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Why are Quick Step so good? (non-doping related)

markwb79markwb79 Posts: 932
edited February 2014 in Pro race
Sorry for stealing the trolls title. Not for one second do I think its doping related. My personal opinion is that it is a more professional approach, but I am interested in hearing other peoples views?

But I am a little shocked at how dominant Quick Step seem to have been already this year. In my mind they really have a super team with some very specific goals.

But these goals are couple of months away and this is definitely a building phase for them. But why have they had it so easy?

Of course I dont expect Sky to be competing with them as their goals are later in the season. But I was expecting the likes of Trek (who have similar goals) to be more competitive.

Seeing the training that they did in early Jan, it wasnt revolutionary. Did the other teams start 2 weeks later and thats what makes the difference?

Or because more of their riders continued racing during the winter? Terpstra, Keisse, Stybar?

Before Xmas the Belkin training camp started a week or two later than the Quick Step one.
Scott Addict 2011
Giant TCR 2012

Posts

  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 53,291 Lives Here
    The 3 weeks from E3 to Roubaix is more important to them than the rest of the season combined.

    Competition within QS is also high so riders need to step up early to guarantee their place.


    In Qatar no other team brought their entire classics 'A' team, only a mixture of A and B.
    _
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 24,517
    They're usually like this for the reasons Rick says. At this stage in 2012 they had won 11 races (as opposed to 6 this year).
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • The TruthThe Truth Posts: 161
    The secret is out, everyone is warming down now. They have also started bringing their own pillows with them when they sleep away from home. This can easily explain any sudden improvement.

    And of course, Dr Ibarguren is one of the best doctors in the peloton. His saddle sore expertise is top notch.
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,631
    Similar reasosns to Sky at The Tour - lots of money and focus on a specic "3 week" goal

    I think even Sky would struggle to hold on to Cavendish, Boonen, Terpstra, Keisse, Martin and the others but not only have they done that they've tempted Uran away from Sky...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Richmond RacerRichmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    I dont think they had to do much 'tempting', to be fair

    Rigo looked around and saw 2 undoubted (at that point) Tour leaders in Froome and Wiggins. And Lefevere offered him a mahoosive payrise.
  • ThomThomThomThom Posts: 3,574
    Because they have the coolest man in the business.

    brian_holm_of_omega_pharma_quick_step_looks_pleased_with_his_new_beard_670.jpg
  • Richmond RacerRichmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    ^Well, yes, there is that
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,631
    Richmond Racer wrote:
    I dont think they had to do much 'tempting', to be fair

    Rigo looked around and saw 2 undoubted (at that point) Tour leaders in Froome and Wiggins. And Lefevere offered him a mahoosive payrise.

    Well yep exactly.

    Froome can dominate the Tour becasue he has 4 or 5 of his potential rivals working all for him. Ok Boonen has Sagan and Cancellara to deal with but behind them the next best classics rivals are Stybar, Keisse, Terpstra etc and they re all helping Boonen win.

    My point about Uran was the despite being able to pay the best sprinter of his generation, the best classics rider of his generation (discuss), and 3 or 4 opponents of that classics rider, they were STILL able to pay Uran, a decent GC rider, enough to leave Sky - arguably (but not much) the best GC team in the world. Ok so maybe they re going to use him for the hilly classics but...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 10,941
    It's the superior wood flooring surely?

    No seriously, its a combination of money, expertise and clear goals with the right riders for those goals. Anyway let's not get ahead of ourselves the classics are a few weeks away and anything can happen. Lady luck is always a necessary component in any race, but even more crucial as a determining factor in a one dayer.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • dish_dashdish_dash Posts: 5,019
    GCC races still very much a warm up, so hard to guage how good they will be but its looking good. Their focus is the spring classics (and yes they do have special pillows - cue video links).

    But worth noting that they didn't win any of the major classics in 2013. Though had cracker in 2012...
  • CrankbrotherCrankbrother Posts: 1,695
    What Rick said ... Once the seasons main objectives are over early season the team can just relax and race ... Martin guarantees a hatful of decent results on his own (quite literally) so that leaves everyone else to get Cav across the line, and when that works it can only be good for the morale of the entire team/staff which they then carry on to the end of the season and beginning of next ...
  • disgruntledgoatdisgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    dish_dash wrote:
    GCC races still very much a warm up, so hard to guage how good they will be but its looking good. Their focus is the spring classics (and yes they do have special pillows - cue video links).

    But worth noting that they didn't win any of the major classics in 2013. Though had cracker in 2012...

    7c524b30f0072cfd47d7c0f896d61134.jpg

    The horror...
    "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
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,631
    That is no where near the worst one by far - the one where Tommeke was spanking Cav was much worse.... *shudder*
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Richmond RacerRichmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    ddraver wrote:
    That is no where near the worst one by far - the one where Tommeke was spanking Cav was much worse.... *shudder*


    Bring. It.
  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 10,941
    ddraver wrote:
    That is no where near the worst one by far - the one where Tommeke was spanking Cav was much worse.... *shudder*

    There's also the one of a few years ago where they are standing crotch to a*se sleeping on each other's shoulders. That was the worst. Tony Martin got in very close to Chavanel whom he was sleeping on.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • dish_dashdish_dash Posts: 5,019
    Above The Cows wrote:
    ddraver wrote:
    That is no where near the worst one by far - the one where Tommeke was spanking Cav was much worse.... *shudder*

    There's also the one of a few years ago where they are standing crotch to a*se sleeping on each other's shoulders. That was the worst. Tony Martin got in very close to Chavanel whom he was sleeping on.

    ah yes...

    405061_10150509913743744_309351868743_8817309_829750192_n.jpg
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 24,517
    Double post. No need to see that twice.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 21,631
    I can't find the spanking one - I think it's been removed from the "white web"
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Richmond RacerRichmond Racer Posts: 8,561
    ddraver wrote:
    I can't find the spanking one - I think it's been removed from the "white web"


    Are you prepared to go into the reaches of the Deep Web for The Cause?
  • disgruntledgoatdisgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    I look forward to your disciplinary... "Why were you googling "Boonen Spanking Cav, Pillow fight?"
    "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
  • gpreevesgpreeves Posts: 454
    ddraver wrote:
    I can't find the spanking one - I think it's been removed from the "white web"

    Is this the one?

    tumblr_mfyj0kdq0v1r4o0yso1_1280.jpg
  • specialgueststarspecialgueststar Posts: 3,334
    damned lies and statistics - depends what measure you use

    Tour 2013




    FROOME Christopher 1 SKY PROCYCLING 83h 56' 40''
    2. COLQUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander 128 MOVISTAR TEAM 84h 01' 00'' + 04' 20''
    3. ESPRODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 101 KATUSHA TEAM 84h 01' 44'' + 05' 04''
    4. ESPCONTADOR Alberto 91 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 84h 03' 07'' + 06' 27''
    5. CZEKREUZIGER Roman 94 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 84h 04' 07'' + 07' 27''
    6. NEDMOLLEMA Bauke 164 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 84h 08' 22'' + 11' 42''
    7. DENFUGLSANG Jakob 63 ASTANA PRO TEAM 84h 08' 57'' + 12' 17''
    8. ESPVALVERDE Alejandro 121 MOVISTAR TEAM 84h 12' 06'' + 15' 26''
    9. ESPNAVARRO Daniel 139 COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS 84h 12' 32'' + 15' 52''
    10. USATALANSKY Andrew 178 GARMIN - SHARP 84h 14' 19'' + 17' 39''
    11. POLKWIATKOWSKI Michal 153 OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 84h 15' 39'' + 18' 59''
    12. ESPNIEVE ITURRALDE Mikel 116 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 84h 16' 41'' + 20' 01''
    13. NEDTEN DAM Laurens 167 BELKIN PRO CYCLING 84h 18' 19'' + 21' 39''
    14. BELMONFORT Maxime 47 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 84h 20' 18'' + 23' 38''
    15. FRABARDET Romain 82 AG2R LA MONDIALE 84h 23' 22'' + 26' 42''
    16. AUSROGERS Michael 98 TEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 84h 23' 31'' + 26' 51''
    17. ESPMORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel 106 KATUSHA TEAM 84h 29' 14'' + 32' 34''
    18. BELBAKELANTS Jan 42 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 84h 32' 31'' + 35' 51''
    19. AUSPORTE Richie 6 SKY PROCYCLING 84h 36' 21'' + 39' 41''
    20. LUXSCHLECK Andy 41 RADIOSHACK LEOPARD 84h 38' 26'' + 41' 46''

    1. DENTEAM SAXO-TINKOFF 251h 11' 07''
    2. FRAAG2R LA MONDIALE 251h 19' 35'' + 08' 28''
    3. LUXRADIOSHACK LEOPARD 251h 20' 09'' + 09' 02''
    4. ESPMOVISTAR TEAM 251h 33' 56'' + 22' 49''
    5. NEDBELKIN PRO CYCLING 251h 49' 37'' + 38' 30''
    6. RUSKATUSHA TEAM 252h 14' 55'' + 01h 03' 48''
    7. ESPEUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 252h 41' 41'' + 01h 30' 34''
    8. BELOMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP 253h 01' 32'' + 01h 50' 25''


    Giro 2013

    1. Vincenzo NIBALI, Astana, in 84:53:28
    2. Rigoberto URAN URAN, Sky, at 4:43
    3. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 5:52
    4. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-Merida, at 6:48
    5. Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 7:28
    6. Przemyslaw NIEMIEC, Lampre-Merida, at 7:43
    7. Rafal MAJKA, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 8:09
    8. Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Movistar, at 10:26
    9. Mauro SANTAMBROGIO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 10:32
    10. Domenico POZZOVIVO, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 10:59
    11. Franco PELLIZOTTI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 11:35
    12. Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 12:13
    13. Yury TROFIMOV, Katusha, at 12:55
    14. Tanel KANGERT, Astana, at 12:57
    15. Robert KISERLOVSKI, RadioShack-Leopard, at 14:27
    16. Sergio Luis HENAO MONTOYA, Sky, at 18:19
    17. Wilco KELDERMAN, Blanco, at 20:18
    18. Darwin ATAPUMA HURTADO, Colombia, at 28:56
    19. Damiano CARUSO, Cannondale, at 30:56
    20. Francis MOUREY, FDJ, at 32:22
    21. Francis DE GREEF, Lotto-Belisol, at 33:20
    22. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 37:14
    23. Evgeny PETROV, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 38:09
    24. Diego ROSA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 40:23
    25. José HERRADA LOPEZ, Movistar, at 40:34
    26. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Blanco, at 42:36
    27. Jose Rodolfo SERPA PEREZ, Lampre-Merida, at 44:17
    28. Fabio Andres DUARTE AREVALO, Colombia, at 47:37
    29. Rafael VALLS FERRI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 54:29
    30. Ivan SANTAROMITA, BMC Racing, at 56:52
    31. Juan Manuel GARATE, Blanco, at 58:21
    32. Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:02:05
    33. Jorge AZANZA SOTO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:07:21
    34. Steve MORABITO, BMC Racing, at 1:10:16
    35. Giovanni VISCONTI, Movistar, at 1:10:47
    36. Tiago MACHADO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 1:12:10
    37. Kanstantsin SIUTSOU, Sky, at 1:13:17
    38. Pieter WEENING, Orica-GreenEdge, at 1:17:18
    39. Valerio AGNOLI, Astana, at 1:18:46
    40. Petr IGNATENKO, Katusha, at 1:20:46
    41. Giampaolo CARUSO, Katusha, at 1:22:00
    42. Fabio ARU, Astana, at 1:24:53
    43. Fabio FELLINE, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 1:30:59
    44. Stefano PIRAZZI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 1:33:42
    45. Miguel Angel RUBIANO CHAVEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 1:34:47
    46. Jarlinson PANTANO, Colombia, at 1:35:37
    47. Vladimir KARPETS, Movistar, at 1:36:00
    48. Stef CLEMENT, Blanco, at 1:38:38
    49. Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:39:17
    50. Jackson RODRIGUEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 1:39:22
    51. Ben GASTAUER, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:40:31
    52. Peter STETINA, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:42:37
    53. Thomas DAMUSEAU, Argos-Shimano, at 1:42:54
    54. Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1:44:41
    55. Matteo RABOTTINI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 1:44:44
    56. Simone STORTONI, Lampre-Merida, at 1:47:10
    57. Dario CATALDO, Sky, at 1:49:35
    58. Emanuele SELLA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 1:52:02
    59. Luca PAOLINI, Katusha, at 1:57:35
    60. Christian KNEES, Sky, at 1:59:02
    61. Bruno PIRES, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 1:59:27
    62. Michal GOLAS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 2:03:06 :shock:


    1. Sky, in 254:34:25
    2. Astana, at 4:29
    3. Movistar, at 7:27
    4. Lampre-Merida, at 10:35
    5. Blanco, at 15:58
    6. Ag2r La Mondiale, at 24:59
    7. Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 39:16
    8. Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 55:42
    9. BMC Racing, at 1:03:24
    10. Katusha, at 1:08:43
    11. Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 1:09:19
    12. Saxo-Tinkoff, at 1:18:01
    13. Colombia, at 1:27:01
    14. RadioShack-Leopard, at 1:52:08
    15. Cannondale, at 2:40:42
    16. Vacansoleil-DCM, at 3:07:40
    17. Lotto-Belisol, at 3:14:38
    18. Garmin-Sharp, at 3:23:53
    19. FDJ, at 3:26:38
    20. Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 3:30:49
    21. Argos-Shimano, at 3:53:11
    22. Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 5:08:39







    Vuelta 2013

    1 Euskaltel - Euskadi 253:29:35
    2 Movistar Team 0:01:02
    3 Astana Pro Team 0:01:30
    4 Team Saxo - Tinkoff 0:09:56
    5 Caja Rural - Seguros RGA 0:33:48
    6 Katusha 0:45:21
    7 Radioshack Leopard 0:46:54
    8 Team Netapp - Endura 0:52:29
    9 FDJ.fr 1:01:21
    10 BMC Racing Team 1:56:46
    11 AG2R La Mondiale 2:05:01
    12 SKY Procycling 2:05:05
    13 Cofidis, Solutions Credits 2:11:00
    14 Lampre-Merida 3:00:04
    15 Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 3:54:38
    16 Cannondale Pro Cycling 3:54:44
    17 Team Argos-Shimano 3:57:50
    18 Omega Pharma - Quick-Step 4:15:28
    19 Belkin-Pro Cycling Team 4:42:51
    20 Lotto Belisol 5:04:06
    21 Orica Greenedge 7:22:34
    22 Garmin Sharp
  • inseineinseine Posts: 5,781
    Currently 8th in UCI rankings, last year finished 7th.
    http://cyclinganddesign.blogspot.fr/
  • mike6mike6 Posts: 1,199
    Well they would be good about now, as they are classics specialists. Its what they base the whole season around.

    Saying that, I wonder how big Cave train will be at the Tour? They could start to stretch themselves too thin If the classics guys have a good season and are fatigued.
  • joelsimjoelsim Posts: 7,552
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    dish_dash wrote:
    GCC races still very much a warm up, so hard to guage how good they will be but its looking good. Their focus is the spring classics (and yes they do have special pillows - cue video links).

    But worth noting that they didn't win any of the major classics in 2013. Though had cracker in 2012...

    7c524b30f0072cfd47d7c0f896d61134.jpg

    The horror...

    I can just see Cav laughing loads after getting one in the chops.
  • Lanterne_RogueLanterne_Rogue Posts: 2,609
    mike6 wrote:
    Well they would be good about now, as they are classics specialists. Its what they base the whole season around.

    Saying that, I wonder how big Cave train will be at the Tour? They could start to stretch themselves too thin If the classics guys have a good season and are fatigued.

    Isn't it a bit early to say Quickstep are having a good season anyway? More pluses than minuses (except Cav not showing up for the sprints, for whatever reason), but as you point out - they're classics specialists. Success really will be measured in the races over the next couple of months, not the last couple of weeks.
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • cougiecougie Posts: 22,512
    The season hasn't begun yet !
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