Sky tour team announced

jam1e
jam1e Posts: 1,068
edited July 2015 in Pro race
Can't see it elsewhere but feel free to delete.

Chris Froome, Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Ian Stannard, Luke Rowe, Nicolas Roche, Leopold König and Wout Poels

Wouldn't take Roche and probably not Rowe and they've left MM Kiri out.

Veulta looks like there'll be some good climbers feeling fresh though Henao x 2, Lopez, Nieve.
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Comments

  • Gazzetta67
    Gazzetta67 Posts: 1,890
    Gutted for Philip deignan - he's there abouts in the finale
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    Unsurprisingly not looking for any sprint stage wins. :D

    Be interesting if Froome stacks it on the cobbles again.
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  • tim000
    tim000 Posts: 718
    Unsurprisingly not looking for any sprint stage wins. :D

    Be interesting if Froome stacks it on the cobbles again.
    again??? thought it was on a roundabout.
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,517
    No Kiryenka? That's an interesting one, he always seems like a machine on the climbs.
  • RonB
    RonB Posts: 3,984
    Kiri has told the team he needs serious R&R as he's completely worn out after such a busy start to the year.
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Unsurprisingly not looking for any sprint stage wins. :D

    Be interesting if Froome stacks it on the cobbles again.
    again??? thought it was on a roundabout.

    I think it was actually on a dead straight piece of road...
    Correlation is not causation.
  • gaffer_slow
    gaffer_slow Posts: 417
    a little surprised that Standard made it, but with the cobbled stage (4?) perhaps not
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    A rather sour hatchet job on Froome from Velonews, for no apparent reason
    http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/06/news/froomes-strength-of-character-in-question_375468
    "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'"

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  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    A rather sour hatchet job on Froome from Velonews, for no apparent reason
    http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/06/news/froomes-strength-of-character-in-question_375468

    'October's tantrum'. That's pathetic. So bad that even Stokes wouldn't put his name to it.
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  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    on paper the best mountain train of the lot. the only weakness i see is when they are on a flat stage and echelons kick in, they only have 2 specialists for tha kind of terrain, Stannard and G. if they get caught out, they will lose a lot of time.

    Outside of that they are pretty formidable if all are on form.
  • on paper the best mountain train of the lot. the only weakness i see is when they are on a flat stage and echelons kick in, they only have 2 specialists for tha kind of terrain, Stannard and G. if they get caught out, they will lose a lot of time..

    There's also Luke Rowe who's been pretty good on the flat/cobbles this year. I also can see Roche being used on the flat or early on when you have that climbing team.

    And with the way the TTT finishes a climbing train may be better than an individual TT team, although most are not bad individual TT'ers anyway
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    Umm, I think there is a discussion about the Tour teams going on in the Tour thread in case you have missed it.
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  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    on paper the best mountain train of the lot. the only weakness i see is when they are on a flat stage and echelons kick in, they only have 2 specialists for tha kind of terrain, Stannard and G. if they get caught out, they will lose a lot of time.

    Outside of that they are pretty formidable if all are on form.

    Rowe has a couple of top 10s in cobbled classics. I think that's enough pedigree.
  • Ashbeck
    Ashbeck Posts: 235
    That team won't win the Tour. Not strong enough.

    I'll predict even now that Froome will be left with just one rider in the mountains as virtually half those riders will be toast long before then, especially Rowe. He got dropped in the Nationals by Cavendish, that tells you everything.

    Contador must be dancing on his pedals seeing that team sheet.

    Froome won't be strong enough on his own against Saxo.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784

    Froome won't be strong enough on his own against Saxo.

    Nonsense - Pete K and Poels are better than any of Berts helpers by a long way.

    Porte, Konig and Thomas will also all be there in the mountains.
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  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957

    Froome won't be strong enough on his own against Saxo.

    Nonsense - Pete K and Poels are better than any of Berts helpers by a long way.

    Porte, Konig and Thomas will also all be there in the mountains.

    And iain doesn't say that lightly about a team containing Ivan basso
    "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'"

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  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,786
    That team won't win the Tour. Not strong enough.

    I'll predict even now that Froome will be left with just one rider in the mountains as virtually half those riders will be toast long before then, especially Rowe. He got dropped in the Nationals by Cavendish, that tells you everything.

    Contador must be dancing on his pedals seeing that team sheet.

    Froome won't be strong enough on his own against Saxo.

    Of course no one knows what will happen, but these seem like very uninformed comments. Which races have you been watching exactly?
  • hammerite
    hammerite Posts: 3,408
    That team won't win the Tour. Not strong enough.

    I'll predict even now that Froome will be left with just one rider in the mountains as virtually half those riders will be toast long before then, especially Rowe. He got dropped in the Nationals by Cavendish, that tells you everything.

    Contador must be dancing on his pedals seeing that team sheet.

    Froome won't be strong enough on his own against Saxo.

    Konig, 3 GT starts, 3 top 10s. That says he can climb a bit. Roche - 7 top 20s.
    Porte there as last man.

    G and Little Pete will turn themselves inside out on the run in to a climb and on the lower slopes before Roche, Poels, Konig and Porte even need to get on the front.
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    but what about Luke Rowe?

    I think the interesting thing is the addition of Thomas, Porte, Konig over Boswell and Deignan from the Dauphine TTT. That can't hurt.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,540
    Whilst Rowe, Thomas and Stannard are about as strong support as you can get on cobbles. Stannard will pull all day on the flat with Rowe as back up. That's a rock solid GT support team. But then again Ashbeck doesn't make many lucid comments. Pretty sure he's a reincarnation of one of our friends from last year.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,154
    Whilst Rowe, Thomas and Stannard are about as strong support as you can get on cobbles. Stannard will pull all day on the flat with Rowe as back up. That's a rock solid GT support team. But then again Ashbeck doesn't make many lucid comments. Pretty sure he's a reincarnation of one of our friends from last year.
    Also, despite his relative inexperience, Rowe is well thought of by the team for his leadership skills.
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  • ginsterdrz
    ginsterdrz Posts: 128
    I think Porte is the weak link. He's struggled under pressure this year with his big chance and he wasn't outstanding at the TdF last year. I just hope he's not plan B-that must surely be big G after last year.

    Big Bernie would be my nomination in place of Porte.
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    I think Porte is the weak link. He's struggled under pressure this year with his big chance and he wasn't outstanding at the TdF last year. I just hope he's not plan B-that must surely be big G after last year.

    Big Bernie would be my nomination in place of Porte.

    Taking Bernard Eisel in place of Froome's roomie and their best mountain train guy seems and odd selection.
    "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
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,154
    I think Porte is the weak link. He's struggled under pressure this year with his big chance and he wasn't outstanding at the TdF last year. I just hope he's not plan B-that must surely be big G after last year.
    Froome needs a last man who can put the others on the limit for 500-1000m before he attacks. Porte is probably the best in the world at doing that.
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  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 13,326
    I don't think anyone has a team with the balance and quality that Sky have. Saxo is decent, but a touch long in the tooth. Astana used up some of their top domestiques in Italy. Movistar? Not sure Valverde is cut out for self sacrifice....

    For the "classics" stages of the first week, who else can boast a trio that did as well in the actual classics as Stannard, G and Lowe? For the mountains, who can boast a lieutenant with the quality of Porte, backed up by Konig and Poels?

    Chuck Roche in for experience and Kennaugh for the lower slopes and you're rocking.

    It's a seriously strong team.
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  • ginsterdrz
    ginsterdrz Posts: 128
    Porte probably WAS the best at doing that.

    That's what Poels, Konig, Big G and Roche will do. Doesn't make sense to me. They would be better with a flat stage dragger like Bernie and less duplication.

    Porte is a gamble-he may go well but he may follow his current form and disappoint.

    Don't forget, Froome was rooming in the campervan on his own until the UCI stepped in.
  • Macaloon
    Macaloon Posts: 5,545
    I doubt any team is taking PlanBterol for this Tour.
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  • adr82
    adr82 Posts: 4,002
    edited June 2015
    Porte is a gamble-he may go well but he may follow his current form and disappoint.
    He had GC wins in something like 5 stage races during the first part of the season, including Paris-Nice and Catalunya, before a Giro where he was matching Aru and Contador until his various mechanicals and crashes. That's his "current form", and I think it more than justifies taking him to the Tour... if you wanted to drop anyone based on their recent racing form it would surely have to be Roche!
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,154
    Porte probably WAS the best at doing that.

    That's what Poels, Konig, Big G and Roche will do. Doesn't make sense to me. They would be better with a flat stage dragger like Bernie and less duplication.

    Porte is a gamble-he may go well but he may follow his current form and disappoint.
    Porte's form is fine. It's better than fine. He's third on the WT rankings and he's won three stage races.

    Remember he was one of the three favourites for the Giro and was riding like it until he crashed and hurt his knee. As long as his knee is OK, he's a tremendous asset.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,100
    A rather sour hatchet job on Froome from Velonews, for no apparent reason
    http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/06/news/froomes-strength-of-character-in-question_375468

    'October's tantrum'. That's pathetic. So bad that even Stokes wouldn't put his name to it.
    It's an opinion piece and the opinions aren't particularly unreasonable. Not sure how it could be labelled as 'pathetic'.
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