Team Sky

Joxer_S

How uncommon is it for single team had four legitimate grand tour contenders on board in a single season? US postal ushered in the era of the super-domestique, where riders who could be leaders on smaller teams were brought on board to shepherd LA, but the amount of riders in Sky's roster that are virtually expected to achieve grand tour podium places is really impressive.

Disclaimer: I'm aware this is prime baiting material for doping speculation, so i'd like to state clearly that's not where I'm coming from.

Wiggins, Froome, Porte and now Uran, is their budget just that much bigger than others in the peleton?

funkyjebus

Joxer_S wrote: »

How uncommon is it for single team had four legitimate grand tour contenders on board in a single season? US postal ushered in the era of the super-domestique, where riders who could be leaders on smaller teams were brought on board to shepherd LA, but the amount of riders in Sky's roster that are virtually expected to achieve grand tour podium places is really impressive.

Disclaimer: I'm aware this is prime baiting material for doping speculation, so i'd like to state clearly that's not where I'm coming from.

Wiggins, Froome, Porte and now Uran, is their budget just that much bigger than others in the peleton?

I don't think Uran or Porte have enough to contend over 3 weeks. They're good and could lead a team, put so could Nico.

Joxer_S

funkyjebus wrote: »

I don't think Uran or Porte have enough to contend over 3 weeks. They're good and could lead a team, put so could Nico.

Seriously? Nico with a full team at his disposal consistently struggled to break the top ten in the tour, Uran came second in the Giro despite being a domestique for the first week. I think Porte's shown massive potential this year to contend for a grand tour, even if he's been a bit quiet in the past couple of years.

godtabh

Joxer_S wrote: »

Seriously? Nico with a full team at his disposal consistently struggled to break the top ten in the tour, Uran came second in the Giro despite being a domestique for the first week. I think Porte's shown massive potential this year to contend for a grand tour, even if he's been a bit quiet in the past couple of years.

i dont think Nico ever had a full team 100% behind him. A few instances come to mind that cost him dearly

Inquitus

Nico probably doesn't have it in him to podium in a GT. Froome, Wiggins and Uran already have, and I think there's a good chance Porte will at the tour.

retalivity

is porte not going for the vuelta?

ROK ON

PDM

Possibly Once

DT

Renault

La Vie Claire

There have been many many superteams, Sky are simply the latest incarnation.

Joxer_S

ROK ON wrote: »

PDM

Possibly Once

DT

Renault

La Vie Claire

All before my time!

funkyjebus

Joxer_S wrote: »

Seriously? Nico with a full team at his disposal consistently struggled to break the top ten in the tour, Uran came second in the Giro despite being a domestique for the first week. I think Porte's shown massive potential this year to contend for a grand tour, even if he's been a bit quiet in the past couple of years.

I'm not comparing Nico with either of them, I would consider both better. My point is that both could lead a smaller team, just like Nico, but as for either winning a grand tour with that team, I just don't think they could. With team sky behind them, they are slightly elevated as riders and perform better due to the collective strong team around them.

happytramp

Not for long though. Uran is leaving sky at the end of the season and personally I doubt there's even the slightest possibility of Wiggin's and Froome being on the same team next year.

unichall

retalivity wrote: »

is porte not going for the vuelta?

Sky will most likely back wiggo for the vuelta if he decides he wants to go for it.

I would like to see him concentrate on the worlds TT and give Martin a good race for the jersey.

Brian?

ROK ON wrote: »

PDM

Possibly Once

DT

Renault

La Vie Claire

There have been many many superteams, Sky are simply the latest incarnation.

La Vie Claire, now there was a super team. Hinault and Lemond on one team.

Inquitus

Renault had Hinault and Fignon, then Fignon and Lemond when Hinault went to La Vie Claire to be followed by Lemond.

ROK ON

Brian? wrote: »

La Vie Claire, now there was a super team. Hinault and Lemond on one team.

With Bauer and Hampsten as the forerunners to Porte & Uran.

Brian?

ROK ON wrote: »

With Bauer and Hampsten as the forerunners to Porte & Uran.

Although I rember disliking Bauer as a chisler because he had the gall to take the yellow jersey from Kelly in the Nissan Classic.

Craig06

Could you not look at Garmin's team the same then. Martin, Talansky and Hejesdal all riding the tour. All very capable riders.

elduggo

Joxer_S wrote: »

Disclaimer: I'm aware this is prime baiting material for doping speculation, so i'd like to state clearly that's not where I'm coming from.

says a lot that you'd even need a disclaimer though, right?

elnino23

Interesting that I see someone say there they think Froome and Wiggins won't be on the same team next year, I presume Froome would go? but could you let a rider go if he had just won a tour? Wiggins will be 34 next year how long can he go on? Froome 28 has a lot more years in him. Brailsford is hard nosed but could he drop Sir Wiggo? Sponsors love Wiggo and Sky is built on Money lets be honest. They lt The best sprinter in the world go so...