[Desert Nomad]

Skyline Drifter, on Aug 5 2009, 16:46, said:

............in your opinion.

Diving is totally irrelevant eh? Because you happen not to be interested in it? It wasn't so very long ago before Channel 4 came along with their TdF coverage that people would have described cycling in the same way.

Good luck to Wiggins. Coming 4th in the TdF is a fine achievement. It doesn't even come remotely close to eclipsing anything done by any other British athlete this year. Murray came 3rd equal at Wimbledon for a start, a far higher profile sport since profile appears to be your deciding factor here. Lee Westwood came 3rd equal in the Open. I'm sure we probably have plenty other athletic world champions in various other sports but there's two off the top of my head at least comparable to Wiggins effort in achievement.

You`re surely not telling me golf is a sport?

[Shengus Khan]

I don't know if any of you cycling fans saw this yesterday but Sky have announced their British based team that will start in earnest in january 2010.

Confirmed riders for Team Sky:
Kurt Arvesen (Nor - 34),
John Lee Augustyn (SA - 23),
Kjell Carlstrom (Fin - 32),
Steve Cummings (GB - 28),
Russell Downing (GB - 31),
Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa - 31),
Chris Froome (GB - 24),
Simon Gerrans (Aus - 29),
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor - 22),
Greg Henderson (NZ - 32),
Peter Kennaugh (GB - 20),
Thomas Lovkvist (Swe - 25),
Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor - 25),
Morris Possoni (Ita - 25),
Ian Stannard (GB - 22),
Geraint Thomas (GB - 23).

The big signing is Edvald Boasson Hagen who is ranked 3rd in the world, only behind Contador and Andy Schlek. I believe the team aim is to win Le Tour within 5 seasons. Any of the knowledgable cycling fans think that this is an achievable target?

[printer]

Shengus Khan, on Sep 11 2009, 18:07, said:

The big signing is Edvald Boasson Hagen who is ranked 3rd in the world, only behind Contador and Andy Schlek. I believe the team aim is to win Le Tour within 5 seasons. Any of the knowledgable cycling fans think that this is an achievable target?

Wouldn't claim to be particularly knowledgeable, but seems a tall order to me. I suppose it depends primarily on how serious Sky really are and how much money they plough into it. GB teams in the past have been heralded but never really challenged the other top teams.

I hadn't heard of Hagen which would suggest his team weren't in the tour this year as that is pretty much the only cycling I pay particular attention to. Getting Cavendish and/or Wiggins would be statements of intent.

[Jim McLean's Ghost]

printer, on Sep 13 2009, 13:29, said:

Wouldn't claim to be particularly knowledgeable, but seems a tall order to me. I suppose it depends primarily on how serious Sky really are and how much money they plough into it. GB teams in the past have been heralded but never really challenged the other top teams.

I hadn't heard of Hagen which would suggest his team weren't in the tour this year as that is pretty much the only cycling I pay particular attention to. Getting Cavendish and/or Wiggins would be statements of intent.

hagen was riding with colombia this year and had a great giro but didn't make the tour team. thomas lokvist is promising as well and arvesen is a good signing bit suprised to see him leaving saxo though.

it seems unlikely that sky will win any time in the near future. contador and andy shleck look set to dominate for a while.

[myshkin]

Shengus Khan, on Sep 11 2009, 18:07, said:

I don't know if any of you cycling fans saw this yesterday but Sky have announced their British based team that will start in earnest in january 2010.

Confirmed riders for Team Sky:
Kurt Arvesen (Nor - 34),
John Lee Augustyn (SA - 23),
Kjell Carlstrom (Fin - 32),
Steve Cummings (GB - 28),
Russell Downing (GB - 31),
Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa - 31),
Chris Froome (GB - 24),
Simon Gerrans (Aus - 29),
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor - 22),
Greg Henderson (NZ - 32),
Peter Kennaugh (GB - 20),
Thomas Lovkvist (Swe - 25),
Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor - 25),
Morris Possoni (Ita - 25),
Ian Stannard (GB - 22),
Geraint Thomas (GB - 23).

The big signing is Edvald Boasson Hagen who is ranked 3rd in the world, only behind Contador and Andy Schlek. I believe the team aim is to win Le Tour within 5 seasons. Any of the knowledgable cycling fans think that this is an achievable target?

No. As long as Contador doesn't come a cropper with the drugs no other rider will win Le Tour in the next five years. He's the best since the Le Blaireau and if he keeps it up he could rival the Cannibal. He's that good.

Interesting to see the Arrow has signed for Sky. His best years are behind him now but on his day he's a very decent Puncheur and might still have a spring classic in his legs. Other than that it looks like a second tier team for me and they might struggle to even get invited to the grand tours.


Incidentally it's good to see John Lee Augustyn still riding. The last time I saw him in action he fell off the side of a mountain. Good to see they eventually rescued him and no serious damage was done!

By the way I've not got a link to prove it but I'm sure Boassen Hagen won the tour of Britain either last year or two years ago. He's a sprinter if I remember correctly so it will be a flat grand tour that he wins.

This post has been edited by myshkin: 15 September 2009 - 18:30

[Steve McQueen]

Route for next year was announced yesterday. 100 years of the Pyrenees & will feature climbing the Col du Tourmalet twice.

Le Tour 2010

[chico]

BBC are saying Wiggo has signed up for team sky. Just need to sign up big cav!!

Btw. Cycling 2010 thread needed??

[Desert Nomad]

chico, on Dec 10 2009, 13:13, said:

BBC are saying Wiggo has signed up for team sky. Just need to sign up big cav!!

Btw. Cycling 2010 thread needed??

I w sould say so, for the new year!

[highlandcowden]

chico, on Dec 10 2009, 13:13, said:

BBC are saying Wiggo has signed up for team sky. Just need to sign up big cav!!

Btw. Cycling 2010 thread needed??

big cav=big twat