Category Archives: Teams

Europcar: (We) Award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul*

The 2011 Tour de France was animated by Thomas Voeckler’s valiant attempts to cling to the Yellow Jersey he acquired during Stage 9.  Leaving behind their luckless breakaway companions, Voeckler placed second in the stage to Luis Leon Sanchez.  This gave him enough of a time buffer to fight, tooth and nail, for the next … Continue reading

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RadioShack-Nissan looks like it is crumbling

There have been a bunch of signs that RadioShack-Nissan has been coming apart at the seams. Johan Bruyneel and Frank Schleck clashing, with Bruyneel sending Schleck to the Giro in an apparent attempt to split up Frank and Andy; Frank pulling out of the Giro and trading barbs with Bruyneel through press officers; Bruyneel being … Continue reading

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Vacansoleil-DCM

I wonder how badly Vacansoleil regrets Thomas DeGendt’s decision to schedule his wedding during this year’s Tour de France after his incredible stage victory and third-place finish in the Giro d’Italia. But life must go on and Vacansoliel has a Tour de France to complete—with or without the team’s exciting Belgian star. Like several teams … Continue reading

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Saxo Bank-Tinkoff

Someone asked me if it’s harder to write previews for the teams with the best or the worst chances to make a big impact on the race. Let me illustrate the answer to this question with Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank’s roster for the 2012 Tour de France: Jonathan Cantwell Juan Jose Haedo Karsten Kroon (1 Tour … Continue reading

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Team Sky

Well, I had to go through 19 teams to get here, but I’m finally at the squad that I think will be taking the yellow jersey back to its service course on Monday, July 23rd. First, let me say on record that I was wrong about Bradley Wiggins (in my defense, I wasn’t alone). I … Continue reading

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Tour de France 2012 Team Preview: Saur-Sojasun

Despite failing to win a stage last year, Saur-Sojasun was likely invited back to this year’s Tour de France for the simple reason that the team contains one of the most promising your French stage racers not named Pierre Rolland. I’m referring of course, to Jerome Coppel. Coppel finished 14th in last year’s Tour de … Continue reading

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