Written by Dodge at 14:08 14/7-2010
With team lead Ian Defley struggling desperately for form, Team Dodge have decided not to enter this season's edition of the Volta ao Porto even if they do qualify for the tour.
It is a stunning turnaround of fortunes for the Australian team only 90 days after an executive decision to cut down on races in order to concentrate on this very tour.
The team had controversially forgone races in the early season last year in order to drop down a division and contest the Volta. Back then, Ian Defley seemed unstoppable in his quest to improve on a fifth place showing at the Volta ao Porto in Season 12. Then, bad luck struck and he was felled on the very first stage of the tour as the rest of the team found themselves with nothing to race for and their leader out for an indefinite period of time.
It was a testing period and although Defley soon returned to competitive racing, there was soon a suspicion that the man that had returned was no longer just one step from a racing God. Gone was the fearless attacks on the steep slopes, missing too were the sudden accelerations towards the finish line and indeed the strapping former Aussie No. 1 seemed painfully unable to place in races that were once his specialty.
Could it have been because of his injury sustained in Portugal? Or perhaps the retirement of his former mentor from the team at the start of lsat season? Racing experts are at a loss as to what could have attributed to this sudden and horrific loss of form, but one thing is certain - the team aren't getting results with Defley underperforming and there is a growing rumour that the team might just go under before too long.
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Comments
At this moment, it looks like I'll need a sponsor's exemption if I am to get in...
Hey Zee I think you should obviously enter the Tour. He wont crash again...
Not entering mean the climbing races around the Volta will be less contested.
But the Volta could be a glorious return to form. And if not a victory then plenty of chance of a couple of top 9s.
And what if he crashes again? Besides, he can't even win a normal race, what makes you think he can win in the big time?
I'd seriously enter the Volta if you can. 5 big stages for cash and points. Defley can't go that long without a result.
I'd seriously enter the Volta if you can. 5 big stages for cash and points. Defley can't go that long without a result.
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