Panache p/b Gregario

From time to time featured writer Gregario Forza brings his signature panache to the Wiskota blog.

This is the first installment of a Gregario's 2012 team previews.  Feel free to comment.

2012 Preview: Teams 17-15
 

17.          FDJ- Big Mat

Additions: David Boucher (Omega Pharma- Lotto), Arnaud Demare (neo pro, U23 Word Champion of the Road), Kenny Elissonde (neo pro), Gabriel Rasch (Cervelo Garmin), Jussi Veikkanen (Omega Pharma- Lotto)

Subtractions: Olivier Bonnairre, Gianni Meersman (Lotto-Belisol), Wesley Sulzberger (GreenEDGE)

Keys for 2012: After a successful 2011 campaign, FDJ gained a new sponsor in BigMat and has regained World Tour status for 2012. Manager Marc Madiot expects young riders like Thibault Pinot, Arnold Jeannesson, and U23 World Road Champion, Arnauld Demare to continue their progress and lead the team to victories. Pinot looks to make his Tour de France debut in 2012 but may have to settle with leading the team in the Vuelta. Jeannesson will lead the team at the Tour and will look to build on his 15th place during last year’s campaign. Sandy Casar will lead the team at this year’s Giro. With Jeremy Roy and Anthony Roux, FDJ will be in plenty of breaks. The young Nacer Bouhanni looks to be the man in the sprints.

16.          Euskatel-Euskadi

                Additions: Mikel Astarloza, (ex-pro Euskaltel-Euskadi, 2009), Ricardo Garcia (neo pro Orbea), Victor Cabedo (neo pro Orbea), Adrián Sáez (neo pro Orbea)

Subtractions: Koldo Fernández (Garmin-Barracuda), Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar Team), Iñaki Isasi (Retired), Javier Aramendia (Caja Rural), Daniel Sesma

Keys for 2012: The team experiences a managerial change, as Igor González de Galdeano left at the end of the 2011 season, and was replaced by the man he replaced, Miguel Madariaga. Sammy Sanchez will give the team an opportunity for some big wins in the classics or in the grand tours. He won the Tour’s KoM last year and will want to improve on his 6^th place finish. Astarloza returns from a suspension and his presence should bolster the talent on the Basque team. I like Igor Anton to once again be a player in the Vuelta. Of course we will all be cheering for Gorka Izzagirre in the breakaways. It’s all about Gorka in 2012 (that’s for you Commish).  Basque Power!

15.          AG2R

Additions: Jimmy Casper (Saur Sojasun), Sylvain Georges (Big Mat-Auber 93)

Subtractions: David Le Lay (Saur Sojasun), Cyril Dessel (Retired)

Keys for 2012: This team looks to rebound after a poor 2011 campaign that featured stage wins at the Giro (Gadret) and Nicholas Roche winning a stage at Beijing. Roche needs to finally show some results for all his potential or recognition. Jimmy Casper and Sylvain Georges are nice additions for the squad. Georges should bolster their classics squad. Rinaldo Nocentini and Jean-Christophe Péraud could produce results as well. This is a team that needs wins if they are to retain sponsorship in 2013.