Giro '08: Team Captains

by Ruthann on May 12, 2008 11:27 PM EDT

I understand that during every race, things are happening fast. Really fast. And I know that before the race, each team plans a rough strategy for the day.

But things happen fast. And radios don't always work, or riders take them out and don't use them (Devo.) Guys get sick, or have mechanicals. Or crash. Or your team car is 20th in line, way back.

Thinking about all this, I am intrigued by the question of who the on-the-road team captains are on each Giro team this year.

I'm talking about the on-the-road captain, the super-domestique or sprinter who manages his team on the road. The smart guy, who knows where certain riders are all the time, notices when another rider has good legs, or when another becomes tired. The guy who studies the stage a little closer than anyone else, gives quiet advice to his teammates with a quick gesture, who counsels thier own young riders. The guy who communicates the best with the DS before, during and after the race.

I know that some sprinter teams, with no GC guy, rely on their sprinter to be that guy. But though McEwen & Bettini are patrons, does that make them "in charge" on the road?

I've read that some riders are natural captains, like Boogie and Hoste were in the TdF last year. Like CVV (I've read) is in this year's Giro for the Slippies.

I was a big fan of Lars Michaelson, former road captain at CSC. Who is the captain there now?

I'm enjoying the process of mulling it over, team by team. Who do you think are the captains on the road for the GC Teams this year? The stage-hunting teams?

Or, conversely, as a non-racing fan, am I romanticizing this whole concept of Road Captain all out of proportion? As I plead guilty to this, what do you think?

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Interesting question

I’d say the only guy who comes to mind is Pinotti at High Road. I’d imagine he’s the voice of authority for them, but don’t really know. Usually if there’s a GC guy for a GC team (think DiLuca/LP), there’s only one voice—be it of reason, or not.

by Chris... on May 13, 2008 12:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Bettini for sure

you can see him bossing people around in the whole peloton, not only QS. Actually I like his style, when he’s seen on camera for this kind of stuff he appears to be looking out for everyone a bit. I think he takes his world championship jersey seriously.

by bethie on May 13, 2008 12:59 PM EDT 0 recs

I agree. The WC kit gives you the right to be the Enforcer,

albeit casually, unofficially. (Off topic: Have you seen the new Specialized commercials with him and Tommeke? If you ignore the fact that they have Boonen going uphill, through a forest, on a dirt road (not his normal metier,) they are pretty damn cool.)

It's hard to be nostalgic when you can't remember anything. - Steve Allen

by Ruthann on May 13, 2008 1:52 PM EDT 0 recs

Are those different from the commercials from last year?

I watched the Bettini “My grandfather planted this tree for me” vid about a gazillion times.

============= Daniel

by crashdan on May 13, 2008 1:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Youtube has the Bettini commercial

here

by bethie on May 13, 2008 2:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

And the new

Tommeke one.

It's hard to be nostalgic when you can't remember anything. - Steve Allen

by Ruthann on May 13, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

And don't forget

his Quickstep one

by Monty. on May 13, 2008 4:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

thanks for this post

got me thinking about how pros would adapt to a race radio ban—that would make the road captain a necessity for teams.

(And I’ll take this opportunity to add one more enviro-rant about how the race caravan should be pared down drastically—a couple of neutral service cars, a couple of ambulances, and several motos with wheels and water and food. As offended as I am by the absurd wastefulness of a nascar race, a protour event is also (but certainly not equally) a bit over-done.)

by R Mc on May 13, 2008 6:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Boy

do I hope they do this at the Tour. Gotta assume they weren’t kidding.

by Chris... on May 13, 2008 11:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Second that

I can’t believe the Vasseur and the riders-association have chose opposition to this as their main project. Aren’t there bigger issues for he riders to unite around right now?! There is always talk about it being a safety-issue, but surely they could have an expanded raceradio-service to give info on upcoming dangers on the road?

I would love to see it tested. Perhaps it would be better to try it in smaller races first but what the hey, they never do anything the rational way in cycling so why start now?

by Jens on May 14, 2008 6:11 AM EDT up 0 recs

caravan impact

I have yet to understand what the six cars of race officials are achieving.

On the other hand, they’re going to be moving from start to finish to start, no matter what. I’m not sure that it makes a difference whether they do it on course or not.

But on riding and environmental impact in general – my annual mileage has (at least) doubled since I started racing. True, I started off down in the couple/few thousand miles per year range, but still . . .

by Sui Juris on May 13, 2008 11:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

On the road caption thought...

CVV has played that role more than known or written about. It’s something he’s very good at and on Slipstream this year he’s gotten the title.

For HighRoad, I would think it’s George right now in races he’s in. Take a look at ToG with him leading and instructing the younger guys. IMO, I think that generational group of guys had to pay attention when they moved up and maybe that’s why they’re showing that skill now.

In general I don’t think it’s tied to the GC guy as much as one would think. It’s usually one of the super domestiques that pay close attention and have a drive to really be aware of what’s going on. They “read” the racing going on “as live” versus the GC guy watching behind the trains and DS folks back in the car.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on May 13, 2008 10:35 PM EDT 0 recs