FDJ (Vogondy)
STEPHEN: They make the most of their undeserved bid. Everybody attacks like mad, they throw off the better riders plans, and then generally make pests of themselves, maybe even winning a stage. I like that. It’s like they know they shouldn’t be in the Tour, so they might as well ride as aggressively as possible. Robin has an outside shot at a top 15 finish. And there is the Austalian Baden Cooke, who as a real shot at winning the green. He’s got a pretty good team and he can beat anyone in a straight sprint.
JASON: An excellent example of French cycling. Vogondy can hang with the elite climbers on his best days, but their threat for hardware is if the Australians, Brad McGee and Baden Cooke, can steal a sprint finish. You’re right, they make the most of their questionable bid.
STEPHEN: I don't think they are typical of French cycling. If the rest of French cycling was as good as FDJ, they would contend for something. For a midlevel team (which they are not, they are below average), they've got two guys with a real chance at winning green and another guy who could finish top ten. That would be a great Tour for a good team if they pull it off, much less a French B-team.
JASON: I don't mean to suggest that they are excellent. They're not even the best cyclists France has to offer. They are the middle of the curve--that's why they're a good representative of French cycling. And what do they accomplish? Nothing outside of what their Australian sprinters provide. In five Tours they have one stage victory. You might think they don't suck, but really, they do--another reason why they are a good example of French cycling.
STEPHEN: They make the most of their undeserved bid. Everybody attacks like mad, they throw off the better riders plans, and then generally make pests of themselves, maybe even winning a stage. I like that. It’s like they know they shouldn’t be in the Tour, so they might as well ride as aggressively as possible. Robin has an outside shot at a top 15 finish. And there is the Austalian Baden Cooke, who as a real shot at winning the green. He’s got a pretty good team and he can beat anyone in a straight sprint.
JASON: An excellent example of French cycling. Vogondy can hang with the elite climbers on his best days, but their threat for hardware is if the Australians, Brad McGee and Baden Cooke, can steal a sprint finish. You’re right, they make the most of their questionable bid.
STEPHEN: I don't think they are typical of French cycling. If the rest of French cycling was as good as FDJ, they would contend for something. For a midlevel team (which they are not, they are below average), they've got two guys with a real chance at winning green and another guy who could finish top ten. That would be a great Tour for a good team if they pull it off, much less a French B-team.
JASON: I don't mean to suggest that they are excellent. They're not even the best cyclists France has to offer. They are the middle of the curve--that's why they're a good representative of French cycling. And what do they accomplish? Nothing outside of what their Australian sprinters provide. In five Tours they have one stage victory. You might think they don't suck, but really, they do--another reason why they are a good example of French cycling.
posted by Poseur at 2:21 PM
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