step forwards or if he just thinks Froome and Contador are not at the level most believe them to be.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    Sounds daft, but could Wiggins be considered "an outsider"?
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • morstar
    morstar Posts: 6,190
    inkyfingers wrote:
    Sounds daft, but could Wiggins be considered "an outsider"?
    That's a very good question but I'd personally say not.

    In terms of the BMC question, I still think they'll ride to win and top 5 will be expected by the team. Taking RR's list as a strong selection, I think the obvious 4 I'd select ahead of the BMC leader are last years podium + AC. Nibali isn't definitely riding is he? Sky may not have the luxury of keeping 2 guys right at the front, especially with more climbs and AC being a proven GT winner. Add in Rich95 point about last years finishes by BMC riders and I'd say as long as they se ttle the leadership issue, I'd be planning on top 5 and be pretty optimistic about a podium finish. Tvg was compromised by team duties last year (if you ignore tack gate) and Cadel was ill.
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,249
    RichN95 wrote:
    morstar wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    As a rule of thumb for sports teams, it's better in the long term to back the 24 year old who came 5th last year over the 36 year old who came 7th
    I'm inclined to agree. Just surprised there is a school of thought that says whichever is chosen will most likely achieve a top 10 at best.
    Is it all just a throwback to the bizarre opinion that the 2012 edition was so easy and the bikes just rode themselves?
    From my point of view, I really rate Van Garderen - I think he's a future Tour winner and could podium this year - the sort of talent you want to support fully.
    Evans has done a lot for BMC and deserves respectn and opportunities from them, but his best days have past.
    Interesting. I don't rate Van Garderen that much. He can climb but he's never been able to live with the very best climbers and his TT is decent but not special. And for that reason I really don't see him ever winning the Tour.

    To RR's list I'd add Van Den Broek, Talansky and Peraud.
  • mr_poll
    mr_poll Posts: 1,547
    RichN95 wrote:
    morstar wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    As a rule of thumb for sports teams, it's better in the long term to back the 24 year old who came 5th last year over the 36 year old who came 7th
    I'm inclined to agree. Just surprised there is a school of thought that says whichever is chosen will most likely achieve a top 10 at best.
    Is it all just a throwback to the bizarre opinion that the 2012 edition was so easy and the bikes just rode themselves?
    From my point of view, I really rate Van Garderen - I think he's a future Tour winner and could podium this year - the sort of talent you want to support fully.
    Evans has done a lot for BMC and deserves respectn and opportunities from them, but his best days have past.

    Agreed and given ppl on here were hypothesising that Wiggo couldnt lead the Giro and TdF then I dont see why there is now the opinion that Evans can. Evans had his shot at the Giro which at the time seemed to open things up for TJ - the switch in leaders makes me think something else may be happening - could be that TJ's numbers arent looking good?
    However anyone know when TJ's contract is up, could be as simple that he has decided not to renew and has somewhere else to go and that BMC would rather not have the points/prestige of a top 10/top5/podium/winner (take your pick depending on your opinion) walking off a few months down the line, so have decided to hitch their wagon to, a slightly riskier but still with a chance, Evans.
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    TJVG's on a 3 year contract though 2014.

    Och was making noises last week about him being a 'long term project'. BMC convinced that Evans is the better bet to lead BMC this Tour. I think next year (Evans last?) could be a different proposition. I imagine BMC and Evans himself have rationalised in their own minds TJVG finishing above him last year as down to Cuddles 'low level virus', or whatever.

    Though when asked at ToC when the young pretender saw himself as a genuine Tour GC contender, he answered 'in 7 weeks time'

    RUMBLE....!
  • wombly_knees
    wombly_knees Posts: 657
    LeicesterLad wrote:
    You are all missing the real question: Who's going to lead Movistar? Prudhomme has chosen his corner...
    Cobo is a lock.

    Both should have free roles, only for van Garderen to shovel Evans out of trouble if he's in the crap :wink:
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    wombly knees wrote:
    LeicesterLad wrote:
    You are all missing the real question: Who's going to lead Movistar? Prudhomme has chosen his corner...
    Cobo is a lock.

    Both should have free roles, only for van Garderen to shovel Evans out of trouble if he's in the crap :wink:


    Re Movistar LL means Quintana. Not Cobo, who I doubt we'll ever see living up to his bison nickname again
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Richmond Racer wrote:
    Re Movistar LL means Quintana. Not Cobo, who I doubt we'll ever see living up to his bison nickname again

    Won't they ride for Valverde? Did I miss something? Was I staring out of the window and not paying attention again?
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    Richmond Racer wrote:
    Re Movistar LL means Quintana. Not Cobo, who I doubt we'll ever see living up to his bison nickname again

    Won't they ride for Valverde? Did I miss something? Was I staring out of the window and not paying attention again?


    Yeah - but maybe its a bit of who we'd like to see as leader rather than the fact that Valverde will be leader...?
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Richmond Racer wrote:
    Yeah - but maybe its a bit of who we'd like to see as leader rather than the fact that Valverde will be leader...?

    Oh right, fair enough. I'd like to see them ride for Cobo then. Greater comedy value!
  • wombly_knees
    wombly_knees Posts: 657
    Richmond Racer wrote:
    wombly knees wrote:
    LeicesterLad wrote:
    You are all missing the real question: Who's going to lead Movistar? Prudhomme has chosen his corner...
    Cobo is a lock.

    Both should have free roles, only for van Garderen to shovel Evans out of trouble if he's in the crap :wink:


    Re Movistar LL means Quintana. Not Cobo, who I doubt we'll ever see living up to his bison nickname again
    Recognised that, just mucking around considering his form since his Vuelta win.
  • edhornby
    edhornby Posts: 1,780
    given that Evans and Wiggins have just thrashed themselves at the giro in pretty filthy conditions, why do people think that they are going to just kick on to the Tour ??? especially when other riders are targeting like Clenbutador et al? I like them both as riders but I think that TJVG and Froome should be given their run, the giro was the one that cuddles/wiggo wanted to do
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    edhornby wrote:
    given that Evans and Wiggins have just thrashed themselves at the giro in pretty filthy conditions, why do people think that they are going to just kick on to the Tour ??? especially when other riders are targeting like Clenbutador et al? I like them both as riders but I think that TJVG and Froome should be given their run, the giro was the one that cuddles/wiggo wanted to do


    Cuddles didn't want to do it.

    Wiggins didn't thrash himself. In fact, rode like a girl(TM)
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • Richmond Racer
    Richmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    calvjones wrote:
    edhornby wrote:
    given that Evans and Wiggins have just thrashed themselves at the giro in pretty filthy conditions, why do people think that they are going to just kick on to the Tour ??? especially when other riders are targeting like Clenbutador et al? I like them both as riders but I think that TJVG and Froome should be given their run, the giro was the one that cuddles/wiggo wanted to do


    Cuddles didn't want to do it.

    Wiggins didn't thrash himself. In fact, rode like a girl(TM)


    Plus for the millionth time...Froome is going to be given his run...*creates macro to paste this text every time as necessary*
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Vous bénéficierez à nouveau du statut de leader, secondé par Tejay Van Garderen. Est-ce la bonne formule pour ramener le maillot jaune à Paris ?
    Si je veux ramener le maillot jaune à Paris, je dois être leader, c'est évident. Même si Tejay n'est qu'au début de sa carrière, il est clair que c'est un coureur taillé pour le Tour de France. J'envie sa situation car il a quelqu'un d'expérience auprès duquel apprendre. Il peut travailler en vue du futur. J'ai 36 ans, et dans cinq ans, il y a de fortes probabilités pour que je ne sois plus là pour le Tour. Il aura plus d'opportunités pour lui à l'avenir. Je pense qu'il est dans une bonne situation, et je suis ravi d'avoir quelqu'un de sa qualité auprès de moi.

    Evans is the boss. Good.
    Contador is the Greatest

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