Category VII Cycling

Similar to the Quick Step squad, whose perennial dominance in the Classics seems to be a by-product of the team’s discipline, CSC’s more recent runs along victory lane seem to be similarly fueled by a well-functioning team spirit. The two teams formulate this chemistry in very different fashions. For Quick Step, the marching orders come from the top down – seemingly the consummate professional organization, the riders know the objectives, and their role in the organization. As far as the Classics are concerned, they are the Yankees.

In many respects, then, the CSC boys represent the Idiots that were the Red Sox. The team gels in a much more relaxed environment, where, by the accounts of the riders, their friendship is the most important motivating factor. In the post-race interview, Schleck tells that Riis was screaming in his earpiece “Go! Go! Go! I believe in you!” So much for the thought that his attack was a feint for Kroon… But also standing in pretty stark contrast to what words of encouragement one might expect from the Quick Step team car.

Perhaps its not surprising that CSC should have a more easy-going atmosphere. One normally reserved for the autobus, where the sprinters can enjoy the scenery and a few jokes as they make their way across the Alps just avoiding the time cutoff. This time from the front of the peloton, CSC is apparently a team intent on defying all of cycling’s conventions. The top prize in the sport is of course the final yellow jersey of the Tour de France. But Ivan Basso is audaciously throwing caution to the win by training for the Tour by attempting to bag the maglia rosa of the Giro. And next Sunday he’ll attempt to go old school by trying to win Liege-Bastogne-Liege in the same year as the Tour. As of late, it has seemed that Emily Post ruled that Tour contenders were not to sully themselves in such vulgar pursuits as contesting the Classics.

CSC has created such lofty goals for themselves they seem destined to fail. Yet the team stands in sharp relief to others who seem unable to deal effectively with pressure to perform (for Exhibit 1, please see Jan Ullrich and the T-Mobile Squad, for Exhibit 2, VDB, for Exhibit 3, George Hincapie. Ok, so this time it wasn’t really his fault, and it is a bit unseemly to kick a man when he’s down. So we’ll put Exhibit 3 on ice until he’s mended and then start the criticisms again).

Certainly the dynamic will begin to change for the team on Sunday, when they provide one of the favorites for the race, and will be looked upon to take a larger role in controlling the state of affairs. But an easy going attitude – coupled with a pair of classy wins in the ProTour this week – will help smooth out any bumps along the ride, and should help the squad arrive in July ready to tackle their most important objective of the season.