Clifton CC

Russell Downing, what a ride.

Finishing in the bunch with riders such as Boonen, Schumacher, Bettini, Chavanel. What happened to the other british riders?

It strikes me that the British Pro's ride around looking for excusses to climb off at the first given opportunity, at the Olympics, Ben swift was our best finisher and then the Worlds our best domestic Pro puts in a good ride actually finishing a 260km race, by his own admission the longest race he's ever riden.

Point Im making is I dont see how British Cycling can seriously believe they can put together a British Team capable of competing at the Tour.
They may produce riders capable of making the time limits but unfortunately I dont see them being in the thick of the action.

Miller for example is part owner of Garmin Chipotle, chances of riding on a British team? Slim

Am I off the mark?

Debate?

BC are talking about a timescale of what.. ..5-10yrs for all of this, so they're basing it all around a new generation of riders who will be late teens / early twenties at the moment. A read of "Heroes, Villains and Velodromes" makes the point that our track team was terrible ten years ago (ie there were one or two good riders but no strength in depth)... ...but look at them now.

Has been lots of talk of having a team ride the tour in 2010, no way will they have a team capable of that by then.

The crowd noise when Ballan made the break was unbelievable, and hat off to Downing, the only GB rider to finish.

Andy J wrote:Has been lots of talk of having a team ride the tour in 2010, no way will they have a team capable of that by then.

Ah, the great British "can do" spirit.

Why not? Not every rider has to be British. Couple of figure head UK riders who could feasibly win a stage) and you're good to go. Riding to win the tour will take longer of course.

Have to say I raised an eyebrow when I read the press reports. It is likely though that its more about leading questions from the reporter and the media's obsession with the TdF. Its the only race that counts you know. And the obsession's only set to deepen with the reported LA comeback.