General News Thread

[Michele]

Nah, he wont do jail and just pay an agreement.
But from now on he must be very very careful with anything to do with italian justice (2nd time he gets caught for anything he will really risk to go to jail for both times).

 

[The Principal Sheep]

Europcar has extended its partnership with the team for another two years, good news and hopefully will give the riders a boost to do something for the final tdf week.

 

[Ferminal]

Yes, hopefully with the security of two more years they can recover from their form slump. I wonder if Bernaudeau got the $ increase he was after?

 

[jens_attacks]

very good news. voeckler and rolland really should try something in the alps

 

[Ferminal]

Seems they may be pushing for WT too? Malacarne 2014 Giro winner!

 

[Parrulo]

There are rumours that a portuguese Pro Conti team may be formed and they might sign Machado. I assume they would also sign people like Oliveira, Pires, Mestre and Cardoso in order to be a bit competitive . . .

Anwya i am going ahead and call BS on those rumours

 

[Christian]

There are rumours that a portuguese Pro Conti team may be formed and they might sign Machado. I assume they would also sign people like Oliveira, Pires, Mestre and Cardoso in order to be a bit competitive . . .

Anwya i am going ahead and call BS on those rumours

Would be great though and would be possible IMO. None of these riders are really instrumental to their teams, so it shouldn't be too hard to sign them. Plus with only one spanish ProConti team left, they could sign some decent spanish riders too

 

[Parrulo]

Yes it is possible, but this is portuguese cycling we are talking and when was the last time a good rumour about portuguese cycling ended up being true?

Also in order to be a competitive pro conti team on an international level with mostly portuguese riders on team, they would need to sign Costa.

Now i don't know anything about the project so i don't know how big is the budget, but i will guess not big enough to sign Costa and the riders necessary to make it a strong enough team to be invited to most WT races and a GT, which i assume Costa wants on his program.

To create a portuguese pro conti team and fill it with spanish riders as leaders, i would rather not see it happening.

 

[Parrulo]

Digging up some more info, the budget is supposed to be around 5M which i suppose is around Cofidis level or something like that.

Rumours also say that everything is trying to be set up so the team can be on the road next year, but could also only happen in 2015.

Now the realistic in me, pessimist some of you may say , will simply say: No way in hell will this happen!!!!

The budget seems to be way too optimistic and almost enough to sign someone like Costa and the not sure if on the road next year or in 2015 pretty much means, "not on the road, ever"

 

[The Principal Sheep]

Happy Birthday for Andre Greipel, I never realised he was so old, 31 years old today.

 

[Gloin22]

Digging up some more info, the budget is supposed to be around 5M which i suppose is around Cofidis level or something like that.

Rumours also say that everything is trying to be set up so the team can be on the road next year, but could also only happen in 2015.

Now the realistic in me, pessimist some of you may say , will simply say: No way in hell will this happen!!!!

The budget seems to be way too optimistic and almost enough to sign someone like Costa and the not sure if on the road next year or in 2015 pretty much means, "not on the road, ever"

I very much doubt that a rider with soo many WT points to offer, plus no guarantees he'll ride any GT's at the PCT team would go there at all.

The team could be competitive without him imo with right transfers, not to the Europcar / IAM level I guess, but still better than most PCT teams.

 

[Parrulo]

I very much doubt that a rider with soo many WT points to offer, plus no guarantees he'll ride any GT's at the PCT team would go there at all.

The team could be competitive without him imo with right transfers, not to the Europcar / IAM level I guess, but still better than most PCT teams.

What i meant is that the budget seems so excessive that is just another reason not to believe the rumours.

Costa was just an example.

 

[T-Nielsen]

I missed you guys.

 

[greenedge]

Drapac to ride the Santos TDU in 2014 most likely.

 

[Billie]

Lampre wants to merge with Euskaltel

 

[Afrank]

Sounds like a plan, both teams are some of the weaker WT teams. They could probably find a lot more success and be overall a stronger team if they merged.

 

[the asian]

Lampre wants to merge with Euskaltel

That's surprising. Merida are a big sponsor, so Lampre aren't in financial difficulties.

 

[JRanton]

That's surprising. Merida are a big sponsor, so Lampre aren't in financial difficulties.

They could really do with adding Euskaltel's best riders. Lampre's current roster is a complete mess and I see that they've lost one of their best emerging riders, Malori, to Movistar. Cunego and Pozzato are a waste of space and then you've got the erm, ''troubled'' Scarponi. Ulissi is a bright spot and there are a couple of very young talents but it doesn't leave them with much in terms of results.

 

[RedheadDane]

Think about how noticable the kits could be!
A mix of bright pink and orange!

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

It should probably turn out to be Lampre-Merida + some good climbers of Euskaltel right? That would be a great team: Samu, Izaguirre, Landa, Anton, Nieve, Cunego, Anacona, Ulissi, Scarponi + Italian domestiques, Pozzato, Favilli, Polanc etc..... I'd be cheering for them, especially if they get an orange-pink jersey

 

[all_in]

It should probably turn out to be Lampre-Merida + some good climbers of Euskaltel right? That would be a great team: Samu, Izaguirre, Landa, Anton, Nieve, Cunego, Anacona, Ulissi, Scarponi + Italian domestiques, Pozzato, Favilli, Polanc etc..... I'd be cheering for them, especially if they get an orange-pink jersey

Landa signed with Astana and Nieve,Izagirre brothers and Samy are rumoured to Sky,Movistar and Saxnly Anton will go to Lampre probably.Egoi Martinez will retire.Also Scarponi is rumoured to leave and Modolo and Battaglin are likely to come.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Lampre wants to merge with Euskaltel

Never quite sure what is meant by a merger of teams. Can they ever really merge in any meaningful sense, given contradictions in suppliers, and limits on numbers of riders permitted and back up personnel necessary?

Either one team ceases to exist, its contracts are nullified, its WT licence expires, and its staff are left to seek other employment, or both teams cease and a new team starts with the freedom to seek sponsorship and staff wherever it will. It might be that because of previous contacts, there is a tendency for those previously in one or two teams to be re-united in a new entity, but is this really a merger?

And what is really envisaged here? Lampre being particularly open to those made redundant at Euskatel?

 

[Afrank]

Think about how noticable the kits could be!
A mix of bright pink and orange!

And Green for Merida.

I say, go full ***, use fluo orange, pink, and green, and just splash it all over the jersey. They'll be the most noticeable team in the peloton.

 

[luckyboy]

Lampre should be in the market for a load of new staff after Mantova

 

[RedheadDane]

And Green for Merida.

I say, go full ***, use fluo orange, pink, and green, and just splash it all over the jersey. They'll be the most noticeable team in the peloton.

Those three colours! Tie-dye! It'll be so pretty...