Cadel's destintation...

[craig1985]

Lampre and Lotto could fine themselves marginalised. But it starts in Belgium, so less likely Lotto get ditched. I still think Vasconsoleil are on the margin. Even with brothers Feillu.

Lampre are gonna be on the bubble, if the ASO do not fit 22 teams in. Skil is out at this stage, even tho the ASO fellated them last Tour and said they had a berth for 2010.

I don't know why Lampre bother with the Tour, it just isn't important. Or if it was, they would have made Cunego ride last year'srace. And besides Petacchi will just abandon on the first mountain stage in the Alps anyway.

I put them in because I thought they were likely to get a spot. Yeah I forgot about Saxo, I knew I would leave out somebody.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I officially apologise to Blackcat. He was right.

How stupid is evans? S/L have a far better support crew for him. Evans is going to regret this big time in the future. He won't even get inivite's into some races. How is hincapie and burghardt and ballan going to support him in the mountains. He had JvdB, de Greef, gilbert, lang, van Goolen, lloyd plus more to support him which is better than BMC. S/L has a protour liscence so they are automatically invited to races. BMC aren't. BMC are going to have to build up stock like S/L did in 06. He's gone backwards. Bad move evans.

Very stupid idiotic descision. He will regret this big time.

 

[goggalor]

Evans leaves Lotto only a few days after they sign "Ricco's former doctor". If the "Mr. Clean" comments were plentiful before...

Anyway, I'd say team support-wise it's about the same for him as at Lotto (i.e. not very much). But at least "Giant" George Hincapie won't be commanding him to leave any breakaways any time soon!

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

4 US teams in the Tour next year. Wow the sport has come a long way in the US since 1999

Ahhh, but not quite the same level of honor as 1986.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Evans' site has crashed. no suprise there.

 

[Galic Ho]

I officially apologise to Blackcat. He was right.

How stupid is evans? S/L have a far better support crew for him. Evans is going to regret this big time in the future. He won't even get inivite's into some races. How is hincapie and burghardt and ballan going to support him in the mountains. He had JvdB, de Greef, gilbert, lang, van Goolen, lloyd plus more to support him which is better than BMC. S/L has a protour liscence so they are automatically invited to races. BMC aren't. BMC are going to have to build up stock like S/L did in 06. He's gone backwards. Bad move evans.

Very stupid idiotic descision. He will regret this big time.

You forgot Wiggelius. Silence are a better team who have suddenly found some confidence. I hope for Cadels sake Gilbert was lying when he said this is a sad shock for the riders who had no clue. This may inspire them to spite Evans.

I never thought I'd hear you say that. I must say having Big George, Ballan and Cuddles does make an interesting prospect for an invite to the tour. There was a thread two weeks back about where we thought BMC would ride in terms of GT events. Few thought the Tour.

The Tour is a good bet. Shack pick up a pro license and so do Sky and both get invites. Lampre get nothing for riding so may willingly skip the Tour. Agritubel are gone. Skil-Shimano may get bumped (this bit sucks as they were told they had a spot). If BMC get a ride at the Tour it will leave me scratching my head. They are around 31 on the team rankings. How does that make them better than Vanconsoleil or Aqua-Saponne? Sure the riders are good but the team is unproven, like Sky and the Shack. The license system has something wrong with it if proven performers miss out for new teams or lower ranked teams who cash up and buy big names. In other words, teams whom are yet to follow the official UCI line, do the hard yards and earn their spots rather than buy their way in.

I also hope for Cadels sake that BMC do ride in France. He will look a right fool if they don't, especially with non-cycling tragics in Australia.

 

[maltiv]

I find it sort of hilarious how some people claimed that he obviously wouldn't go to Sky as they had "no one to help him in the mountains", and yet he ends up at a team which seems a lot worse than sky.

 

[iainf72]

I find it sort of hilarious how some people claimed that he obviously wouldn't go to Sky as they had "no one to help him in the mountains", and yet he ends up at a team which seems a lot worse than sky.

Ballan and Kroon can climb a bit. That chap coming in from Lampre is also not too bad.

I suspect they'll be solid enough in the mountains. At least as good as Sky anyway.

Its a good move IMO. A well managed team would be a nice change of pace for Cadel.

 

[BroDeal]

How stupid is evans? S/L have a far better support crew for him. Evans is going to regret this big time in the future. He won't even get inivite's into some races. How is hincapie and burghardt and ballan going to support him in the mountains. He had JvdB, de Greef, gilbert, lang, van Goolen, lloyd plus more to support him which is better than BMC. S/L has a protour liscence so they are automatically invited to races. BMC aren't. BMC are going to have to build up stock like S/L did in 06. He's gone backwards. Bad move evans.

Very stupid idiotic descision. He will regret this big time.

+1

Evans relationships with Lotto must have been pretty bad for him to go to BMC. Or maybe it really is about money. He was able to lock in a three year contract at a premiium price before next year's Tour would have showed that his time as a realistic contender is over.

 

[goggalor]

I found it sort of hilarious how suddenly some people are praising his Lotto team mates now that he's left. The grass is always greener on the other side, eh?

 

[scribe]

I do sort of get the feeling that Cadel is on the downturn of his career physically, at least for GTs.

 

[iainf72]

+1

Evans relationships with Lotto must have been pretty bad for him to go to BMC. Or maybe it really is about money. He was able to lock in a three year contract at a premiium price before next year's Tour would have showed that his time as a realistic contender is over.

I'm sure people said exactly the same thing when Millar et al moved over to ride for Father Vaughters a few years ago.

 

[ak-zaaf]

I found it sort of hilarious how suddenly some people are praising his Lotto team mates now that he's left. The grass is always greener on the other side, eh?

That was so predictable

 

[issoisso]

That was so predictable

Quite. If "Lotto never did anything for him" *snicker* *laugh* as some fanboys claim, then I don't want to know how they'll view The-team-formerly-known-as-Phonak

Evans' site has crashed. no suprise there.

If that were a metaphor, it would be apt

Either way, rest assured that he'll get all the wild cards he needs. Seriously, I wouldn't worry about that at all if I were you

 

[Mellow Velo]

I see folks are already making the assumption that Evans's name guarrantees a Tour spot. It doesn't.
Last week the debate, on here, was as to whether they'd receive a wildcard to any of the GTs.

I think they may have to make do with the Giro.

 

[issoisso]

I see folks are already making the assumption that Evans's name guarrantees a Tour spot. It doesn't.
Last week the debate, on here, was as to whether they'd receive a wildcard to any of the GTs.

I think they may have to make do with the Giro.

Evans or no Evans. Ballan, Burghardt, Hincapie. They're in. I'm sure of it.

And this is not partiality. I don't like Phonak for what they represent.

 

[iainf72]

I see folks are already making the assumption that Evans's name guarrantees a Tour spot. It doesn't.
Last week the debate, on here, was as to whether they'd receive a wildcard to any of the GTs.

I think they may have to make do with the Giro.

Prudhomme likes Cadel. John L. is down with the ASO management. Prudhomme said they might have 22 teams there next year. I doubt they'll have any difficulty getting a spot. The hard part will be finding enough of a squad between the Giro and the Tour.

 

[Galic Ho]

I find it sort of hilarious how some people claimed that he obviously wouldn't go to Sky as they had "no one to help him in the mountains", and yet he ends up at a team which seems a lot worse than sky.

I found it hilarious they were suggesting Sky at all. The team have been very vocal. About their goals and more recently about the number of guys they rejected. I think Cadel was one of them. Something along the lines by Sunderland of too many people looking for a pay rise and offering the team nothing. Blackcat said this was about money. I agreed. Seems more valid now.

Lets see how Australia digests this. Today will be interesting.

I found it sort of hilarious how suddenly some people are praising his Lotto team mates now that he's left. The grass is always greener on the other side, eh?

OPL deserved praise for a reason. They work just as hard as other teams. Cadel had support, but yet I still hear him on ABC radio saying he doesn't have enough and has suffered because of it.

On paper for September and October the best five riders were Valverde, Evans, Sanchez, Gilbert and Cunego. Two are OPL riders. The team has done tremendously well the last few months. Don't be mistaking those who praised them before Cadel left with those who have now conceded they have merits. The merits have been there all along.

As for the green grass, there have been a lot of grass ads on tv here in Australia recently. Maybe Evans saw one of these and was inspired to seek new pastures. No, Blackcat had it from the start. More money.

 

[Anonymous]

Just a thought. BMC= Big Mistake Cadel.

Don't know how many roster places are left on the team, but he'll be asking for a few mountain domestiques, if they are his destination.

Would be interesting to have two, consecutive world champs in the one team.
Could end up with more GC invites than they can handle..

B.M.C - nice definition

I can't believe this. Man I was hoping that garmin rumour came true. JV said he wish he knew Cadel was on the market!!

Hopefully he get's Lloyd and Wegelius to come across if BMC and Lotto can reach an agreement, and leave that team to be all belgian (and one spaniard = awkward)

I have to stay it is a huge step down from Lotto, but obviously he is going to be more comfortable and more confident than he was at said squad. I guess securing 3years more in a career, and moving to an 'emerging' team (like Sastre moving to Cervelo when he felt the grey hairs coming) suited his future more than being stuck in the rutt he was in. No doubt, he had a better GC squad at Lotto, but perhaps it became clear to Cadel that in the next TDF, the belgians were planning to undermine him with VDB..

Personally, if they don't get a Tour invite i'll be shocked and obviously annoyed. With the 5 big signings they have made, they are arguably equal to Cervelo was this time last year, IMO. Plus if they sign Lloyd and Wegelius, it isn't too bad i guess.

Finally, Blackcat was right. It's a shame he acted like a two-year old at the start of the thread when people challenged his theory, but great guess tho...

 

[Bala Verde]

So bmc is now officially sunnydale retirement ville #2?

I also share galic's concern about the development that a big sack of money has the potential to make teams jumping the queue / to set back other teams who play by the rules. Buy a couple of old riders and position yourself in the pro tour market (for a couple of years?) whereas others contribute structurally to the development of cycling by engaging and training youngsters.

I hope bmc stay commited to cycling after Evans is gone...

 

[goggalor]

Evans' site has crashed. no suprise there.

More importantly, his twitter has crashed!

(But his site's front page does have some kind of twitter feed thingy (tweed? tweet feed? twit twat?) on it, so I'm guessing that's the cause, not an overflow of stoked swisses (sweets?) and bitter belgians.)

 

[karlboss]

I officially apologise to Blackcat. He was right.

How stupid is evans? S/L have a far better support crew for him. Evans is going to regret this big time in the future. He won't even get inivite's into some races. How is hincapie and burghardt and ballan going to support him in the mountains. He had JvdB, de Greef, gilbert, lang, van Goolen, lloyd plus more to support him which is better than BMC. S/L has a protour liscence so they are automatically invited to races. BMC aren't. BMC are going to have to build up stock like S/L did in 06. He's gone backwards. Bad move evans.

Very stupid idiotic descision. He will regret this big time.

I disagree. You make Silence sound like a climbing squad yet where were they up hill...ever?

For team help on a big mountian stage you can run the USPS train, Astana Saxo this year had the strength to this year, noone else was close. Apart from that you need to hang on while the train works, and then launch attacks or have one guy to drag you over the top if you are on a bad day. Problem is that guy has to be capable of top 10 mountain place finishes day in day out.
In 2007 Horner was busting himself to hang in with that last 10, but couldn't help...so you need better.
Looking at the Lotto roster...JvdB didn't help this year (politics to be repeated?) Gilbert didn't go, and Lloyd was as good as he could be, but falls a long way short.
Hincapie and Ballan can all climb, at least as well as Lloyd, but fall short of the climber needed. Most climbers of this standard are already signed ... except one.
Don't think it will happen though, but for so many reasons I hope it does.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If cadel whinges about no getting enough support, well... it's his own fault now. Being a fan of his i will support his descision (even though it's not the best one). He choose to be at BMC and even Vaughters said he would of been intersted to pick him up. Good luck cadel because i think your going to need it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I disagree. You make Silence sound like a climbing squad yet where were they up hill...ever?

For team help on a big mountian stage you can run the USPS train, Astana Saxo this year had the strength to this year, noone else was close. Apart from that you need to hang on while the train works, and then launch attacks or have one guy to drag you over the top if you are on a bad day. Problem is that guy has to be capable of top 10 mountain place finishes day in day out.
In 2007 Horner was busting himself to hang in with that last 10, but couldn't help...so you need better.
Looking at the Lotto roster...JvdB didn't help this year (politics to be repeated?) Gilbert didn't go, and Lloyd was as good as he could be, but falls a long way short.
Hincapie and Ballan can all climb, at least as well as Lloyd, but fall short of the climber needed. Most climbers of this standard are already signed ... except one.
Don't think it will happen though, but for so many reasons I hope it does.

Even the team said they were willing to work for him at the tour... S/L climbing wise out does BMC. LLoyd is quite a good climber and would be better than any of the riders at BMC. He deserves and has deserved better. i fear he may regret this descision after July next year.

 

[Anonymous]

so we find out the real cadel after all.. got a win finally, and now content to take the money and go back to achieving nothing again...

frankly i am wetting myself in the hilarity of all of this.. and i will wet myself even more if they dont get a tour de france invite...

the cadel circus just rolls on and on...


on side effect of this though.. what does it mean for the pro tour.. cervelo are surviving without it, and then the reigning uci world champion moves to a non pro tour team.. is the end nigh?