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Proposed - Commonwealth Team
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Posted on 23-11-2024 23:43
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| JD317 |
Posted on 09-08-2011 05:13
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Just a little feeler to hear thoughts on a proposed Commonwealth team and whether it would be too strong for a custom team. Then I'll decide if worthy of a story or not and if time permits. So riders must be from Commonwealth countries, which would be mainly Australia, UK, Canada, New Zealand and maybe South Africa.
The riders that spring to mind include:
Evans, Wiggins, Cavendish, Goss, Swift, Thomas, Gerrans, Porte, Matthews, Myer, Hesjedal, Millar, Henderson, Davis, Haussler, McEwan, Renshaw and many more.
Now I wouldn't include all of these guys, but I would definitely need to include a good bunch of them. So my question is - is having say Evans, Wiggins and Cav as leaders too strong? Then supporting them with a good bunch of the rest mentioned, plus a good bunch of youngsters coming through the ranks.
Too strong? Hit me 
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| kitface |
Posted on 09-08-2011 06:38
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Domestique
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Maybe just one of those i would say. A good strong supporting cast but not all of those. I would get Evans, Hesjedal, Swift, Davis, Thomas, Porte, Millar, Meyer brothers, Bobridge, Veillux and more. Strong team but not super strong. I like it.. |
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 09-08-2011 06:38
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Depends on your objectives, it's certainly not a build up team, definitely a win now team. Maybe take Evans, Wiggins and Goss, Goss in a season or two will get to that elite sprinter level, as Evans should start winding down, and Wiggens will be at his peak.
The original idea of Cav, Wiggins and Evans would be interesting if you can maybe look at the idea of taking GC, Sprint and KoM in a single grand tour (would throw in white, but not so sure any young riders from those countries can really go with Gesink or Kreuziger).
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| DaBobScotts |
Posted on 09-08-2011 06:51
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Evans OR Wiggans, but not both. What wouldn't you lose GT wise?
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| JD317 |
Posted on 09-08-2011 06:52
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not a Thomas fan Kentasaurus? might be impossible for him to stick to Evans/Wiggins wheel, but if he can for as long as humanly possible, the white may not be completely unrealistic
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 09-08-2011 06:53
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Leopard - Trek proved this year that even having two of the world's elite climbers on one team doesn't always mean a win...however in PCM that may be different.
Edit: Though adding that both are also elite time trialists, and better downhill, that changes things a bit.
Edited by Kentaurus on 09-08-2011 06:54
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| JD317 |
Posted on 09-08-2011 07:02
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my thinking is not both Evans and Wiggins as well. and since i am an aussie, my bias leaning is completely towards Cadel. i think Cav would be just about unbeatable and too much like real life if he had a couple of Renshaw, Goss and Swift leading him out (even Matthews as well). so i am thinking of leaving him out. im not a Haussler fan so my sprinters would be Goss and Swift. thats my thinking anyways. there's always Blythe as well i could consider there
is there anyone else besides me who thinks Matthews will be a force to be reckoned with over the next 5 years? i know he can sprint, but i see a bit of classics in him. i have him down as an absolute "gun" now and for the next 5 years
i have to admit i am slightly concerned when it comes to the mountains. Cadel could be fine by himself (a la this year's tdf), but he will of course need some support. Hesjedal, Thomas and Porte would be somewhat effective. but they dont really do it for me in the "climber" category
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 09-08-2011 08:02
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@JD317, I actually do like Thomas, almost always have him on my custom team careers, hes young with a huge skill set. Normally I tend to put him as the 3rd man in lead-out and he can contend for Classics within a year or two.
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 09-08-2011 08:30
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So here is my thinking of a 9 man GT team and climbers are not easy to come by from those countries however sprinters and lead outs are in dozens. Tried to keep some balance in countries, and age not going with only the kids.
Climbers: Evans, Hesjedal, Porte
Sprinter/Leadout: Goss, Henderson, Matthews
Domestiques: Thomas, O'Grady, Augustyn
Back ups: Sutherland, Blythe, Craven, Bobridge.
(Craven is a nice piece, from Namibia)
Edited by Kentaurus on 09-08-2011 08:39
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| DaBobScotts |
Posted on 09-08-2011 08:47
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Domestique
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What about breaking the rule a little and adding Rein Taraamae?
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| Kentaurus |
Posted on 09-08-2011 08:58
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I'm not sold that the rules need to be broken, we agree that Wiggins is too much help, hes a 78 in moutains, Hesjedal is a 77 and better in the hills and within 2 in every major stat except TT/PR. He really isn't much worse when it comes to climbing.
If you have to get better than Hesjedal, Wiggins is the next tier up. So might as well get him. Now Porte is a much bigger drop off, Rodgers is better but older; perhaps if going to cheat a bit on the commonwealth thing go for an Irish? Roche or Martin would both fit well.
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 09-08-2011 14:25
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Or you could edit Hesjedals stats to what he really deserves and then you have a good climber left that can support or even be the leader of your team.
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| JD317 |
Posted on 10-08-2011 00:49
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wouldnt be a commonwealth team then if i drafted cyclists from other countries...so cant do that im afraid
@kentasaurus...hearing you on the martin call. but that would again be cheating because as far as i know he is from ireland and not northern ireland. and ireland aint a commonwealth country. tis a bugger to stick to personal rules...because he would have been a good pick up for sure
hesjedal can be locked in. think he is needed in the mountains. porte...to an extent. im not completely sold on him but he just might have to do for the lack of nobody else
@dabobscotts - estonia aint a commonwealth country so no go on taraamae
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| JD317 |
Posted on 10-08-2011 00:52
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Kentaurus wrote:
So here is my thinking of a 9 man GT team and climbers are not easy to come by from those countries however sprinters and lead outs are in dozens. Tried to keep some balance in countries, and age not going with only the kids.
Climbers: Evans, Hesjedal, Porte
Sprinter/Leadout: Goss, Henderson, Matthews
Domestiques: Thomas, O'Grady, Augustyn
Back ups: Sutherland, Blythe, Craven, Bobridge.
(Craven is a nice piece, from Namibia)
hmmm...interesting
i am thinking swift to lead goss out...for now. then in future when swift is perhaps as quick...they can both be aimed for separate tours as sprint leaders. maybe...
im just not an o'grady fan but im inclined to add a gerans in there. i did noticie augustyn which could be a nice pick up
i cant say i have heard or seen of craven. ill have to check him out
i hear on the sprinters in the truckloads! bloody poms and their velodrome converts!!!
Flying V
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 10-08-2011 01:02
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then some young riders will be needed
Luke Rowe
Peter Kennaugh
Adam Blythe
Alex Dowsett
Cameron Meyer
Rohan Dennis
Wesly Sulzberger
Dominque Rollin
Guillaume Boiven
Sam Bewley
Joshua Atkins
George Bennett
any of them will do |
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| JD317 |
Posted on 10-08-2011 01:13
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@jt1109 - many thanks! few of them are on my radar but some new ones you have alerted me to
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| JD317 |
Posted on 10-08-2011 01:19
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@valverde - any other canadian cyclists you can point me to? i can only go by stats...whereas you will know them much more obviously
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 10-08-2011 02:04
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JD317 wrote:
@valverde - any other canadian cyclists you can point me to? i can only go by stats...whereas you will know them much more obviously
Boivin should be the best for the future atleast as a sprinter, other than maybe Veilleux who will be more of a TTer, lead-out man, and alright at cobbles and hills. David Boily should be a decent punchuer, but I'd say only a domestique as far as PT teams are concerned.
Rollin will be a good sprinter right away, and could be a useful asset for the Cobbles.
Personally though I think its more realistic if you stick to CT riders, or Free agents and there are still some good climbers capable of a Top 10 at the Tour if you were to do it that way. Matt Lloyd sticks out as a rider who could be useful. And Wegelius is also very usefull. Also theres Andrew Pinfold, but UnitedHealthcare wouldn't like it if you took their two best riders.
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| JD317 |
Posted on 10-08-2011 02:22
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cheers mate appreciate that. i agree with sticking to CT and not stealing too many riders from same teams etc. i will indeed be keeping that in the forefront of my mind
Flying V
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