More TDF team squad choice oddities....?

[Randall Shimizu]

I was noticing the other day that Roberto Uran is not on Sky's TDF team. Froome is a very strong rider, but he still might need the support of a climber like Uran. The TDF is a long and challenging race so it's always best to have all best help a rider can have. Even riders like Indurain or Armstrong had 2 or 3 big climbers.

BMC's decision not to choose Thor Husvold is another mystery. Hushvold is a very strong rider for the flat stages and the lesser mountain stages as well.

Sky indicates that Uran will ride in the Vuelta instead. In my mind this does not make much sense.

[Snidely Whiplash·]

"Randall Shimizu" <***@gmail.com> wrote in message news:32f09391-38d6-4986-81a2-***@googlegroups.com...
I was noticing the other day that Roberto Uran is not on Sky's TDF team.
Froome is a very strong rider, but he still might need the support of a
climber like Uran. The TDF is a long and challenging race so it's always best
to have all best help a rider can have. Even riders like Indurain or Armstrong
had 2 or 3 big climbers.

BMC's decision not to choose Thor Husvold is another mystery. Hushvold is a
very strong rider for the flat stages and the lesser mountain stages as well.

Sky indicates that Uran will ride in the Vuelta instead. In my mind this does
not make much sense.




===================[reply=====================

You show your ignorance. Climbers don't need other climbers on the
team. Climbing is slow so what good does it do to follow another
climber up a steep grade going 10-15 mph where headwinds aren't
a factor? Even if a team had four strong climbers, each taking a pull
on rotation when climbing a mountain wouldn't lend any of them an
advantage other than, perhaps some moral support having teammates
nearby. This goes mostly for mountaintop finishes as any long stretch
after a hard climb tends to negate any real advantage a strong climber
has banked.

No, climbing is for the strong-headed and strong-legged rugged
individual. Climbing is not a team sport by any means. Climbing
is more like an ITT up a mountain. You can draft somebody but
it does little or no good to do so.

A sprint team is another thing altogether as the stronger the
team the better they can position their sprinter whose energy
they conserve by not having him take any pulls and just
enjoying the slipstream of the other team riders doing the pulls.

[Randall Shimizu]

Post by Randall Shimizu
I was noticing the other day that Roberto Uran is not on Sky's TDF team.
Froome is a very strong rider, but he still might need the support of a
climber like Uran. The TDF is a long and challenging race so it's always best
to have all best help a rider can have. Even riders like Indurain or Armstrong
had 2 or 3 big climbers.
BMC's decision not to choose Thor Husvold is another mystery. Hushvold is a
very strong rider for the flat stages and the lesser mountain stages as well.
Sky indicates that Uran will ride in the Vuelta instead. In my mind this does
not make much sense.

Having a team mate to pace you is a big plus. The other factor is that they can get drinks, food or give you spare wheel if you have a flat. Having another rider is also helpful in between the hills as well. You can draft there as well.

As for a 35 year old's there is still a lot still riding strongly like Chris Horner. As for Hushvold one can make the argument that there is possibly other stronger riders on BMC.

Post by Randall Shimizu
===================[reply=====================
You show your ignorance. Climbers don't need other climbers on the
team. Climbing is slow so what good does it do to follow another
climber up a steep grade going 10-15 mph where headwinds aren't
a factor? Even if a team had four strong climbers, each taking a pull
on rotation when climbing a mountain wouldn't lend any of them an
advantage other than, perhaps some moral support having teammates
nearby. This goes mostly for mountaintop finishes as any long stretch
after a hard climb tends to negate any real advantage a strong climber
has banked.
No, climbing is for the strong-headed and strong-legged rugged
individual. Climbing is not a team sport by any means. Climbing
is more like an ITT up a mountain. You can draft somebody but
it does little or no good to do so.
A sprint team is another thing altogether as the stronger the
team the better they can position their sprinter whose energy
they conserve by not having him take any pulls and just
enjoying the slipstream of the other team riders doing the pulls.
--
SW
"Cursed, foiled again!"

[Fred Flintstein]

Post by Randall Shimizu
BMC's decision not to choose Thor Husvold is another mystery. Hushvold is a very strong rider for the flat stages and the lesser mountain stages as well.

35 year old guys that haven't won a meaningful race
in two years are not a priority for most teams.

F

[Randall Shimizu]

Post by Randall Shimizu
I was noticing the other day that Roberto Uran is not on Sky's TDF team. Froome is a very strong rider, but he still might need the support of a climber like Uran. The TDF is a long and challenging race so it's always best to have all best help a rider can have. Even riders like Indurain or Armstrong had 2 or 3 big climbers.
BMC's decision not to choose Thor Husvold is another mystery. Hushvold is a very strong rider for the flat stages and the lesser mountain stages as well.
Sky indicates that Uran will ride in the Vuelta instead. In my mind this does not make much sense.