Slipstream

Bro Deal

It is too bad they won't be at the Dauphine. I think that is the sort of race where they could do very well. I could see Tommy D. winning that. The same goes for Switzerland.

It will be interesting to see what their strategy is for doing both the Tour and the Giro. Their top riders will be spread pretty thin.

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

thunder

they are not racing much betweenthe Giro and the Tour.

6 riders at the Giro will ride the Tour.

They are keeping the gunpowder dry.

slovakguy

just a total guess, but i would think vaughters should use the giro to get his team used to his race tactics and get the stars out of his younger riders' eyes. but i'm still of the opinion that this year should be used to establish some solid credentials with the euro community before vaughters takes the leash of his better riders. given that they are truly a wild card, i expect to see a team meltdown.

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"To Hell with poverty, we'll get drunk on cheap wine."
--Gang of Four, To Hell With Poverty

thunder

he has 26 riders, only riding 2 GTs, and not riding much between the Giro and the Tour.

Most riders ride an average of 60 days per season, I think Slipstream will be riding considerably less. Does he want his squad to come to the races to win, versus training miles. Riders cannot race all 60 days per year, they will just build form in many.

I wonder if he is using the training to back off intensity, and then bring it to a boil, then race to win. Allow more recovery.

It is a big squad, when their budget is paid out of Ellis' wallet. There must be some strategy.

Crankyfeet

Maybe it's to perform badly and look like dopeless angels... getting whipped by cheaters. You'd have to think that any success they have is only going to make people suspicious that they are hypocrites.

However if they keep getting dropped from the peloton... they are going to look like heroes... and receive a lot of publicity. Like the guy who used to win the jersey for coming last in the TdF.

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Originally posted by Frigo's Luggage...

"[Calling him] 'dickcheese' is the insult of a master. Some people work in oil, some people work in clay. He [thoughtforfood] works in profanity. Open your mind and enjoy its beauty."

helmutRoole2

I don't know about this. I don't think they have the horses to really effect the race. I think most people know this. Their best rider would be Millar, and he's only a stage threat in the TTs, outside chance for a road stage under the perfect circumstances. I don't Tommy D (bless his heart), can win a stage in the Tour. I hope I'm wrong.

I think if they do well it could be regarded as an indication that the peloton is clean... although, we know that's not true, it's just not as dirty as it used to be.

I think the days of miraculous recoveries and Landis-like stage wins are over. I think, even a doped rider will be smart enough not to take back too much on one stage.

I think SS has crafted a very nice PR campaign, but that said, they'll still have be careful not to dope so much.

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"Bait in 08" --nns1400

thunder

I think Millar is a far better ride than DZ.

I think Millar can win any race outside the GTs.

I think he can win Suisse and Dauphine.

I think he can win classics. I dont think he can win a GT.

helmutRoole2

Really? He hasn't shown it. I think he had a good Dauphine once, but not even sterling performances in Paris-Nice or any of the cold classics. There are certain aspects to him that make you think he can, but aside from TTs, he hasn't shown well.

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"Bait in 08" --nns1400

Bro Deal

Millar cannot climb well enough to win the Dauphine or Switzerland. He might be able to put in a decentenough of a performance to win Paris-Nice but even that might be too much of a stretch.

Which classics can he win?

I think Tommy D has hardened the fuck up after dealing with Bruyneel and Disco last year. He will top ten in either the Giro or the Tour. He has already placed seventh and sixth in the Vuelta plus one stage win there. He may be their best bet to show the organizers that Slipstream deserve to be in the GTs.

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

thunder

I think Millar can win any race besides a GT.

See in the Tour, he was climbing in the last 20 or so with the Spanish, Kohl, Schumacher, and Zabriskie off the back much earlier.

Where did DZ hang and defend to GC @Dauphine? 4th or 5th or 6th. He was well in the top 10, just missed a podium.

No, Millar can definitely win the Dauphine. The point is, can he win it when he wants to go to the Tour in peak form. I dont think he can then. I think he is like Mcgee. If Mcgee wants to win Tour de Suisse, he needs to come in at peak form, and not hold back for the Tour.

So, will he do that, probably not. Can Millar win the Dauphine if all the Tour GC guys come to play, no he cannot win in that scenario. He can podium, but he cannot win.

Look how Voigt climbs. Look where Millar was for Mayo in the Pyrenees this year. If Millar can do that, he can climb superior to a doped up Voigt.

classic1

No doubt he has the engine, but does he have the constitution for the day in day out punishment? Thats why I reckon he needs a season to harden up before riding the Tour.

thunder

well who rides.

yeah, looks like Laurent.

TD
Vande Velde
Millar
DZ
Backstedt
Dean
Laurent
Hesjedal

only 8 riders

who from Sutton, Farrar, Pate, Lowe, Mccarty rides the Tour.

Sutton would have to be a firm favourite. Won 4 or 5 times in Europe. That is about 5 times more than most of their squad. Farrar is damn strong though, plus he is 'merican.

Bro Deal

That is a decent team.

Talking about Laurent, here is an article about him.

http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=11659

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

helmutRoole2

Plus he can set up Dean and he's a motor in the flats.

__________________
"Bait in 08" --nns1400