Sprint Trains 2016
ocdupalais
Posts: 3,947
OGE vs Dimension Data vs Lotto vs Etixx
Here's something I never imagined asking: are we in for some particularly exciting sprint finishes this year? Looking at the Dimension Data line up, they've so nearly got the old (Highroad-HTC) band together (I'd be surprised if they didn't offer a large incentive for a certain missing band member of the German tank variety to join next year). They are packing some serious sprint train heavyweights in there, including one I'd almost forgotten about: Theo Bos.
I guess the question for them is how much of a distraction/hinderence will Cav's attention on Rio be? Or put in another way; will Cav's training towards the track impinge on his performance on the road?
This year could be a vintage. The possible demise of the old guard (but not without a fight)- and in with the new? Kids like Ewan and Gaviria up against last year's most successful "pure" sprinter, Greipel - and his impressive Lotto train... then there's Kittel, doing his utmost to regain his almost "unbeatability" of 2014; will he be at such a dominant level that Gaviria won't get a look-in at the bigger races? Will Katusha have the horse power to put Kristoff in with a shout? Then there's the best sprinter of all time seeking to prove that ego, guile and experience (as well as probably the most successful sprint train of the last decade) can overcome youthful speed and brute power.
No doubt one or more will be out of contention by the end of the season; but the other incentive for these dudes to get their sprint bang-on is that one of them could be World Champ on the Qatar course.
Here's something I never imagined asking: are we in for some particularly exciting sprint finishes this year? Looking at the Dimension Data line up, they've so nearly got the old (Highroad-HTC) band together (I'd be surprised if they didn't offer a large incentive for a certain missing band member of the German tank variety to join next year). They are packing some serious sprint train heavyweights in there, including one I'd almost forgotten about: Theo Bos.
I guess the question for them is how much of a distraction/hinderence will Cav's attention on Rio be? Or put in another way; will Cav's training towards the track impinge on his performance on the road?
This year could be a vintage. The possible demise of the old guard (but not without a fight)- and in with the new? Kids like Ewan and Gaviria up against last year's most successful "pure" sprinter, Greipel - and his impressive Lotto train... then there's Kittel, doing his utmost to regain his almost "unbeatability" of 2014; will he be at such a dominant level that Gaviria won't get a look-in at the bigger races? Will Katusha have the horse power to put Kristoff in with a shout? Then there's the best sprinter of all time seeking to prove that ego, guile and experience (as well as probably the most successful sprint train of the last decade) can overcome youthful speed and brute power.
No doubt one or more will be out of contention by the end of the season; but the other incentive for these dudes to get their sprint bang-on is that one of them could be World Champ on the Qatar course.
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(Not to derail the thread, but I'm going to need a massive olympic trigger warning if 'The Road to Rio' soap opera interferes with a vintage road season. Is Cav actually serious? I was hoping it was empty talk to boost his off-season media profile.)
Not sure if this will work seeing as how the trains developed to stop this kind of thing but could be interesting if true.
Tony Martin would be ace for this. They'd have to chase hard.
You're so right. Seems like the perfect man for the role.
I do agree on the changing of the guard though. Gaviria, Ewan and Pelucchi, although Kittel and Bouhanni should be right in there too.
Gaviria will be the choice on any race with more than a tiny hill, if it's flat then Kittel.
I think that the dynamic has changed a bit, the gap to the top tier riders seems to be shorter and there are many more riders around the fringes who won't get their own big trains so need to piggyback others. Obviously if Quickstep get a fit Kittel in a half decent position then they will be seriously tough to beat, but I think the others will have to try something new if they want to avoid leading out the hangers on.
There seems to be so much more strength in depth than in previous years, looking forward to some proper showdowns this year!
At least sprint trains add some drama. Nice when you get a few freestylers like Sagan in the mix (Freestyler because he is usually riding for a team with no leadout!)
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