Tour de France discussion (spoiler alert)

chrisdstripes wrote:
Yeah,

chrisdstripes wrote:

Yeah, don’t get me wrong I’m glad Cav’s riding, he’s great value, I was just saying that if their only priority was Yellow in Paris, then he wouldn’t be. Hopefully they can still pull it off, with Overall for Brad and more stage wins for Cav in the rainbow jersey. I still make Brad the favourite, but he’ll need big performances from Froome, Porte and Rogers. If he has a bad day in the mountains and they’re not there, he’s buggered.

Oh I know what you’re saying, and in some ways I agree, but i suppose what im saying is, that harks back to the bigger question of whether he should have moved to Sky, because this scenario was an obvious one. Had they chosen to omit the reigning world champion and green jersey holder in favour of another domestique, I think the team and brailsford would have been pariahs within the sport.

notfastenough

notfastenough wrote:

chrisdstripes wrote:

Hmm, I tend to agree with Boardman – if they were picking a team for weeks 2 and 3 then Cav and Eisel shouldn’t have been in it.

I don’t think they could not pick Cav – it would be disrespectful to the rainbow and green jerseys. Besides, Cav would have made sure that was an agreed point before signing for Sky. Eisel a strong guy and an experienced road captain, which gives them options.

Yeah, don’t get me wrong I’m glad Cav’s riding, he’s great value, I was just saying that if their only priority was Yellow in Paris, then he wouldn’t be. Hopefully they can still pull it off, with Overall for Brad and more stage wins for Cav in the rainbow jersey. I still make Brad the favourite, but he’ll need big performances from Froome, Porte and Rogers. If he has a bad day in the mountains and they’re not there, he’s buggered.

I’ve said it before (many
I’ve said it before (many times) and I’ll say it again. US Postal/Discovery had one leader and 8 riders to support that leader all of the time. There was never a plan B (other than maybe if LA had crashed out then whoever to take his chance). They won 7 times. This has nowt to do with doping whether it existed or not. There was one plan. One leader, 8 injuns. Wiggo IMHO was already 1 to 2 support riders down before a wheel was turned in anger. He has now lost another. I am concerned. That is why you have 8 support riders so you can “afford” to lose one to unforeseen circumstances.

I don’t doubt Brad’s ability, I am just very concerned about the teams.

I wonder if Cav was included as a contractual obligation to get him on to Sky. If so that was a mistake.

I like Brailsford but do wonder if he suffers from hubris?

veseunr wrote:Sky have picked

veseunr wrote:

Sky have picked a team for weeks 2 and 3, not for week 1. I think that is obvious from the names.

They will boss it up the climbs even without Sivtsov.

Lets hope they employ a better stratergy on the hills than the tactics they’re employing on the open stages.

Raleigh wrote:You wait till

Raleigh wrote:

You wait till we get to the mountains and SKY start TTTing straight up them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they got two on the podium, like they did at Vuelta.

And that was before they started these crazy dominating tactics.

I’m not sure about them even getting two in the top 10. Froome has last 1:40 and Porte over 6:30, Rogers is still in touch with the leaders but I think they’ll end up burning through the whole team once we get to the bumpy stuff.

I’m sure that on a few days BMC and Liquigas will just let Sky do all the heavy lifting then try and blow them up on the last climb and isolate Wiggins, it’s what I’d do. If they’ve come into the tour prepared to work every day, make them work every day and save your own legs.

Raleigh wrote:You wait till

Raleigh wrote:

You wait till we get to the mountains and SKY start TTTing straight up them.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they got two on the podium, like they did at Vuelta.

And that was before they started these crazy dominating tactics.

Hope So.

I’m looking forward to the mountain stages; and I’m hoping Sky will be in a position to get over them in front; but, it’s not looking too promising for them at present. They need to get their act together.

Have Sky chosen the right men
Have Sky chosen the right men for the tour team? they seem to be outclassed by many of the other teams in the TOUR.

Cavendish has not lost the power to go for it; and he’s doing it all alone; well, Bernie is doing his best to help.

Sagan, is a possible GC contender. Although, he says he want’s the Green Jersey; I can see a Yellow for him, in the not to distant future.

Hesjedal is very quiet in the peleton?????

I predict a sprinters day for the 4th stage? Maybe Greipel? or Cav?