I need a team leader...
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KurtinSC |
Posted on 10-10-2007 19:43
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 997
Joined: 20-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I've started a career in the PCM Spain database with Healthnet for an all english-speaking team. I'm limiting myself to signing riders from english speaking countries (UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are what I'm using now... let me know if I forgot one).
Anyway, I used an editor to switch some riders around and to bump up Healthnet's budget a bit. I'm a couple of months in and realized that nobody on my team currently is going to be a GC threat once I move up to the pro tour after this season.
So... I need suggestions on who would be some solid GC contenders from english speaking countries I could pursue in the off season. Ideally I'd prefer a younger rider with an average in the low 70's as opposed to trying to get Leipheimer (who I doubt I could get anyway). Right now my highest rated "stage racers" are Devine, Meier and Hesjedal all at 68. I don't think that's really going to cut it unless I get tons of improvement this season. |
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dave92 |
Posted on 10-10-2007 19:46
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2946
Joined: 21-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Raisin, Danielson?
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Silence |
Posted on 10-10-2007 19:52
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Stagiare
Posts: 203
Joined: 18-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Cavendish
Zabriskie
Edited by Silence on 10-10-2007 19:55
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
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KurtinSC |
Posted on 10-10-2007 19:53
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 997
Joined: 20-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Is Raisin in the database? I know he got hurt pretty bad last year and hadn't heard anything since.
Any idea what their stats are like? |
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Silence |
Posted on 10-10-2007 19:55
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Stagiare
Posts: 203
Joined: 18-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Yeah he is... Or he should be
What DB are u using?
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
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KurtinSC |
Posted on 10-10-2007 19:56
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 997
Joined: 20-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I already have Cavendish.
I think it would take a few years of training to turn him into a GC man though. |
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SportingNonsense |
Posted on 10-10-2007 19:58
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
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I dont think Cavendish could ever become a GC man in game
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Waghlon |
Posted on 10-10-2007 20:04
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7694
Joined: 18-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Silence wrote:
Yeah he is... Or he should be
What DB are u using?
He's over at Credit Agricole.
THE THOMAS VOECKLER PROPHET OF PCM DAILY
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CrueTrue |
Posted on 10-10-2007 20:49
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
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Saul Raisin is on the Credit Agricole-team as he has always been. |
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Ad Bot |
Posted on 27-12-2024 07:25
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stuartmcstuart |
Posted on 10-10-2007 21:02
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Sprinter
Posts: 1682
Joined: 02-08-2007
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I would say Danielson is a good shout, but you may want to get Phinney if you're using the pcmspain pack - he'll need a few years right enough before hes GC material. If money was no object and you could get anyone then Evans. |
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KurtinSC |
Posted on 10-10-2007 21:12
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 997
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I don't want to take the top guy off of another team, so Evans (and Leipheimer) are out. I also don't think they'll come to my team (as it will still be continental at transfer time)
I'll look at the stats tonight, but it sounds like I'll focus on tempting away Raisin and Danielson if either is willing to take a step down to be an absolute leader. As for Phinney I already have him but I doubt he'll be ready by 2008.
If I can't get intrest from a legit GC guy, I guess I'll just have to focus as a sprint team in 2008 and try to build a solid group around Cavendish. |
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Setzel |
Posted on 10-10-2007 21:42
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3692
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Rogers!! depends what db are you playing Brajkovic he's not american but he's at Discovery
Eating my daily Breakfast at 9 pm
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Crommy |
Posted on 10-10-2007 22:00
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
Joined: 29-11-2006
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Danielson is a good shout if you want an American - other than that, go for guys who are just below GC status, who are young, and ride very well with them
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KurtinSC |
Posted on 11-10-2007 15:10
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 997
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Well, Danielson "has no interest in riding for my team"... so unless that changes toward transfer time I'll be out of luck when it comes to him.
Zabriskie actually might be okay. His climbing skills aren't great but they aren't horrid either. While he won't win me any grand tours, he might be able to get me a top 10 if my team supports him well.
Right now he may be my best bet.
Also that jerk Cavendish won't renew with me either. Snobby bastard thinks he's too good for us... almost makes me happy he crashed in the last 5 KM of the stage I ran yesterday.... I say almost because 6 of the 7 other riders on my team went down as well (35 riders total).
I guess I'll have to build up one of my Australian sprinters instead. |
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CrueTrue |
Posted on 11-10-2007 15:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
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Did you try Raisin? |
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SportingNonsense |
Posted on 11-10-2007 15:34
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Team Manager
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KurtinSC wrote:
Also that jerk Cavendish won't renew with me either. Snobby bastard thinks he's too good for us... almost makes me happy he crashed in the last 5 KM of the stage I ran yesterday.... I say almost because 6 of the 7 other riders on my team went down as well (35 riders total).
I guess I'll have to build up one of my Australian sprinters instead.
Wait a minute? Youre annoyed that Mark Cavendish, one of the best sprinters in cycling, doesnt want to ride for an American continental team???
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stuartmcstuart |
Posted on 11-10-2007 16:33
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Sprinter
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Come on SN, you expect a little back from a rider you've helped nurture through the ranks, especially if hes going to be a protour team next year anyway. Even if he stayed for one season...whats that you say, its Cav?! Well this changes everything...he'll be off to Milram where Zabel, Petacchi et al. will work tirelessly for him! |
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Crommy |
Posted on 11-10-2007 16:47
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
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Zabriskie is a good buy - he can do well in races dominated by a long TT
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KurtinSC |
Posted on 11-10-2007 16:51
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 997
Joined: 20-09-2007
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You bet I'm annoyed.
He should see the powerful team developing behind him and want to be the absolute leader of such a fine squad that will dominate cycling in a year or two.
Instead he'll go be a protected rider or teammate with some french speaking team.
To be honest though, I'm not too concerned. I have a couple Aussie sprinters who are 75+ in acc and spd... by the beginning of next year when Cav leaves one of them should be good enough to compete.
As for Raisin, he'll come but he's not really much different from the guys I already have (he's a 67 average... all my GC guys are right around there already). |
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puman |
Posted on 12-10-2007 17:50
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Junior Rider
Posts: 47
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on Discovery there is a couple of good riders that you probably could use:
Stjin Devolder, Popovych or Brajkovich (or something like that
(non of those guys are english but anyway ) |
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