Teams & Riders Israel Premier Tech

[aruipksni]

Too many more days like today and it could happen.....

Thankfully according to the team Strong is okay after his crash, and is Gee just a slow starter to races? He didn't hit the ground running at the Tour of the Alps and maybe more pertinently looking back at the Tour last year, he lost time on stage 2. Pure straw clutching I know.

At least Sheehan and Louvel looked good in France yesterday. Maybe Tro Bro Leon can bring a nice result for them.

just by looking at Gee, i think that this year he has lost some weight, and perhaps he lost too much weight in order to become a better gc rider.

 

[Leadbelly]

The good lord gives with one hand (Strong finishing second and Gee not in trouble today) and takes with the other (Sheehan crashing multiple(?) times while in a great position and with good legs).

 

[Bolder]

The good lord gives with one hand (Strong finishing second and Gee not in trouble today) and takes with the other (Sheehan crashing multiple(?) times while in a great position and with good legs).

Sheehan was ideally placed right behind Vauquelin, who I thought was strongest, who then punctured. The whole races was like that tho. Sheehan seems to be a real tiger in bad conditions,hope he gets a good result again.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Sheehan was ideally placed right behind Vauquelin, who I thought was strongest, who then punctured. The whole races was like that tho. Sheehan seems to be a real tiger in bad conditions,hope he gets a good result again.

He looked pretty hurt the last time he was on camera. Have you heard anything about whether he was seriously injured?

 

[Pinot's goat]

He looked pretty hurt the last time he was on camera. Have you heard anything about whether he was seriously injured?

He is posting rides on Strava since.

 

[Bolder]

He is posting rides on Strava since.

Excellent news, thanks. He looked like he took a knock on the head.

 

[Leadbelly]

Gee did quite well yesterday on a finish that didn't really suit him and just lost a handful of secs. Looking ahead it would be great if he could claw back some of the lost time and places on stages 9 and 10.

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Getting a bit bored with the lack of transfer rumours. Think the only one I've seen is Riccitello going to Lidl and that's an outgoing transfer.

 

[aruipksni]

there was an article about the team on globes - according to the article the team's budget this year was 16 million euros, and half of it comes from Adams pockets, 5 millions comes from premier tech.

 

[Leadbelly]

Well with Froome leaving and probably Woods retiring too, that should free up a large amount of that budget. Not so easy to attract people though.

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Anyway over in Italy, Gee had his moment of good luck yesterday (avoiding the crashes and making the front group) to cancel out the bad luck of the previous Sunday and he looks to be coming into form just at the right moment.

Can he improve on fifth? He seemed better than Yates today, but he has 1m30 cushion already. Maybe if Ayuso is troubled with his ankle? It's more likely though that he's going to be put under pressure from behind by Bernal and the Bahrain duo who are all very close.

Frigo continues to impress. Good job since Hirt fractured his leg and Fugly is struggling to replicate the help he gave Gee at the Tour last year.

 

[hayneplane]

Well with Froome leaving and probably Woods retiring too, that should free up a large amount of that budget. Not so easy to attract people though.

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Anyway over in Italy, Gee had his moment of good luck yesterday (avoiding the crashes and making the front group) to cancel out the bad luck of the previous Sunday and he looks to be coming into form just at the right moment.

Can he improve on fifth? He seemed better than Yates today, but he has 1m30 cushion already. Maybe if Ayuso is troubled with his ankle? It's more likely though that he's going to be put under pressure from behind by Bernal and the Bahrain duo who are all very close.

Frigo continues to impress. Good job since Hirt fractured his leg and Fugly is struggling to replicate the help he gave Gee at the Tour last year.

I think 3rd might be his limit but his form is on the rise which is the key thing for now.

 

[aruipksni]

the first, or perhaps the last to say his goodbye this year:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1926926687230407109

View: https://x.com/simoclarke/status/1926926687230407109

 

[Leadbelly]

Aha a transfer rumour (from Benson) finally.

The team are interested in Lewis Askey. Not sure what that'd mean (if true and successful) with regard to extensions for Hofstetter/Stewart and the various other fast men on the team, but he's a good young rider and would improve the team.

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Can he improve on fifth? He seemed better than Yates today, but he has 1m30 cushion already. Maybe if Ayuso is troubled with his ankle? It's more likely though that he's going to be put under pressure from behind by Bernal and the Bahrain duo who are all very close.

Well yes he could improve it and Ayuso was the reason. He's also given himself a bigger buffer on the people behind him now.

Friday and Saturday are very big days.

 

[aruipksni]

Aha a transfer rumour (from Benson) finally.

The team are interested in Lewis Askey. Not sure what that'd mean (if true and successful) with regard to extensions for Hofstetter/Stewart and the various other fast men on the team, but he's a good young rider and would improve the team.

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Well yes he could improve it and Ayuso was the reason. He's also given himself a bigger buffer on the people behind him now.

Friday and Saturday are very big days.

well, it's the British connection again - i wont be surprised to see more WorldTour British riders signing for the next 3 years duration .

 

[search]

Fuglsang has announced that he will leave the team after the Giro, and not do Tour de Suisse anymore, as was initially said. Any idea if they plan to use that spot?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1928376092437471246

View: https://x.com/IsraelPremTech/status/1928376092437471246


According to Dnaish press, Fuglsang may still do some Danish races for the National Team later on, btw, so it's no retirement yet.

 

[Netserk]

It'd be nice if Gilmore gets an early promotion.

 

[yaco]

It'd be nice if Gilmore gets an early promotion.

Agree. Gilmore is ready to ride at the WT level.

 

[aruipksni]

this year Derek Gee just saves the team.
Gee provide considerable amount of the team's point, while other riders are doing very poorly, or just frooming till the end of the season.
as you can see this pie chart is the expected points distribution after the giro:

 

[Leadbelly]

No Stevie Williams in that top-20 and looking at his Strava it might be a while till he's back scoring points - no activity in May apart from his DNF at Frankfurt .........

OTOH Woods should be back racing soon me thinks. Plenty of Strava activity recently for him.

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Not sure who they'll get in to replace Fugly mid-season - if anyone.

Some of the devo guys have been doing quite well the past week which obviously brings them more to mind. Two stage wins for Kretschy at AIT (think he'll struggle today though to hold onto the leader's jersey). Marti hasn't been at his '24 level yet, but seems to be heading that way and will go into the final stage of the U23 Peace Race with a very slender lead.

I'm not 100% sold on Gilmore. Would have liked to see him do something of significance in the few bigger races he's been in.

Van Tricht of course is meant to be moving up at the end of the year anyway (unless it gets postponed for a third time). It might make most sense for him to be the one. He could be a helper/part of a train at some of Pologne/Renewi/Guangxi races.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Just saw online that Gee earns about 450K euros a year...that is 10% of what Roglic and 1/6 of what Carapaz earns

Needs to get himself a better agent.....He only has a few years to earn so better get to it
I remember a mountain Domestique at SKY in 2014 earning twice that ...10 years ago

 

[AupaPyama]

Just saw online that Gee earns about 450K euros a year...that is 10% of what Roglic and 1/6 of what Carapaz earns

Needs to get himself a better agent.....He only has a few years to earn so better get to it
I remember a mountain Domestique at SKY in 2014 earning twice that ...10 years ago

Gee signed his contract after his attacking style Giro in 2023 with all those 2nd places; but this was before he became a GC rider. Before the Giro (in his first year as a pro I think) he hasnt got any results so maybe he was just happy to stay in the WT for years. I agree with you they should give him a raise. Should be enough budget with Froome and Fuglsang (but also Clarke) leaving. Also I think Ackermann and Hofstetter are on big contracts.

 

[AupaPyama]

Agree. Gilmore is ready to ride at the WT level.

They should buy Ayuso out of his contract and give him a TDF ride.

 

[search]

They should buy Ayuso out of his contract and give him a TDF ride.

I actually think it's not unlikely that they will go for Ayuso, but transfers of pro riders are only possible in August.