2012 Race Archive

Arb · « **on:** February 01, 2012, 09:13 »

Was looking at the course earlier today and thinking Cav's chances will be heavily reliant upon Froome and Wiggins being as good as they were last year. It will probably be a Copenhagen repeat, but hopefully having only a 5 man team will make it harder for GB to control.

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTYxNw&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NzM5ODE&LangId=1

That is the UCI quotas, anyone who races the time trial must come from your RR squad.

I've had a go at a few:

Great Britain

RR
Cavendish
Froome
Stannard/Cummings/Hunt

TT
Wiggins
Millar

Germany

RR
Greipel
Ciolek
Hondo

TT
Martin
Grabsch/Klöden

All out for Greipel, to give them another option they might go with Martens or Wegmann instead of Hondo to follow any moves. An in-form Ciolek could probably be used in that role though. Another idea may be to get rid of Grabsch and replace him with an RR specialist, but I'd throw Klöden in if July goes according to plan.

Belgium

RR
Boonen
Gilbert
Two of Nuyens/Vansummeren/Van Avermaet/Roelandts/Leukemans

TT
De Gendt

Spain

RR
S. Sanchez
Valverde
Freire/Rojas/Ventoso

TT
Contador
L. L. Sanchez

Is Velasco even looking to do the Olympics? If not you could throw in Castro for the TT, or just pick another roadie.

Italy

RR
Bennati/Petacchi/Modolo
Pozzato
2 of Nibali/Cunego/Visconti/Marcato

TT
Pinotti

Italy is always going to be the hardest team to choose, they will probably end up taking four sprinters.

Australia

RR
Goss
O'Grady/Hayman
Haussler/Renshaw/Gerrans

TT
Evans
Rogers/Porte

I'm leaning towards Rogers as he should be more helpful in the RR than Porte and his TT looks like it can still be competitive. If Haussler isn't strong in March/April you might pick one of the other two, Renshaw though would also have to show something in those months.

Netherlands

RR
Pick your two favourite climbers
Langeveld

TT
Westra
Boom

France

RR
Feillu
Voeckler
Mondory

TT
Chavanel

ram · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2012, 05:35 »

Who will replace Contador for the TT? Fromages will find his form by then, surely.

Martin must have the ITT sewn up.

Arb · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2012, 06:06 »

Samu, he could softpedal or try, doesn't matter. Would also mean Purito could come into the squad, or Rojas.

ram · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2012, 06:10 »

What use would Joaquin Rodriguez be though? Apart from populating the team. Rojas could get a silver medal.

The Hitch · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2012, 06:30 »

Samu should be in big ass bold letters at the top. As the champ.

Agree with ram that purito won't make it. Lots of riders want to do it cos it's the pinnacle of sport and all but purito happens to be from Spain which won't struggle to find 5 riders better in a flat

For Poland niemiec said he will do it jus cos even though route don't suit him.

Marycz and kwiatkowski will be the tt team unless we don't get 2 places or something.

Sweden gel for tt.

Us farrar rr leader zanriskie and Levi tt.

Slovakia Sagan rr
Russia galimzyanov.

AG · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2012, 06:49 »

actually I think the road race is going to be pretty fascinating.

Wont be as easy for Cav as Copenhagen ...

The Olympics circuit does actually have a hill - and we know how Cav has been on those lately - and only having 5 man teams makes it significantly more difficult for one team to control the field.

Once again the peleton will be doing the "smash Cav" so the instant he looks to struggle on a hill it will be ON. In addition - his team wont be as strong. Millar isnt riding, Thomas is doing track and Wiggins will be saving some for the time trial which is 2 days after the road race.

Going to be interesting for sure

The Hitch · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2012, 05:06 »

Quote from: AG on April 04, 2012, 06:49

actually I think the road race is going to be pretty fascinating.

Wont be as easy for Cav as Copenhagen ...

The Olympics circuit does actually have a hill - and we know how Cav has been on those lately - and only having 5 man teams makes it significantly more difficult for one team to control the field.

Once again the peleton will be doing the "smash Cav" so the instant he looks to struggle on a hill it will be ON. In addition - his team wont be as strong. Millar isnt riding, Thomas is doing track and Wiggins will be saving some for the time trial which is 2 days after the road race.

Going to be interesting for sure

The Olympic circuit is 7 laps and 60k from the finish.

On the form he had in last years tour where he finished the gap stage which is a much harder climb 50 seconds behind Andrew he should not have much of a problem with box hill.

The problem is controlling the race with 5 riders.

Auscyclefan · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2012, 05:10 »

Quote from: The Arbiter on February 01, 2012, 09:13

Was looking at the course earlier today and thinking Cav's chances will be heavily reliant upon Froome and Wiggins being as good as they were last year. It will probably be a Copenhagen repeat, but hopefully having only a 5 man team will make it harder for GB to control.

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTYxNw&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NzM5ODE&LangId=1

That is the UCI quotas, anyone who races the time trial must come from your RR squad.
Australia

RR
Goss
O'Grady/Hayman
Haussler/Renshaw/Gerrans

TT
Evans
Rogers/Porte

I'm leaning towards Rogers as he should be more helpful in the RR than Porte and his TT looks like it can still be competitive. If Haussler isn't strong in March/April you might pick one of the other two, Renshaw though would also have to show something in those months.

I hope Evans just does the TT as then he can be flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony after his tour victory.

AG · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2012, 05:47 »

he wont just do the TT though. will have to ride for Goss in the RR - so no flag bearing for him

just some guy · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2012, 07:45 »

Quote from: AG on April 05, 2012, 05:47

he wont just do the TT though. will have to ride for Goss in the RR - so no flag bearing for him

He would not be the flag bearer anyway

Drew Ginn or some horse rider going for their 93rd Olympics

Auscyclefan · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2012, 09:51 »

Quote from: just some guy on April 05, 2012, 07:45

He would not be the flag bearer anyway

Drew Ginn or some horse rider going for their 93rd Olympics

They would never give it to a no-name horse rider and I do think they would give it to someone high profile like Cadel or Sally Pearson.

just some guy · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2012, 09:56 »

Quote from: Auscyclefan on April 05, 2012, 09:51

They would never give it to a no-name horse rider and I do think they would give it to someone high profile like Cadel or Sally Pearson.

No way Cadel gets it

1 they ride soon after OS

2 THE Olympics start very soon after the tour

3 Cadel has not done a lot in Olympics really - 3rd though so thats something

Pearson - maybe

Drew will be at his 4 -5 Olympics has Golds,Silver etc etc Drew Ginn would be my pick

AG · « **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2012, 11:07 »

maybe Leisel Jones. This is her 4th olympics I think

The Hitch · « **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2012, 19:01 »

Not the Thorpedo or did he carry it before?

AG · « **Reply #14 on:** April 06, 2012, 00:52 »

Quote from: The Hitch on April 05, 2012, 19:01

Not the Thorpedo or did he carry it before?

did he make the team? he is not the force he once was

Auscyclefan · « **Reply #15 on:** April 06, 2012, 00:56 »

Quote from: just some guy on April 05, 2012, 09:56

No way Cadel gets it

1 they ride soon after OS

2 THE Olympics start very soon after the tour

3 Cadel has not done a lot in Olympics really - 3rd though so thats something

Pearson - maybe

Drew will be at his 4 -5 Olympics has Golds,Silver etc etc Drew Ginn would be my pick

I agree with the 1st option but I don't think the 2nd and 3rd options will really apply considering how big some of Cadel's achievements have been and the impact it has made in Australia.

If they give it to another bloody swimmer I'll hit the roof. >

AG · « **Reply #16 on:** April 06, 2012, 01:23 »

but do they consider contributions to sport? or just olympics?

I think its just what they have done at the olympics

Dr. Horrible the Mad Elephant Man · « **Reply #17 on:** April 06, 2012, 01:50 »

I think Drew Ginn is the best chance for a cyclist to be carrying the flag at the Olympics.

ram · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2012, 04:35 »

Christophe Kern for the French TT? He is national champion, now possibly not later, and I'd think he'd be ready for the TdF.

Amsterhammer · « **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2012, 14:56 »

I will be hoping that Adrien Niyonshuti can at least show his face at some point. Please read this heart-warming story.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/06/world/africa/rwanda-cycling-team/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

The Hitch · « **Reply #20 on:** April 07, 2012, 23:29 »

Quote from: AG on April 06, 2012, 01:23

but do they consider contributions to sport? or just olympics?

I think its just what they have done at the olympics

My godmothers nephew or some such carried the flag for Poland at the 04 Olympics, and he hasn't done a thing at the olympics. Won a euro gold twice and a few world bronze medals but i don't think he has even made an olympic final. And yes there were plenty of olympic champions or at least medalists that could have been chosen in his stead.

ram · « **Reply #21 on:** April 08, 2012, 04:13 »

Quote from: Amsterhammer on April 07, 2012, 14:56

I will be hoping that Adrien Niyonshuti can at least show his face at some point. Please read this heart-warming story.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/06/world/africa/rwanda-cycling-team/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Good read. Also, the lack of money is evident, half the riders are wearing the more colourful 2010-11 strip while a couple are wearing the new and comparatively more white shirt. He's in MTN Qhubeka now, not the Rwanda team.

It will be a tall order for him to do anything significant, but it will be great to have him do something. He's part of the MTB in the Olympics, qualified by finishing fourth in the African continentals.

The sh** continued in Niyonshuti's life, Godfrey Gahemba, another former Rwandan cyclist, was taken in and raised by Adrien after being orphaned in the genocide. Gahemba passed away when he was struck by a vehicle during a race in 2008, he was 17 years old.

A piece on him in last April's South African Sports Illustrated
http://50mr.com/download/SIArticle.pdf

ram · « **Reply #22 on:** April 08, 2012, 05:17 »

Shamelessly bumped to the top of the page because the above will be my only meaningful post this month and the article from SI ZA is worth a read.

Tuart · « **Reply #23 on:** April 08, 2012, 09:05 »

Quote from: ram on April 07, 2012, 04:35

Christophe Kern for the French TT? He is national champion, now possibly not later, and I'd think he'd be ready for the TdF.

He's injured atm so no idea what his recovery is like.

ram · « **Reply #24 on:** April 09, 2012, 04:07 »

The injury in the TdF?

mc_mountain · « **Reply #25 on:** April 15, 2012, 10:06 »

Venezuela seem to have 3 riders for the Road Race, according to this article link they will be chosen (unsurprisingly) from the 6 Venezuelans at Androni and also that Savio will be the DS for the race.

just some guy · « **Reply #26 on:** April 15, 2012, 12:32 »

Quote from: CEM on April 06, 2012, 01:50

I think Drew Ginn is the best chance for a cyclist to be carrying the flag at the Olympics.

Drews rowing again

O0

Dan-J-92 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 17, 2012, 14:58 »

I would be tempted to put swift in now as he has been ditched pretty much for the team pursuit. I think swifty can climb a little better meaning he can sit in the front group if cav gets dropped and needs pulling back with wiggins and co. Maybe if he can get some races under his belt now on the road and build up some form i dont see why not. He is no Cav at sprinting but i wouldnt say a medal is impossible for swift. Plus swift would be a great leadout man for cav if it does all stay together. I would go for:

Team GB:

RR: Cav, Swift, Stannard, Wiggins, Froome
TT: Wiggins, Froome

Dan-J-92 · « **Reply #28 on:** April 26, 2012, 19:16 »

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/gbcyclingteam/article/gbr20120426-gb-cyclingteam-news-Swift-to-focus-on-Olympic-road-race-spot-0

Seems even more possible now.

Jamsque · « **Reply #29 on:** April 29, 2012, 22:24 »

Millar is now an option for the GB selectors, if he comes back strong from his collarbone injury he's a lock.

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