Liquigas & Cofidis

[kennykool]

Watching this years Vuelta i must admit is was in a rage at the performnaces of Liquigas & Cofidis teams.

I had high expectaions of Liquigas at Le Tour this year after their OUTSTANDING performance at the Giro (Which of course Basso won). They were no where to be seen at Le Tour and then they come striaght back to the fore at Vuelta putting in another great performance to get Nibali into red.

Next team on my list - Cofidis (French team) they were also no where to be seen at Le Tour. I would have expected at least a stage win from them but they weren't even in that many break aways and then they bounce back popping Moncutie into position for KOTM at Vuelta (3rd Year in a row)

Now I can see why Liquigas (Italian team) would want top perform well at Giro but what I cannot comprehend is why Cofidis did not do simliar at Le Tour.

Suppose my moan is why would these teams focus on the Giro and Vuelta and not really do anything in Le Tour. I understand that Basso maybe didnt have the legs for le Tour bu Nibali is clearly a great rider so why didnt they support him at le Tour?

Is there a cycling politics that i am unawre of? Do only the super big names such as Contador, Schleck and co get to go for the victory in Le Tour???

 

[rich p]

I think the intention of Liquigas was Basso for the Giro supported by Pellizotti, and Nibali for the TdF supported by Basso probably. Pelizotti's ban meant that Nibali was drafted in at the last moment to assist Basso in Italy and was, therefore, too knackered for the Tour.

I must admit Cofidis seemed to pass me by without trace. They seem to settle for having the odd bloke in a doomed breakaway.

 

[raindog]

I thought Liqui's fabulous results in the Giro were down to extra large helpings of porridge during that race - hope I'm wrong though. I think Rich is right about both Nibali and Basso being too whacked to do anything in the Tour, but I can't help being cynical about the massive difference in performance between the two races.
Hadn't really noticed the thing with Cofidis though, as I never expect anything spectacular from them anyway.

 

[kennykool]

Agree - I never expected anything major from Cofidis but they wern't even in that many breakaways, which in fairness is the only place you ever see them. Personally I think there are better teams out there that could do a better job at le Tour but due to them being a French Team they get in year after year. The Raleigh team from GB could do a better job ha ha

I am not so quick to jump on the "porridge" bandwagon. They were outstanding at Giro and same again at Vuelta. maybe they didnt have the bottle for Le Tour

next year????? Basso has to be clean now?

 

[Ball]

The Tour is the Tour, it's the biggest bike race in the world, there's no denying that. Moreover every pro bike rider will say the same thing. Even if the parcours itself is easier at times, it's the level that everyone is at when they come to race at le Tour that makes winning it that much more of an achievement, that along with the pressure that comes with its huge profile and so on.

Having said that, I really don't like the extent to which the other two Grand Tours are degraded by comparison. To win both the Vuelta and the Giro in a year, not to mention an unbelievably difficult Giro and a fiercely contested Vuelta, is a massive achievement for any team. This is even more pronounced by the fact that Nibali is only 25, competing in his very first Vuelta, matching the accomplishment of a certain Alberto Contador. So, by those calculations perhaps next year is Nibali's year for challenging at le Tour.

Even if he doesn't though, or is unable to, I don't think that should undermine his achievement. Le Tour is not the only bike race worth winning, IMO. Teams are obviously faced with certain choices at the beginning of the year re Grand Tours, and given the Tour's position as the middle of the three, it makes it very difficult to combine it with either of the other two. Giro-Vuelta is a far easier combination, and Liquigas are always going to put in a strong performance at the Giro, it's their home race.

As for Cofidis, I didn't even notice their absence either. It seems riders have just given up contesting Moncoutie for the Vuelta KoM!! Agree that many other teams could more productively fill their Tour spot

 

[kennykool]

Fair points Ball.

I must admit Nibali does look good and i'd love for him to challenge at le Tour next year cos as it stands there is no-one can even come close to Berty Boy. Even Schelck who ran him close this year couldnt do it. Berty is the man and needs a proper challenge - not someone who is almost his best mate when off the bikes!

Hopefully Liquigas' focus at Giro next year will be for Basso to win back to back Giro's and then get a sufficiently rested team to back Nibali to Tour Victory.

get Cofidis out also A2GR could have been heading the same way had it not been for Nicholas Roche this year.

next year I shall be paying a lot of attention to the "Also Rans" at le Tour. Just to see what contribution they make - too many non-entitys at Le Tour which in your words Ball....is the Biggest bike race in the world!

 

[Will1985]

I really don't like the extent to which the other two Grand Tours are degraded by comparison. To win both the Vuelta and the Giro in a year, not to mention an unbelievably difficult Giro and a fiercely contested Vuelta, is a massive achievement for any team. This is even more pronounced by the fact that Nibali is only 25, competing in his very first Vuelta, matching the accomplishment of a certain Alberto Contador. So, by those calculations perhaps next year is Nibali's year for challenging at le Tour.

+1. I prefer the Giro for the parcours and the scenery. The night TTT at the Vuelta was also a pretty nice twist to a grand tour.

 

[Keith Oates]

The TdF is and will probably continue to be the No.1 Grand tour but both the Giro and the Vuelta were very interesting and exciting for the spectators and fans this year, so for us mere mortals it means we can 'do' the three GT's in one year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rich p]

Fair points Ball.

I must admit Nibali does look good and i'd love for him to challenge at le Tour next year cos as it stands there is no-one can even come close to Berty Boy. Even Schelck who ran him close this year couldnt do it. Berty is the man and needs a proper challenge - not someone who is almost his best mate when off the bikes!

Except to point out that the time AS lost because of Chaingate was almost exactly the time difference to Bertie in the end.

Biggest bike race in the world! I think you should stop listening to Pau Sherwen, Ball!

 

[yello]

Except to point out that the time AS lost because of Chaingate was almost exactly the time difference to Bertie in the end.

Yes, that's what makes Contador such a good rider. He knows exactly what he has to do to win and then does it, no more and no less

 

[rich p]

Yes, that's what makes Contador such a good rider. He knows exactly what he has to do to win and then does it, no more and no less

In normal circumstances I think you'd be right, Yello, but I think that AC was on the limit this year either through not being quite as fit or not being quite as prepared! I like to think it was the latter but then I'm a gullible old Hector

 

[raindog]

In normal circumstances I think you'd be right, Yello, but I think that AC was on the limit this year either through not being quite as fit or not being quite as prepared!

I think there were alot who weren't "quite as prepared" this year. In fact that was the most human looking Tour we've seen for a long time imo. Some riders looked positively knackered on the climbs. It was a pleasure to see.

 

[yello]

I think AC has admitted that he wasn't quite in the right shape (or whatever the Spanish for 'not enough porridge' is) for the tour. Also saying it was his hardest victory and that he felt relieved. Schleck Jnr ran him close that's for real. But history sees it as another win for him so he gets to fill his belly on Danish oats (that's a poor attempt at continuing a crap metaphor btw) for next year.

 

[Chuffy]

I think AC has admitted that he wasn't quite in the right shape (or whatever the Spanish for 'not enough porridge' is) for the tour. Also saying it was his hardest victory and that he felt relieved. Schleck Jnr ran him close that's for real. But history sees it as another win for him so he gets to fill his belly on Danish oats (that's a poor attempt at continuing a crap metaphor btw) for next year.

AC gobbling Riis's oats? What a ghastly image...

I can't see anyone beating Bertie in any GT he enters, barring accidents and injuries.

 

[Dave5N]

AC gobbling Riis's oats? What a ghastly image...

I can't see anyone beating Bertie in any GT he enters, barring accidents and injuries.

Give it five years and the Brits will be up there.