Sky stronger or weakened for 2013

[Stockie]

Hi guys. Been following sky last couple of years since started to get into cycling and I was really impressed with last years squad . Do people think with the coming and goings recently that they have improved. Was particularly sorry to see the likes of flecha and Rodgers going.

 

[jifdave]

rodgers is a massive loss, not having cav will probably help they can have an extra soldier.

i think the columbians are key to any success this year, both gonna be stars

 

[rich p]

Cataldo and Kiriyenka are class acts and Thomas will be back.
I'm hoping Stannard will get some results and wider recognition and that JTL will continue showing well.
With Cav gone, it frees up Bernie Eisel to act as road captain in the absence of MR and Flecha and I presume Svitsou will be back after his year out.

 

[thom]

If you were managing Sky, would you be making enquiries about Joaquim Rodriguez at the moment ?

 

[oldroadman]

If you were managing Sky, would you be making enquiries about Joaquim Rodriguez at the moment ?

No. Squad looks OK with the recent signings. It's a season where Geraint Thomas could emerge as a very big player, now he is free of Olympic track committments. Of all the big "engines" in Sky, it's said that his is better than almost anyone, right up there with Froome/Wiggins. Plus the Columbians will be key mountain domestiques. I'm not sure Rogers will actually be missed.

 

[jifdave]

If you were managing Sky, would you be making enquiries about Joaquim Rodriguez at the moment ?

depends if wiggo is doing both giro and vuelta, even if they were interested i think rodriguez should go elsewhere. hes a leader and could win vuelta this year

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I think Sky will be stronger. They have been investing sensibly in powerful climbing domestiques who can also TT. Kiriyenka is a direct (and fine) replacement for Rodgers. Flecha is one of my favourite riders but he's probably never going to win a classic again, and that was his main intended role at Sky. Eisel has already taken over his road captain job. And as people have already said, Uran and Henao are super-domestiques for the GTs as well as potential winners of any race with mountains. I'm not sure about Thomas; I hope he can do well, but I don't think he's as strong as some seen to think.

I just hope they have more competition from other teams (as teams, not just from individual riders), otherwise we are in for a less exciting season ahead.