Professional Cycling - Astana sweep the podium?

Is it possible that Astana could sweep the podium?

With clearly the strongest team and big time gaps on many of their competitors from the TTT, it seems possible to me.

No...the 3rd guy will have to work while the first two try to kill each other.

Possible,.....but,......Highly Unlikely.

it could happen given their ITT skills but i bet they will have to work to help the #1 GC guy.

it could happen given their ITT skills but i bet they will have to work to help the #1 GC guy.


Yeah i can see that, but i think honestly this team divided is nearly as strong as a normal team un-divided.

Can anyone tell me if there has ever been a more stacked team than Astana. I mean i cant ever remember even thinking a team could sweep the podium.

Most of the Disco Mailmen Teams were pretty heavily stacked. It's just that they came in knowing Lance would be leader instead of having the Alberto/Lance dynamic.

If they decide to attack on stage 9 and get at least 3 riders over the top of the Col du Tourmalet ahead of the next few placed riders in the GC they can go from possible to favorites to sweep. They then would have to work hard to TT the finish. That is assuming 3 or more making up the core of a group that co-operates.

IF things work out right to the top of the Col it is a risk worth taking. One thing that makes such a risk more attractive to a GC team is the next day is a rest day and stage 10 is more of a sprinters stage.

Not saying it will happen. If I were a GC guy on any of the other teams I'd be very sure to be aware of the possibility that a group away over the last climb might just try to stay away until the finish.

in the unlikely event it were to happen, it would underscore armstrong's
pronouncements that the 2008 tdf was underwhelmingly competitive.

Even when USPS and Discovery were winning, they never won the team category until 2007. I could not see them sweeping.

Even when USPS and Discovery were winning, they never won the team category until 2007. I could not see them sweeping.


Yeah, i mean those teams were bullets but not capable of a sweep because of how they were built. Astana on the other hand is stacked and could actually sweep the podium.

Who's the most likely to mess up the podium party of Astana? Andy Schleck? Carlos Sastre? Cadel Evans?

Even when USPS and Discovery were winning, they never won the team category until 2007. I could not see them sweeping.

I agree, but, I don't think the team standings were ever of concern to those teams. They were single minded in their goal to win the GC. As, I believ this years team to be. They won't hesitate one second to give up second or third place on the podium or the team lead if it means they can seal their GC's position on the top step. Lance included. If he can't climb with Alberto, and only he knows if that's true, he'll make sure he does whatever he can to make sure a team mate is on that top step.

How about vaccuuming the podium ;)

*In before Howzit Rant* ;)

yes, I think it is very possible that Astana could sweep the podium.

How about vaccuuming the podium ;)

lOL

Yeah i can see that, but i think honestly this team divided is nearly as strong as a normal team un-divided.

Can anyone tell me if there has ever been a more stacked team than Astana. I mean i cant ever remember even thinking a team could sweep the podium.

How many guys on Astana do you think can seriously win?

There have been many teams in the past with more than 1 (2 if you buy into the hype).

Stacked team that went nowhere:

2004 TdF T-Mobile:
Kloden (2nd), Ullrich (4th), Zabel (3rd points)

same TdF CSC:
Basso (3rd), Sastre (8th) (they also had Julich but I don't think he was a serious threat for overall win).

same TdF USPS:
Well, you know what happened there. They had arguably better domestiques than Astana has right now.

2005 T-Mobile had Ullrich, Kloden, and Vino; infighting drama, didn't work out.

edit: sheesh, the BF server is about to crash or something...

Going further back, how about 1986 La Vie Claire:

LeMond (Yellow), Hinault (2nd :D), Hampsten (4th), Niki Rutimann (7th), Jean-Francois Bernard (12th), Stever Bauer (23rd)

La Vie Claire won the overall team, mountains, youth, and combination as well.

Now that's stacked.

Going further back, how about 1986 La Vie Claire:

LeMond (Yellow), Hinault (2nd :D), Hampsten (4th), Niki Rutimann (7th), Jean-Francois Bernard (12th), Stever Bauer (23rd)

La Vie Claire won the overall team, mountains, youth, and combination as well.

Now that's stacked.

Wow - has there been a stronger team than that in TdF history?

I knew the story of the LeMond/Hinault soap opera from that team, but wasn't aware it was that deep, too.

How many guys on Astana do you think can seriously win?

There have been many teams in the past with more than 1 (2 if you buy into the hype).

Stacked team that went nowhere:

2004 TdF T-Mobile:
Kloden (2nd), Ullrich (4th), Zabel (3rd points)

same TdF CSC:
Basso (3rd), Sastre (8th) (they also had Julich but I don't think he was a serious threat for overall win).

same TdF USPS:
Well, you know what happened there. They had arguably better domestiques than Astana has right now.

2005 T-Mobile had Ullrich, Kloden, and Vino; infighting drama, didn't work out.

edit: sheesh, the BF server is about to crash or something...

Ullrich has never been considered a good tactician. And he demonstrated that in 05 by chasing his own teammate. Bruyneel has put two riders on the podium in 2 grand tours in which they won both. This is a much stronger team than was riding those particular races, particularly the 07 TDF. I think they will put at least 2 people on this one. I think Bruyneel already put a clamp on any potential infighting after yesterday's stage. At least that is the way his interview this morning appeared.

I was trying to answer a question about stacked teams. Whatever Ullrich was or wasn't is irrelevant. Just saying...

Would have been possible if Cadel wasnt there. But he can time trial, so I think Levi will be knocked off.
Plus i think someone from Astana will crack, either Lance or Levi.

Cadel is about 2 1/2 minutes behind Levi. Where is he going to make up that much time?

Cadel is about 2 1/2 minutes behind Levi. Where is he going to make up that much time?
Watch this year's Giro, you shall find the answer you seek young traveler.

Even when USPS and Discovery were winning, they never won the team category until 2007. I could not see them sweeping.

But USPS never had two leaders plus one perpetual protege.

Yeah i can see that, but i think honestly this team divided is nearly as strong as a normal team un-divided.

Can anyone tell me if there has ever been a more stacked team than Astana. I mean i cant ever remember even thinking a team could sweep the podium.

La Vie Claire. 1,2, and 4. 1986

Edit, should have read the whole thread before I bothered.

Watch this year's Giro, you shall find the answer you seek young traveler.

Not a good comparison. Maybe make a comparison of one of the races that they both peaked for, the 07 tour. Who won the last time trial. Who was climbing in the 3rd week better. It certainly wasn't Cadel. If you looked at performances from the Giro & no other factors were considered, then Menchov would not be 5 minutes behind. Levi wasn't peaking for the Giro, he was tailing off a very long peak. His intention had been to ride support until Lance broke his collar bone. Levi came into this tour a little off his peak with the intention to be his best for the 3rd week.

Yeah, i mean those teams were bullets but not capable of a sweep because of how they were built. Astana on the other hand is stacked and could actually sweep the podium.

Who's the most likely to mess up the podium party of Astana? Andy Schleck? Carlos Sastre? Cadel Evans?


VandeVelde is the best placed GC type rider who's not on Astana. 45 seconds back of Leipheimer and 30 seconds back of Kloden, plus Garmin has a well placed domestique to help him. I'm interested to watch Wiggins' progress. I would've thought he'd blow up sooner than this. If he's still well placed in St. 18, that TT course is made for him.