FuglsangxTH3 wrote:
Comes there definatelly a second season??
I really think that yes because dienblad is so excited as we are!
Dienblad, are you going to update the Monster energy ford shirt for the new season?
Yes, there comes a next season! I haven't thought about a new shirt. At the moment I'm trying to change some teams as said before. Only thing is I get some strange pink boxes in the game were I put the transferts.... Figuring out how to make this work (so if someone has advice.....)
2012, the 2nd season of the Monster Energy - Ford cycling team, and the debut of the team in the UCI World Tour. In this season preview, I'll give you an overview of the teams in the World Tour, and the teams in the Continental Tour that are favourites to promote to the World Tour.
Last year, Liquigas - Cannondale and AG2R La Mondiale got relegated and their places are filled in by Monster Energy - Ford and Androni Giocatolli. A few teams merged into one, a few stopped and there are a few new teams:
- Leopard Trek and Radio Shack combined to form Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek.
- Omega Pharma - Lotto splitted in to 2 teams: Omega Pharma forms a new Belgium super team together with Quick Step and Lotto continues on it's own as Lotto - Ridley.
- Geox stopped.
- The place of Geox is filled in by a new team, Nespresso - Pinarello. The DS is.... Mauro Gianetti! He managed to form a new team with some new sponsor, so most f the former Geox-team stays in the same work area.
- Brian Nygaard, the former manager of Leopard - Trek returns with a brand new team: Domino's - Coca Cola
In the following replies, I'll give you an overview of the World Tour and the Continental teams, including the most important transfers of those teams!!
Note: When new shirts will be designed, I'll change them. So, you can see the 2011 ones, and some new ones, in this preview.
Edited by dienblad on 11-11-2011 20:52
_______________________________________________________________________ Katusha
The Russian Global Cycling Project, also known as Katusha had one great season. Their star Joaquim RodrÃguez won Pais Vasco, got 2nd in the Amstel Gold Race and Liege / Bastogne / Liege and the Tirreno / Adriatico and got 4th in the Vuelta )including a stage win. There were no big names that left the team, but the team has become strongers, thanks to the arrival of Linus Gerdemann (Leopard) and Tour de France's number 2 Cadel Evans!
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders
_______________________________________________________________________ Monster Energy / Ford
No, not in this report
_______________________________________________________________________ Nissan / Radio Shack / Trek
Team Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek is the result of a fusion between Team Radio Shack and Leopard - Trek. As a result, a super team is formed, although some riders left or did't get a contract: Levi Leipheimer left to OPQS, Robbie McEwen to GreenEdge, Daniele Bennati to Euskaltel and Linus Gerdemann to Katusha. Probably because the team direction didn;t trusted the GT-skills of Frank Schleck and Andreas Klöden, the team also signed Vincenzo Nibali, who left Liquigas after the relegation.
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders
_______________________________________________________________________ Omega Pharma - Quick Step
Another fusion: Omega Pharma left Lotto and found Quick Step to become a strong Belgium team. Some riders didn't follow Omega Pharma, including the 2 leaders Philippe Gilbert and Jurgen Van den Broeck. The team also signed some new riders, that definitely make the team stronger: Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack), Peter Velits and Tony Martin (HTC) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin).
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders
_______________________________________________________________________ Team Sky
Team Sky was one of the strongest teams in 2011 and even became stronger for this year. The reason: Mark Cavendish. The reigning world champion didn't won much last year, but he stays the best sprinter in the world. With him, also Kim Kirchen and David Millar joined. One big blow for the team is the departure of Edvald Boasson Hagen. The winner of the maillot verde in the Tour de France, joins ..... (you'll find out!)
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders Edited by dienblad on 11-11-2011 20:51
BMC lost their leader Cadel Evans last winter, and it took some time to fill the gap. Also Marcus Burghardt left. Pretty soon, they surprised with the signing of Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil) and former World champ Thor Hushovd (Garmin, winner of Flanders and Roubaix). Together with Greg van Avermaet, George Hincapie and Alessandro Ballan, BMC has one of the best cobbles-teams in the World Tour!
Just before Christmas, BMC finally signed their GC-contender: Michele Scarponi (8th in the Tour de France) leaves Lampre after one season and tries to replace Cadel Evans.
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders
_______________________________________________________________________ Euskaltel - Euskadi
The biggest achievement of the Euskaltel-direction, is keeping their 2 leaders Igor Antón (4th in the Giro) and Samuel Sánchez (3rd in the Tour). Although they lost Mikel Nieve to Astana, the team looks to be stronger with the signing of Daniele Bennati (Leopard). Bennati? He's no Basque? Yep, probably a change of team vision... Also the talents Castroviejo and Sicard are a year older, so Euskaltel can surprise!
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders
_______________________________________________________________________ Lampre
Although Lampre lost Michele Scarponi, Lampre has got a great team for the hilly classics. With the signing of Emanuele Sella and Enrico Gasparotto and the return of Franco Pellizotti after his doping ban, Damiano Cunego (2nd in the Vuelta with 4 stage wins, winner of the Amstel Gold Race) has got some great luxury domestiques. The team also can rely on 38-year-old sprinter Alessandro Petacchi (stage wins in Giro and Tour) for some mass sprint wins.
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders
_______________________________________________________________________ Lotto - Ridley
After the divorce with Omega Pharma, Lotto has found a new partner in bike manufacturer Ridley. They lost sprinter Andre Greipel, but Philippe Gilbert (winner Liege-Bastogne-Liege) and Belgian hope for a GC Jurgen van den Broeck remain loyal to Lotto. The team didn't sign new leaders, but some luxury domestiques as Staf Scheirlinckx (Veranda's), Lars Ytting Bak (HTC) and Chris Horner (Radio Shack).
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders
_______________________________________________________________________ Rabobank
Rabobank lost Oscar Freire, but won't bother about it. In Heinrich Haussler (Garmin, 2nd in San Sebastian) they got a younger and more promising rider in return. Together with Matti Breschel (cobbled classics), 3rd placed in the Vuelta Luis Leon Sánchez (the GC's) and the promising DUtch stage riders Bauke Mollema and Steven Kruijswijk, Rabobank can surprise this year, or...???
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders
_______________________________________________________________________ Saxo Bank - Sunguard
No big changes for Saxo Bank, except the amount of new luxury domestiques for leader Alberto Contador. Michael rasmussen (Christina), Bruno Pires (Leopard) and Sergio Paulinho (Radio Shack) join the team to help Contador winning his 5th Tour de France. That is, when COntador doesn't get banned because of the Clebuterol-case!
The riders
Spoiler
The leaders Edited by dienblad on 11-11-2011 20:50
The same team, but with a new (temporary) name. Skil - Shimano has changed in 1T4i, untill april when the sponsor and new name will be announced. The team takes the spot in the World Tour that is open because of the fusion between Leopard and Radio Shack. The team is pretty the same as last year, except the signing of the young promising German sprinter John Degenkolb. BUt the team will be a candidate for relegation!
One year after the disastrous Pegasus project, we finally see an Australian World Tour team. The team's philosophy is promising, as is the signing of the riders. The team's focus is on the sprints and on the cobbled & hilly classics, with riders as Matthew Goss, Sebastian Langeveld and Simon Gerrans.
Vacansoleil barely managed to stay in the World Tour last season, and probably this year won't be different. They lost Bjorn Leukemans to BMC and Borut Bozic to FDJ, but the team can welcome Przemyslaw Niemiec (Lampre) and Marek Rutkiewicz (CCC), the Polish connection. Together with riders as Marcato, Carrara, Hoogerland and Devolder, they can surprise every race with attacking cycling! But the leader is Romain Feillu, who won a mass sprint in last years Tour de France.
The leaders Robert Gesink
After winning the Giro and Vuelta, as well as the Tour de Romandie and Il Lombardia, what brought him the win in the World Tour and CQ-rankings, Robert Gesink has set some new goals this year.
Season goals: Top 3 in one Ardennes classic and Top 3 in the Tour de France.
Andy Schleck
The amount of TT-kilometres in this year's Tour de France, makes it that Andy Schleck will focus on the Giro and the Vuelta, just as Gesink did last year.
Season goals: Win the Giro and/or the Vuelta.
Peter Sagan
Peter Sagan is still young, but improving. Although he is a better sprinter than a hilly rider (79 vs. 76) he will try to shine in the hilly classics.
Season goals: Win a hilly classic (1.HC or WT) and a stage win in the Tour.
Cobbles Team Niki Terpstra
Niki Terpstra is our main man for the cobbled classics. He has improved a lot since last year (Hi 75, Co 79), and wants to surprise the Cancellara's, Flecha's, Boonen's etcetera.
Season goals: Top 5 in Ronde van Vlaanderen our Paris - Roubaix.
Martijn Maaskant
Martijn Maaskant is our second leader for the cobbled races. Although not as strong as Terpstra (Hi 72, Co 78), he can be a great help for Terpstra but also surprise the other riders with an early attack.
Season goals: Winning one cobbled classic (WT, 1.HC, 1.1)
Sep Vanmarcke
Only 23 years old, Sep Vanmarcke has a lot to learn. We see a future Paris - Roubaix winner in him, so this year he gets another chance to learn, serving as a luxury domestique for Terpstra and Maaskant.
Sprinters Marcel Kittel
German Marcel Kittel won some minor races last year, and he wants to set the next step in becoming a world class sprinter. He has improved a lot (SP 79, and TT 74 - PRL 76) and is aiming for a big win.
Season goals: Top 3 in a Tour-stage, Win a World Tour-sprint.
Theo Bos
It costed Theo Bos more time than he hoped for to transform from a world class track sprinter, into a mass sprint winning sprinter. This year he hopes to set the next step.
Season goals: Top 3 in a stage in Giro or Vuelta, and winning some races.
Jens Keukeleire
Belgian Jens Keukeleire is our sprinter for the cobbled races and he will focus mainly on that. But he will get his changes in WT-stage races.
Pim Ligthart
For the sprints in hilly races, Pim Ligthart is our man. He can also serve as a great lead out for Sagan or Kittel, but he will get his own chances (like last year with the win in Rund um Köln).
Time trialists / Luxury domestiques Lieuwe Westra
Lieuwe Westra is one of the most allround riders there is in the entire peloton: he has a good prologue and time trial, he's a decent hilly & cobbled rider and has a decent sprint. He will be a lead out man in the sprint and a luxury domestique in a lot of classics, but will get his own chances to win 2.HC and 2.1 stage races just as last year (Tour de Luxembourg, Tour de Wallonie etc.
Thomas Dekker
The return of Thomas Dekker. After a 2-year-doping ban because of the us of EPO, and the writing of a book about it (Schoon genoeg, freely translated "Clean enough" but also "I'm done with it") he wants to shine on the bike again. We believe in him, and in the fact that he has sweared off doping. Dekker will help Gesink in the Tour de France, but will also get a shot of his own in the Tirreno - Adriatico and Eneco Tour.
Joost Posthuma
Posthuma is a good ITTer, but will focus mainly on helping the leaders. But he will get his chances for stage wins!
Thomas De Gendt
Thomas De Gendt will focus on helping Andy Schleck in the Giro and Vuelta, but will have his own chances in Paris - Nice and some hilly classics.
Jack Bobridge
Aussie Jack Bobridge is nly 22 years old, so he gets the time to develop further. He has the abilities to become a world class time trialist. Further, he will be a domestique in the Vuelta.
Luxury domestiques for the hills and mountains Jelle Vanendert
Jelle Vanendert has developed into a great rider when the road goes up. With 78 in MO and 80 in HI, he will be the main helper of Gesink in the Ardennes classics and the Tour de France and probably of Schleck in the Vuelta. But he will definitely get a chance of his own to win something beautiful!
Wilco Kelderman
Our future man for the Grand Tours! Wilco Kelderman is only 20 years old, but developing very well in the mountains (75), hills (74) and the time trials (TT 74, PRL 73). He will ride the Giro d'Italia and get a chance in the other races.
Francis De Greef
Francis De Greef will focus completely on helping Andy Schleck in the mountains of the Giro and Vuelta.
Rob Ruijgh
Rob Ruijgh will be a domestique for Gesink in the Tour de France.
Wout Poels
Last year's stage and polka dot winner of the Vuelta Wout Poels, will try the same in the Tour de France.
Other domestiques Marc de Maar
Romain Zingle
Coen Vermeltfoort
Tom Dumoulin
Stagaires / Young riders Thibault Dupont
Dupont will perform mostly in the cobbles classics.
Marc Lootens
Lootens will perform mostly in the hilly and mountain races.
Cees Veldkamp
Veldkamp is a rider for the hilly races.
Jens Mulder
Mulder is a future great sprinter, but has to develop in his flat and hilly skills a lot!
Maxim Lefevre
Lefevre is another rider who can perform well in the hilly races.
Continental Teams
As every year, the Continental teams wil battle for the 2 spots to will bring promotion to the World Tour. In this preview, I'll give you the teams that have the best shot at promotion.
The relegated ones AG2R La Mondiale
The team of AG2R La Mondiale is almost the same as last year. The rider didn't get in panic after the relegation and stayed loyal to the team and it's philosophy. The team even welcomes a new future French climbing star: Thibaut Pinot. The riders
Spoiler
The leader
Nicholas Roche ended as the number 5 in last year's Giro. He kept loyal to the team, but not getting promoted will probably result in Roche leaving the team.
Liquigas - Cannondale
Liquigas - Cannondale will face a tough year: the 2 leaders left the team (Iván Basso to Garmin and Vincenzo Nibali to Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek) and what's left is a team of young Italians and a bunch of decent sprinters. The riders
Spoiler
The leader
Eros Capecchi is suddenly the leader of a team (together with Sylvester Szmyd) instead of being a luxury domestiques. Can he bring Liquigas back to the World Tour?
Team Europcar
Team Europcar didn't had a good 2011, and had no real improvements for 2012, except Davide Malacarne (Quick Step). Promotion will be tough, although you can never ever count out Tomas Voeckler. The riders
Spoiler
La Française des Jeux
The 4th French Continental team (and there are more, e.g. Bretagne, Saur...) has got a good chance to promote. Sandy Casar goes for the mountain races and the sprint group (Hutarovych, Bonnet, Rollin) has become stronger with the arrival of Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil). The riders
Spoiler
Landbouwkrediet
Landbouwkrediet wants to become the 3rd Belgium World Tour team, and focus mostly on the many one day classics in Belgium, the Netherlands and the Northern part of France. The team relies on the attacking of the cobbled riders and the sprinters. Unfortunately, they lost Aidis Kruopis.
Spoiler
The new kids in town Nespresso - Algarve
Mauro Gianetti did it again. After loosing a main sponsor again (Saunier Duval, Geox), he found Nespresso and the region Algarve willing to sponsor his team. Most of the riders kept loyal to Gianetti, only Denis Menchov left. With Cobo and Duarte for the mountains, Cobo and Florencio for the hills, Alex Rasmussen for the sprints and again Rasmussen for the time trials, the team has a decent chance of promotion. The team
The leader
Edvald Boasson Hagen won stages in the Giro and Tour last year, but wanted to leave Sky after the signing of Cavendish. He surprisingly chose the new Domino's - Coca Cola team and makes the team the number 1 candidate for the promotion.
My prediction
Relegation: Vacansoleil and Movistar
Promotion: Domino's and AG2R
Edited by dienblad on 12-11-2011 12:10
