"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Ride for any team in any era - Who?

If you could be a domo for a season, with any team in any era, who would it be and when. Remember, you are not the star but a lowly domo who must carry water and luggage.

For me, I think I'd like to have worked for Big Mig. I remember seeing him sitting at the from of the group at the worlds, looking back, daring anyone to come around him, as Alano, on a flat tubular, hammered away for the win.

That made a real impression on me. Mig was destroying people at the tour and here he was doing what a true leader is supposed to do - pay back those who worked for him. The guy was reserved but he also seemed to have a bit of class. That'd be my pick.

I'd like to hear from some of the more...uh...experienced riders out there who can remember, first hand, some of the great riders and teams that have come and gone.

probly festina, right arround say.. 1998

7-11 it would just be cool to say you were on that team.

probly festina, right arround say.. 1998

Ha!

descentes sur le tour...

7-11 it would just be cool to say you were on that team.

Agreed. They were pioneers for American cycling. Hell, I'd have carried bottles for Hampsten, and chased down breakaways for Phinney with a huge grin on my face.

I'd pick a team with a crap team leader so I wouldn't have to do so much work.

I'd pick a team with a crap team leader so I wouldn't have to do so much work.


The 1995 Chazal-MBK squad?

Good question.
Maybe ADR-Agrigel in 1989.
Maybe 7-Eleven when they were Kings of the American Criterium before they went to the Tour.

Another vote for 7 Eleven in the late 80's. I'll also throw in PDM and Carrera.

I would have to go with La Vie Claire in 1986, just so I could have made out in a bidding war between Hinault and Lemond for my services.

Have to give it some thought, but probably the most interesting "what if" thread in a while....

OK. Having pondered...

I'd be leading out Hampsted on the Gavia. With my work not only would he have won the Giro, he'd have won the stage.

Or working for Ferdie. I like ice cream.

Maybe 7-Eleven when they were Kings of the American Criterium before they went to the Tour.

Wheaties-Shwinn?

leadouts for Michel Vaarten, maybe?

Cannondale Secco, lead out for Cipo, because then i would be almost that fast....

The 1995 Chazal-MBK squad?


Interesting. Why?


To all, what is it about the team you'd choose and why at that time?

Interesting. Why?


To all, what is it about the team you'd choose and why at that time?


Crap team....but I love JFB.

Plus nothing sez "I'm a pro" more than a fluoro yellow and pink MBK.

The 1995 Chazal-MBK squad?

Even crapper than that. They got rides in the Tour. Too hard IMO. Maybe Fangio or Saxon or a team like that. Kermesses, couple of Belgian classics, Dunkirk, Tour de Suisse then go on holidays. :D

Even crapper than that. They got rides in the Tour. Too hard IMO. Maybe Fangio or Saxon or a team like that. Kermesses, couple of Belgian classics, Dunkirk, Tour de Suisse then go on holidays. :D

gotcha....

an SEFB or Cedico-Ville de Charleroi....you may or may not get paid.

Mapei of the 90's up until they quit the sport. They were a classics oriented team. I like the classics and one day events.

Cool riders, Cool bikes, cool uniforms, state of the art everything, a team owner who's nuts for cycling and not just a guy signing checks, a DS whos one of the best ever, and from what i've read just a first class operation all the way.

For me, I think I'd like to have worked for Big Mig.

Well that depends, was this a team helmet, or only for him?

http://www.miguel-indurain.info/imagenes/miguel_indurain_foto01.jpg

I would have to go with La Vie Claire in 1986, just so I could have made out in a bidding war between Hinault and Lemond for my services.

That was my first choice. My second is Once in the early 90s. It was fun watching them own the Vuelta.

Faema and Moltani from 1968-1975. First off it would be fun riding for a team that would win the majority of the monuments in one year.

But better still is that every year where Eddy won the TDF a teammate, sometimes as many as 3 teammates won a stage. Often enough these stage winners were true domestiques.

I'm easy....U.S. Postal/Discovery....would've been fun (and nerve-wracking) to ride in all 7....

I'm easy....U.S. Postal/Discovery....would've been fun (and nerve-wracking) to ride in all 7....

Yes but you would have had to kiss Lance's Butt so many times your lips would have worn off.

If you notice domestiques didn't last very long on Postal-Discovery.

Faema and Moltani from 1968-1975. First off it would be fun riding for a team that would win the majority of the monuments in one year.

But better still is that every year where Eddy won the TDF a teammate, sometimes as many as 3 teammates won a stage. Often enough these stage winners were true domestiques.

Nice. That's what I'm talking about.

^^^

Yup, I agree. Why not ride for someone who wins 3 out of 10 races he enters? Plus a few teammates wins and you are looking at celebrating with a good bottle of vino almost half the year. These guys raced on the road 150x a year, plus a bunch more cyclo-cross or track in the winter. It'd be like a non-stop celebration of winning.

I'm easy....U.S. Postal/Discovery....would've been fun (and nerve-wracking) to ride in all 7....


The idea of becoming a human pin-cushion and lab-rat in what are tantamount to chemical and biological experiments would have put me off.

If you notice domestiques didn't last very long on Postal-Discovery.

got anything to back this up compared to other Pro Tour squads?

got anything to back this up compared to other Pro Tour squads?

Nope purely my unsubstantiated conjecture, and my perception. The burden of proof is on you to prove me wrong, :)

I'm easy....U.S. Postal/Discovery....would've been fun (and nerve-wracking) to ride in all 7....

I'd do it just get in on that first-rate dope. Id be sooo fast:D, and then I could do a tell-all book. But kissing lance's ass and being contractually obligated to wear a DOPESTRONG band wouldn't make it worth it.

CSC looks like a pretty cool team to be on. They definitely get the best gear.

CSC looks like a pretty cool team to be on. They definitely get the best gear.

Correction.....the Astana squad get the best gear.

:D

Banesto 93

Correction.....the Astana squad get the best gear.

:D

Astana was re-badging the zipps that CSC rides stock to look like their easton's. BMC makes some sweet bikes but I'm partial to the swooper lines of cervelos, and you cant argue with the palmares won on them.

The riding may have sucked, but it would have been fascinating to be on the inside with T-mob in the late 90's. The contrasting personalities of Zabel and Ulirch, combined with the revolving door of (under-exploited) talent would have made for quite the team dynamic. Add a dash of eastern-block sport school tradition just for kicks:D.

Astana was re-badging the zipps that CSC rides stock to look like their easton's. BMC makes some sweet bikes but I'm partial to the swooper lines of cervelos, and you cant argue with the palmares won on them.

The riding may have sucked, but it would have been fascinating to be on the inside with T-mob in the late 90's. The contrasting personalities of Zabel and Ulirch, combined with the revolving door of (under-exploited) talent would have made for quite the team dynamic. Add a dash of eastern-block sport school tradition just for kicks:D.

You missed the joke....never mind.

gear = pharmaceuticals

:D

You missed the joke....never mind.

gear = pharmaceuticals

:D

:o

CSC hasn't gotten caught, yet :p

(ill call basso a disco rider)

I'd like to ride with Jens Voight, so I'd have to say CSC out of default.

I'd like to ride with Jens Voight, so I'd have to say CSC out of default.

Yeah, if you saw Overcoming Voight definitely looks like the most fun of all those guys. I'd actually like to meet him after he retires so we can quaff a few ales and jaw wobble.

Ti-Raleigh

As a U.S. cyclist, I think there would only be 2 choices. 1) 7-11. It would have been cool to be a part of making history, and going from laughing stocks to grand tour winner.

2) Tailwind. The question as phrased is you're a domestique. What could be better as a domestique than playing a role in 7 TDF wins. and because Armstrong didn't focus on other races, you'd still get your own shot at some other races (ala Hincapie and the Classics.)