Ryder Hesjedal says that he’ll be at the Tour and will be looking for the win. I guess they have made him the team leader.
I admire the pluck.
He’s attempting something that has not been done in an athletic generation.
My sense is that Garmin-Barracuda, as become a strategy of some other teams of late will have a couple of different strategies and scenarios. Essentially wait and see who’s going well after the first week - most likely either Ryder or VDV - and then choose the game-plan and support from there. There is no doubt that they’ll have a great support roster with guys like David Millar and others with all kinds of Grand Tour experience, and with no real sprinter, they can throw everything at the GC race!
Still curious how Sky is going to sort out the duel role of sprint support for Cavendish and GC support for Wiggans. Typically in the past that has not gone well, but perhaps it’s the game plane that Cav will only stay in it for the first 2 weeks, win as much as he can, get the green jersey and then say adieu!
I read another article (can’t find it now) where Ryder says he wants to go for the win but will accept a support role if asked. So who knows what GB is really doing at this point.
I don’t get that strategy. Ryder is trying to do what even Contador couldn’t do? He should rest and then go for some wins later in the year.
He claims that he is fully recovered from the Giro already. We’ll see in a few weeks I guess.
I don’t get that strategy. Ryder is trying to do what even Contador couldn’t do? He should rest and then go for some wins later in the year.
Who says he can’t
The 2011 Giro was a significantly more difficult course than the 2012 Giro, recovery should be less difficult. Not to mention the 2012 Tour is tagged as an easier course than the 2011 Tour. As well Contador had some extracurricular activities that were putting added stress on him that Ryder doesn’t have to deal with.
The 2011 Giro was a significantly more difficult course than the 2012 Giro, recovery should be less difficult. Not to mention the 2012 Tour is tagged as an easier course than the 2011 Tour. As well Contador had some extracurricular activities that were putting added stress on him that Ryder doesn’t have to deal with.
Not to mention that the way the race played out, there were not huge attacks by the GC contenders… It was a more of a grind 'em out chess match with a few late surges. From the outside perspective, that would appear to be easier to recover from.
In another article, Vaughters mentioned that some of the numbers have come back and that he’s recovering extremely well. I think then it was just up to his mental fatigue which he appears to not be showing any signs of in recent interviews.
I don’t think they are expecting a win… But Giro followed by a better placing than his 6th from a few years back would be excellent for the team… Giro win followed by TDF podium would be epic.
It’s interesting because I read a post-Giro interview where Hesjedal said a big part of his victory was due to being the undisputed leader. He felt more in control of the team and knew what his responsibilities were, which helped him perform his best. IIRC, Ryder also said this was the first time Garmin had this leadership style. They must be second-guessing the wisdom of supporting VdV after Ryder’s big win. Hopefully it doesn’t come back to bite them, multi-captain style doesn’t often work in a GT (see: Schleck, Andy; the Astana Lance/Contador incident; Radioshack last year).
Contador/Lance was the greatest failure in the history of the tour!
1st and 3rd!
It’s interesting because I read a post-Giro interview where Hesjedal said a big part of his victory was due to being the undisputed leader. He felt more in control of the team and knew what his responsibilities were, which helped him perform his best. IIRC, Ryder also said this was the first time Garmin had this leadership style. They must be second-guessing the wisdom of supporting VdV after Ryder’s big win. Hopefully it doesn’t come back to bite them, multi-captain style doesn’t often work in a GT (see: Schleck, Andy; the Astana Lance/Contador incident; Radioshack last year).
Ha, good point. I was referring more to the surrounding drama.
Ha, good point. I was referring more to the surrounding drama.
Everything was tranquilo!
Is there a TTT this year? Anybody know?
Is there a TTT this year? Anybody know?
Great question. Too bad there isn’t a Tour de France website that lists all that stuff, that would be the shiznit!
John
Is there a TTT this year? Anybody know?
Great question. Too bad there isn’t a Tour de France website that lists all that stuff, that would be the shiznit!
John
My laziness knows no bounds…
Is there a TTT this year? Anybody know?
Great question. Too bad there isn’t a Tour de France website that lists all that stuff, that would be the shiznit!
John
Was that supposed to be in pink? I fixed it for you… here’s one of the better sites for all of that info. Steephill.tv
Still curious how Sky is going to sort out the duel role of sprint support for Cavendish and GC support for Wiggans. Typically in the past that has not gone well, but perhaps it’s the game plane that Cav will only stay in it for the first 2 weeks, win as much as he can, get the green jersey and then say adieu!
If Cav wants to win the actual jersey, he’ll have to get to Paris and finish the tour. I know 4 years ago when he “sprinted” onto the scene he ditched out early to focus on the olympics. Given that this year the course suits him well, and he’s won the green jersey before, maybe he’ll just go and win as many stages as he can before calling it quits.
My laziness knows no bounds…
Then I guess to get to wallow in your own ignorance and glorify your ineptitude. Well done.
John
Is there a TTT this year? Anybody know?
Great question. Too bad there isn’t a Tour de France website that lists all that stuff, that would be the shiznit!
John
Was that supposed to be in pink? I fixed it for you… here’s one of the better sites for all of that info. Steephill.tv
He was being sarcastic. I got it.
There is no TTT for anyone that is too lazy to go to the website to look it up.
You’re right that the Giro 2011 course was harder than Giro 2012, but Contador had a huge lead in 2011. Ryder had to go all the way to the end of the very last day – he could never back off. Admittedly, Contador would have been more competitive in the 2011 Tour had it not been for the crashes. Still, we’re talking about Alberto Contador in his prime. I’ll be rooting for Ryder at the Tour, but barring a lot of key GC folks crashing (a definite possibility at the Tour), it’ll be a shock if Ryder makes the top 5.