Cunego

Grater said:

I don't need to win a Columbia jersey. I've already bought one and also the knicks. That's how dedicated I am.

Here's an interesting quandary for you Grates... If Cadel Evans moves to Team Columbia next season... will you be able to change your mind on him?

Grater said:

I don't need to win a Columbia jersey. I've already bought one and also the knicks. That's how dedicated I am.

we figured that out by ourselves you know.

Crankyfeet said:

Here's an interesting quandary for you Grates... If Cadel Evans moves to Team Columbia next season... will you be able to change your mind on him?

No!

And If Evans moved to Columbia, Rogers and Gerdemenn will still be the leaders. Evans will play third fiddle to them.

I believe, and will always believe that if Rogers was fully fit this year, he would have won this tour. He's Australia's first Tour winner, not Evans.

Grater said:

No!

And If Evans moved to Columbia, Rogers and Gerdemenn will still be the leaders. Evans will play third fiddle to them.

I believe, and will always believe that if Rogers was fully fit this year, he would have won this tour. He's Australia's first Tour winner, not Evans.

yeah, he was my pick before he announced he wouldnt be participating

Grater said:

No!

And If Evans moved to Columbia, Rogers and Gerdemenn will still be the leaders. Evans will play third fiddle to them.

I believe, and will always believe that if Rogers was fully fit this year, he would have won this tour. He's Australia's first Tour winner, not Evans.

Grater, do you honestly believe that Rogers wasn't fully fit this month?

Do you honestly believe that he will ever be picked as team leader for Columbia at the Tour?

Klodifan said:

yeah, he was my pick before he announced he wouldnt be participating

Yep, he was mine too. He was ready for it. He's sacrificed his time trialing legs so he can climb.

Runitout said:

Grater, do you honestly believe that Rogers wasn't fully fit this month?

Do you honestly believe that he will ever be picked as team leader for Columbia at the Tour?

he was the leader last year until he crashed out. wait, that was last year, right?

Runitout said:

Grater, do you honestly believe that Rogers wasn't fully fit this month?

Do you honestly believe that he will ever be picked as team leader for Columbia at the Tour?

Michael knew he wouldn't have made it through the tour.

He was picked as the team leader last year.

If both Gerdemenn and Rogers were fit - they would both be team leaders like CSC were with Schleck and Sastre and like Astana were last year with Kloden and Vinokourov.

Whoever was in the best position after the Pyrenees would be the team leader.

That's how Columbia would have played it. Unfortunately, it didn't work out like that.

At the moment, Rogers is a much better prospect to win the tour than Gerdemenn and Kirchen based on experience. Gerdemenn needs a few more years tour experience, then when he reaches 28 - 30, the roles will be reversed. He will be leader and if Rogers was still with them by then, he would be helping Gerdemenn.

Klodifan said:

he was the leader last year until he crashed out. wait, that was last year, right?

Yes.

His goal this year from the outset was podium - until he got sick.

Astana, CSC and Columbia have very strong teams next year providing Astana get an invite.

Astana

Kloden
Leipheimer
Contador
Brajkovic

CSC

F Schelck
A Schleck
C Sastre

Columbia

Rogers
Gerdemenn
Kirchen
Hincapie
Lokvist

Silence Lotto (lol)

Evans
Popovych

Grater said:

Astana, CSC and Columbia have very strong teams next year providing Astana get an invite.

Astana

Kloden
Leipheimer
Contador
Brajkovic

CSC

F Schelck
A Schleck
C Sastre

Columbia

Rogers
Gerdemenn
Kirchen
Hincapie
Lokvist

Silence Lotto (lol)

Evans
Popovych

...& you're betting that all the above guys will still be riding for the teams they are on this year?....right?

Hitchy said:

...& you're betting that all the above guys will still be riding for the teams they are on this year?....right?

Correct.

CSC will get a big signing hence why I only had 3 there. The Schlecks and Sastre stay. Sastre wins the tour this year and then helps Andy and Frank Schleck.

Astana - I can see those riders staying there.

Columbia - none of those 5 will leave. I will be surprised if they do.

Silence Lotto - Interesting one. Will Evans go to a stronger team?

Grater said:

Michael knew he wouldn't have made it through the tour.

He was picked as the team leader last year.

If both Gerdemenn and Rogers were fit - they would both be team leaders like CSC were with Schleck and Sastre and like Astana were last year with Kloden and Vinokourov.

Whoever was in the best position after the Pyrenees would be the team leader.

That's how Columbia would have played it. Unfortunately, it didn't work out like that.

At the moment, Rogers is a much better prospect to win the tour than Gerdemenn and Kirchen based on experience. Gerdemenn needs a few more years tour experience, then when he reaches 28 - 30, the roles will be reversed. He will be leader and if Rogers was still with them by then, he would be helping Gerdemenn.

Rogers was quoted in the Canberra Times as disputing that he was not fit for the Tour. It seems Aldag had told the media and not him. The decision came from management, not Rogers.

Yes, he was Team Leader at T-Mobile. He will not be team leader at the Tour at Columbia, imho. The ghost of Sinkewitz lies between those two things - who was in the convoy to Freiburg?

Sinkewitz can sink a few of them. He had some choice things to say about Gerdemann, too, but stopped short of specifics. But Sink was a teammate of Rogers right through with both Lefevere and T-mobile. He knows everything, and Aldag knows he knows everything, and so does Stapleton.

It's the only reason I can think of that Rogers was left out of the team by a management decision.

Runitout said:

Rogers was quoted in the Canberra Times as disputing that he was not fit for the Tour. It seems Aldag had told the media and not him. The decision came from management, not Rogers.

Yes, he was Team Leader at T-Mobile. He will not be team leader at the Tour at Columbia, imho. The ghost of Sinkewitz lies between those two things - who was in the convoy to Freiburg?

Sinkewitz can sink a few of them. He had some choice things to say about Gerdemann, too, but stopped short of specifics. But Sink was a teammate of Rogers right through with both Lefevere and T-mobile. He knows everything, and Aldag knows he knows everything, and so does Stapleton.

It's the only reason I can think of that Rogers was left out of the team by a management decision.

I think you're right on the money... but it's also just hearsay in my case...and it also makes sense.

Runitout said:

Rogers was quoted in the Canberra Times as disputing that he was not fit for the Tour. It seems Aldag had told the media and not him. The decision came from management, not Rogers.

Yes, he was Team Leader at T-Mobile. He will not be team leader at the Tour at Columbia, imho. The ghost of Sinkewitz lies between those two things - who was in the convoy to Freiburg?

Sinkewitz can sink a few of them. He had some choice things to say about Gerdemann, too, but stopped short of specifics. But Sink was a teammate of Rogers right through with both Lefevere and T-mobile. He knows everything, and Aldag knows he knows everything, and so does Stapleton.

It's the only reason I can think of that Rogers was left out of the team by a management decision.

I think you have a good point. An unfit Rogers--sufficiently unfit, that is, to finish eleventh in the Dauphine--would have been a fine domestique, wouldn't you say?

Rogers has connections with more stains than a pub carpet. He's a big risk for Stapleton to keep on, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's already been lawyers at ten paces.

I do like him as rider, for all that.

Runitout said:

Rogers was quoted in the Canberra Times as disputing that he was not fit for the Tour. It seems Aldag had told the media and not him. The decision came from management, not Rogers.

Yes, he was Team Leader at T-Mobile. He will not be team leader at the Tour at Columbia, imho. The ghost of Sinkewitz lies between those two things - who was in the convoy to Freiburg?

Sinkewitz can sink a few of them. He had some choice things to say about Gerdemann, too, but stopped short of specifics. But Sink was a teammate of Rogers right through with both Lefevere and T-mobile. He knows everything, and Aldag knows he knows everything, and so does Stapleton.

It's the only reason I can think of that Rogers was left out of the team by a management decision.

and that was right ofcourse, and they banned me on SBS for saying that [censored]

Drongo said:

Rogers has connections with more stains than a pub carpet.

Gold.

nice photo![img]cyclinginside.comcunego%20na%20sturzkleiner.jpgOpen ↗[/img]

Runitout said:

Rogers was quoted in the Canberra Times as disputing that he was not fit for the Tour. It seems Aldag had told the media and not him. The decision came from management, not Rogers.

Yes, he was Team Leader at T-Mobile. He will not be team leader at the Tour at Columbia, imho. The ghost of Sinkewitz lies between those two things - who was in the convoy to Freiburg?

Sinkewitz can sink a few of them. He had some choice things to say about Gerdemann, too, but stopped short of specifics. But Sink was a teammate of Rogers right through with both Lefevere and T-mobile. He knows everything, and Aldag knows he knows everything, and so does Stapleton.

It's the only reason I can think of that Rogers was left out of the team by a management decision.

Can somebody explain to me what Rogers has done to be considered a bona fide Tour contender.

Jeff Vader said:

Can somebody explain to me what Rogers has done to be considered a bona fide Tour contender.

He won three world champs at ITT and almost won the Tour de Suisse - beating Ullrich, but losing to a supercharged Gonzales on the final afternoon.

He's won a few other races of note, but I can't remember them. Oh, and top tenned in the Tour as a domestique. I would have put him on the same level as Popovych and Kirchen. Not a likely winner, but a good chance at top five.