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Robbie McEwen is not at the Vuelta - it's probably a good thing!
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Enlarge textThe Aussie sprint specialist has recently left Silence-Lotto to join new Russian team Katusha in a bid to revive his cycling career.
- 12 Comments | Join the discussion
I wonder how Australia's veteran sprinter would handle the heat in Spain given he's had a tough time scratching for stage victories this year - not that he could, given the changed circumstances at Silence-Lotto whose riders have kept Cadel Evans in cotton wool for the most part.
Tom Boonen and Daniele Bennati have dominated the two sprint finishes contested in the race so far, but apart from Mark Cavendish (whose Team Columbia is not competing at the Vuelta), the pair are certainly the fastest going round on two unpowered wheels at the moment.
Not that I'm being critical of Robbie - but has age finally caught up with him?
My heart says no while my brain says maybe.
There comes a time when a sprinter's reign at the top must end - it's happened to the best of them - Djamolidine Abdoujaparov, Mario Cippolini, Tom Steels, and more recently Erik Zabel.
Credit to Zabel, who at 38 is still competing at the top level without really setting the world on fire in the fast sprints.
Will Robbie become a Zabel clone and never win another race in a Grand Tour, despite filling the minor placings on more than one occasion?
McEwen has confirmed his future by signing with new Russian team Katusha for the two years ending 2010.
This is the old Tinkoff, a team with big ambitions as Robbie will race alongside the likes of Filippo Pozzato and Gert Steegmans.
Now, these are two men who could assist in resurrecting Robbie's winning status in the peloton.
At last, Robbie can rely on two men who are capable of forming a train when the whips are cracking.
I can picture the trio now going for gold in next year's Tour de France.
Come to think of it with such power, strength and talent around him, Robbie now has the weaponry which is certain to propel the little Aussie back on to the winner's podium with little fuss.
Maybe age doesn't play a role - after all he's ONLY 36.
He'll farewell Silence-Lotto with fond memories, but looks ahead to a Russian roster bent on revolutionising the Pro cycling scene.
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Comments (12)
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16 Nov 2008 9:10 AEST
From: Langwarrin Victoria
Robbies new team and era
Robbie still has the savvy power and ambition to show the peleton what sprinting is all about he's made the correct move for his future ( age does not weary them) go Robbie . He is a champion of champions and only the best are able to compete in these ranks just take a look at Erik still frightening the younger sprinters when they see his wheel emerge in the pack near the line
28 Sep 2008 7:40 AEST
From: Gemany
Next year will be a special year
Not only for Robbie but for cycling in general next year will be a year of the showing, Robbie, Amstrong and Co. It will be up to them to show the rest of the World what cycling is realy about not the younger generation because cycling is a sport with time you rippen like a good wine and these boys are at their best years. Robbie has a two good years in front of him alothough they will be hard without Nick Gates on his side his room mate,Freind and helper, then a new life starts like Erik.
19 Sep 2008 9:11 AEST
From: Sydney
Teamwork the key
Good move for Robbie, no matter how good you are these days it is extremely hard to win stages or GC without having the right team support around you, Robbie had it at Silence and was winning but the focus changed to Cadel and Robbie has moved on and rightly so. At least the Russia team will not be short of funds, lets also hope it is not a "results at all costs team" that ends up on the scrap heap like many others lately.
15 Sep 2008 3:26 AEST
From: Kogarah
Robbie
Don't ever discount Robbie - he needs a solid team around him. He's still got it.
14 Sep 2008 9:53 AEST
From: Melbourne
Robbie for four
Robbie's still got it...he won the Paris-Brussels yesterday,,,his 4th in a row.
06 Sep 2008 21:47 AEST
From: AUSTRALIA
GREEN
Robbie is good enough to win another sprinters green in Le Tour 2009 His new team will hopefully use his talents as a road race sprinter, instead as a helper to Cadel Evans,Who in my opinion had to do it all on his own. Robbie in any other team would have won at least one stage in Le Tour 2008. Cadel would have been in the yellow jersey in Paris if he had some decent helpers on the mountain stages.
05 Sep 2008 17:16 AEST
From: brisbane
old fox
someone has to pass on the racecraft to new teams and riders and who is better to do it then the master himself.good on you robbie teach them russians a trick or two.you always will be a champ!good luck in your new team!
04 Sep 2008 16:29 AEST
From: Gold Coast
Robbie the Champ
Like Eric Zabel, Robbie is a champion who is capable of riding, and winning, for another two or three years. I believe that leaving Silence-Lotto will be the best for him and for Cadel. Go Robbie!
04 Sep 2008 14:06 AEST
From: Melbourne
Superannuation
Drog scandal or not, Robbie's looking for some super to set him up for life - not that he needs it.
04 Sep 2008 12:42 AEST
From: Templestowe
Katusha... hrmm
this new team has drug scandal written all over it. lets hope for robbies case i aint right.
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