Saxo Bank for the Vuelta

by Gemma on Aug 28, 2009 7:52 AM EDT

Uncle Bjarne has finally decided that this little bunch will be Sexy Bank's line-up at the Vuelta (Van Goolen misses out):

Jakob Fuglsang

Andy Schleck

Frank Schleck

Fabian Cancellara

Matti Breschel

Kurt-Asle Arvesen

Karsten Kroon

Alexandr Kolobnev

Stuart O'Grady

Thoughts?? A shot at the overall for Fuglsang will probably depend partly on whether he can regain the form he showed at the Dauphine as well as at what point various of his teammates drop out for Worlds, but other than that they're obviously on the hunt for stage wins here and there. Also nice to see Arvesen back in what will probably be his last GT outing for the team (damn you for probably leaving Kurt!!)

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Pity the disruption of the Worlds

It’s a great team..

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Aug 28, 2009 7:55 AM EDT reply actions

+1

Moo

by Willj on Aug 28, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Kroon

I just finished the book of columns he wrote and I really hope he’ll get a stagewin here. I have him down for the third stage. That’s his terrain!

"Where there’s a will, there’s a way.": Alberto Contador, shortly after waking up from brain surgery.

by Lopex on Aug 28, 2009 8:10 AM EDT reply actions

slightly ot, Cancellara to Team Sky?

http://www.ciclismo-online.it/news1x.html

by Bruce Suomi on Aug 28, 2009 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

My Italian isn't good enough

Please tell me this is speculation.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Aug 28, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

it is speculation, hence the ?

by Bruce Suomi on Aug 28, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Just checking. Thanks :)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Aug 28, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

He signed a 3 year contract with Saxo Bank last year

(BTW: My eyes seems to be allergic to Italian sites. It hurts!)

Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.

by TheFigurehead on Aug 28, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

That one is really bad

Definitely hard to read. I can’t say I go there much.

by Jen See on Aug 28, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Means nothing

Zombie Maurice Grin signed a 267 year deal with Alycon in 1917 and I know almost for a fact he’s going to Sky.

by Jens on Aug 28, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Impossible.

Cancellara, along with Hincapie and Leipheimer, are destined to join Team BMC.

"As you can imagine, there are better places to have your birthday party than in some village called Mushny Mush Mishme." --The Wisdom of Jens

by Josenka on Aug 28, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Uncle Bjarne!?

Are you insinuating that Riis is some form of dictator?

"As you can imagine, there are better places to have your birthday party than in some village called Mushny Mush Mishme." --The Wisdom of Jens

by Josenka on Aug 28, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

Huh?

Nope, certainly not. I’ve just always referred to him that way since he’s been running his own team. Don’t know why I started doing so, maybe it’s all those fabled team building courses he has everyone go on or something, but there you have it :)

Mind you, I get the feeling he wouldn’t be the kind of person you’d want to cross :)

by Gemma on Aug 28, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Isn't he?!

I’m sure that I read a Bobby Julich interview somewhere, where he mentions The Great Bjarne telling him “This is not a democracy”. Yes… I recall now – it was the one with Floyd Landis ;-)

by Lou... on Aug 28, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Correction

’twas an interview with DZ & Floyd. But it was indeed Bobby who got told that the team is “one man one vote” – Bjarne being the one man with the vote ;-)

by Lou... on Aug 28, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Where do you get the certainty about Schlecks not going for the GC?

especially Andy. If he still has his TdF form then he will rule in the mountains. And I just cannot see him throwing away such an easy victory.

by Lulanecek on Aug 28, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions

Still has his TdF form?!

That’s 1.5 months ago.. That would be an extraordanary long peak. I think the past has shown us that 2 very strong GT’s in a row is very hard. Basso tried it with a 2 year ban at the end, Menchov tried it and failed in the Tour. So be very good in 2 GT’s is very hard I think. And he has won LBL so he has a chance on the Worlds so easy choice..
And what male you think this Vuelta is going to be an easy victory?

by Frinking on Aug 28, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Sastre did a decent Tour/Vuelta double last year

It’s not impossible, doubt the Tour form bit though. He will be riding into form during the race if anything.

by Jens on Aug 28, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

He did, but his form looked far less impressive

he was dropped quite often by Levi/Bert/Valverde/Mosquera

"On a personal level, I have never had admiration for him and I never will"
~AC about LA, me about Johan "drama queen" Bruyneel

by Phil H. on Aug 28, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep I know it's 100% true..

But it proved form is ‘sropping’ after a heavy GT + what Phil said

by Frinking on Aug 28, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

sorry I meant "easier"

because if he still has the form nobody would be able to hold on to him. I agree his form is doubtful but would not rule his GC ambitions out completely. And I just thought it would be “easier” to win the Vuelta if you are strongest in the mountains than Worlds which are much more unpredictable :)

by Lulanecek on Aug 28, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

It's just my personal opinion really

based partly on the fact that all the talk from the team is based on young Jakob being the team’s main GC rider plus the fact I’m not sure on whether Andy will actually be going all the way to Madrid with Mendrisio on the horizon. Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. Guess we’ll find out over the next few weeks :)

by Gemma on Aug 28, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions