I don't know what you were expecting pre-season but 5th and fighting for 4th looks about right to me for the team. A few guys could have ridden better yes, but that's the same basically all teams. That and promotion will go down to around 10th place, and if you collapse that badly it'll be historical!
@Croatia14 - That may be true, but De Maar has been hit or miss this year even so
@TheManxMissile - True, but even if I'm willing to promotion due to disbandment this time, the sponsors have stated that anything less than automatic will not suffice.
The stage win today is definitely serving to help the cause though!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
Sporting News was on the scene this afternoon following another disappointing performance by once touted prospect Marc Christian Garby, who dropped out of GC contention in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge entirely following a dismal performance in the crucial ITT. Just 24 hours after Mitch Docker's surprise win in stage 3, the atmosphere at Carlsberg had completely changed.
The 25 year old looked disappointed and confused as he walked to the team bus and said a few words to our on the scene reporter,
"I just didn't have it today; I don't know what to tell you guys. I went out there and couldn't get into a rhythm. I'm disappointed in myself, and I know this is a team goal, but that's what I was able to do today. That was my best shot.
I've been trying to work on my TT abilities, but it's a little hard when there's no money for any training at this team. I can only be expected to do so much when I'm being limited like that. I've been carrying this team all year; I even help out in the sprints, and yet I'm the first to be criticized when a result doesn't go our way. Something needs to change if I'm gonna be back here next season."
The statements left out reporter in a bit of a shock, seeing as the Danish climber has been nurtured by his home team for three years, and he is their leading scorer this year. Yet, Garby does not seem conclusive that he will be coming back next year, no matter what the fate of the team is promotion wise.
We quickly caught up with team manager baseballlover312 to hear his thoughts on the rumors and speculation,
"Garby knows that what he did today is unacceptable. The fact that a rider of his caliber cannot even keep the white jersey, is flat out atrocious. And it's his own fault. Remember yesterday when he was working on the front for Mitch? That wasn't a team order goddammit, I would never ask him to do that. It wasn't much help anyway. But he goes against team orders. This is the same guy who asked us to drill it on the first mountain stage rather than attacking, because he wanted to save his fresh legs for the TT!
After spending two years in the PT as a domestique, I expect more from him. We all do. And I know he's just trying to help out the team, but he's making dumb decisions that hurt us all in the end. Maybe this just isn't the right place for him. he's too one dimensional, and I know he's willing to train on hills, descents, and TT's, but we don't have the budget to help him with that since he's not pulling the results now! I don't know, maybe he'd be better off somewhere else. Maybe we'd both be better off."
baseballlover312 then quickly jumped on the team bus and drove back to the hotel. Such statements are unprecedented in the middle of an important race, and can only serve to worsen team morale and performance, one would think. The manager would have to have completely lost faith in their rider, which apparently has happened here. It's not looking good for them moving forward, and if Garby is transferred, most of his mountain domestiques will likely need a new home as well.
The USAPCC wraps up this week with two more hilly stages that look fairly mountainous but are rated otherwise, followed by the king stage mountain top finish, and a final sprint into Denver. You can catch all the action each morning on Sporting News TV.
Mr. Pickles
Sporting News
Edited by baseballlover312 on 11-02-2017 18:46
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
After three long years of ups, downs, downs, downs, downs, ups, and downs, the 2016 season has concluded with Carlsberg - Dankse Bank in fifth place in the CT division, assuring control of the final automatic promotion slot.
It didn't always look so good through the year, as team leaders continued to perform below the expectations of many pundits. However, in the end, the team had enough in them to scrap together the necessary points. Thus, the team looks set for at least one season in the PCT division after three successive CT seasons starting in 2014.
Team sponsors Carlsberg and Danske Bank released a joint statement today. Earlier in the year, both were rumored to be out of the team's future if the squad didn't promote. Judging by their tone, that seems like nonissue now.
"Our respective companies have had a wonderfully time sponsoring our team for the past three seasons, building relationships between ourselves and team management, riders, and with each other as funding partners. The team's success and improvements this season speak for themselves, and we are appreciative of all the efforts of those involved. We look forward to more success and achievement moving forward."
Those positive comments seem to secure the future of the team's existence for next season, as the sponsors seem to be willing to fund the extra bankroll needed for PCT team budget. However, the main facets of the squad itself will likely change. Team Manager baseballlover312 was asked about how the squad will shape up for next year this afternoon.
"At this point, I really can't say many specifics on certain guys.T he market is what the market is, and we won't know what that market is until after renewals are completed, which has not really been discussed in the front office yet. Obviously a lot of guys on our team are older and face retirement questions now that the season has concluded. I know Lasse said to me on the record a few weeks ago that retirement is likely in the cards as his abilities start to fade. But for a guy like Tommeke, he dictates his own choices regarding retirement. There will never not be a market for a guy like him, That kind of presence on a team bus alone is worth a ton with the amount of experience he has. Marc has told me he wants to continue, but I'm not sure if he wants to jump to PCT. In addition, there's a lot of guys who aren't certain to stay with the team, but since we still haven't crafted a PCT gameplan, I can't speak more on that at this point. Stay tuned in the coming weeks.
With National Championships coming up soon, some domestiques might be hoping to secure a spot on next year's Carlsberg team, or another team, by putting on their country's colors. For them, there is a still something to fight for in the 2016 season. For bigger riders, decisions will be more weighted. Marc Christian Garby comes to mind as a rider who will be highly tracked through the off season.
Regardless of the specific moves, this off season will no doubt prove to be the most exciting and nerve-wracking fans of Carlsberg - Danske Bank have seen yet. Remember to follow all the transfer rumors and analysis right here every weekday.
Mr. Pickles
Sporting News
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
I'm sure when Garby's wage is lowered in renewals you'll feel little better about keeping him and really he's nice and cheap now for his abilities as he should be with the time and effort you put into him!
Congrats on the promotion. Can't wait to see you up there. Some interesting thoughts, and I hope to see Garby beeing trained. I like his story at your team
Shonak wrote:
Marc De Maar not at Carlsberg anymore? Impossible!
Congratz to promotion, well earned!
Thank you for the congrats! As far as De Maar, I wouldn't say he won't be at Carlsberg anymore, or that he will. Only time will tell. He is starting to decline this offseason so regardless he won't be a leader anymore.
jt1109 wrote:
I'm sure when Garby's wage is lowered in renewals you'll feel little better about keeping him and really he's nice and cheap now for his abilities as he should be with the time and effort you put into him!
Hopefully I can lower him, but I have a feeling he'll want more. He disappointed me a lot at times but I'm obviously not letting him go for nothing given how well he fits with the team identity. We'll see how it pans out.
SotD wrote:
Congrats on the promotion. Can't wait to see you up there. Some interesting thoughts, and I hope to see Garby beeing trained. I like his story at your team
Thanks Sotd! It means a lot coming from such a great manager. I really like Garby's story too. I'm not sure what my budget will be like, but training has been the plan for a long time with Garby. Hopefully we'll see it pan out, but everything is on the table.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
As always, much is going on with the management of Carlsberg - Danske Bank as the offseason activities are underway. But despite the familiar checklist of renewals, goals, race selection, transfers, and schedules, one element has changed greatly. This year, Carlsberg will be competing in the PCT division for the first time in its history. After three long seasons, all the hard work and rebuilding has finally paid off, even after at times last year the team's very future was in jeopardy.
To commemorate this change in the scale of Denmark's flagship team, Sporting News, in partnership with team management and sponsors, will be opening up a new news HQ to follow your favorite team and riders through their new challenges. It has been a pleasure writing for all of you here the last 3+ years, and we hope you will follow us and the team to our new, soon to be opened HQ. It won't be long before management is able to reveal the shocking revelations of the last few weeks.
Mr. Pickles
Sporting News
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
