Team Sky - First Six Riders Announced

Funkyzeit · 09-09-2009 11:14am #1

6 riders officially been announced - no surprises
Gerant Thomas
Steve Cummins
Peter Kennaugh
Chris Froom
Ian Stanndard
Russel Downing

Anyone know if SKY will be vying for TV coverage any of the grand tours/classics in the future or do Eurosport have rights for a few years yet?

Chips Lovell · 09-09-2009 11:20am

Funkyzeit wrote: »

Anyone know if SKY will be vying for TV coverage any of the grand tours/classics in the future or do Eurosport have rights for a few years yet?

Dear god, please let it not be so. I already spent enough to get cycling coverage. The only reason I have digital TV is to get Eurosport and then there's the subscription to cycling.tv. Having to pay bloddy Sky too would be the pits.

RobFowl · 09-09-2009 11:23am

Good to see Russ Downing there, class act and has been messed about by so many teams so far.

Funkyzeit · 09-09-2009 11:56am

el tonto wrote: »

Dear god, please let it not be so. I already spent enough to get cycling coverage. The only reason I have digital TV is to get Eurosport and then there's the subscription to cycling.tv. Having to pay bloddy Sky too would be the pits.

I just think for the Murdoch machine it's prob the next step. Whilst I am far from a fan of his evil empire they would surely raise the profile of the sport in this part of the world - I mean if they can do it with darts....

Chips Lovell · 09-09-2009 11:59am

Funkyzeit wrote: »

I mean if they can do it with darts....

They did?

Vélo · 09-09-2009 12:15pm

I must start looking at darts. The women in those audiences are absolutely gorgeous

ednwireland · 09-09-2009 12:21pm

Funkyzeit wrote: »

Anyone know if SKY will be vying for TV coverage any of the grand tours/classics in the future or do Eurosport have rights for a few years yet?

thought this from day one be prepared to see sky tv buying up cycling rights and sticking it on sky sports (what they forget that the massive increase in cycling only partially translates into viewers of pro cycling) if it disappears from free to air tv i wont be watching much pro cycling.

SACH Central · 09-09-2009 1:03pm

RobFowl wrote: »

Good to see Russ Downing there, class act and has been messed about by so many teams so far.

+1. Great to see him finally getting his chance with 'the big guys'. He been a big fish in a small pond for too long. He'll do really well in the ToB too, I think.

DirkVoodoo · 10-09-2009 5:23pm

The new signings are Edvald Boasson Hagen, Thomas Lövkvist, Kurt Asle Arvesen, Simon Gerrans, Juan Antonio, Flecha, Kjell Calström, John Lee Augustyn, Greg Henderson, Las Petter Nordhaug and Morris Possoni.

From Bikeradar.

ROK ON · 10-09-2009 5:43pm

Wiggins intimated in a UK newspaper a few days back that he maybe on his way to Sky. (Guardian or Telegraph IIRC). When asked was he going he responded by saing "ask me that question again in a months time."

Article went on to say that it all depends on Contador extricating himself from his current contract. He is allegedly impressed by the technology available at Grmn Slipstream.

velo.2010 · 10-09-2009 5:58pm

Theyve signed Boasson Hagen and Gerrins.

Junior · 10-09-2009 7:39pm

Anyone else thing the team is fairly average so far ? It doesn't look like a sprinters team, a classics team or a tour team ?

Chips Lovell · 10-09-2009 7:49pm

I'd have Boasson Hagen, Lövkvist and Flecha on any classics team. They do lack a GC guy, which is no doubt why they seem keen to get Wiggins.

Junior · 10-09-2009 7:53pm

el tonto wrote: »

I'd have Boasson Hagen, Lövkvist and Flecha on any classics team. They do lack a GC guy, which is no doubt why they seem keen to get Wiggins.

I'd have Boasson Hagen alright but he's a bit young, so I'm sure he'd need some good direction and a decent ds in his ear. Covered the echelons and the break in Ghent very well, but they did have options that day. Also one man these days can't win a classic on his own, it's more than that now.

jwshooter · 10-09-2009 9:04pm

el tonto wrote: »

Dear god, please let it not be so. I already spent enough to get cycling coverage. The only reason I have digital TV is to get Eurosport and then there's the subscription to cycling.tv. Having to pay bloddy Sky too would be the pits.

is there a cycling channel ?

Zipp101 · 10-09-2009 9:33pm

Junior wrote: »

Anyone else thing the team is fairly average so far ?

ALL the riders they have signed so far are all very much above average.

Junior wrote: »

It doesn't look like a sprinters team, a classics team or a tour team ?

Cav has the sprints sorted for the foreseeable future...as does Contador for the tour.Well balanced teams are the way foward it seems.

They could do with someone like Cunego (esp. since he's back doping) or LL Sanchez.

Or Sam Bennett :eek:

sy · 10-09-2009 9:40pm

Junior wrote: »

I'd have Boasson Hagen alright but he's a bit young, so I'm sure he'd need some good direction and a decent ds in his ear. Covered the echelons and the break in Ghent very well, but they did have options that day. Also one man these days can't win a classic on his own, it's more than that now.

I really think Boasson is going to be one of the greats over the next few years. A serious talent in the classics, possibly for the next 10 years! assuming he gets the support and direction that Junior has already stated. Also think Flecha is a great purchase(great in Roubaix last April) and Arvesen (getting on a bit) has great experience in the classics. Gerrans is a very versatile rider and has been winning stages in all the grand tours so I'm impressed with the signings.

Raam · 10-09-2009 10:30pm

Zipp101 wrote: »

They could do with someone like Cunego (esp. since he's back doping)

What's happening there?

Chips Lovell · 10-09-2009 10:37pm

I don't think one stage win means someone's back on the hot sauce.

sy · 10-09-2009 10:44pm

el tonto wrote: »

I don't think one stage win means someone's back on the hot sauce.

Very diplomatic! Impressive win by the way. Looking good for the worlds and probably another Lombardy

Zipp101 · 11-09-2009 4:51pm

el tonto wrote: »

I don't think one stage win means someone's back on the hot sauce.

A guy who couldn't stick with domestiques in the 2008 tour or 2009 Giro p*ssing all over Valverde,Basso,Gesink etc.

Maybe he changed his diet :rolleyes:

Explainations for jumps in riders performances are getting lame:

Vaughters tried to explain Danielson's improvement by saying they changed his diet in a way that caused his fast twitch muscle fibers to mutate to slow twitch.....which isn't possible.

Chips Lovell · 11-09-2009 5:03pm

He's not a threat to the GC guys. The earth and his mother knows he's there to chase stages and train for the Worlds. And if winning races means he's back doping again, what about Lombardia the last two years or Amstel Gold last year?

Bikerbhoy · 11-09-2009 7:59pm

SKY SKY SKY SKY F**KING SKY I have a pain in me Hoop listening to this that and the other about this team day in day out..whereas THE SHACK which no doubt will be a better team by all accounts, not a word just building away in the background, the way it should be....
Delighted for Russ though great break for him he deserves a shot at the big time BUT maybe without all the pressure that is already being heaped on him and his teammates.... but hey isnt that the brits for ya... ????

Zipp101 · 12-09-2009 5:58pm

el tonto wrote: »

And if winning races means he's back doping again, what about Lombardia the last two years or Amstel Gold last year?

As everbody knows winning races and winning high-mountain stages of GT's are completely different things.

I believe he doped in 2007.But then again who didn't:

Lombardia 2007:
1.Cunego
2.Ricardo Ricco
3.Samuel Sanchez
4.Andy Schleck
5.Davide Rebellin
6.Cadel Evans
7.Luca Mazzanti
8.Thomas Dekker
9.Giovanni Visconti
10.Chris Horner

In 2008 the field was very weak.As for Amstel Gold....tut tut.

sy · 13-09-2009 12:16am

Zipp101 wrote: »

As everbody knows winning races and winning high-mountain stages of GT's are completely different things

Not sure what your point is here.?

Regarding Cunego "pi**ing all over Valverde Gesink Basso etc..." he wasn't a threat to the GC so Valverde and the gang didn't bother chasing. He is definitely using the Vuelta to get ready for the worlds(and Lombardy) and the stage win ensured that Ballerini would pick him for the team. I agree he doped in the past(especially 2004) but has come clean in the past few years. He won Lombardy 3 times and def just as prestigious as a mountain top finish in any of the GTs. It is one of the 5 monuments. As for Amstel Gold, after the Worlds and the 5 Monuments, it is a classic that any pro would love to have on their palmares.

Agree with your comment on Danielson

Team Sky - First Six Riders Announced

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