Professional Cycling For the Fans - Team Standings after Stage 4 of Paris-Nice - Guess What Team is 19th Out of 20?

Team GC After Stage 3

1. Rabobank in 40:35:50
2. Quick Step in 40:37:32
3. Team Saxo Bank in 40:38:10 at 02:20
4. Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne in 40:38:49 at 02:59
5. Team Katusha in 40:38:59 at 03:09
6. Euskaltel - Euskadi in 40:39:58 at 04:08
7. Skil-Shimano in 40:40:27 at 04:37
8. Caisse D’epargne in 40:41:55 at 06:05
9. Silence - Lotto in 40:41:59 at 06:09
10. Lampre - N.g.c in 40:42:05 at 06:15
11. Garmin - Slipstream in 40:42:08 at 06:18
12. Astana in 40:42:48 at 06:58
13. Agritubel in 40:43:03 at 07:13
14. Ag2r-La Mondiale in 40:43:25 at 07:35
15. Team Milram in 40:43:37 at 07:47
16. Francaise Des Jeux in 40:44:03 at 08:13
17. Team Columbia - High Road in 40:44:14 at 08:24
18. Liquigas in 40:44:25 at 08:35
19. Cervelo Test Team in 40:44:25 at 08:35
20. Bbox Bouygues Telecom in 40:44:48 at 08:58

:popcorn

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2046/2144408146_26cc4d776e_o.jpg

That is certainly a beautiful photograph. I guess that all that we can do is to pray for them.

Cervelo does have a stage (or two?) - isn't all that bad really, is it?

At least they are ahead of the BBox boys...

You guys really think this means anything?

Heck, if I wanted my team to peak for late May or in July, I wouldn't have them killing it in the classics.

Astana is in 15th as of today, treks must really suck with all the talent on Astana. The only conclusion I can come to is it must be the bike. :)

pharding -

another point - team classifications in a single stage race are meaningless. The yellow jersey winner will often come from a team ranked low. That is the "team concept" - have 7 or 8 guys whose only purpose it to bury themselves over 200+km such that they blow up and melt in the final 20 km but succeed in delivering the team leader to within 5 - 20km of the finish fresh as a daisy.

Armstong won tons of stuff with very few of his teammates coming in within the same pack. Normally they were all toast and slacking at the back of the gruppeto. All for one and one for all.

Who really cares that the top 5 Cofidis riders are consitently finishing ahead of the top 5 Katusha riders - what have they won?

Now - take a look at seasonal rankings and you'll have a point - I and think you'd find Cervelo (as was the case repeatedly over the years with the CSC team) will be high in the rankings as those standings are based on teams victories.

I have a suspicion that Cervelo is going to fall short of a lot of folks' expectations this year.

I have a suspicion that Cervelo is going to fall short of a lot of folks' expectations this year.

With 6 wins they have already exceeded mine.

With 6 wins they have already exceeded mine.

Whoops. New mod boo boo. :o

I'm judging based on performance in the Spring Classics, Grand Tours and World Championships. I don't think they'll be completely shut out, but I don't expect them to make much noise in those events. They're a 2nd tier team, despite having a few well known names and the reigning TdF champ.

Everybody knows their bikes just aren't up to snuff.

Whoops. New mod boo boo. :o

I'm judging based on performance in the Spring Classics, Grand Tours and World Championships. I don't think they'll be completely shut out, but I don't expect them to make much noise in those events. They're a 2nd tier team, despite having a few well known names and the reigning TdF champ.

I'd have to agree, I think a stage win at a GT would be considered a major success.

And by the implied associations that the OP is making, anyone who rides a Scott must be a doper a la 2008 TDF.

Not significant.

All I care about is the standings at the end of the Le Tour (Best Team) and at the end of the Season (Best Team).

By then, the ranking above will be the stuff of dreams.

2nd and 3rd at MSR.