http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fast-friends-finish-one-two-three-at-tour-of-utah/ Phinney returns, at the Tour of Utah....and makes the podium on stage one.
Spoiler Alert! (Just kidding, I was at the Rockies-Mariners game last night so I haven't seen the stage yet but the next morning should be fair to post without spoiler alerts)
He certainly had their best palmares over the last few years. I wonder what Garmin is going to do now.
I'm this close to walking away from Garmin as a fan. JV's smarmy tweet yesterday, Dan Martin leaving, and the less than stunning lineup they're bringing to their home race here next week has left me very disappointed. I won't be wearing any Garmin gear to the race next week. If Laurens Ten Dam signs for them next season I might go back but otherwise I'll be rooting for the Boulder wolfpack guys (Howes, Reijien, Phinney, etc.) but not for the team.
I think they still have a chance but they need to move very quickly at this point. Their reaction to Tommy D's positive has really shot themselves in the foot as that was the thing that set them apart and they threw it away. If they get back in front of that story, reestablish themselves as the place for young Americans to learn how to be professionals, and go out and make one or two name signings they can recover. I think a lot of this would require JV to return to taking more of a day-to-day involvement in the team and I'm not sure he wants to do that. I also don't know what requirements the Cannondale merger put on the team.
Agree, this team was about bringing Garmin's "aura" or "team spirit" and combined with Cannondales anonymity (Sagan aside). This was a bad combination.
My wife and I spent the afternoon in downtown Denver sitting under the 300m to go sign for Stage 7 of the USA Pro Challenge. They were literally close enough that I could reach out and touch them as just past the 300m sign was the final corner into the finishing straight and we were on the outside of the corner. On the first lap I actually pulled my arm closer into my body as I was legitimately afraid my cowbell would hit a rider. Great to see them coming through 5 times this year. This is the 3rd time in the 5 years of the race we've been down at Civic Center Park for the final stage. Year 1 we picked a couple of places in Golden and the Denver Highlands to watch from and year 3 a family trip had use out of town (Hawaii, can't complain) the final weekend.
Video of the peloton at my blog: http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2015/08/stage-7-2015-usa-pro-challenge.html
And the disassembling of Garmin continues At this point they're going to have Talansky and a bunch of kids. Though I still root for Alex Howes.
Ryder was over the hill anyway, but still played a useful role for the team. I hope they get some good talent to surround Talansky, but I don't see it happening. I wonder how much longer they'll be able to continue at the top level.
No it doesn't. As said it a few posts ago, this team combination has been a disaster for the "Garmin/Argyle" brand that they had built up over the past 5-8 years. They are almost a glorified continental team.
Sporza repeated their interview with his girlfriend in honor of his title. http://sporza.be/permalink/2.40182?video=1.2400890
On my facebook, one of our local guys posted a video of Sagan, goofing off with him just before he headed to the start line. Quite amusing knowing that he was just about to race. On another note, I can say I've rode cyclecross training rides with the world junior women's silver medalist in both the TT and road.
Here is a group seeking attention for next year http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mark-cavendish-joins-team-dimenson-data-for-2016/ I guess Farrar will be looking for a new home, or life in 'B' races.