The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Will Chaves’ win lead to a change in strategy for Orica-GreenEDGE?

Esteban Chaves is one of cycling's great characters. (Team Sky)
Roar Rookie
22nd May, 2016
6

Esteban Chaves from Orica-GreenEDGE (Orica) won Stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia through the Italian dolomites region.

In winning the marathon 214km stage, Chaves became the first Orica rider to win a true mountain stage in a Grand Tour, which has been described as the toughest stage on the cycling calendar this year.

What was truly amazing about Chaves’ win, was he did it without the assistance from his teammates, unlike Movistar and Astana, which had their teams fully supporting Alejandro Valverde and Vincenzo Nibali respectively.

Chaves is only 26 years, but yesterday’s win showed he has the climbing pedigree to win a Grand Tour. He is also a capable timetrialler too. This is not Chaves’ first win. He also won two stages at the Vuelta a España last year, further emphasising his abilities. But can he win this year’s Giro?

Orica was only admitted to the UCI World Tour series since 2012. In five short years, the team has been very successful, winning stages in all Grand Tours, including holding the yellow jersey at the Tour de France and the maglia rosa in the Giro d’Italia. The team has also been successful in winning major spring classics, like Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and stages in other World Tour events across Europe and Australia.

But with all this success, Orica has never been seen as one of the favourites to win a Grand Tour. Nor after three weeks has it threatened to win it.

But winning the 2016 Giro d’Italia or a Grand Tour is unlikely to happen this year. It is unlikely to happen in the short-term either. The main problem for Orica surrounds its roster as it is too heavily skewed to winning stages or one day races.

It is talented with the likes of Simon Gerrans, Caleb Ewan, Daryl Impey and Michael Matthews. But these riders will never will a Grand Tour. Neither does Orica’s roster consist of six riders that are capable of supporting Chaves in the mountain stages of the three Grand Tours.

Advertisement

Winning a Grand Tour will require a change in the strategic direction of Orica and a significant refresh of its rider roster. A direction that moves away from stage wins.

For Chaves, or any other Orica rider, to climb onto the top step after three weeks will need the support of Gerry Ryan, Orica’s owner, and Shayne Bannan, Orica’s General Manager to bring in the caliber of riders that are capable of supporting Chaves over six to seven high mountains stages. Similar to what Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas did for Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome at Team Sky in the Tour de France.

This means shifting the focus of Grand Tours from having the sole purpose of obtaining one or two stage wins by Michael ‘Bling’ Matthews or Caleb Ewan. No more sprint trains. By all means, Orica should have these riders in the team fighting for stage wins. But these riders need to help Chaves win the general classification once the race hits the mountains.

Just like Rory Sutherland did on Stage 14 of the Giro for Movistar. It also means not pulling out sprinters in the Giro once the race reaches the mountains. Selection policies for these races need to change. If you cannot get over the high mountains, you do not make the team to support Chaves go for the general classification. This is what I am referring to a change in the direction of Orica.

Orica did not buy Richie Porte as they clearly knew that they had a rider, in Chaves, that is capable of winning a Grand Tour. However, they don’t have the riders to support him to climb to the top of the podium after three weeks.

The focus of Orica must shift from being a team that wins one day classics or stages in World Tour events. This needs to occur before Chaves is snapped up by Movistar, BMC or Team Sky where he will get the support to achieve his goals.

close