Teams & Riders EF Pro Cycling

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Strongman and hardman Cort again… IMHO, he‘s a legend, now.

You underestimate this team and this rider so easily. Pink clothes, Cort‘s hair and mustache, and so on. Their MPCC sympathy. Things like these make me underestimate this team.

Hats off to Cort. In his niche, he‘s one of the best.

Now a stage win at the Tour, and then Vaughters‘ 2023 has been a good year…

 

[Potomac]

Three straight stages with only 2nd or 3rd and not a win!

EF...YOU SUCK.

Still the worst !

(I didn't use to be like this, but Anderis has trained me up)

 

[The GCW]

EF is having a good GIRO d,Italia, as of the flat stage 17.

* 1 of only 4 teams to have won 2 stages.
* Animating many stages with near stage wins.
* Wearing the Mountain Climber’s Jersey.

Stage 8, WIN, Healy

Stage 10, WIN, Cort.

Stage 12, Bettiol took 7th.

Stage 13, Cepeda, 3rd.

Stage 14, Bettiol, 3rd.

Stage 15, Healy, 2nd.

Stage 16, Healy climbs into the Climber’s Jersey.

 

[Sciatic]

EF is having a good GIRO d,Italia, as of the flat stage 17.

* 1 of only 4 teams to have won 2 stages.
* Animating many stages with near stage wins.
* the Mountain Climber’s Jersey.

Stage 8, WIN, Healy

Stage 10, WIN, Cort.

Stage 12, Bettiol took 7th.

Stage 13, Cepeda, 3rd.

Stage 14, Bettiol, 3rd.

Stage 15, Healy, 2nd.

Stage 16, Healy climbs into the Climber’s Jersey.

“Animating many stages with near stage wins.” Their boss also animated plenty of Twitter accounts

 

[Potomac]

But more seriously, losing both Uran and Carthy to illness was a tough blow. Before the race I thought both would finish top 10 GC. Despite that, the Giro was a big success for them. Despite being the worst team.

 

[Potomac]

For the Dauphine PCS is only showing

• SHAW James
• CHAVES Esteban
• CARAPAZ Richard

And for Suisse....

• BISSEGGER Stefan
• POWLESS Neilson

And for the Tour

• URÁN Rigoberto
• AMADOR Andrey
• BETTIOL Alberto
• HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich
• CARAPAZ Richard
• CORT Magnus

 

[triley36]

And for the Tour

• URÁN Rigoberto
• AMADOR Andrey
• BETTIOL Alberto
• HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich
• CARAPAZ Richard
• CORT Magnus

Surprised to see Bettiol and Cort both doing Giro/tour double. Would not be surprised to see one or both come off the Tour start list.

If these six do go, I would guess Powless and one of Bissegger, Rutsch, or Scully fill the last two spots? The only thing I know for sure is that we won’t find out until the night before the tour starts- much to the irritation of me and every journalist, podcaster and pundit that wishes to do a tour preview piece

 

[Bolder]

If EF is going all in for Carapaz on GC, as they should, I'd at least add Chaves as a mountain domestique. He and Uran should be able to provide enough support. Then Bisegger, I think. You could have either Powless or Bettiol as stage hunters if Carapaz falters.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Surprised to see Bettiol and Cort both doing Giro/tour double. Would not be surprised to see one or both come off the Tour start list.

I'm pretty sure Cort has a secure spot, unless he gets injured. He delivered in last year's race, and he did the same in the Giro. I don't know about Bettiol, but if he's still healthy and in good shape, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the team either.

 

[search]

yeah, Cort already announced that he'd do both before Romandie. That's also the reason why he had a bit of a slow start into this part of the season.

 

[Sciatic]

If EF is going all in for Carapaz on GC, as they should, I'd at least add Chaves as a mountain domestique. He and Uran should be able to provide enough support. Then Bisegger, I think. You could have either Powless or Bettiol as stage hunters if Carapaz falters.

I guess it can't hurt to have some insurance by bringing Chaves, but because Carapaz is likely to freelance and use other teams and team leaders to follow, a healthy Uran might be enough in the high mountains. Unless, of course, he somehow finds himself in yellow and needs support to defend. But we know that's highly unlikely. I haven't heard much about how Carapaz is going this year, but just based on his track record, I can definitely see him sneaking away to grab a bunch of time on one stage and then hanging well enough to podium. Though I think he's below Mas and Hindley as a favorite for the 3rd spot.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

However I'm not so sure Honoré will actually make the team. He hasn't had the best of luck so far this year, but I assume he still has to show some kind of form to get selected. Luckily it looks like the concussion isn't hampering too much anymore.

Padun looked good yesterday, so he should definitely also be in contention.

 

[SafeBet]

Before the Giro Bettiol said he was riding it to prepare for the Tour, so I'd be surprised to see him out as well.

 

[Potomac]

PCS updated Dauphine list:

• SHAW James
• QUINN Sean*
• CARAPAZ Richard
• AMADOR Andrey
• CHAVES Esteban
• DOULL Owain
• PICCOLO Andrea*

I was beginning to wonder where Quinn and Piccolo had disappeared to. I want to see more of them.

 

[Potomac]

Combing through the general transfer rumors thread is too tedious.

Anybody have any notions on EF losses, gains, and extensions ?

 

[Potomac]

PCS riders currently listed for the Tour

• URÁN Rigoberto
• -BETTIOL Alberto
• -POWLESS Neilson
• -AMADOR Andrey
• -HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich
• -CORT Magnus
• -CARAPAZ Richard

 

[Potomac]

Combing through the general transfer rumors thread is too tedious.

Anybody have any notions on EF losses, gains, and extensions ?

They are keeping Healy.
Great news!

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

They are keeping Healy.
Great news!

Vaughters would’ve been an idiot to let him go, he’s been far and away their best rider this year.

 

[SafeBet]

Vaughters would’ve been an idiot to let him go, he’s been far and away their best rider this year.

Sometimes you want to keep a rider but you can't match other teams offers. That was the biggest worry with Healy, I guess.

 

[Anderis]

Vaughters would’ve been an idiot to let him go, he’s been far and away their best rider this year.

It was not about Vaughters letting him go. Healy was probably the hottest prospect on the transfer market and I'm surprised that EF had the money to keep him after hiring Carapaz last year. It seems their budget is much healthier now than it has been in a long time.

With Carapaz and Healy secured until 2025 and with over 3000 points buffer over relegation zone, EF are now in such a comfortable position. Hopefully it will reflect in some good long term moves on the transfer market as they can afford not chasing any short term solutions right now.

The only other time I remember them being in such a good position was 2020 and it all fell apart because of pandemics and budget shortage. Hopefully nothing similar happens this time.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Seems like Cort is going to Uno X.

 

[Anderis]

Yeah, it's a shame, but I would take Healy over Cort any day of the week.

Hopefully EF can keep and develop Marijn Van den Berg or get someone else capable of good few wins per season in a flatter terrain so that the loss of Cort is not too noticeable.

 

[yaco]

Interesting that Uno X were not interested in Foss because he allegedly wanted too much money, but yet, they sign Cort who would not be cheap.

 

[Potomac]

Noooooo, I want Cort AND Healey both!

I thought EF was a good fit for him.

 

[Anderis]

Interesting that Uno X were not interested in Foss because he allegedly wanted too much money, but yet, they sign Cort who would not be cheap.

It's quite possible that Foss simply wanted to be overpaid, while Cort agreed to ride for what he's worth.

But I assume Cort is not quite as expensive as some may think. All he gets is a stage win here and there, he's not a threat in big classics or GC or TdF points classification. He's probably never going to win something as big as WC ITT as Foss did.

Noooooo, I want Cort AND Healey both!

I wanted Martinez and Higuita to be long term leaders for EF but you don't always get what you want, especially with limited budget. Keeping Healy while still having Carapaz and Powless onboard exceeds my expectations, I couldn't have asked for more.

PCS riders currently listed for the Tour

• URÁN Rigoberto
• -BETTIOL Alberto
• -POWLESS Neilson
• -AMADOR Andrey
• -HONORÉ Mikkel Frølich
• -CORT Magnus
• -CARAPAZ Richard

As Honore showed decent form in TdS, I guess these 7 + Chaves should be the ultimate TdF roster but we will see. They have surprised me with their selections in the past.