Just looking at the team rosters for the 2012 season and I'm not sure that I'm particularly looking forward to a season in which superteams might well dominate the major races.
What am I talking about?
Let's look at the rosters :
BMC :
Alessandro Ballan (ITA) Adam Blythe (GBR) Brent Bookwalter (USA) Marcus Burghardt (GER) Stephen Cummings (GBR) Yannick Eijssen (BEL) Cadel Evans (AUS) Mathias Frank (SUI) Philippe Gilbert (BEL) George Hincapie (USA) Thor Hushovd (NOR) Martin Kohler (SUI) Klaas Lodewyck (BEL) Amaël Moinard (FRA) Steve Morabito (SUI) Taylor Phinney (USA) Marco Pinotti (ITA) Manuel Quinziato (ITA) Tim Roe (AUS) Mauro Santambrogio (ITA) Ivan Santaromita (ITA) Michael Schär (SUI) Johann Tschopp (SUI) Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) Tejay Van Garderen (USA) Danilo Wyss (SUI)
Leopard Trek-Nissan Radio Shack Team Jan Bakelants (BEL) Daniele Bennati (ITA) George Bennett (NZL) Matthew Busche (USA) Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Laurent Didier (LUX) Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) Tony Gallopin (FRA) Linus Gerdemann (GER) Ben Hermans (BEL) Chris Horner (USA) Markel Irizar (ESP) Ben King (USA) Andreas Klöden (GER) Tiago Machado (POR) Maxime Monfort (BEL) Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA) Nelson Oliveira (POR) Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) Joost Posthuma (NED) Gregory Rast (SUI) Thomas Rohregger (AUT) Hayden Roulston (NZL) Andy Schleck (LUX) Fränk Schleck (LUX) Jesse Sergent (NZL) Jens Voigt (GER) Robert Wagner (GER) Oliver Zaugg (SUI) Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) I really do hope that 2012 season doesn't end up as snorefest with only these two teams dominating each race.
These two teams have in depth strength. BMC more for the Classics, Leopard more for the Tour's GC. But neither in the Classics nor in the Tour will be battle of these two. Omega Pharma - Quick Step should be strong opposition in one day and week long races, but I'm not sure they've profiled themselves well enough for GTs. Sky, with Cav and Wiggo (above all), should feature in races they target. On Italian soil Liqui and Lampre should be the strongest. Rabo has serious interest in the Classics, as well as in GTs. They could be useful ally. Saxo won't be much at the front, but they will shape up lots of races (more so with Contador). So, I think BMC and Leopard won't dominate each race. There will be plenty of chances for the others even in the most significant races for the two. Their strength and burden of favorite will mean they'll have to take responsibility in the races, and that could be comfortable position for the others with ambitions.
These two teams have in depth strength. BMC more for the Classics, Leopard more for the Tour's GC. But neither in the Classics nor in the Tour will be battle of these two. Omega Pharma - Quick Step should be strong opposition in one day and week long races, but I'm not sure they've profiled themselves well enough for GTs. Sky, with Cav and Wiggo (above all), should feature in races they target. On Italian soil Liqui and Lampre should be the strongest. Rabo has serious interest in the Classics, as well as in GTs. They could be useful ally. Saxo won't be much at the front, but they will shape up lots of races (more so with Contador). So, I think BMC and Leopard won't dominate each race. There will be plenty of chances for the others even in the most significant races for the two. Their strength and burden of favorite will mean they'll have to take responsibility in the races, and that could be comfortable position for the others with ambitions.
I hope you are correct in your analysis.
I would hate to see just two teams monopolise the seasons race results between them.
siding with andrija on this. granted bmc and leopard have the star power line-ups, but they do follow that hog pattern of pointing to the tdf. i believe i read that the hog has already tailored frank and andy's early schedules for a run up to the tour much like he did for another of his riders.
perhaps it's time for the other d. s.'s to bring about greater co-operation between their riders to neutralise the week in/week out advantages held by the super teams, much like spartacus found the going a bit more difficult this year in the spring campaign.
