yaco said:
Chavez at this stage is racing in OZ this summer, unless something changes, which is always a possibility - My understanding is Chavez will ride the Herald Sun Tour which did no harm to Froome's season - Cadel Evans Road race is also a possibility - It's likely Froome could do the same.
How appetising having Froome and Chavez riding up Arthur's Hill and Sagan riding at the TDU - Awesome !
Sorry but I'm with Stryder on this one. I totally "get" the emotional case for bringing Chaves out to AUS where he most certainly has built up a significant fan base. The comments be Gerry Ryan were made some time back when they were thinking "Chaves to next year's Tour" but even Chaves has been walking that back and saying "lets wait and see what the routes are like".
I'd love to see the little guy out here and that he, himself, would like to come out here to ride at some point but this is professional sport and OBE have shown their own professionalism with the 2015 TDU by NOT compromising the likes of Matthews or the Yates by changing their schedules to ride it when Gerrans was sidelined.
Sagan has early season targets for which riding TDU is not counterproductive, a very different case
claude cat said:
dirkprovin said:
WildspokeJoe said:
yaco said:
So Gerry Ryan stated that OBE didn't wish to meet Matthew's salary depends - OBE has thrown their full support behind Matthews all through 2016 - At least we can put to bed the rumour there was a falling out between Matthews and Gerrans.
How the Giant move will work out for Matthews .... again unknowable at this point. The pay cheque may be better and he have clear precedence but will he be given the level of support that he has received at OBE may be open to question. Could there be a return at some point ... again unknown but its far from unknown for riders to return to former teams.
Matthew's problem is always going to be Sagan. They target the same sort of classic races, and Sagan is simply better and is going to win far more often than not. OBE might have just made the call it wasn't worth investing significant money that isn't going to get the results the desire and channel it more effectively.
I can agree with this. Quite similar skill sets but Sagan likely more often than not to come out on top with Matthews the bridesmaid. Sagan also the more daring/willing to mix it in bunch sprints whereas Matthews backs off.
Fair call in hindsight. Whilst Matthews may indeed snag a significant one dayer along the line and may even a MSR; he's more likely to come up short more often than not. Worth being paid good $$$ but probably not the top $$$ he may've been asking