Heads up: Cavendish has phone in on Radio 5 right now

[Armchair Cyclist]

what it says in the title

 

[Swiss Tony]

what it says in the title

Said he made his decision Saturday on his future.. an addition to the contract he'd already been offered made his mind up...but wont say who it's with

 

[sublimit]

Yeah I heard the whole thing, he's made his mind up as mentioned for next year, Anita Anand (interviewer) was like something out of the Spanish Inquisition and desperate to get Cav to name the team.

It must be Sky unless Stapleton has something up his sleeve I would of thought.

 

[Boardslide]

Yeah I heard the whole thing, he's made his mind up as mentioned for next year, Anita Anand (interviewer) was like something out of the Spanish Inquisition and desperate to get Cav to name the team.

It must be Sky unless Stapleton has something up his sleeve I would of thought.

I wouldn't be supprised if he stay's put as Sky have already said that for most of the British members next year is all about the Olympics (mainly track) and probably won't even send a team to the TDF whereas Cavendish has stated that the TDF is a top prority even more than the Olympics for him.

 

[Mambo95]

I wouldn't be supprised if he stay's put as Sky have already said that for most of the British members next year is all about the Olympics (mainly track) and probably won't even send a team to the TDF whereas Cavendish has stated that the TDF is a top prority even more than the Olympics for him.

Where do you get the idea that Sky won't send a team to the Tour from? Of course they will. Now, Thomas may skip it and perhaps Wiggins (although that seems unlikely), but EBH, Uran etc will be there, the same as usual.

 

[patterson_hood]

I thought pro tour temas had to send a team to the tour?

Maybe the addition is Sky will sign Eisel and Renshaw as well...

 

[MartinGT]

If Cav doesnt goto Sky several people including on here will have egg on their face

 

[Swabian Lass]

Where do you get the idea that Sky won't send a team to the Tour from? Of course they will. Now, Thomas may skip it and perhaps Wiggins (although that seems unlikely), but EBH, Uran etc will be there, the same as usual.

If Wiggins were to skip the Tour that might be to Cavendish's advantage. I think that if Stapleton has managed to do a deal he'll stay at HTC, though. Why would he move when the whole set-up for GTs is based round him and works so well?

 

[Swabian Lass]

I just read the article on the BBC website and I think he's staying put. They're really bigging him up for the Worlds and the Olympics. I think they're going to be disappointed for the Worlds anyway.

 

[JRanton]

if wiggins were to skip the tour that might be to cavendish's advantage. I think that if stapleton has managed to do a deal he'll stay at htc, though. why would he move when the whole set-up for gts is based round him and works so well?

££££££££££££

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I thought pro tour temas had to send a team to the tour?

Maybe the addition is Sky will sign Eisel and Renshaw as well...

That right there (Eisel, Renshaw) and Goss would IMO be good reason to stay put at HTC.... UNLESS he can take a couple of those with him, especially Renshaw. If he does jump ship and take others with him I would not be surprised if Goss is not one of them, since Goss seems just about ripe to be the leader in his own right.

 

[just some guy]

Bernie and Renshaw are contracted to 2012 with Highroad - and Cav wants these 2 where ever he goes.

If he has sighed now - Highroad have a new sponsor, the little extra he got with the contract may have been extensions for his guys - ? just guessing

 

[Swabian Lass]

££££££££££££

Oh absolutely. But in the BBC article he says that he had two offers and the money was equivalent, so it was about where he could best achieve his goals. That suggests to me that Stapleton has found a sponsor and they're prepared to match Sky's offer to keep Cavendish.

 

[Boardslide]

££££££££££££

He said in the interview that he would get the same amount of money regardless of which team he choses.

 

[Ferminal]

Oh absolutely. But in the BBC article he says that he had two offers and the money was equivalent, so it was about where he could best achieve his goals. That suggests to me that Stapleton has found a sponsor and they're prepared to match Sky's offer to keep Cavendish.

On the other side, maybe THR didn't even make an offer.

 

[sublimit]

They are a package, If those 3 are split up then Cav is at Sky if not then still with Stapleton and his team if he gets a sponsor.

I'm leaning towards Sky but I'm certain at all on this. Cav gets on with the Sky guys and has been training with Alex Dowsett in Essex from what I've heard so its not impossible.

 

[patterson_hood]

That right there (Eisel, Renshaw) and Goss would IMO be good reason to stay put at HTC.... UNLESS he can take a couple of those with him, especially Renshaw. If he does jump ship and take others with him I would not be surprised if Goss is not one of them, since Goss seems just about ripe to be the leader in his own right.

I'm sure Goss won't go with Cav, I think Goss has the talent and wants to shine, not sure he can do that in a Cav team, although MSR showed it's possible.

They are a package, If those 3 are split up then Cav is at Sky if not then still with Stapleton and his team if he gets a sponsor.

I'm leaning towards Sky but I'm certain at all on this. Cav gets on with the Sky guys and has been training with Alex Dowsett in Essex from what I've heard so its not impossible.

I wonder if Eisel and Renshaw have a clause in their contracts about sponsorship money and if it isn't secured then they can leave. I wouldn't be suprised, or if Stapleton is struggling to secure sponsorship he may let them leave.

Personally I think Sky is wrong for Cav. They have GC and track aspirations and it doesn't really fit with Cav, although he's shown before he is more than capable of winning with a reduced/no train.

 

[The_Z_man]

Are we sure that his new team isn't Saur?

Bernie and Renshaw are contracted to 2012 with Highroad - and Cav wants these 2 where ever he goes.

If he has sighed now - Highroad have a new sponsor, the little extra he got with the contract may have been extensions for his guys - ? just guessing

If he goes, I highly doubt Highroad will be around next year, so that takes care of Bernie and Mark. If somehow Highroad is around, and those 2 are still under contract, it should make for some interesting finishes.

I think he goes to Sky, HR folds, and his train follows him.

 

[Maxiton]

I just read the article on the BBC website and I think he's staying put. They're really bigging him up for the Worlds and the Olympics. I think they're going to be disappointed for the Worlds anyway.

Oh absolutely. But in the BBC article he says that he had two offers and the money was equivalent, so it was about where he could best achieve his goals. That suggests to me that Stapleton has found a sponsor and they're prepared to match Sky's offer to keep Cavendish.

I agree on both counts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cycling/14369886.stm

"'I want to go to the best place to help me win,' [Cavendish] explained. 'That might be the same place I am at now.'

"Cavendish also looked ahead to the London 2012 Olympics, where road race will be just one week after the end of the Tour de France. He said: 'In the history of road cycling the Olympics is a big thing but not the biggest.

"'As a professional cyclist, it can't come at the forefront. But as a British person the Olympics is a massive thing and at a personal level it comes at the forefront for me. I am contracted and work for a professional team [outside of the Olympics] and I have to do what they say first.

"'Next year the Tour de France is a massive goal for me and the Olympics is a massive thing for me.'"

To me it sounds like:

Stapleton has found a sponsor, a partial sponsor, or has elected to cover costs until he nails a sponsor down.

He has signed everyone he wants to sign, and will announce that the team is continuing within a couple of weeks time.

Cavendish has secured the team's agreement to let him leave next year's Tour after one week +/-, in order to prepare for Olympics, where he hopes to win gold.

 

[pedaling squares]

He said in the interview that he would get the same amount of money regardless of which team he choses.

Which is crap. Someone is always ready to pay more than the next guy to secure the victories a guy like Cavendish will bring. The market will dictate, and the market is not necessarily an even playing field.

Unless Stapleton has committed to matching any offer...

 

[Sum_of_Marc]

Cavendish has secured the team's agreement to let him leave next year's Tour after one week +/-, in order to prepare for Olympics, where he hopes to win gold.

No chance Cav is leaving the TDF early.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't be supprised if he stay's put as Sky have already said that for most of the British members next year is all about the Olympics (mainly track) and probably won't even send a team to the TDF whereas Cavendish has stated that the TDF is a top prority even more than the Olympics for him.

what? of course Sky will be at the tour, firstly they have to as a world tour team, and secondly why wouldnt they. The only ones likely at the moment not to ride the tour will be Thomas, and Swift.

If Cav doesnt goto Sky several people including on here will have egg on their face

Thing is people can only go on the information they are given and speculate based on that. Based on what I have been told, both parties have been in discussion for a while, and both wanted it to happen, doesnt mean it will of course.

personally, i couldnt care either way anymore. I have concerns either way.

 

[Cyclingscoops]

Not saying it's necessarilly significant but interesting he used the words "go to" rather than "be in": "I want to go to the best place to help me win".

May mean nothing but it's tricky to use totally neutral language when you know the outcome of something you are trying to hide...

 

[Angliru]

If Wiggins were to skip the Tour that might be to Cavendish's advantage. I think that if Stapleton has managed to do a deal he'll stay at HTC, though. Why would he move when the whole set-up for GTs is based round him and works so well?

No way Wiggins skips the Tour after Evans' win. It gives him hope depending on the amount of TT miles slotted for the 2012 Tour and Contador's status.

 

[Cyclingscoops]

No way Wiggins skips the Tour after Evans' win. It gives him hope depending on the amount of TT miles slotted for the 2012 Tour and Contador's status.

Also Wiggin's emphatically tweeted that Tour 2012 is a priority:

"1 year to go to London 2012, but more importantly 11months to go the 2012 TDF!"

followed by

"The TDF is the start of my olympics 5 weeks of pain!"

For what its worth.