Best Riders Without Contract For 2014?

[fraserhughes]

Nothing is official yet and there isn't much info out about it yet. But it seems a likely rumor. We'll have to wait and see what develops though.

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=62373&tp=n

Thanks. I hope its not true.

I'd be happy if he wasn't involved in cycling at all, but if he must be I'm with you better he starts his own team.

 

[Jancouver]

So is Horner the CQ highest rated rider without a contract for 2014?

Seems like we have quite a few Americans without contract.

Horner
Farrar
DaveZ
Danielson ??
Ted King ??

who else?

 

[Anderis]

Danielson should stay at Garmin.

Rathe is uncertain.

 

[trevim]

Danielson should stay at Garmin.

Rathe is uncertain.

I hope Rathe stays put at Garmin. He got his first professional victory in the first race I was able to see live

 

[Alpechraxler]

Horners contract chances could have been higher with a quiet top 10 Vuelta.

 

[maltiv]

Horners contract chances could have been higher with a quiet top 10 Vuelta.

As weird as it sounds, that might just be correct. Now most teams see him as extremely high risk.

 

[42x16ss]

So is Horner the CQ highest rated rider without a contract for 2014?

Seems like we have quite a few Americans without contract.

Horner
Farrar
DaveZ
Danielson ??
Ted King ??

who else?

Does Caleb Fairly have a contract for next year?

I can't see anyone taking on Zabriskie or Danielson now, they will be seen as damaged goods.

 

[Afrank]

Does Caleb Fairly have a contract for next year?

I can't see anyone taking on Zabriskie or Danielson now, they will be seen as damaged goods.

Danielson did win Utah and was 3rd in Colorado this season (also 4th at Romandie is pretty good). He can still do well in the US races and be a good domestique in Europe. I think Garmin will want to retain him.

 

[42x16ss]

He still has something to offer as far results go, just thinking of fallout from the USADA investigation. Gots to keep up appearances

 

[Afrank]

Update on Horner

Michael Rutherford (Horners agent) “Yes, I am surprised. I would expect that after winning the Vuelta that we would have a deal but there isn’t [one]. We are trying to conclude a deal with a WorldTour team and that’s all I can tell you.”

“All I can tell you is that we are talking to several teams but nothing has been agreed at this point,” Rutherford said before adding that his client was “adamant about staying at the WorldTour level.”

CN also reports Trek hasn't offered him a new contract.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horners-agent-surprised-his-client-has-no-team-for-2014

 

[webvan]

I see CN is still rehashing that silly "hung up on me" phone call...

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Update on Horner




CN also reports Trek hasn't offered him a new contract.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horners-agent-surprised-his-client-has-no-team-for-2014

If he can keep up this VUelta level of cyccling, I wouldn't be mad if he signed for Astana

 

[JRanton]

As weird as it sounds, that might just be correct. Now most teams see him as extremely high risk.

There are plenty of dodgy teams who won't care about that risk. Most likely issue is that his contract demands are too much.

 

[jaylew]

Horners contract chances could have been higher with a quiet top 10 Vuelta.

As weird as it sounds, that might just be correct. Now most teams see him as extremely high risk.

Probably true but I really doubt it's about any risk. They've seen his complete passport data. It's about his contract demands. It's a tough situation - he wants to be paid like someone who won the Vuelta but teams don't want to fork over that kind of dough for someone who will be 43 at the end of next season. He claims he could sign tomorrow if he was willing to be paid less.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...a-job-releasing-data-and-winning-at-41_304993

 

[webvan]

Interesting, thanks for the link, kinda makes you sorry for the guy, wonder what Trek were paying him, surely more than the $100k he throws out as an example?

 

[jens_attacks]

cobo had 100 grand after his vuelta win at movistar. cheap shot by papy

i think chris wants 2 millions a year probably. a lot less than he really deserves in my opinion but it's a regular thing in pro cycling and i hope he will ride le tour too. i know that he doesn't like those kind of climbs but maybe for polka dots or stage wins. and then vuelta again, i agree

 

[Cance > TheRest]

If he can keep up this VUelta level of cyccling, I wouldn't be mad if he signed for Astana

I would. It would leave Fuglsang with less space, and after his TdF succes he deserves to be the co-leader after nibali and atleast get his own chance again in a GT

 

[Afrank]

If Horner is having a problem getting a contract due to asking for too much money then it makes sense. He may have just won the Vuelta, but signing a 41 year old for a lot of money is still a big risk due to his age. Teams might not be willing to shell out the money he is asking for based on the hope that a 41 year old can continue to ride at the level that won him the Vuelta.

 

[Escarabajo]

cobo had 100 grand after his vuelta win at movistar. cheap shot by papy

i think chris wants 2 millions a year probably. a lot less than he really deserves in my opinion but it's a regular thing in pro cycling and i hope he will ride le tour too. i know that he doesn't like those kind of climbs but maybe for polka dots or stage wins. and then vuelta again, i agree

WOW. That's a lot of money for a 42 yrs old. There is no warranty that he will have this form again. The odds are really against him.

 

[jens_attacks]

some paranoid teams also expect all the tests from vuelta. which won't be a problem for sure

for next year,chris will be at vuelta level but the question is for how many races...it's not about his form but he crashes, gets sick too often for such a big salary i guess. i wish he will close a nice contract though

 

[webvan]

I also wonder if his putting out his blood data out there isn't somehow viewed as a "breaking the omerta" action...

 

[hidache]

LuLu won't be riding for Belkin next season, they gave him the money he would earn in 2014-15 in may already and he's free to sign for another team. Still unknown where he'll ride next year.

 

[Hakkapelit]

LuLu won't be riding for Belkin next season, they gave him the money he would earn in 2014-15 in may already and he's free to sign for another team. Still unknown where he'll ride next year.

What's the story behind that decision?

 

[hidache]

What's the story behind that decision?

Doping allegations, based on pretty strong (circumstantial) evidence.

 

[theyoungest]

Doping allegations, based on pretty strong (circumstantial) evidence.

There was even some sort of 'fight' between him and his teammates, when they begged him to be honest back in January. It was already clear much longer that this situation couldn't last, there's no mutual trust at all.