Monday, September 12, 2005
A Tale of Two Teams
At the start of this year’s Vuelta, I wrote that the race lately had been viewed (by non-Spanish teams) as “a tune up for the World’s, last ditch races for riders seeking to salvage their seasons, or an opportunity for teams to ease younger riders into the rigors of the three-week grand tours.” This continued view of the Spanish tour certainly helps to account for the dramatic results in Sunday’s stage.
Consider these two quotes from the main protagonists in the race. Menchov’s post mortem began “I don’t know what happened. Maybe it was the cold, but that’s no excuse. Such is racing. My team is not so strong, and Liberty road a fantastic race.” Heras’s judgment was similar. “We attacked in the descent, and the tactic worked like a charm…. Yesterday Menchov surprised me with his strong riding as much as his collapse surprised me today. But one doesn’t win a race alone – a team wins.”
Both riders emphasized the importance of both their teams and those of their rivals. Yet still the non-Spanish teams continue to send less than stellar support for their squads racing the Vuelta. The situation was similar in 1999 when Team Telekom sent Jan Ullrich into the race, with the reserve squad supporting him. Fortunately Belgian team manager Walter Goodefroot was able to enlist the obvious support of the mercurial Frank Vandebrouke to support the German (in exchange for Jan’s support at the World’s for VDB), and thus was able to hold off the assaults of Jose-Maria Jimenez and the other Spanish climbers. Apparently the boys at Rabobank were either less enterprising or simply less successful. And true, there wasn’t an obvious talent or trade available like there was in 1999.
But that speculation is secondary to the main question, which is why didn’t Menchov have support. Most likely after his dismal Tour, the Rabobank top brass didn’t believe he had a chance at taking the overall. And it would be difficult finding fresh (and talented) legs for the third grand tour of the year. But should the ProTour take hold, and especially if the rankings for both individuals and teams assume a greater prominence in the sport, managers will be harder pressed in coming years to ensure their top riders are given adequate support.
Yes, even in Spain.
Consider these two quotes from the main protagonists in the race. Menchov’s post mortem began “I don’t know what happened. Maybe it was the cold, but that’s no excuse. Such is racing. My team is not so strong, and Liberty road a fantastic race.” Heras’s judgment was similar. “We attacked in the descent, and the tactic worked like a charm…. Yesterday Menchov surprised me with his strong riding as much as his collapse surprised me today. But one doesn’t win a race alone – a team wins.”
Both riders emphasized the importance of both their teams and those of their rivals. Yet still the non-Spanish teams continue to send less than stellar support for their squads racing the Vuelta. The situation was similar in 1999 when Team Telekom sent Jan Ullrich into the race, with the reserve squad supporting him. Fortunately Belgian team manager Walter Goodefroot was able to enlist the obvious support of the mercurial Frank Vandebrouke to support the German (in exchange for Jan’s support at the World’s for VDB), and thus was able to hold off the assaults of Jose-Maria Jimenez and the other Spanish climbers. Apparently the boys at Rabobank were either less enterprising or simply less successful. And true, there wasn’t an obvious talent or trade available like there was in 1999.
But that speculation is secondary to the main question, which is why didn’t Menchov have support. Most likely after his dismal Tour, the Rabobank top brass didn’t believe he had a chance at taking the overall. And it would be difficult finding fresh (and talented) legs for the third grand tour of the year. But should the ProTour take hold, and especially if the rankings for both individuals and teams assume a greater prominence in the sport, managers will be harder pressed in coming years to ensure their top riders are given adequate support.
Yes, even in Spain.
