Comments on: Playing the Lotto http://cyclocosm.com/2009/10/playing-the-lotto/ Pro Cycling News, Commentary and Special Features Fri, 18 May 2012 13:20:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris http://cyclocosm.com/2009/10/playing-the-lotto/comment-page-1/#comment-13989 Chris Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:13:57 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=2457#comment-13989 I wonder if seeing Cadel bust a gut for a team-mate in more than one race might help the lotto team get the idea of teamwork - and even get the idea that Evans is a guy worth working for. I wonder if seeing Cadel bust a gut for a team-mate in more than one race might help the lotto team get the idea of teamwork – and even get the idea that Evans is a guy worth working for.

]]> By: John http://cyclocosm.com/2009/10/playing-the-lotto/comment-page-1/#comment-13984 John Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:06:10 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=2457#comment-13984 biggest problem for hoste, is he can't sprint at all, he needs to make a move on his own, the stijn devolder move as i'm now going to call it and attack over the 2nd one, whose name escapes me, you know what i'm talking about What's funny is people have never really given Evans the credit he deserves, 2 2nd's with no support at the TDF, should've had a 2nd at the giro this year if my subtraction is correct I dont know much about jurgen van den brock, but if he doesnt want to help cadel this year, i'm not going to like him much for the rest of his career, sorry jurgen you're still too young, go for a stage win or two first biggest problem for hoste, is he can’t sprint at all, he needs to make a move on his own, the stijn devolder move as i’m now going to call it and attack over the 2nd one, whose name escapes me, you know what i’m talking about

What’s funny is people have never really given Evans the credit he deserves, 2 2nd’s with no support at the TDF, should’ve had a 2nd at the giro this year if my subtraction is correct

I dont know much about jurgen van den brock, but if he doesnt want to help cadel this year, i’m not going to like him much for the rest of his career, sorry jurgen you’re still too young, go for a stage win or two first

]]> By: Sebastian http://cyclocosm.com/2009/10/playing-the-lotto/comment-page-1/#comment-13982 Sebastian Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:51:37 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=2457#comment-13982 It really does beat me why Evans keeps re-signing to this squad . . . or why none of the strong squads currently lacking an obvious grand tour leader have tried to snatch him up. I think that Evans + HighRoad/Columbia circa two years ago would have = fantastic. They had a team stacked with strong but inexperienced riders who could have learned tons by riding for Evans at the TDF under the wise guidance of Bob Stapleton. Stapleton, meanwhile, would have known that Evans really only had a few years left as a contender, and could have grandfathered him out smoothly in favor of an EBH. (That was of course before the Cavendish train became the team's top priority.) It really does beat me why Evans keeps re-signing to this squad . . . or why none of the strong squads currently lacking an obvious grand tour leader have tried to snatch him up. I think that Evans + HighRoad/Columbia circa two years ago would have = fantastic. They had a team stacked with strong but inexperienced riders who could have learned tons by riding for Evans at the TDF under the wise guidance of Bob Stapleton. Stapleton, meanwhile, would have known that Evans really only had a few years left as a contender, and could have grandfathered him out smoothly in favor of an EBH. (That was of course before the Cavendish train became the team’s top priority.)

]]> By: Joe http://cyclocosm.com/2009/10/playing-the-lotto/comment-page-1/#comment-13980 Joe Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:44:07 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=2457#comment-13980 Good points and thanks for the link! Lotto shilling Evans as a World Champion is pretty funny, and you can bet they'll get their mileage out of this next year. As for the Classics, luck always plays a role, as it does in any race. In fact, I think you might argue there's more of a role of luck in a Grand Tour where to win you must be consistently good and stay out of trouble for three straight weeks rather than a single day. But there's nothing lucky about four major wins in a row, particularly since everyone in the field was watching Gilbert closely and knowing that he had fantastic form and would try to win. He was as marked a man as there is. Similarly, Quick Step's annual spring run from 2004-2009 (and counting) can be chalked up as much to talent and killer instinct as luck. At Flanders, Hoste was just clean out-sprinted by Ballan in 2007 (he said later his team had worked perfectly) and in 2006 by Boonen. Both times he had the misfortune to get in the winning move with a better sprinter, which is bad luck. But neither time was he able to shake his co-agitator and take the win. Given two almost identical chances, Hoste didn't manage to close the deal. Good points and thanks for the link!

Lotto shilling Evans as a World Champion is pretty funny, and you can bet they’ll get their mileage out of this next year.

As for the Classics, luck always plays a role, as it does in any race. In fact, I think you might argue there’s more of a role of luck in a Grand Tour where to win you must be consistently good and stay out of trouble for three straight weeks rather than a single day. But there’s nothing lucky about four major wins in a row, particularly since everyone in the field was watching Gilbert closely and knowing that he had fantastic form and would try to win. He was as marked a man as there is. Similarly, Quick Step’s annual spring run from 2004-2009 (and counting) can be chalked up as much to talent and killer instinct as luck.

At Flanders, Hoste was just clean out-sprinted by Ballan in 2007 (he said later his team had worked perfectly) and in 2006 by Boonen. Both times he had the misfortune to get in the winning move with a better sprinter, which is bad luck. But neither time was he able to shake his co-agitator and take the win. Given two almost identical chances, Hoste didn’t manage to close the deal.

]]> By: cosmo http://cyclocosm.com/2009/10/playing-the-lotto/comment-page-1/#comment-13978 cosmo Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:34:33 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=2457#comment-13978 Gah—only looked in the right-hand column on Wikipedia. It figures. Gah—only looked in the right-hand column on Wikipedia. It figures.

]]> By: dano http://cyclocosm.com/2009/10/playing-the-lotto/comment-page-1/#comment-13977 dano Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:11:41 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=2457#comment-13977 I agree, the marriage between Cadel Evans and the lotto team is an odd one at best. Originally built around stage sprint wins, the team has never been one to don a GC'r and Cadels tenure in this proves it. He is a talented rider, no doubt, but it simply brings out the absolute need for a team effort for one to podium at the end of a Tour. Which begs the point, what will Contador do without astana?????? I agree, the marriage between Cadel Evans and the lotto team is an odd one at best. Originally built around stage sprint wins, the team has never been one to don a GC’r and Cadels tenure in this proves it. He is a talented rider, no doubt, but it simply brings out the absolute need for a team effort for one to podium at the end of a Tour. Which begs the point, what will Contador do without astana??????

]]> By: John http://cyclocosm.com/2009/10/playing-the-lotto/comment-page-1/#comment-13976 John Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:05:47 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=2457#comment-13976 While i do tend to agree that the silence lotto cadel evans partnership is odd. I think cadel evans has set himself up for his best chance ever at the 2010 TDF. I dont think even silence lotto can now stick to their guns about having jurgen van den brock leading the team at the TDF as they're main GC guy for years is the world champ, Also there is no dominant team anymore after the Astana break up and CSC split. Don't even mention TRS, Lance Armstrong is going to be too old this time around and even if he is perfectly prepared, age will be his biggest problem, Cadel Evans had a horrible tour even before he gave up after losing a lot of time on stage 17 i think(the one after your 2nd tdf how the race was won) In your htrww, cadel evans easily outclimbed lance armstrong. If jurgen van den brock would actually help cadel evans in 2010, they might get somewhere, but for a guy that's always had to do it with almost team support, even one support man in the form of jurgan van den brock could seriously help While i do tend to agree that the silence lotto cadel evans partnership is odd. I think cadel evans has set himself up for his best chance ever at the 2010 TDF.

I dont think even silence lotto can now stick to their guns about having jurgen van den brock leading the team at the TDF as they’re main GC guy for years is the world champ, Also there is no dominant team anymore after the Astana break up and CSC split. Don’t even mention TRS, Lance Armstrong is going to be too old this time around and even if he is perfectly prepared, age will be his biggest problem, Cadel Evans had a horrible tour even before he gave up after losing a lot of time on stage 17 i think(the one after your 2nd tdf how the race was won) In your htrww, cadel evans easily outclimbed lance armstrong.

If jurgen van den brock would actually help cadel evans in 2010, they might get somewhere, but for a guy that’s always had to do it with almost team support, even one support man in the form of jurgan van den brock could seriously help

]]> By: EDnl http://cyclocosm.com/2009/10/playing-the-lotto/comment-page-1/#comment-13974 EDnl Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:17:06 +0000 http://cyclocosm.com/?p=2457#comment-13974 Right on. Still, Matty Lloyd from Silence-Lotto was on Cadel's Aussie team. Right on. Still, Matty Lloyd from Silence-Lotto was on Cadel’s Aussie team.

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