I just downloaded the pcm12 database and i have no idea who to race with. I enjoy the grind of grand tours so i would like to focus on a team with good climbers GC guys and TT on the team. Which team you guys think I should pick. I would love to be international as well. Any suggestions???
Would depend on what style and how much challenge you want. If you like to sprint, Sky is the best choice, for a challenge use Greenedge. If you would rather contend the GC there are tons of fun choices, Euskatel and Liquigas both give a good number of climbers, Liquigas also has some sprinting ability. For more challenge go with Astana or Katusha.
DiabloArmg wrote:
I just downloaded the pcm12 database and i have no idea who to race with. I enjoy the grind of grand tours so i would like to focus on a team with good climbers GC guys and TT on the team. Which team you guys think I should pick. I would love to be international as well. Any suggestions???
I haven't yet seen the new DB, but as far as i know, it would be a challenge to get a Garmin rider a grand-tour win.
Yea Garmin is very tough as they have several riders that are high 70s in Mo, but nothing in the 80s. He specifically mentioned international though so didn't toss out any US teams.
Depends what the guy means by international - either "not from where I am" in which case Garmin is bad, or "lots of different nationalities of riders", in which case Garmin is good.
As far as teams go, if you want to ride GTs, it depends on what you want to do. If you want to ride for the GC win, I would suggest going with RadioShack or BMC, which probably provide the best chance.
Denis Menchov from Katusha has a TT-based style that would suit the 2012 Tour, and you would be able to help put his name alongside only 5 others in cycling's history - those who have won all three GTs. Anquetil, Gimondi, Merckx, Hinault and Contador have done it so far.
For plucky underdogs, the enigmatic Venezuelan climber Jose Rujano on the Italian-South American Androni Giocatolli-Venezuela team might be fun, and should get an invite to Il Giro. Personally I prefer riding with climbing stage racers to TTers, I love riding up and away from the contenders.
Pierre Rolland of Europcar pulled off an underdog win on Alpe d'Huez in le Tour last year, and Europcar also give you the excellent Thomas Voeckler, who is great for the classics, shorter stage races and stage hunting in GTs.
If one-days races really aren't your thing, I would steer clear of the RSNT squad of the Schlecks. Since it has Cancellara too, the cobbled classics season will be important to the sponsor.
Finally, the Euskaltel-Euskadi team is a favourite amongst many cycling fans for their distinctive (distinctly carrot-like) orange and green kits, and attacking climbers. Samuel Sanchez, Igor Anton and Mikel Nieve are the stars. Bar Sanchez, none of them could ride a TT to save their own mother, so be prepared to gain enough time to lose a fair bit against the clock.
I've written a lot more than I intended to here, sort of got carried away. Pick your favourite out of those, I suppose.
Appreciate the input and I decided to choose Astana. Going for strictly GC guys, climbers and punchers. Love the grand tours and I can bring alot of international guys in. Sponsorship ends in 2013 so be interesting which country I want to get a sponsor from. I never done a story so kinda thinking about doing one.
