Garmin Transitions and Cervelo to merge?

[ingsve]

Now Fly V has stepped up to take a stab at the Cervélo boys. They are interested in Haussler, Lancaster and Hushovd. I doubt that it would be a good more for Hushovd since Fly V is an uncertain card when in comes to important invites. Haussler is still young though and is now australian so he might be more inclined to take a shot at gambling.

If Haussler and Lancaster would go to Fly V then there might also be room for Rollin at Garmin if there isn't already.

 

[taiwan]

IF G-C signs Hushovd and Haussler there may be limited money left to compete with contract offers these guys might find elsewhere. Of course there will be some savings on CVV's salary. Rollin might find himself stuck on the B grade team forever if Farrar, Hushovd, and Haussler were all on the G-C roster.

A lower salary, or he'll leave?

 

[JRTinMA]

I don't see a reason to blame the bike company. They said that changes by the UCI made them unable to operate their own team. According to Vaughters, Felt exercised their option to leave. Garmin-Cervelo seems like a natural fit. Think of the riders and support staff who would have lost out entirely if the team folded. Plus, they are one of the few sponsors who operates a womens team, they actually seem interested in more than the mens side of the sport or, like some sponsors, one rider.

The changes came in June, he had time to consider the changes and I think he could have decided earlier. I have an additional issue personally, I have worked for the same company for 20 years and he took a shot at it when unnecessarily and uninformed when Riis was about to announce his new sponsor. Vroomen tweeted it and it was not necessary.

According to Vaughters Felt left on their own, maybe they did or maybe they choose what I like to term "seeking alternatives outside our organization", simply put leave or be fired. I applaud Vaughters for picking up the women's team, that is a classy move for sure. Vaughters is a smart cat, no matter else happens he just won and won big. The day he sold off Wiggans I thought he was crazy but man he is looking brilliant now, its happened to many times to just call him lucky. Hushovd, Hammond, Lancaster and Haussler just to name a few will be fine. However there are some quality riders on that team that may not be so lucky as its kind of late. I hope they find a team the level of what Cervelo was. Time will tell I guess.

 

[Race Radio]

The changes came in June, he had time to consider the changes and I think he could have decided earlier. I have an additional issue personally, I have worked for the same company for 20 years and he took a shot at it when unnecessarily and uninformed when Riis was about to announce his new sponsor. Vroomen tweeted it and it was not necessary.

According to Vaughters Felt left on their own, maybe they did or maybe they choose what I like to term "seeking alternatives outside our organization", simply put leave or be fired. I applaud Vaughters for picking up the women's team, that is a classy move for sure. Vaughters is a smart cat, no matter else happens he just won and won big. The day he sold off Wiggans I thought he was crazy but man he is looking brilliant now, its happened to many times to just call him lucky. Hushovd, Hammond, Lancaster and Haussler just to name a few will be fine. However there are some quality riders on that team that may not be so lucky as its kind of late. I hope they find a team the level of what Cervelo was. Time will tell I guess.

The Pro Tour rule changes were announced in June, however there was general confusion about how the changes effect Pro Continental teams like Cervelo. For much of July there was consent confusion for the Pro Continental and UCI continental teams. The UCI hosted a couple of workshops in Geneva to explain the new rules which essentially closed many of the loopholes that allowed Cervelo to be so successful the last 2 years while not paying the UCI their extortion.

The UCI wants their cut, regardless of how it effects the sport.

 

[pedaling squares]

A lower salary, or he'll leave?

I thought I'd read in one of the articles that he was not coming back to Garmin next year. Of course now I can't find the comment and a google search turned up nothing. Anyone able to corroborate what I think I read or am I alone here in dreamland?

 

[craig1985]

The Pro Tour rule changes were announced in June, however there was general confusion about how the changes effect Pro Continental teams like Cervelo. For much of July there was consent confusion for the Pro Continental and UCI continental teams. The UCI hosted a couple of workshops in Geneva to explain the new rules which essentially closed many of the loopholes that allowed Cervelo to be so successful the last 2 years while not paying the UCI their extortion.

The UCI wants their cut, regardless of how it effects the sport.

I don't mean to be off-topic, but essentially, is this just a '**** you' to the GT organisers? That is my (brief) understanding of it.

 

[auscyclefan94]

IF G-C signs Hushovd and Haussler there may be limited money left to compete with contract offers these guys might find elsewhere. Of course there will be some savings on CVV's salary. Rollin might find himself stuck on the B grade team forever if Farrar, Hushovd, and Haussler were all on the G-C roster.

Hushovd and haussler won't go to garmin. Hushovd still would want to be contesting the sprints with a team behind him. Even if his "top end speed" has dropped. He is still a strong enough rider to have a few riders working for him. He won't work for farrar and neither should he. Riders have taken bigger risks in the past with gambles on teams. We don't know some of fly v's other signings yet as they may have picked up some strong riders. If they are looking for hushovd then mcewen must be staying with katusha.

 

[craig1985]

I just can't see Hushovd and Haussler going to Fly V.

 

[pedaling squares]

Hushovd and haussler won't go to garmin. Hushovd still would want to be contesting the sprints with a team behind him. Even if his "top end speed" has dropped. He is still a strong enough rider to have a few riders working for him. He won't work for farrar and neither should he. Riders have taken bigger risks in the past with gambles on teams. We don't know some of fly v's other signings yet as they may have picked up some strong riders. If they are looking for hushovd then mcewen must be staying with katusha.

I agree that Garmin is not an ideal fit for Hushovd unless he really wants to focus on the classics and forgo being a green jersey contender at the TDF.

 

[Jancouver]

I agree that Garmin is not an ideal fit for Hushovd unless he really wants to focus on the classics and forgo being a green jersey contender at the TDF.

He should focus on those classics because i just cant see him beating Cav, Farrar, Greipel, Petacchi, EBH, Sagan, HH or even Boonen, Huta and dozen of others

 

[craig1985]

Given that Cervèlo signed Daniel Teklehaimanot before they decided to merge with Garmin, would his contract still stand? If I signed a professional contract, and then finding my team merging with another team, and that contract was void, to say that I would be fuming would be an understatement.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Given that Cervèlo signed Daniel Teklehaimanot before they decided to merge with Garmin, would his contract still stand? If I signed a professional contract, and then finding my team merging with another team, and that contract was void, to say that I would be fuming would be an understatement.

Cervelo are a sponsor: contracts are with bike teams. Contracts are not invalidated by a change in sponsor, and if a company switches from sponsoring one team to another, they do not automatically bring all the riders from that team with them. This is not a merger: Cycling United Racing (the sporting team who are known for commercial reasons as Cervelo Test Team) are not merging with Slipstream Sports: a backer is moving from one to the other.

Unfortunately, Cycling United Racing seem to have been so dependent on the company Cervelo that they seem unable to survive without them, and seem destined to fold. A contract with a body that no longer exists cannot be enforced, and so Cervelo's contracted staff (including riders) find themselves redundant.

In the current economic climate, millions of us have found ourselves in contracts that are not fulfilled because of the collapse of one party to them. Hard, but true.

Good luck to all Cervelo's staff, riders and support alike, in trying to get a post elsewhere.

 

[maltiv]

Hushovd has officially signed with Garmin, together with a few team-mates: http://www.procycling.no/article2972641.ece

 

[peloton]

Hushovd has officially signed with Garmin, together with a few team-mates: http://www.procycling.no/article2972641.ece

Garmin looking very good for next year.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

If the other Cervelo guys mentioned in the article signs as well, they'll have an awesome team for the classics.

Imagine this Roubaix-team:
Hushovd
Hammond
Haussler
Klier
Maaskant
Vansummeren
Farrar
Hesjedal

 

[Barrus]

If the other Cervelo guys mentioned in the article signs as well, they'll have an awesome team for the classics.

Imagine this Roubaix-team:
Hushovd
Hammond
Haussler
Klier
Maaskant
Vansummeren
Farrar
Hesjedal

I think that'll result in a classic case of too many captains on a single ship. I can't understand why Haussler would want to go to Garmin as well, too much competition in a single team, unless he gets real good guarantees

 

[kjetilraknerud]

I don't think Haussler will go to Garmin, at least he shouldn't. Spreading the good classics riders on different teams should make for good racing in theory as well, a bit like splitting Cavendish and Greipel.

 

[powerste]

I don't think Haussler will go to Garmin, at least he shouldn't. Spreading the good classics riders on different teams should make for good racing in theory as well, a bit like splitting Cavendish and Greipel.

Which was of course done in the spirit of promoting good racing

(BTW Agree with your point about talent being spread across teams; just couldn't resist the poke at Cav and Andre)

 

[ingsve]

There are a few reasons for Haussler to sign for Garmin. He would be on a team with a very good classics team so he would have lots of team mates in the end of the races. They are also a very friendly bunch it seems to he would have a lot of close friends which is nice. If he feels that he is strong enough to take the number 1 spot among the captains then all is good.

Having said that I don't expect him to sign. After the season he has had his confidence is perhaps not the highest so he might simply want to try something else. On the other hand his season could also mean that he would be willing to take it slow and work for the other captains in the short term and instead look for his own chances in the long term.

 

[maltiv]

Hushovd says he won't be doing any leadouts at Garmin: http://www.tv2sporten.no/sykkel/hushovd-bekrefter-garminovergang-3277658.html

He also says that he will be the leader in "all big races". As I see it, this means one of 3 things:

1. Hushovd will be their main sprinter (unlikely)
2. Hushovd won't do the TDF, and will focus on classics+ worlds (likely)
3. Hushovd will completely give up normal bunch sprints, but will do the TDF in the hunt of stage wins in harder stages (very unlikely)

 

[Barrus]

Hushovd says he won't be doing any leadouts at Garmin: http://www.tv2sporten.no/sykkel/hushovd-bekrefter-garminovergang-3277658.html

He also says that he will be the leader in "all big races". As I see it, this means one of 3 things:

1. Hushovd will be their main sprinter (unlikely)
2. Hushovd won't do the TDF, and will focus on classics+ worlds (likely)
3. Hushovd will completely give up normal bunch sprints, but will do the TDF in the hunt of stage wins in harder stages (very unlikely)

or 4: Farrar might leave

(no real reason for thinking so, but just trying to keep all options open and trying to have some fun )

 

[roundabout]

The way i understood the article he will be the main man in the spring classics and what will happen in the sprints is undecided as yet.

Edit: given that Farrar likes to ride all 3 GT's and Hushovd won't be a leadout it will either be a free role or a short season

 

[auscyclefan94]

Hushovd says he won't be doing any leadouts at Garmin: http://www.tv2sporten.no/sykkel/hushovd-bekrefter-garminovergang-3277658.html

He also says that he will be the leader in "all big races". As I see it, this means one of 3 things:

1. Hushovd will be their main sprinter (unlikely)
2. Hushovd won't do the TDF, and will focus on classics+ worlds (likely)
3. Hushovd will completely give up normal bunch sprints, but will do the TDF in the hunt of stage wins in harder stages (very unlikely)

I really don't see a guy like Hushovd giving up his sprinting leadership but that must be the case.

 

[pedaling squares]

I really don't see a guy like Hushovd giving up his sprinting leadership but that must be the case.

I think it's a smart move, maybe he's recognized where his strengths lie at this point in his career. Sprinters like to win, and he isn't a favourite to win the bunch sprints in the biggest races. He's a better bet to win some big races in the spring. If he rides the tdf, and I can't see a rider of his stature not wanting to be on the biggest stage, he, Farrar, Hesjedal, and even Millar give the team some great options for hunting different types of stages.

 

[ingsve]

I can perhaps see Hushovd doing the classics and then the Vuelta as sprinter as preparation for the Worlds in Denmark. He actually talked last year about possibly not doing the Tour the next couple of years to make sure he has a peak in form for Worlds. As it turned out he didn't skip the Tour this year but he might very well skip it next year.