Could a British Team win the TdF

Could UK team win the TdF ?

  • NO

    Votes: 1 25.0%
  • YES

    Votes: 4 100.0%

  • Total voters
    4
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yenrod

Guest
GB boss outlines Tour team target

Brailsford intends the new women's team to be the model for the men
Dave Brailsford, British Cycling's performance director, has set his sights on a British men's pro-road race team win in the Tour de France.
At the launch of a women's pro-team led by Nicole Cooke, Brailsford set a 2012 target for a GB men's team in Le Tour.

"I think you can get a men's team and bring it right to the level where we will have a full British team competing for the Tour de France," he said.

And he was clear about the long-term aim: "We're only in it to win it."

Brailsford, who was speaking at Wednesday's launch of the Team Halford's Bikehut women's professional road race team, outlined his vision for a British men's team win in Le Tour.


Can a British team win the Tour de France?
Andy N - BBC Sport"It's a bit more of a medium to long-term plan, but there is no reason why this model [Team Halford's Bikehut] cannot develop."

"I think it is the future and I think you can go and get a men's team and bring it right to the level where we will have a full British team of professional male riders competing for the Tour de France, which will match what Nicole [Cooke] has done for the women.

And as for winning the Tour, Brailsford was forthright: "Why not? If we did not think we could win it, we would not be in the sport. We're only in it to win it to be honest."



Cooke, twice winner of the women's Tour de France, and leader of the new Halford's women's team, hailed the formation of an entirely British professional team as, "The biggest step forward in women's sport in this country for many, many years".

The 24-year-old heads a squad of 10 women and two men, who will ride a full season of events under the new team colours on bikes designed by Chris Boardman, an Olympic gold medallist in Barcelona in 1992.

And it's very clear that this year's target is Olympic success and hence the team's racing schedule will be geared to that end.

"Going to Beijing and being able to ride the bike I'll be on [with the Halfords team] at the Olympics was very important," Cooke said.

The full Team Halfords Bikehut squad is: Nicole Cooke, Catherine Hare, Tanja Slater, Wendy Houvenagel, Joanna Rowsell, Lizzie Armistead, Katie Curtis, Emma Trott, Jessica Allen, Katie Colclough, Rob Hayles and Tom Southam.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/7179795.stm
 

Steve Austin

The Marmalade Kid
Location
Mlehworld
If you look at the smallest team in this years Tour that achieved anything, Barloworld, i think a full 'British' team would have to really go some to win the Tour. Incidentally Barloworld are a 'British' Team, and i don't think they got a cat in hells chance of ever winning the tour.

Focusing on one of the Jerseys might be a more realistic target. Green for Cavendish is a real possibility, but then a 'British' team would have to be in enough races to get the likes of Cavendish et al for them to want to ride for them. So until a 'British' team has been racing for at least 5 years, i would set my targets at being accepted to ride in the TDF/Giro/Vuelta first
 

Keith Oates

Janner
Location
Penarth, Wales
There's no harm in aiming high and I hope a British mens team is formed and does well. Winning the TdF is not something that's going to happen by 2112 IMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Danny

Legendary Member
Location
York
Only if all the other teams get disqualified - which seems possible on the basis of last year's tour.
 

Dave5N

Über Member
Barloworld are South AFrican, although I think they are registered in Britain.

I think Brailsford has a way to go before they can take on CSC, Astana, High Road et al. I don't think there is anything like the strength in depth nor likely to be in the foreseeable future as cycling is such a small sport here.

He has to talk it up as he needs backers.
 

mondobongo

Über Member
Its a nice thought but unlikely to happen in the given timescale. We are so far behind compared to mainland Europe where it is a much more mainstream sport. However with the current coaching,development and training set up its not beyond the realms of possibility that we could produce an extremely outstanding rider who in the right team could possibly win the tour. Wiggins, Cav and Millar are fantastic riders but unfortunately not GC Winners.
 

Frazer

New Member
Would be great if it ever happened, but at the moment it just wont. Other teams have too much strength, and theres no GC contenders in Britain at the moment, will have to wait many years for that i suspect. Also, winning the TdF on Halfords bikes? Its just not right!
 

Dave5N

Über Member
I know. What happens if they do well? What if you could just nip down to yer nearest retail park and pick up a champion-winning bike?

How then do we justify to her the fortunes we spend in specialist shops?
 

Keith Oates

Janner
Location
Penarth, Wales
Dave5N said:
I know. What happens if they do well? What if you could just nip down to yer nearest retail park and pick up a champion-winning bike?

How then do we justify to her the fortunes we spend in specialist shops?[/QUOTE]

With difficulty, but being inventive will help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Keith Oates

Janner
Location
Penarth, Wales
I know many people are not so enamoured with Halfords but I feel that as a British based company putting money into our sport we should be giving the support they now deserve. With Nicole Cooke wearing their colours we certainly have a star worth supporting.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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