Just ahead in the distance looms part 3, of chapter 1, of Ollfardh's EPIC era. Up until this point RadioShack have been one of the most notable teams, we hope we can continue this in this vein and even improve.
Part 3 predictions:
Unlike in parts 1 and 2, where Fabian Cancellara, was our chief player when it came to going after the goals, this time around the burden of achieving the good results will mainly fall on Chris Horner. The American will be looking to be looking to put in two great rides in the TDF and the Vuelta.
Our main goal of the remainder of the season is to finish in the top 3 in the team classification at the Tour de France. We know this is achievable, if Horner is able to stay up there in the GC and the likes of Klöden, Schleck and others make successful breakaways in the mountains which are crucial to attaining a good place in the team classification.
However, Cancellara still has a big part to play in part 3. He will look to be there or thereabouts in all of the action at the Eneco tour. Robert Kiserlovski has the task of achieving a top 10 at the USA pro cycling challenge and we bring a host of quality riders including Bakelants and Zubeldia to the continental Tour of Britain in the aim of attaining one stage win.
Chances of achieving the goals set for part 3:
Easy: Vuelta a España (Stage Win) -- 60%
(We bring one of the top climbers in the world, Chris Horner, to the Vuelta. However, our squad may lack depth. If Horner can't win a stage our next best shot will be Jens Voigt.)
Medium: Eneco Tour (Top 5 in GC) -- 75%
(The Eneco Tour is a stage race suited to Fabian Cancellara, with a time trial and rough conditions throughout the race. The only thing to prevent Fabian finishing in the top 5 may be the difficulty of the final stage in the Eneco Tour, which concludes with a hard steep hilly finish.) Hard: Tour de France (Top 3 team classification) -- 75%
(We do have the team capable of achieving this goal, however, if other teams send squads packed full of their mountain specialists it may be hard to achieve. To achieve this goal will require Schleck, Montfort, Klöden and Horner each having a good Tour with few troubles.)
Countered Easy: USAPCC (Top 10 in GC) -- 95%
(Our squad for this continental race: Klöden, Montfort, Kiserlovski, Machado, A Schleck & Popovych. We send a very very strong squad to this race, anyone of the riders we send here could win the overall not least finish in the top 10. The only way we won't achieve this goal, most likely, will be if an early breakaway succeeds.)
Countered Medium: Tour of Britain (Stage Win) -- 90%
(A stage win looks likely for the team in this 8 stage long Tour of Britian. Few teams, with the race being quite long, will send their leaders to this race. We send Nizzolo, who will be amongst the fastest sprinters for the flat stages, a newly trained Bakelants, who will be amongst the better puncheurs, and the veteran Haimer Zubeldia, who will be amongst the top climbers. Yes, multiple stage wins are expected, come to think of it!) Countered Hard: Lombardia (Podium finish) -- 45%
(The most difficult goal will be to achieve a podium at Lombardia. We will send a solid combination to the Italian classic, Kiserlovski and Horner, however with the very best expected to contest the race it will be a long shot to end up on the podium.)
That wraps up our predictions, we look forward to hear from any/ all of you. We leave you with our unofficial startlists for part 3:
Spoiler
Tour de France 9 Riders (21 stages) Chris Horner
Andy Schleck
Maxime Montfort
Andreas Kloden
N Oliveira
N Alinejad
T Rohregger
T Gallopin
G Rast
San Sebastian 8 Riders (1 stage) Gallopin
Zubeldia
Bennett
Montfort
Rohregger
Irizar
Roulston
Sergent
Tour du Pologne 6 Riders (7 stages) Kiserlovski
Machado
Jungles
Popovych
Voigt
A Schleck
Eneco Tour 8 riders (7 stages) Cancellara
Devolder
Hondo
Rast
Nizzolo
Jungles
Popovych
Oliviera
Vuelta a Espana 9 Riders (21 stages)
Bennett
Busche
Voigt
Irizar
King
Hermans Horner
Roulston
Sergent
- Silvio - You may well be right there, don't pay too much attention to the 90%, it is by no means a certainty, of course, however, we will be really shocked if we don't pick up a win in Britain (Can't imagine there will be many, if any other, WT teams going there).
- Silvio - You may well be right there, don't pay too much attention to the 90%, it is by no means a certainty, of course, however, we will be really shocked if we don't pick up a win in Britain (Can't imagine there will be many, if any other, WT teams going there).
With the Tour de France underway RadioShack are preparing for changes a plenty as the transfer period is nigh.
Technically all of our riders are available, however, it will take some of the very best offers imaginable to tempt away some of our riders.
Riders most likely to leave:
- B King
(The former American champ has a great potential to increase. He is a more than capable domestique with plenty of room for improvement.)
- T Rohregger (MNT:72, HILL:72)
(The Austrian is currently riding in the TDF, we certainly wouldn't send a bad rider there. He is more than capable of winning a mountainous stage from a break and is one solid mountain domestique.)
- Y Popovych (HILL:70, TT:70, COB:71)
(The Ukrainian has been a stalwart of the peloton for 10 years. He is that rare combination of being adept on the hills, cobbles and against the clock.)
- D Hondo(FLT:74, COB:72, SPR:73)
(Every team needs a Danilo Hondo, he is a vital component of any lead-out train. More than capable of mixing it up on the cobbles aswell.)
- N Oliviera (FLT:71, TT:74, PRO:74)
(The Portuguese TT specialist. Every WT team should have multiple fast men against the clock.)
- M Irizar (FLT:73, TT:72, PRO:74)
(The Basque rider does not lack heart. An ideal domestique and potential late attacker. He would be a huge asset for team time trials and has shown in the Basue mini series that he is very aggressive and will be a certainty to make many breakaways, which seem to win more and more.)
- J Voigt(FLT:74, HILL:73, FGHT:84)
(A legend of the peloton, Jens Voigt, need we say more? No! NetApp have shown an interest in a rider who is arguably one of the most symbolic in the history of the cycling.)
- H Zubeldia(MNT:76, HILL:75)
(Would we like to keep Haimer Zubeldia? Yes we would. One of those riders who will put in a late attack in the mountains deep into a GT, just look at the Giro. Capable of winning GCs at the pro continental level. Euskaltel - Euskadi have already showed interest and he may well depart to our friends in the Basque country if a deal is good.)
- T Gallopin (Every stat above 70, MNT:73, HILL:74, COB:72, SPR:73)
(Tony Gallopin will not be going anywhere on the cheap, that being said he is up for sale. He is one of the most all round talented riders in the peloton. If a continental team manages to lure him away, per say, he would be capable of winning (and capable of scoring points) on every single stage he enters.)
( We have great confidence in the abilities of Nizzolo. He has received training from us this season and has since improved his sprinting which was already super (he outsprinted some of the world's best in the Tour of Qatar). It will take a grand offer to obtain Nizzolo but as we aren't too concerned with sprinting he is available.)
- A Schleck (MNT: 77, HILL:75)
( The final name, at this moment, up for sale is a big one. Yes the 2010 winner of the TDF, Andy Schleck, will be leaving for a solid offer. We believe he can somewhat reach his former level, which is why spent big time on his training this season and he has since visibly increased his climbing skills. If you are a team which share our dream of Schleck winning GTs again then by all means make an offer via PM.)
Alinejad to leave RadioShack:
- We are also taking this opportunity to say that we are not renewing the contract of EPIC rider Naveed Alinejad. It has been great having the Iranian this season, however, we believe he will have better opportunities at another team. Next season we are unlikely to enter many races, if any, where he will have the chance of leading us. It would not be fair to him to have him here any longer. Notes:
- Any offers which we receive which are blatantly 'disrespectful' will be shunned and all future offers by that team may be ignored, so bid wisely!
- All enquires are to be made via PM.
- We are only considering rider swaps at the moment as money has no clear value yet.
- Just because a rider is up for sale, does not mean they are available for next to nothing.
- Also, if any teams are looking to sell any riders which we might be interested in then don't hesitate to message.
So yes, in short, most of the team are up for sale. But be under no allusions. We are not selling riders because they are rubbish, these riders have enabled us to be in the top 5 of the EPIC standings all season. Only the best quality from RadioShack.
Thanks for reading. Edited by The Rider on 15-08-2014 22:15
It's interesting to see that you have Nizzolo and Schleck possible for sale, so your best sprinter and second best stage racer. I assume you have some big, big additions to the team planned? Edited by Silvio Herklotz on 15-08-2014 22:04
@ Silvio - Yeah, we plan to redecorate this squad! *3rd best, I reckon Schleck is behind Kiserlovski.
@ Brewers - Well I will be on the lookout for something similar from the BMC thread. - And that has been fixed.
@ Ollfardh - Unfortunately, yes! Still, better for people to know who is available as soon as possible rather than miss out all together.
Edited by The Rider on 15-08-2014 22:22
@ Cycleman123 - We are interested in at least one of your riders, maybe a swap is on the cards?
@ JoeArmstrong13 - When Diego wins a GT then he can start talking!
From right now, we are looking to start something special here, something new. It is, I suppose you could say, out with the old and in with the new at RadioShack. We are looking to build a solid team with a core of guys who will create a good atmosphere. To do this, new signings are to be made. We are pleased to announce our first signing for season 2:
Jordan Birtles signs for RadioShack!
Jordan Birtles is one of the good guys. Despite languishing at an inactive team he has kept his head and pulled through with some credible performances throughout the season. He is a time trial specialist, exactly the type of rider we need, with some of our riders destined to leave. However, he has shown great ability in week long stage races. Most importantly, he has a great character which will certainly rub off on the rest of the team. He will become one of the faces of RadioShack, perhaps, for a long time to come.
