Teams & Riders Israel Premier Tech

[Barnacle Bill]

Interesting, so in future when someone starts phoning it in we'll quantify it in terms of milliFroomes, or possibly "on a scale of 1 to Froome".

 

[Leadbelly]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1933086769001472231

View: https://x.com/IsraelPremTech/status/1933086769001472231


Even stronger opposition than last year imo and with just 5 man teams, I think even repeating the podium of last year will be good going for Pau.

It's a pretty good team to support him. Lima is actually talked of as a co-leader. Garcia and Valenti look to be finally finding their feet at this level and Verbrugghe is their best strong man for the flat and lesser slopes.

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The latest transfer rumour is Riccitello to Decathlon. The climbing cupboard is going to look very bare in 2026.

Wouldn't say no to someone like Juanpe Lopez. He could be a realistic target and just into his prime.

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Just a quick look back at the Giro.

I know they were doing a lot of unseen work earlier in the stages, but quite disappointed with the showing of the team outside of Gee and Frigo.

Strong had his one moment of near glory in Albania, but nothing else apart from that. Compare that with a fairly similar rider in Aular who had placings of 3-3-4-9-4-8. I noticed in the last stage that he had virtually zero help so he has that excuse - where were Clarke and Schultz? The latter was totally anonymous the entire race as far as I was aware. His stage win in Catalunya seems a long time ago.

 

[aruipksni]

Riccitello is a big miss for the team.
i wonder what prevents him to become a more impacting rider.
he showed in last TDS , that he can have the ability, but then he switched off.

 

[Netserk]

Riccitello is a big miss for the team.
i wonder what prevents him to become a more impacting rider.
he showed in last TDS , that he can have the ability, but then he switched off.

He was really good on the stage 4 MTF in the Vuelta, but he crashed hard on stage 6.

 

[Leadbelly]

I think even repeating the podium of last year will be good going for Pau.

3m44 down on the first MTF is pretty bad, but everybody has off days and he bounced back on the next stage to bridge to the break and contested for the stage win. Quite a few of the remaining stages could be for the break (profile + 5 man teams), so am I hoping the team really tries with everyone to get in there.

According to Benson, Marti has signed up to the main team for two years.

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https://twitter.com/x/status/1935246062182449166

View: https://x.com/IsraelPremTech/status/1935246062182449166


Important renewal. He said the other week that he doesn't like the pressure of being the designated sprinter/leader which is a shame as he has the skill set to be that in the right race, but he'll still have chances now and then.

Now we just need a top sprinter for him to lead out.

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In less good news (not surprising though as we saw his lack of strava activity) is Williams being out for a prolonged time. Knee.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1934665874704580977

View: https://x.com/IsraelPremTech/status/1934665874704580977


Woods got sick at Suisse as well which means he'll be going to the Tour with three (maybe 4 if he does the Nats?) completed race days in four months....

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Finally it wasn't a bad sprint yesterday in Belgium from a bit of a scratch train - Frigo, Tene, Kogut etc. They got a bit swamped at the end, but left Vernon in a decent position. Obviously no chance though against Merlier.

 

[aruipksni]

3m44 down on the first MTF is pretty bad, but everybody has off days and he bounced back on the next stage to bridge to the break and contested for the stage win. Quite a few of the remaining stages could be for the break (profile + 5 man teams), so am I hoping the team really tries with everyone to get in there.

According to Benson, Marti has signed up to the main team for two years.

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https://twitter.com/x/status/1935246062182449166

View: https://x.com/IsraelPremTech/status/1935246062182449166


Important renewal. He said the other week that he doesn't like the pressure of being the designated sprinter/leader which is a shame as he has the skill set to be that in the right race, but he'll still have chances now and then.

Now we just need a top sprinter for him to lead out.

-----------------------------------

In less good news (not surprising though as we saw his lack of strava activity) is Williams being out for a prolonged time. Knee.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1934665874704580977

View: https://x.com/IsraelPremTech/status/1934665874704580977


Woods got sick at Suisse as well which means he'll be going to the Tour with three (maybe 4 if he does the Nats?) completed race days in four months....

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Finally it wasn't a bad sprint yesterday in Belgium from a bit of a scratch train - Frigo, Tene, Kogut etc. They got a bit swamped at the end, but left Vernon in a decent position. Obviously no chance though against Merlier.

they should take at least riccitello to the TDF, then you know who is getting the last seat...