Carlos Betancur discussion thread

[hfer07]

IF Betancur gets really lucky, I can only see him riding for Caja Rural or Team Colombia - at best- a crazy option might be CCC Polsat- I mean, there aren't many options available for someone with his "troubling personality" are there?- He'll realize it soon enough when his agent won't get calls from teams & he starts "begging" for a spot next season....

...and he alone is the one to blame...

 

[hrotha]

IF Betancur gets really lucky, I can only see him riding for Caja Rural or Team Colombia - at best- a crazy option might be CCC Polsat- I mean, there aren't many options available for someone with his "troubling personality" are there?- He'll realize it soon enough when his agent won't get calls from teams & he starts "begging" for a spot next season....

...and he alone is the one to blame...

I reckon it'll take at least 2-3 years before teams give up on him. Look at Vandenbroucke - everyone was hoping *this particular season* would be the one when he got his **** together.

It's a gamble, but it could pay off handsomely.

Maybe he should sign for Lampre and ride for Matxín.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I reckon it'll take at least 2-3 years before teams give up on him. Look at Vandenbroucke - everyone was hoping *this particular season* would be the one when he got his **** together.

It's a gamble, but it could pay off handsomely.

Maybe he should sign for Lampre and ride for Matxín.

Yes exactly. The guy won Paris-Nice this year! He is young, he is available and his antics have drastically reduced his price, whether he yet realises that part or not. Team bosses will think they can straighten him out and get a guy who can bring big wins for less money than his talent would normally dictate.

I think he will get at least one more chance as a leader on a big team. Possibly even two more chances.

 

[hfer07]

I reckon it'll take at least 2-3 years before teams give up on him. Look at Vandenbroucke - everyone was hoping *this particular season* would be the one when he got his **** together.

It's a gamble, but it could pay off handsomely.

Maybe he should sign for Lampre and ride for Matxín.

The VDB example is a bit different, because back in those days, it was the "wild west" and "everything goes-like type of attitude when "characters" like him were somewhat tolerated. Nowadays the sport is much more professional in all aspects-specially with contract clauses, sponsor duties, commitments & schedules required by the athletes to fulfil to the very end. I mean-a Rider like Andy Schleck back in 2010 got kicked out of La Vuelta for having 3 beers (that's the tale) which means is just unacceptable to do that type of sh!t anymore...

BTW-Lampre is a "Colombian talent killer" - just look at Anancona & Serpa- both had great season & wins prior to signing with them, and now they're simply ghosts.....

If that's his current option, I'd personally see it as a career suicide for him...

 

[hrotha]

I don't think the sport has really changed the way you say. I believe those "characters" are just as tolerated now as they were back then. At any rate, Andy's still getting a ride, 3 years after he last did anything of note on the road, and until this year Cobo always had a (relatively) top team to ride for.

 

[slosada]

Colombia's cost of living was not cheap last time I checked!

Unless they want to retire into a farm-like style of living or similar. Which I doubt these riders would do.

This!
Only in the countryside it might be cheap enough. Not in any urban area.
And drinking/partying is not as expensive as in North America, but it's still significant if you do it in a daily basis.
-------
OTOH I think he still has WT market if he provides points and wins. But he won't get the salary or the contract length he'd wish.

Then this lifestyle will take its toll in his performances.

I wonder if there has been any case of a undisciplined cyclist that was able to recover his career and put a North in his life.

 

[Arredondo]

So you're saying no team wants to provide a spot for a young rider who already proved he can win big races and comfortably compete in GTs?

No, i'm just giving some facts why some WT teams doesn't want him, but mainly why Betancur will not go to some.

 

[tristecsinamigos]

Betancur is the one that doesnt belong among those two. Worse results, older than Kwiatkowski (granted, not by much), less self-discipline and will to win.

?

Betancur has won more than the two.

 

[damian13ster]

?

Betancur has won more than the two.

We were talking about 4 hilly classics here

 

[gospina]

Initial look, outside looking in:
1) His results two years ago, so strong that Cannondale & Acqua-Sapone were threatening to sue each other and both declared him part of their lineup.
2) Look at his results from last year, very impressive GT, mountain classics.
3)This year, he is officially sick, and he still wins PARIS-NICE.
Any team will jump on that.

Now, taking the devil's advocate point of view:
1) He told Cannondale he will sign for them (along with teammate Cayetano Sarmiento), then changes his mind and tells them to screw themselves, even states he would rather sit out a year than ride for them
2) After his amazing Giro performance, he did NOTHING for the next 5 months and let himself go SO BAD that he was useless at Vuelta and world's.
3) He was so overweight at the beginning of the season he looked like two riders. He then made up a reason and almost screwed the team for the Tour (which totally backfired and now the team wants him gone, not the other way around)

My suggestion:
He needs to ride for a team that needs results early in the year. He's good up until the Giro. Then he can sit out for the next of the season. He may peak again just at the end for Lombardia & World's. 1 GT max.

 

[Akuryo]

Initial look, outside looking in:
1) His results two years ago, so strong that Cannondale & Acqua-Sapone were threatening to sue each other and both declared him part of their lineup.
2) Look at his results from last year, very impressive GT, mountain classics.
3)This year, he is officially sick, and he still wins PARIS-NICE.
Any team will jump on that.

Now, taking the devil's advocate point of view:
1) He told Cannondale he will sign for them (along with teammate Cayetano Sarmiento), then changes his mind and tells them to screw themselves, even states he would rather sit out a year than ride for them
2) After his amazing Giro performance, he did NOTHING for the next 5 months and let himself go SO BAD that he was useless at Vuelta and world's.
3) He was so overweight at the beginning of the season he looked like two riders. He then made up a reason and almost screwed the team for the Tour (which totally backfired and now the team wants him gone, not the other way around)

My suggestion:
He needs to ride for a team that needs results early in the year. He's good up until the Giro. Then he can sit out for the next of the season. He may peak again just at the end for Lombardia & World's. 1 GT max.

So again, like Kwiatkowski: Only strong until May.

 

[Escarabajo]

Initial look, outside looking in:
...

My suggestion:
He needs to ride for a team that needs results early in the year. He's good up until the Giro. Then he can sit out for the next of the season. He may peak again just at the end for Lombardia & World's. 1 GT max.

That won't work anymore. If Paris Nice returns to the classic route he won't stand a chance. As for his overweight it can get worse that he will be practically worthless.

Practically speaking he needs to change and become more disciplined if he wants to be successful again in the pro-tour. Like this he is just going to keep declining IMHO.

 

[proffz]

That won't work anymore. If Paris Nice returns to the classic route he won't stand a chance. As for his overweight it can get worse that he will be practically worthless.

Practically speaking he needs to change and become more disciplined if he wants to be successful again in the pro-tour. Like this he is just going to keep declining IMHO.

+1
there is no chance for him if he does not change his attitude.
it is a real shame because he is a great talent and he has the potential to win hilly classics and be a factor in GT

 

[hfer07]

Initial look, outside looking in:
1) His results two years ago, so strong that Cannondale & Acqua-Sapone were threatening to sue each other and both declared him part of their lineup.
2) Look at his results from last year, very impressive GT, mountain classics.
3)This year, he is officially sick, and he still wins PARIS-NICE.
Any team will jump on that.

No, he wasn't. He was "overweight & lacking form". His P-N title was achieved by the parcour & road circumstances that he properly ceased.

Now, taking the devil's advocate point of view:
1) He told Cannondale he will sign for them (along with teammate Cayetano Sarmiento), then changes his mind and tells them to screw themselves, even states he would rather sit out a year than ride for them2) After his amazing Giro performance, he did NOTHING for the next 5 months and let himself go SO BAD that he was useless at Vuelta and world's.
3) He was so overweight at the beginning of the season he looked like two riders. He then made up a reason and almost screwed the team for the Tour (which totally backfired and now the team wants him gone, not the other way around).

those points are very explanatory for any team not to hire him at all. Set aside his shape and just notice the lack of professionalism on Contractual matters-when he signs for other team well knowing he has already commitments with his own team, and what he comes up with as a solution is a simple "Fvck off" and walks away to retrieve in Colombia, just to continue indulging himself & not training properly, because, "that's what it is", and "so be it" & the worst one- "I can always find me a team"........ Well- Sorry Carlos-you just blew it because those chances are GONE

My suggestion:
He needs to ride for a team that needs results early in the year. He's good up until the Giro. Then he can sit out for the next of the season. He may peak again just at the end for Lombardia & World's. 1 GT max.

Even riders that have somehow gotten a second chance, they were prior GT winners, runner ups, or multi racer winners- Carlos's palmares ain't there yet, so He has to prove his worth before he's granted special tailor made schedules.......

 

[Arnout]

No, he wasn't. He was "overweight & lacking form". His P-N title was achieved by the parcour & road circumstances that he properly ceased.



those points are very explanatory for any team not to hire him at all. Set aside his shape and just notice the lack of professionalism on Contract matters, when he signs for other team well knowing he has already commitments with his own team, and what he comes up with as a solution is a simple "Fvck off" and walks away to retrieve in Colombia, just to continue indulging himself & not training properly, because, "that's what it is", and "so be it".....




Even riders that have somehow gotten a second chance, they were prior GT winners, runner ups, or multi racer winners- Carlos's palmares ain't there yet, so He has to prove his worth before he's granted special tailor made schedules.......

Its not so much that he gets a second chance though. Clearly he's in a slump at the moment but a rider ending fourth (or whatever it was) in a GT and winning a WT stage rate in the current year is not beyond repair, not by a long shot. He just needs a manager that understands what's going on.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Betancur strikes me as the type who would keep increasing their standards of living and eating up all their money regardless of how much they earned.

(Disclaimer: this is based almost exclusively on his "fat, lazy cyclist" persona. I have no idea whether it actually applies)

he's not the decadent sports car riding bobo type of person. all he wants is bear, a house and betting on c*ck fights

 

[difdauf]

God what's the use of a leader who take holydays during GTs ?
He just destroyed a marvellous carreer, is he aware of it ?

 

[ILovecycling]

God what's the use of a leader who take holydays during GTs ?
He just destroyed a marvellous carreer, is he aware of it ?

Read what ryo said two posts up...
I dont know where do u live,but if you arent from latin america or at least meditareanean you probably dont understand it.
Those people just dont give fvcking monkeys about money,work and careers.They just wanna enjoy life in their beloved country with family and friends,thats all.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

he's not the decadent sports car riding bobo type of person. all he wants is bear, a house and betting on c*ck fights

Didn't know that bears were that popular in Colombia.

 

[ILovecycling]

Didn't know that bears were that popular in Colombia.

its (almost) similiar as in méxico.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Didn't know that bears were that popular in Colombia.

not as much as donkey's I have to admitt

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

not as much as donkey's I have to admitt

Yep, those Colombians sure love their donkeys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VKWLC87Uzw

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Carlos seen on bike shock!

any recent pics with him? i hope he can get at least two stage wins in la vuelta

Just two days later, and in his first twitter post for more than 3 months, he links to this.

If this is his attempt at putting himself back in the market place as the transfer season gets up to pace, I suspect it will take rather more.

 

[jens_attacks]

he doesn't look that fat. i think he's ready for a vuelta podium rather

 

[ILovecycling]

he doesn't look that fat. i think he's ready for a vuelta podium rather

are you serious? look at his calf,his weight is around 75kg imo