When Orica-GreenEDGE entered the UCI World Tour last year they did it with a bang and with immediate success. But it was quickness of its first victory that took everyone by surprise.
Unlike Team Sky, which did not get its UCI World Tour victory until February, Orica-GreenEDGE secured its first World Tour victory at the Tour Down Under when Simon Gerrans took out the general classification jersey.
Success on the European continent was also not very far away as Gerrans backed up his early season success by winning one of cycling’s five monuments – the Milan-San Remo – in a sprint finish against Fabian Cancellera and Vincenzo Nibali.
This early season success at a number of World Tour events also translated into victory at their debut Grand Tour when Matt Goss won stage three at the 2012 Giro d’Italia.
While there were no podium finishes at the Tour de France, Orica-GreenEDGE was back in the Grand Tour winning circle when Simon Clarke won the fourth stage of the Vuelta a Espana and then went on to win the mountains classification.
Overall, 2012 was an extremely successful first year for the Australian-owned and run team. The team managed to finished 12th on Cycling Quotient CQ Team Ranking with 32 victories and sixth on the UCI World Tour Team ranking.
In comparison, Team Sky finished its debut season also with 32 victories, but in 13th spot on Cycling Quotient CQ Team Ranking.
If Team Sky is seen as the professional benchmark for all World Tour teams, then based on 2012 form, the future looked very promising.
Fast forward to June 2013, Orica-GreenEDGE racing strategy seems to be in disarray as the team shows signs of second year syndrome.
Things were not helped when earlier in the year the Team suspended Matt White after it was revealed that he has doped while at US Postal Team with Lance Armstrong.
As at 1 June 2013, the team has slipped to 14th on the UCI World Tour Team ranking, some 650 points behind Team Sky, and 13th on Cycling Quotient 2013 CQ Team Ranking. While the team had secured 17 victories to date, four of those victories were in National or Oceania championships.
The 2013 Giro d’Italia was a failure for GreenEDGE, which set their team up around Matt Goss, attempting to replicate the previous year’s performance. Goss withdrew on Stage 16 and the team left the Giro empty handed.
It is difficult to see where a Grand Tour victory will come from after analysing their Giro performance. In fact, if both Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan head to the Tour de France, it is hard to see Goss, or any other Orica-GreenEDGErider beating them.
Furthermore, GreenEDGE is unlikely going to match the likes of Team Sky is a team time trial or individual time trial. Therefore, the rest of the 2013 season is not looking too bright for Australia’s first UCI World Tour team.
I can understand why Orica-GreenEDGE focussed on stage wins in its debut season. The team had to get immediate runs on the board to get exposure and secure a team sponsor, which it did when Orica, the Australian mining services and explosives company, came on board just before the Tour de France. The new team also had to justify why it was given a World Tour licence at the expense of other established cycling teams.
It was clear that 2012 success meant the team was going to follow a similar strategy in 2013 – chase more stage wins rather than general classification jerseys. The team brought in Michael Matthews from Rabobank to bolster its sprinting stocks, a team that already had Goss, Howard, Alan Davis, Aidan Kruopis and Baden Cooke in the ranks.
Team Sky objective was to deliver Britain’s first Tour de France winner. It achieved that in three years.
With the lack of big wins in 2013 it is time for team management to re-assess their racing strategy. Orica-GreenEDGE should take a leaf out of Team Sky’s racing manual and develop a similar objective and shift its focus to securing general classification podium wins at one of the three Grand Tour events.
But if GreenEDGE was serious about winning a Grand Tour it would have secured Richie Porte at all cost – the next likely Australian winner of a Grand Tour – rather let him re-sign for Team Sky in May.
Surely, it would not be too hard to convince Porte to switch teams given his limited chances at Team Sky because of the presence of Wiggins and Froome in the team. I am sure Porte’s manager would have held discussions.
Did Porte views his prospects were better staying at Team Sky? He was likely concerned about the level of support that he would get from the team. There are not many super domestiques in Orica which can drive the peloton like Team Sky.
That leaves Orica-GreenEDGE to use its team resources to have a tilt at the general classification victory. It is often reported that Cameron Meyer is a future general classification winner. It is time for the team to back Meyer and build a stage race around him, and not just around a sprinter like Goss or Howard.
If Orica-GreenEDGE is going to compete against Astana, Team Sky, BMC or Movistar then it needs to develop a genuine general classification rider and build a squad around a rider to allow them to compete at the highest levels in a Grand Tour.
Fans are eager to see their heroes on the podium wearing the yellow jersey or the maglia rosa. Not after one stage, but after 21 days of racing under the toughest conditions a Grand Tour can throw at them.
Unfortunately, this will not happen at Orica GreenEdge, for now. Not until the owner and team management shift their focus from stage wins to building a Grand Tour squad that can support a truly general classification contender.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Sid - you raise some good points on the above. McEwen was essentially brought in for his points as well. Goss is a very good Sprinter but was essentially no 3/4 at HTC. he was primarily a lead out man. The one rider OGE should have considered also was Renshaw - he was at HTC and was at the time the best lead out an in the world. He was not signed bc Matt White and he don't seem to get along. Michael Matthews is showing some fine sprint form and may well end up being the top sprinter in time. He came from a long way back last night and almsot took the stage win. I think you are understating what they achieved last year though. For a first year team they achieved a lot. A lot of other top teams have struggled for years. We on the TDU, won a classic and pciked up stage wins at Giro. We will always struggle at cobbled classics - not a focus and shouldn't be. Leave that to the Belgiums etc.
Sid
Guest
A good article. I don't necessarily agree with it, but what I do agree with is that Greenedge have had a poor season. Actually I don't feel last season was that great other than Jan-March. They got a few good wins from Albasini and Gerrans but that was it. I think those wins papered over a lot of cracks. Other than those two the rest of the team did not contribute that much in terms of wins. Veulta mountains jersey? Is it really that great? Greenedge came in targeting classics wins and stage wins. Unfortunately they don't really have any classics riders who can win in the cobbled classics. Top 10 yes, win no. Same goes for Ardennes. Shayne Bannan told Alex Hinds from SBS the following: "Don't forget the reason that Matt joined the team. He was a Milan-San Remo winner from the year before, and he brought valuable points to the team which without him it would've been very difficult to become a WorldTour team. He's just come into an era which is great for cycling, but where there are a lot of quality sprinters. There's (Mark) Cavendish, there's (Andre) Greipel, there's (Peter) Sagan, who's just a freak, and there's some other good guys around the mark." The above is telling. It seems like they do not believe they can get wins out of Goss and that they got him in for his points. As said in the article there is no way the Gossy is going to win against the likes of Sagan, Greipel and Cav. If that is the case we may see a big change in strategy at the tour. The tour is the highest profile cycling event in Australia, and Greenedge need to improve their profile in the race. The team really just needs wins and exposure. It doesn't matter if that is with a GC team or a stage winning team. The best value for money team is Europcar. They are always getting exposure in the key races. Why can't Greenedge focus on that. They don't need to be a GC team to do that, but they need to a bit more versatile than just a sprint team. Unfortunately at the Dauphine, it just seems like more of the same.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
I just don't think it makes much sense to bank on the policy of 'Aussie riders for an Aussie team' - and i know there are non -Aussies on there but they will have to look beyond Porte if they want a genuine GC contender, at least a plan 'B' if he doesn't come. Also, I suspect that he is looking at their results and asking 'Why would I go there?'
Robin Parsons
Roar Guru
Great Article Alistair, but 1. You don't create a GT GC wining team over night just ask Andy Riis, back with Phonak he did but that's bad history and he has far more resources than Gerry Ryan. 2. Richie Porte was not a product of the CA HP/AIS system and has no allegiance with them. Jack bobridge does and still decided to seek greener pastures! 3. Above all I don't think you understand how hard it is to get a victory in cycling.... Pro Teams with massive resources can go without big wins for years ... do you race? Robin
Bones506
Roar Guru
It feels like OGE have lost their way a bit this year. Goss really needs to deliver a Stage victory at the TDF (which I agee seems to be a real challenge) otheriwse they need to start considering Michael Matthews as their top sprinter. One victory at the TDF does not a season make mind you. Porte is the natural choice and fit but I believe he figures the best way to continue to develop is spend another 2 years at Sky.The team has more money and resources than any other so why leave now. He may well also be in line to be Sky's TDF leader in 2014. After two year who knows - he may well be with OGE whom he might hope has acquired a few GC spport riders.
midfield general
Guest
Is it time OGE swallowed their pride and sign a non Australian GC rider as a short term measure? That way likes of Meyer brothers can spend a couple of seasons riding for him. Andy Schleck might come cheap, he's good mates with Stuey, well known and liked by cycling fans here. Of course the risk is that he might never come good again. Can't think of anyone else that might fit the mould, may be an up-and-comer like Talansky?
psych_ling
Guest
Agree with your comments. I wondered why Porte was not an obvious coup for OGE, but get the impression he is more than happy at Sky. With Cavandish gone, they are uncompromisingly out for GC wins, so maybe Porte is happy to continue to fit in for now and continue to benefit from the support and resources available at Sky. With a raft of GC talent though, would expect to see some movement down the track, as we have seen too may egos at Sky do not make happy campers. have read different things about Cam, a definite future prospect but experience the key...if OGE can't get Porte, they definitely need to target another GC prospect...but who?
ed
Guest
Agree, I can not see Goss getting a stage win at the tour over Cavendish, sagan, greipel, kittel etc. In fact his selection has to be in doubt as it means you have a team working for one guy to come in 7th. OGE need to get into as many breakaways as possible with the aim of one working. Regarding developing a GC rider, like it has for other teams this will take time but agree should look at Meyer & others. There are only a handful of riders that can win a grand tour but OGE are hardly ever at the sharp end of a key stage with their current line up
Tomas Fish
Roar Guru
I agree Alistair, the reason for cycling's boom in Britain is Wiggins' exploits, even though Cavendish had been winning consistently since 2008. Orica-GreenEDGE could easily get themselves a solid GC team with a few smart signings, and soon be challenging for the big races, the decision would be whether to sign an Australian GC contender, or go for a European until Cameron Meyer comes of age.