Discovery in disarray.... ?

Agreed Chechu will retire from Discovery. He is towards the end of his career and probably has only two years left (this year included). He acknowledged as much in a Daily Peloton interview earlier this year, in terms of not having much time left in his career. He has more freedom this year (including in the Tour) because DC won't have incentives to control the peloton and will try to move responsibility to CSC and TM (at least early on).

Chechu has a high level of loyalty and is happy on DC. Also, Chechu is good friends with Noval, whom he used to train with even before Noval joined the team.

If he went somewhere else, he would also not be team leader. He would still be valued as a mountain domestique, because that is what he is.

Azevedo may have to take a pay cut, but he probably will accept that, so he too will probably retire from Discovery. He may even retire this year, unless he does better on an individual basis. He is sitll valued, because if he were not as much, he would have been deployed, together with Beltran, to the Giro as a mountain domestique.

More freedom ? You mean 'lack of a plan'... :p

Didn't Lance used to cut these boys a cheque at the post Tour party after each win ? I guess they won't be getting it this year..... these boys should find a new source of income.....

Landis: very smart, he got out before the kingdom crumbled.

musette said:

Agreed Chechu will retire from Discovery. He is towards the end of his career and probably has only two years left (this year included). He acknowledged as much in a Daily Peloton interview earlier this year, in terms of not having much time left in his career. He has more freedom this year (including in the Tour) because DC won't have incentives to control the peloton and will try to move responsibility to CSC and TM (at least early on).

Chechu has a high level of loyalty and is happy on DC. Also, Chechu is good friends with Noval, whom he used to train with even before Noval joined the team.

If he went somewhere else, he would also not be team leader. He would still be valued as a mountain domestique, because that is what he is.

Azevedo may have to take a pay cut, but he probably will accept that, so he too will probably retire from Discovery. He may even retire this year, unless he does better on an individual basis. He is sitll valued, because if he were not as much, he would have been deployed, together with Beltran, to the Giro as a mountain domestique.

Looks as thou Hincapie can't cope with the pressure of leadership and has dropped out of MSR....... Discovery is in disarray.

- Discovery Channel Classics specialist George Hincapie is going to miss next weekend’s Milan-San Remo because he does not feel he has the form to compete with the main contenders. Hincapie, who finished 12th in Sunday’s time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico, is set to be replaced by Dutch sprinter Max van Heeswijk, and the team will focus on the chances of Stijn Devolder and Vladimir Gusev.

whiteboytrash said:

Looks as thou Hincapie can't cope with the pressure of leadership and has dropped out of MSR....... Discovery is in disarray.

- Discovery Channel Classics specialist George Hincapie is going to miss next weekend’s Milan-San Remo because he does not feel he has the form to compete with the main contenders. Hincapie, who finished 12th in Sunday’s time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico, is set to be replaced by Dutch sprinter Max van Heeswijk, and the team will focus on the chances of Stijn Devolder and Vladimir Gusev.

I wonder if he's sick...he was right up there in the mix the other day.
Lots o guys on Disco have been under the weather.
And the length of MSR is such that unless you are there to win or feeling great and need to train the distance, why bother.
There is something else going on obviously.

With Boonen and such and Petacchi, why bother indeed.
His ITT says he is below form.
I'm not worried...its just that he may be tweaking his schedule.
He ALREADY said he is going for Ronde and ROubaix but, and I quote, to win he'd have to shed a certain racer from Belgium who at this time is flying and basically unbeatable.
Maybe he'll train for TdGeorgia or something else

bobke said:

I wonder if he's sick...he was right up there in the mix the other day.
Lots o guys on Disco have been under the weather.
And the length of MSR is such that unless you are there to win or feeling great and need to train the distance, why bother.
There is something else going on obviously.

With Boonen and such and Petacchi, why bother indeed.
His ITT says he is below form.
I'm not worried...its just that he may be tweaking his schedule.
He ALREADY said he is going for Ronde and ROubaix but, and I quote, to win he'd have to shed a certain racer from Belgium who at this time is flying and basically unbeatable.
Maybe he'll train for TdGeorgia or something else

He could be sleeping with Popo and caught the same bug ?

whiteboytrash said:

He could be sleeping with Popo and caught the same bug ?

Disco has 3 in the top 10 of the Tirreno-Adriatico in the general classification. Hincapi was there at the final 2km's in todays stage. To ride a race the lenght of Milano-Sanremo with intentions of attempting a win would be foolish for Hincapie. I think P-R is his target this year. Talking about a Hincapie TDF win is just smoke. Disco is going to have to have major luck to contest the TDF but what the hell. They re-wrote the book on that race. They do need to re-build. And they have several young riders capable of winning the TDF in years to come.

To judge riders at this point of the season as far as the Grand Tours go makes no sense. JU has not even tested himself yet and Basso has made a small attempt.

A good rider may come out of no where to win a Classic. A good rider cannot win the TDF. It takes a great rider. In the past 10 years there has been less the 10 riders capable of winning the TDF over that period of time.... There has never been a mediocre rider to win the TDF. [font=Arial]
[/font]

[font=Verdana]...Discovery didn't do a very good job in MSR.... no-where to be seen.... it was embarrassing.... they should only be a wildcard entry for classic races and not have ProTour status.... they highest placing was 28th ! and three of there riders finished over 7 minutes behind..... a disgrace. Discovery is in disarray. [/font]

[quote="wolfix"]Disco has 3 in the top 10 of the Tirreno-Adriatico in the general classification. Hincapi was there at the final 2km's in todays stage. To ride a race the lenght of Milano-Sanremo with intentions of attempting a win would be foolish for Hincapie. I think P-R is his target this year. Talking about a Hincapie TDF win is just smoke. Disco is going to have to have major luck to contest the TDF but what the hell. They re-wrote the book on that race. They do need to re-build. And they have several young riders capable of winning the TDF in years to come.

To judge riders at this point of the season as far as the Grand Tours go makes no sense. JU has not even tested himself yet and Basso has made a small attempt.

A good rider may come out of no where to win a Classic. A good rider cannot win the TDF. It takes a great rider. In the past 10 years there has been less the 10 riders capable of winning the TDF over that period of time.... There has never been a mediocre rider to win the TDF. [font=Arial][size=3][b][/b]
[/size][/font][/QUOTE]

whiteboytrash said:

[font=Verdana]...Discovery didn't do a very good job in MSR.... no-where to be seen.... it was embarrassing.... they should only be a wildcard entry for classic races and not have ProTour status.... they highest placing was 28th ! and three of there riders finished over 7 minutes behind..... a disgrace. Discovery is in disarray. [/font]

Who is leading the ProTour at this moment? Team classification?

wolfix said:

Who is leading the ProTour at this moment? Team classification?

...and what races have they ProTour races have they won ? we know the team classification is a measure of mediocrity... no one winning and riders just finishing in the bunch.... if Discovery were supporting one rider then the rest of the team would be falling off the back in exhaustion after helping their man to win…… believe me when I say Discovery are in disarray.

But when T Mobile wins the team classification at the Tour de France it is a huge accolade to their ability as a team????????? You are applying double standards I think.

whiteboytrash said:

...and what races have they ProTour races have they won ? we know the team classification is a measure of mediocrity... no one winning and riders just finishing in the bunch.... if Discovery were supporting one rider then the rest of the team would be falling off the back in exhaustion after helping their man to win…… believe me when I say Discovery are in disarray.

Gusev and Hincapie both finished top 10 in Vlaanderen 2005.
Hoste and Hincapie both finished top 10 in Vlaanderen 2004.
Ekimov finished top 10 in Vlaanderen 2003.

That makes for a pretty strong team going into Vlaandern 2006. If Discovery really is serious about becoming a classics team I think that's a great thing and wish them luck.

Sorry to get in the middle of this love fest between you and Wolfix.

If you read my previous posts I have always said that T-Mobile supporters pull out the "team classfication" card when we know its actually a failing.....

Eldrack said:

But when T Mobile wins the team classification at the Tour de France it is a huge accolade to their ability as a team????????? You are applying double standards I think.

Speaking of disarray:

from Vuelta Castilla
Stage 2 Individual Time Trial - 11 km / 6.8 mi
1 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR DISCOVERY CHANNEL 0:13:01 50.7 kmh / 31.5 mph
2 MCCARTNEY, Jason USA DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 01
3 VINOKOUROV, Alexandre KAZ LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 11
4 ESCOBAR, Sergio ESP GRUPO NICOLAS MATEO a 13
5 SANCHEZ, Luis Leon ESP LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 15
6 GONZALEZ, Santos ESP 3 MOLINOS RESORT a 16
7 RUBIERA, José Luis ESP DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 16
8 SCARPONI, Michele ITA LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 22
9 MARTINEZ, Egoi ESP DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 23
10 BRARD, Florent FRA C.D'EPARGNE-I.BALEAR a 25

Other Discovery Channel Riders
11 AZEVEDO, José POR a 27
22 BELTRAN, Manuel ESP a 38
39 BRAJKOVIC, Janez SLO a 52
66 LOWE, Trent AUS a 01:09

General Classification
1 VINOKOUROV, Alexandre KAZ LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT
2 SANCHEZ, Luis Leon ESP LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 04
3 GONZALEZ, Santos ESP 3 MOLINOS RESORT a 05
4 RUBIERA, José Luis ESP DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 05
5 SCARPONI, Michele ITA LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 11
6 MARTINEZ, Egoi ESP DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 12
7 AZEVEDO, José POR DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 16
8 GARCIA, José Vicente ESP C.D'EPARGNE-I.BALEAR a 19
9 CESAR, Gustavo ESP KAIKU a 22
10 PEREZ, Francisco ESP C.D'EPARGNE-I.BALEAR a 27

Other Discovery Channel Riders
11 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR a 28

whiteboytrash said:

...we know the team classification is a measure of mediocrity...

Please tell TM, and certain board members who tout the Team Classification wins of TM, that :p

musette said:

Please tell TM, and certain board members who tout the Team Classification wins of TM, that :p

You know I'll do anything for you.... 🙂

DiabloScott said:

Gusev and Hincapie both finished top 10 in Vlaanderen 2005.
Hoste and Hincapie both finished top 10 in Vlaanderen 2004.
Ekimov finished top 10 in Vlaanderen 2003.

That makes for a pretty strong team going into Vlaandern 2006. If Discovery really is serious about becoming a classics team I think that's a great thing and wish them luck.

Sorry to get in the middle of this love fest between you and Wolfix.

No love fest here... Even though I am an American, Discovery is not a team that I really follow. I love the sprinters.....And the classics..... Zabel, Boonen, Petacchi, Cipo .... you get the picture.
I was a Jan fan... But to see him show up at the TDF with the problems he has had over the years makes me doubt T-Mobile. Last year when Lance passed him in the TT and knowing that T-Mobile left Zabel home......Then we had the T-M riders behavior that were there to support Jan ..... I could care less about Jan now and T-mobile. I don't see Discovery in disarray at all. We will know more after P-R. We will see the way they handle the Giro and the Tour. The top step of the podium is not needed for a good season, but a podium spot is. P-R, TDF, and the Giro are the targeted races.
Bruyneel will be tested. We all know he had the ultimate TDF rider. We know he was the most successful TDF DS. But now, how he handles the transition is going to be the test. We need to see if he transfers the team to a Classics type or maintains the Grand Tour style of a team. The fact that a team is leading the ProTour is not a sign of mediocrity.

Christ don't go bringing out these big races on me ! Its not even a ProTour event ! Some big names in the list you provided ! If I rode I would of won ! LOL ! :p

Have to say that big teama like Grupo Nicolas Mateo and Molinos Resort put in fine performances ! LOL ! Yep they are household names.... LOL ! Next ! :p

hombredesubaru said:

Speaking of disarray:

from Vuelta Castilla
Stage 2 Individual Time Trial - 11 km / 6.8 mi
1 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR DISCOVERY CHANNEL 0:13:01 50.7 kmh / 31.5 mph
2 MCCARTNEY, Jason USA DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 01
3 VINOKOUROV, Alexandre KAZ LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 11
4 ESCOBAR, Sergio ESP GRUPO NICOLAS MATEO a 13
5 SANCHEZ, Luis Leon ESP LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 15
6 GONZALEZ, Santos ESP 3 MOLINOS RESORT a 16
7 RUBIERA, José Luis ESP DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 16
8 SCARPONI, Michele ITA LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 22
9 MARTINEZ, Egoi ESP DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 23
10 BRARD, Florent FRA C.D'EPARGNE-I.BALEAR a 25

Other Discovery Channel Riders
11 AZEVEDO, José POR a 27
22 BELTRAN, Manuel ESP a 38
39 BRAJKOVIC, Janez SLO a 52
66 LOWE, Trent AUS a 01:09

General Classification
1 VINOKOUROV, Alexandre KAZ LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT
2 SANCHEZ, Luis Leon ESP LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 04
3 GONZALEZ, Santos ESP 3 MOLINOS RESORT a 05
4 RUBIERA, José Luis ESP DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 05
5 SCARPONI, Michele ITA LIBERTY SEGUROS-WURT a 11
6 MARTINEZ, Egoi ESP DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 12
7 AZEVEDO, José POR DISCOVERY CHANNEL a 16
8 GARCIA, José Vicente ESP C.D'EPARGNE-I.BALEAR a 19
9 CESAR, Gustavo ESP KAIKU a 22
10 PEREZ, Francisco ESP C.D'EPARGNE-I.BALEAR a 27

Other Discovery Channel Riders
11 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR a 28

whiteboytrash said:

Christ don't go bringing out these big races on me ! Its not even a ProTour event ! Some big names in the list you provided ! If I rode I would of won ! LOL ! :p

Have to say that big teama like Grupo Nicolas Mateo and Molinos Resort put in fine performances ! LOL ! Yep they are household names.... LOL ! Next ! :p

LOL i gotta say it's really scraping the bottom of the barrel to be cheering results like that 😄

Dead Star said:

LOL i gotta say it's really scraping the bottom of the barrel to be cheering results like that 😄

OK you guys are pathetic...you couldnt beat any of the riders if your lives depended on it.
Yes, beating Vino is a big deal any time of year, period, and its a psychological blow.

hombredesubaru said:

OK you guys are pathetic...you couldnt beat any of the riders if your lives depended on it.
Yes, beating Vino is a big deal any time of year, period, and its a psychological blow.

Did we say we were as good as them?

yeah, i'm sure Vino's in his hotel right now saying 'OMG I'VE BEEN BEATEN BY POPO AND MCARTNEY IN A SPANISH WARM UP RACE NOBODY CARES ABOUT EXCEPT RANDOM SPANISH TEAMS SPONSORED BY HOLIDAY RESORTS OR DISCO CHEERLEADERS. ARRRGH!'