Oh, and
Nigel Irritable, what do you make of the rumours that Deignan is off to Sky at the end of the year?
I think it sounds like a good move for both - assuming that Deignan's revival this year doesn't pressage three shit years to follow like the last time he was good. He's been consistently one of the strongest climber in the US races, first in the Gila, second in the T de Beauce, and would have finished higher than sixth in Utah if he hadn't had to drag Euser up a number of climbs. That already means he's riding at the level of a good World Tour climbing domestique, and Sky do seem to be able to improve almost everyone's climbing further.
From Sky's point of view, they are likely to lose Uran and a few more, and they've probably laid down big money to keep Froome, Porte and Henao, so a good climber who comes pretty cheap has to be an attractive option. Plus Ireland is quite a big market for the sponsor and there aren't many Irish riders who have the requisite level, are out of contract and would fit into the team.
As a not particularly related aside, here are the Irish riders I can think of in the top two divisions:
1) Martin (Garmin). He's only leaving Garmin if somewhere offers him insane money and leadership, which is conceivable but not at Sky where they don't need another leader.
2) Roche (Saxo). He'd actually fit in well at Sky, and would probably benefit from going there, but he's still in contract at Saxo.
3) Deignan (UHC). When he's on a good year he's a good climber, and if Sky don't bring him back to the World Tour someone else will.
4) Brammeier (Champion Systems). He strikes me as someone who is pretty good at a lot of things but not very good at anything, which means that on a big team he's the sort of guy who fills out a sprint train or words for the leaders in semi-classics. I'm sure he'd sign for Sky in a heartbeat, but there are countless riders who can fill out that kind of domestique role.
5) Irvyne (UHC). A track world champion making a switch to road racing is right in Sky's wheelhouse, but he's not from the British Cycling programme and he broke his leg in one of his first races for UHC meaning he's been out all season. It also means that I've no idea what his road potential might be.
6) Clancy (Novo Nordisk). Went from the Irish amateur ranks right into the all diabetic Pro Conti team. Doesn't have the requisite level.
7) Lavery (Cofidis stagiare). Did the old school anglophone thing and got a shot by winning a bunch of French amateur races. I've no idea how good he'll end up being, but Sky don't really go around pinching Pro Conti team's stagiares very often.
So if the sponsors actually want an Irish rider (and they may not give a shit at all), Deignan and Brammeier are the only realistic options and Deignan would be more obviously useful to them. Also if they'd wanted either of them they could have had them for this year, and while Deignan looks a much better signing now than he did a year ago, Brammeier's situation hasn't really changed.
Did Sky's crop of Italians have anything to do with pleasing the sponsor? Or was it just a coincidence that Italy is Sky's second biggest market?
. Reckon he might well do a good job anyways.
D like thats his decision to make) before angrily shouting 'when I catch you cunts I'll show you no mercy.' He never regained contact with said cunts all afternoon. A few unkind peers used to call him 'gob' Hayles.
