Tour of Britain pre-race hype, part one: excited rambling about the team sheets
Published by Halverde on 8/27/2006 at 18:33.
Today we're going to force our opinions of the teams right down your throat, then later deny all knowledge when we're proved to have been very, very wrong.
First, the teams occupying race numbers 1-46
Quick.Step-Innergetic (1-6)
Nick Nuyens has taken a break from suing Belgian television channels to defend the title he won last year, and he's brought Tom Boonen, Juan Manuel Garate and Filippo Pozzato with him (as well as two other people we've never heard of). If they actually bother, this team could win the race without even breaking into a sweat. But they won't.
T-Mobile (11-16)
Another dream team line-up, but new recruit Mark Cavendish will almost certainly be more of a threat than Andreas Kloeden, Olaf Pollack or Michael Rogers. As well as belonging to the Arnaud Tournant school of beguiling eyes, Cav is special in that he's a British rider who actually seems capable of winning things.
Great Britain (21-26)
We've actually heard of all of the riders in the Great Britain squad, which is a good sign. Roger Hammond is leading the team, and is expected to make a big announcement on route about his future following his departure from Discovery Channel. After his performances in Eurosport's studio during the Tour, there could definitely be a future for him in the underpaid world of cycling punditry.
Davitamon Lotto (31-36)
As if to deflect criticism that he only rides one event a year, Peter Van Petegem was included in Davitamon Lotto's preliminary start list. Obviously the organisers of the Paris-Roubaix were so angry about him reneging on their exclusivity deal that he decided to stay in Belgium instead.
Ceramica Panaria-Navigare (41-46)
If Paride Grilo doesn't win a sprint finish, we'll eat our luminous press bib. That's how confident we are. Well... perhaps.
TOMORROW:
More team news, unless we find something else to get excited about.
First, the teams occupying race numbers 1-46
Quick.Step-Innergetic (1-6)
Nick Nuyens has taken a break from suing Belgian television channels to defend the title he won last year, and he's brought Tom Boonen, Juan Manuel Garate and Filippo Pozzato with him (as well as two other people we've never heard of). If they actually bother, this team could win the race without even breaking into a sweat. But they won't.
T-Mobile (11-16)
Another dream team line-up, but new recruit Mark Cavendish will almost certainly be more of a threat than Andreas Kloeden, Olaf Pollack or Michael Rogers. As well as belonging to the Arnaud Tournant school of beguiling eyes, Cav is special in that he's a British rider who actually seems capable of winning things.
Great Britain (21-26)
We've actually heard of all of the riders in the Great Britain squad, which is a good sign. Roger Hammond is leading the team, and is expected to make a big announcement on route about his future following his departure from Discovery Channel. After his performances in Eurosport's studio during the Tour, there could definitely be a future for him in the underpaid world of cycling punditry.
Davitamon Lotto (31-36)
As if to deflect criticism that he only rides one event a year, Peter Van Petegem was included in Davitamon Lotto's preliminary start list. Obviously the organisers of the Paris-Roubaix were so angry about him reneging on their exclusivity deal that he decided to stay in Belgium instead.
Ceramica Panaria-Navigare (41-46)
If Paride Grilo doesn't win a sprint finish, we'll eat our luminous press bib. That's how confident we are. Well... perhaps.
TOMORROW:
More team news, unless we find something else to get excited about.
