mudrock:Garmin-Transitions is doing something right. They command great loyalty from their riders. Of the 8 or so that signed elsewhere, most were former American domestic riders and did so because they couldn't hack the Pro Tour level. Even Wiggins, who is being aggressively courted by Sky, is staying. Vaughters has an eye for talent. If CTT wants to repeat their success from last season, they better get busy.
Eventually, as our farming friend THY will attest, "the chooks come home to roost". Such is the situation at the Cervelo Thor Team for 2010. Dont say I didn't warn you!
(CTT fanboys: please don't complain - you knew i'd eventually be back to rub in this exodus of talent and its lack of adequate replacement!) :)
What a crap line-up (on paper) in comparison to 2009. I hope Haussler and Thor are feeling good, because it will be a very long season for them as the only two GENUINELY versatile podium contenders in this line-up. We've already heard that Sastre was considering to not even bother with the Tour de France, because he's "already won one". (!) Brilliant attitude, consistent with his attitude throughout 2009, from our only decent climber (now). I hope that 'tude improves a little bit by July, Carlos! You'll certainly need it to change, because you have very few quality climbers in your 2010 team to assist you in any of the Grand Tours.
Anyway, we've seen a promising, strong, potent line-up of up-and-coming riders SQUANDERED by the end of the 2009 season. As always, I argue that this is a direct consequence of the CTT management making bizarre and inexplicably stupid decisions throughout the entire season - which frankly bordered on disrespectful to the calibre of professional athletes they'd contracted in a great recruiting effort. Mudrock, you've correctly pointed to Garmin as an example of a properly-managed team. That Garmin managed to retain the likes of Wiggins, alone, is no mean feat - especially in light of the paycheck offers that Sky would undoubtedly be trying to lure him with! Management quality makes a big difference.
Cervelo should've capitalised with its strong 2009 line-up but instead they squandered it. We'll always consider what might have been if it had been done differently (it wasn't rocket surgery, guys! you just needed to select your strongest, winningest team for the big races - and not sabotage certain stage wins regardless of technical procedure!). What lean, mean, potent force might have been fostered further if it had been done right? We'll never know. One thing is for certain though: promising and successful riders - who are actually winning stages and consistently in winning form - tend to opt not to waste their time and/or their careers patiently waiting around while their management messes them around. They tend to move on - and take revenge - with their new outfits. Expect this in 2010.
Thank GOODNESS Cervelo makes good bikes (although, having just bought a Ridley Noah instead of an S3, i note significant differences in both finish and paint work). And thank goodness for Thor and Heinrich, because the Cervelo Thor Team's talent pool gets pretty sketchy beyond those two. :(
Cervelo Thor Team fanboys: you have my condolences on a poo 2010 squad.