Cavendish to Quick Step?

[Slaav]

I think Sky threw absolutely everything at the GC this year, with nothing left to chance. They might relax a bit in future, now they know how to do it.

I think that DB had a moment - he 'knew' he could possibly go for both and win nothing..... so went for teh stated goal! And to be fair to Sky, did it with relative ease?

Now that they 'know' that their tactics with team size of 9 is a 'banker' for GC with Wiggo and Froome in the mix, maybe DB will now have the 'balls' to risk going for both?

No way a man like him would take that risk and look silly - pragmatism is his middle name! Now, maybe the 5 yr plan allows for Wiggo supporting Froome next TdF if it is hilly - proving a HUGE point - then go for Yellow and Green - with a newbie in to take white?

Now that would make HISTORY and set Team Sky in the stars in pro cycling?

People would talk about it for years. It would be a legendary legacy to leave whilst DB then simply takes the p1ss and moves on to something else.

Roll on Sky!


ps - regarldess of budget, how well spent are those Sky millions looking now that everyone talks about them? Even Team GB was referred to by everyone as Sky!!! on a truly Worldwide stage - one that money would really struggle to actually buy - I know that is ironic.

 

[oldroadman]

I think Sky would want to keep the Nucleus of a successful team If Froome left who would fill his shoes?And why couldn't Sky go for yellow and Green next year?If a team has 9 riders in a tour could they not have 4 riders protecting Wiggins or Froome and 3 for Cav or would that not work?

In a nutshell - no. Three week tours need a team dedicated to GC or Green/sprint wins. Split the forces, and all is lost. See small teams in Olympic RR for the reson why.

 

[yello]

No way a man like him would take that risk and look silly - pragmatism is his middle name! Now, maybe the 5 yr plan allows for Wiggo supporting Froome next TdF if it is hilly - proving a HUGE point - then go for Yellow and Green - with a newbie in to take white?

I like your thinking. One has to aim high. Could it be DB's next ambition?

 

[lukesdad]

The yellow will be tough enough next year without the green. The french revival will be another year on, add AS and AC to the mix and probably a tougher route.

 

[monnet]

No way a man like him would take that risk and look silly - pragmatism is his middle name! Now, maybe the 5 yr plan allows for Wiggo supporting Froome next TdF if it is hilly - proving a HUGE point - then go for Yellow and Green - with a newbie in to take white?

Now that would make HISTORY and set Team Sky in the stars in pro cycling?

People would talk about it for years. It would be a legendary legacy to leave whilst DB then simply takes the p1ss and moves on to something else.

It really would be a great achievement but would it be making history though? I'm sure in 1996 for Telekom Riis won yellow, Ullrich white and Zabel green. THe following year Ullrich won white and yellow and Zabel got green again. In 1986 with La Vie Claire Lemond won yellow, Hinault the mountains and Hampsten the white. And then of course there's Merckx's first Tour where he took a clean sweep of all jerseys.

If it were all British riders to take the jerseys, that would be pretty special over here but I'm not sure it would be of the same significance in the broader history of cycling. As a team though, Sky certainly are establishing themselves as one of the great teams of their era - comparable with the great Peter Post teams.

 

[Buddfox]

I'm sure in 1996 for Telekom Riis....

...took drugs.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Wiggins thinks Cav should leave for the sake of his career. I think we can pretty much assume he's leaving.

 

[yello]

Wiggins thinks Cav should leave for the sake of his career. .

"At Sky we have set a precedent now. If we are going to dominate cycling and win three grand tours in a year, we have to start building to that GC [general classification] thing. Unfortunately for Mark, as we saw in the Tour, the two don't really go well together.

Wow. Just wow. That'll ruffle a few feathers methinks. Is Wiggins speaking for Sky?

Obviously, I respect it as opinion and can see the sense but, personally, I think Wiggins is getting just a little ahead of himself. Surely it's for the team (i.e. DB) to announce their direction, not one of its principle riders to publicly speculate.

 

[gb155]

Wow. Just wow. That'll ruffle a few feathers methinks. Is Wiggins speaking for Sky?

Obviously, I respect it as opinion and can see the sense but, personally, I think Wiggins is getting just a little ahead of himself. Surely it's for the team (i.e. DB) to announce their direction, not one of its principle riders to publicly speculate.

Suspect it's come from the top and "sounds" better coming from a team mate, as opposed to sky saying they want another mountain luitenant

 

[Strathlubnaig]

Yes, read this this morning, a little surprised at the methodology employed to tell Cavendish not to let the door hit him on his way out.

 

[dellzeqq]

to be fair to Wiggins, Brailsford has accepted publicly that Cav could leave.

 

[yello]

Ok, I feel a little more comfortable with what Wiggins said now. From the Cycling News article....

Sky team principal Brailsford told the BBC following the end of the Tour de France that it would be reiterated to Cavendish that the team's focus would remain on Wiggins and Chris Froome and that discussions would take place to see how the Manxman "feels about that."

I don't now feel Wiggins was speaking out of turn. Amazing what a bit of context can do.

 

[srw]

Wiggins thinks Cav should leave for the sake of his career. I think we can pretty much assume he's leaving.

As usual, the headline doesn't match the substance of the article.

 

[raindog]

Yes, read this this morning, a little surprised at the methodology employed to tell Cavendish not to let the door hit him on his way out.

eh?

 

[Chuffy]

I don't now feel Wiggins was speaking out of turn. Amazing what a bit of context can do.

Bearing in mind that they are also friends, it's impossible to believe that they haven't spoken about this already. I also don't see anything wrong in Wiggy setting out what the team's ambitions are, it's not as if successful teams go into GCs with the aim of getting a much coveted top ten placing.