The 100th Edition Of The Tour de France: Chirps, Opinions, News, Updates.

[Wyatt Earp]

Oh? I don't agree, Evans is not there to make up the numbers. He believed he had a chance of being on the podium and wasn't hoping to be in the right place at the right time so that winning could happen.

 

What numbers, tell me more ?

[kosmonooit]

Awesome Tour, fantastic coverage and worthy winner!

 

 

Surely Cadel must be thinking of retirement? Contador must also be wondering if he has another Grand Tour victory in him.

 

They interviewed Cadel on Eurosport, he was saying he wanted to do another Tour since he didn't want to finish up with such a bad placing. BMC put him up as their number one, there must be tension there since TJ really needs a team around him if he is going to podium, cant have Cuddles monopolising resources if he cant deliver. Bit sad, kinda get the feeling he still believes he can win. BMC is a mess imho, and they have the same budget as Sky!

 

El Berto said his only focus is next years tour.

[jcza]

What numbers, tell me more ?

 

In the case of BMC he was the designated team leader, but you know that already. I can't see him fetching bottles next year.

[kosmonooit]

Tejay clearly needs more mentoring too... I think he's also still well capable of challenging at a Giro possibly, he just had a really bad tour, maybe the Giro prep was just a bad idea?

 

He did (and won) the Tour of California, not the Giro. I think he was just over confident in the beginning but he was shapin up towards the end, Almost won a stage (and what a stage that was).

[jcza]

They interviewed Cadel on Eurosport, he was saying he wanted to do another Tour since he didn't want to finish up with such a bad placing. BMC put him up as their number one, there must be tension there since TJ really needs a team around him if he is going to podium, cant have Cuddles monopolising resources if he cant deliver. Bit sad, kinda get the feeling he still believes he can win. BMC is a mess imho, and they have the same budget as Sky!

 

El Berto said his only focus is next years tour.

 

I saw estimates that BMC has the biggest budget, even more than Sky and roughly double that of Movistar. There will be lots of head scratching and hand wringing.

[Wyatt Earp]

In the case of BMC he was the designated team leader, but you know that already. I can't see him fetching bottles next year.

 

He won't be fetching bottles, that they leave to the "appies"

I still don't understand the numbers ?

 

For what it's worth, I still don't see his TDF win as an all out win.

[kosmonooit]

I saw estimates that BMC has the biggest budget, even more than Sky and roughly double that of Movistar. There will be lots of head scratching and hand wringing.

 

BMC is certainly less that the sum of it parts.

[awesme]

BMC def had the nicest looking team cars.

 

G

 

I saw estimates that BMC has the biggest budget, even more than Sky and roughly double that of Movistar. There will be lots of head scratching and hand wringing.

[Wyatt Earp]

I saw estimates that BMC has the biggest budget, even more than Sky and roughly double that of Movistar. There will be lots of head scratching and hand wringing.

 

If that be the case they really need to get their head hunting caps on.

[dracs]

The biggest disappointment this year was Contador.

I am not a fan, but admire him and firmly believe he is capable of so much more.

In the greater context of things ,he was carrying too much weight and I got the impression that he did not prepare hard enough for this tour.

Perhaps he was not hungry enough for the win.

I agree - did he really convince himself that coming into the tour at 75% (or whatever % he said) so that he could peak in week 3 was the way to win the tour?

 

I am not sure he was actually convinced at all - but I know his fans liked that story...

[jcza]

BMC is certainly less that the sum of it parts.

 

BMC budget is estimated to be 15m Euros per year of which 3-4m goes to Evans.

[jcza]

If that be the case they really need to get their head hunting caps on.

 

I agree - BMC does not have a scientific approach like Sky or Garmin. They look at a riders that have won races and sign them unlike the top teams that use quantitive analysis to hire specific riders for specific purposes. Sky is leading the way in this, no not just leading but miles ahead of anyone else.

[Andrew Steer]

He did (and won) the Tour of California, not the Giro. I think he was just over confident in the beginning but he was shapin up towards the end, Almost won a stage (and what a stage that was).

Sorry, was talking about Cadel, not Tejay... he's still young, we'll have to wait and see to what level he can rise, he's obviously a massive talent.

[Andrew Steer]

BMC is certainly less that the sum of it parts.

Yes, I see Lelangue has left the team for "personal reasons"

[Wyatt Earp]

I agree - BMC does not have a scientific approach like Sky or Garmin. They look at a riders that have won races and sign them unlike the top teams that use quantitive analysis to hire specific riders for specific purposes. Sky is leading the way in this, no not just leading but miles ahead of anyone else.

 

In regard to find talent.

That is where Sky did well ,in particular with Froome.

I know a couple of clowns are touting the doping train and throwing first class tickets his way, but he is a raw discovered talent.

 

He was brought in to the British development academy after they saw some of his results, after some tests and some time spent not being a superstar, Froome and Sky worked hard at getting him to the max of his ability.

They seem to have achieved succes.

 

Winners and heroes aren't born overnight.

I always say, it starts with what your mamma and pappa gave you ,from there the scientific approach with a big heart and a huge hunger is the only way yo success.

[Tumbleweed]

Just watching the highlights now - missed it last night - who was the rider who abandoned on the last day? That must suck.