It seems they did (that was stupid/premature, IMO). They rightfully claim that they have the guys to go in breaks, echelons, etc. but I don't think that's what it takes to deserve a selection. They also counted a lot on their 5 victories this year, to get a spot.
It seems that Saxo-Bank keeping their World Tour licence has sealed their hopes to get the last spot.
I guess they thought the 4 spots would be for French teams... which is stupid, because I think everyone knew that Argos was a shoo-in with Kittel in the team.
Such a small team should never be compromised by a non-GT invitation.
Guido Mukk wrote:
Taaramäe has beat he's mononucleosis. Will start at Castilla as a training.
Great to hear that, i hope he will show something great in July
+1. I don't know if he'll be in top shape, but we have a while till then and even though I'm not one of his fans, I think everybody's rooting for him to at least be there ansd competitive.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
As I mentioned it above, Joël Blévin, Bretagne-Schuller's team manager, has resigned today during a board meeting, consecutively to his team not being selected for the upcoming TDF.
I don't have an opinion about Blévin in general, but I find he's totally over-reacting.
Guido Mukk wrote:
Taaramäe has beat he's mononucleosis. Will start at Castilla as a training.
Another Estonian Tanel Kangert (who btw also had mononucleosis in the winter) says he has a good chance to start the Giro as Kreuziger asked for him to be included.
Saur (co-sponsor of Saur-Sojasun) will not extend its sponsorship
Rebellin returns to Miche
Doctor Ibarguren, currently working for Quickstep, is getting deeper and deeper into the doping net. Can bring a lot of World Tour-riders with him.
Saur (co-sponsor of Saur-Sojasun) will not extend its sponsorship
Rebellin returns to Miche
Doctor Ibarguren, currently working for Quickstep, is getting deeper and deeper into the doping net. Can bring a lot of World Tour-riders with him.
Guess where he worked last year... yeah you probably guessed it. Omega Pharma
Ibarguren's wins in a span of 365 days:
Spoiler
Flèche brabançonne: Philippe Gilbert
Amstel Gold Race: Philippe Gilbert
Flèche wallonne: Philippe Gilbert
Liège-Bastogne-Liège: Philippe Gilbert
Gullegem kermess: Philippe Gilbert
Tour of Belgium + queen stage: Philippe Gilbert
Ster ZLN Tour + queen stage: Philippe Gilbert (even though he raced slower than Terpstra overall)
Stage at Tour of Belgium: André Greipel
Mountain stage at Giro d'Italia: Bart De Clercq
Stage at Dauphiné: Jurgen Van den Broeck
Belgian Championship RR: Philippe Gilbert
Hilly stage at Bore de France: Philippe Gilbert
Flat stage at Bore de France: Andre Greipel
Mountain stage at Bore de France: Jelle Vanendert
3 post-Bore criterium in the same week: Philippe Gilbert
Clasica San Sebastian: Philippe Gilbert
3 stages at Eneco Tour: Philippe Gilbert & Andre Greipel
Belgian Championship TT: Philippe Gilbert
Quebec GP: Philippe Gilbert
GP de Wallonie: Philippe Gilbert
Copenhagen 6-Days: Iljo Keisse
Czech Championship cyclocross: Zdenek Stybar
Middelkerke cyclocross: Zdenek Stybar
3 flat stages at the Tour of San Luis: Francesco Chicchi & Tom Boonen
Tour of San Luis (+TT & another stage): Levy Leipheimer
Tour of Qatar + 2 stages: Tom Boonen
Trofeo Palma: Andy Fenn
Trofeo Migjorn: Andy Fenn
Tour of Oman: Peter Velits
Stage at the Volta ao Algarve: Gerald Ciolek
Three-Days of West Flanders: Julien Vermote
2 stages at the Three Days of West Flanders: Francesco Chicchi & Michal Kwiatkowski
Stage at Paris-Nice: Tom Boonen
Nokere Koerse: Francesco Chicchi
Handzame Classic: Francesco Chicchi
ex-Dwars door België: Niki Terpstra
E3 Harelbeke: Tom Boonen
Ghent-Wevelgem: Tom Boonen
Three-Days of De Panne + TT: Sylvain Chavanel
Tour of Flanders: Tom Boonen
Paris-Roubaix Tom Boonen
Saur (co-sponsor of Saur-Sojasun) will not extend its sponsorship
Rebellin returns to Miche
Doctor Ibarguren, currently working for Quickstep, is getting deeper and deeper into the doping net. Can bring a lot of World Tour-riders with him.
Guess where he worked last year... yeah you probably guessed it. Omega Pharma
Ibarguren's wins in a span of 365 days:
Spoiler
Flèche brabançonne: Philippe Gilbert
Amstel Gold Race: Philippe Gilbert
Flèche wallonne: Philippe Gilbert
Liège-Bastogne-Liège: Philippe Gilbert
Gullegem kermess: Philippe Gilbert
Tour of Belgium + queen stage: Philippe Gilbert
Ster ZLN Tour + queen stage: Philippe Gilbert (even though he raced slower than Terpstra overall)
Stage at Tour of Belgium: André Greipel
Mountain stage at Giro d'Italia: Bart De Clercq
Stage at Dauphiné: Jurgen Van den Broeck
Belgian Championship RR: Philippe Gilbert
Hilly stage at Bore de France: Philippe Gilbert
Flat stage at Bore de France: Andre Greipel
Mountain stage at Bore de France: Jelle Vanendert
3 post-Bore criterium in the same week: Philippe Gilbert
Clasica San Sebastian: Philippe Gilbert
3 stages at Eneco Tour: Philippe Gilbert & Andre Greipel
Belgian Championship TT: Philippe Gilbert
Quebec GP: Philippe Gilbert
GP de Wallonie: Philippe Gilbert
Copenhagen 6-Days: Iljo Keisse
Czech Championship cyclocross: Zdenek Stybar
Middelkerke cyclocross: Zdenek Stybar
3 flat stages at the Tour of San Luis: Francesco Chicchi & Tom Boonen
Tour of San Luis (+TT & another stage): Levy Leipheimer
Tour of Qatar + 2 stages: Tom Boonen
Trofeo Palma: Andy Fenn
Trofeo Migjorn: Andy Fenn
Tour of Oman: Peter Velits
Stage at the Volta ao Algarve: Gerald Ciolek
Three-Days of West Flanders: Julien Vermote
2 stages at the Three Days of West Flanders: Francesco Chicchi & Michal Kwiatkowski
Stage at Paris-Nice: Tom Boonen
Nokere Koerse: Francesco Chicchi
Handzame Classic: Francesco Chicchi
ex-Dwars door België: Niki Terpstra
E3 Harelbeke: Tom Boonen
Ghent-Wevelgem: Tom Boonen
Three-Days of De Panne + TT: Sylvain Chavanel
Tour of Flanders: Tom Boonen
Paris-Roubaix Tom Boonen
I am not saying he doped, and tbh I don't think/hope he did not, but it all looks suspicious to me anyway with Ibarguren.
Edited by Alakagom on 11-04-2012 23:55
In that time riders such as Philippe Gilbert and Tom Boonen have competed in the team’s colours. The current investigation refers to an earlier time and doesn’t make the claim that Ibarguren has broken rules after leaving the Spanish team.
However with the Mantova investigation ramping up, the dominant Omega Pharma Quick Step is likely to come under increasing pressure to suspend its ties with him.
Wow, scary theory: last year he doped Gilbert, this year he doped Boonen. If it were true, it would explain the sudden dominance by Boonen, the dominance of Gilbert last year, and Gilbert's lack of dominance this year.
In that time riders such as Philippe Gilbert and Tom Boonen have competed in the team’s colours. The current investigation refers to an earlier time and doesn’t make the claim that Ibarguren has broken rules after leaving the Spanish team.
However with the Mantova investigation ramping up, the dominant Omega Pharma Quick Step is likely to come under increasing pressure to suspend its ties with him.
Wow, scary theory: last year he doped Gilbert, this year he doped Boonen. If it were true, it would explain the sudden dominance by Boonen, the dominance of Gilbert last year, and Gilbert's lack of dominance this year.
Frankly, I hope for them that it's not true.
What exactly did boonen do that suprised you? Btw do to illness and lack of recuperation from last year Gilbert has been below par. It could be that they doped but their names haven't even come up so stop insinuating things cause it isn't necessary
Tony Martin had an accident during training. He crashed into a car and suffered some face injuries. He can`t remember anything at the moment and hopes to be back on his bike in about 10 days.
The Olympics aren`t in danger but he won`t start in Romandie and Eschborn.