Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Tour of Flanders Wildcards Announced
Three Belgian/One French Continental Team Selected
The spring classics picture continues to shape up, as four of the five wildcard teams were announced for the Tour of Flanders today. In addition to the 20 ProTour teams that are guaranteed entries (whether they want to be there or not--I’m looking at you Spain), Belgian home teams Landboukrediet-Colnago, Mr. Bookmaker.com-SportsTech, and Chocolade Jacques/T-Interim got the nod. French squad Ag2r-Prevoyance also gets a spot on the line.
The final wildcard spot will be awarded following the first classic of the season, Milan-San Remo. If Igor Astarloa hadn’t just broken his wrist and arm in Marseille, I’d say his Barloworld-Valsir squad would have a great shot, but without him they’re looking pretty thin. I’m guessing it’ll go to a nice second-string Italian squad, like Acqua&Sapone.
Luck of the Irish?
Speaking of second string Italian teams, has anyone noticed that Tenax-Nobili Rubinetterie is registered in Dublin, Ireland? Granted, the team isn't as Italian as it was a few years back---now it’s a mix of Italians (7), Australians (3), Slovenians (3), a Zimbabwe-an, a Ukranian, and a Croatian. That mix may make you a lot of things, but it ain’t Irish.
The spring classics picture continues to shape up, as four of the five wildcard teams were announced for the Tour of Flanders today. In addition to the 20 ProTour teams that are guaranteed entries (whether they want to be there or not--I’m looking at you Spain), Belgian home teams Landboukrediet-Colnago, Mr. Bookmaker.com-SportsTech, and Chocolade Jacques/T-Interim got the nod. French squad Ag2r-Prevoyance also gets a spot on the line.
The final wildcard spot will be awarded following the first classic of the season, Milan-San Remo. If Igor Astarloa hadn’t just broken his wrist and arm in Marseille, I’d say his Barloworld-Valsir squad would have a great shot, but without him they’re looking pretty thin. I’m guessing it’ll go to a nice second-string Italian squad, like Acqua&Sapone.
Luck of the Irish?
Speaking of second string Italian teams, has anyone noticed that Tenax-Nobili Rubinetterie is registered in Dublin, Ireland? Granted, the team isn't as Italian as it was a few years back---now it’s a mix of Italians (7), Australians (3), Slovenians (3), a Zimbabwe-an, a Ukranian, and a Croatian. That mix may make you a lot of things, but it ain’t Irish.
