Luis León Sánchez to Rabobank.

[The Hitch]

Luis León Sánchez to Rabobank.

Did not expect this. However, Caisse do have a lot of good contenders, so i can see why hes leaving. Still, Rabobank?

 

[Moondance]

What's wrong with Rabobank Hitch? Lots of money, strong supporting cast, no clear hilly classics specialist to compete with.

I think it's a good move for him, barring staying with Caisse/Movistar, but staying probably would've meant taking less money than he could get elsewhere, and so made little sense.

 

[The Hitch]

What's wrong with Rabobank Hitch? Lots of money, strong supporting cast, no clear hilly classics specialist to compete with.

I think it's a good move for him, barring staying with Caisse/Movistar, but staying probably would've meant taking less money than he could get elsewhere, and so made little sense.

Im still not really used to non dutch riders at rabobank really. Its your national team. Menchov kind of began to fit in over time, as has Garate but it takes time.

 

[Moondance]

Im still not really used to non dutch riders at rabobank really. Its your national team. Menchov kind of began to fit in over time, as has Garate but it takes time.

Freire, Nuyens, Brown, Ardila, Martens, Flecha, Rasmussen, Leipheimer, McEwen, Wauters.... Could go further back if you wish.

 

[The Hitch]

Freire, Nuyens, Brown, Ardila, Martens, Flecha, Rasmussen, Leipheimer, McEwen, Wauters.... Could go further back if you wish.

Still wierd. Especially that someone who is already big, and at the peak of their career, joins Rabo from his own default national team.

Anyway, it probably is a good deal for both teams, going for classics, and Gesink will have a superdomestique for gts.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

knowing rabobank i wouldn't be surprised if LLS doesn't get many wins in the next 2 seasons.

Hopefully he can continue to dominate the short stage races, and be competitive in the classics.

 

[auscyclefan94]

What's wrong with Rabobank Hitch? Lots of money, strong supporting cast, no clear hilly classics specialist to compete with.

I think it's a good move for him, barring staying with Caisse/Movistar, but staying probably would've meant taking less money than he could get elsewhere, and so made little sense.

I think it is a good move and it will fill a whole left by Menchov. LLS will get better, sole support in bigger races and be a good domestique to Gesink.

knowing rabobank i wouldn't be surprised if LLS doesn't get many wins in the next 2 seasons.

Hopefully he can continue to dominate the short stage races, and be competitive in the classics.

You don't have much confidence in your fav team or dutch riders?

 

[Kwibus]

knowing rabobank i wouldn't be surprised if LLS doesn't get many wins in the next 2 seasons.

Hopefully he can continue to dominate the short stage races, and be competitive in the classics.

Yeh I also get that feeling. I mean look at some names in their team. Garate, Ardilla and others performed a lot better before they joined Rabo. Sometimes it makes me wonder about 'clinic' stuff, but I don't want to go there. It could as well be poor tactics
I really hope LL Sanchez stays at his current lvl or better.

I also think Rabo needs more topriders. I think their lineup is kinda small when you look at their performance in this years Vuelta for example... Big escape yesterday.. no Rabo rider. That happens so often..

 

[craig1985]

There is enough people at Rabobank who speak Spanish as a first language, or are more or less fluent in Spanish, so I think he will be fine. I like it personally, I like to see riders get out of their comfort zone so to speak.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I think it is a good move and it will fill a whole left by Menchov. LLS will get better, sole support in bigger races and be a good domestique to Gesink.


You don't have much confidence in your fav team or dutch riders?

Meh, rabo are only my favorite team due to the dutch riders. I don't literally love rabo I do like them a lot tho, but that is because of the amount of effort they put into dutch cycling, and bringing up young dutch talent.

I think tactically rabo get it wrong a lot tho, that was my thoughts behind my statement.

I also think Rabo needs more topriders. I think their lineup is kinda small when you look at their performance in this years Vuelta for example... Big escape yesterday.. no Rabo rider. That happens so often..

It is a young team, and imo a GT is a big deal for these young guys. So for the moment they certainly struggle to fill all 3 GTs with a solid/strong squad.

 

[Kwibus]

It is a young team, and imo a GT is a big deal for these young guys. So for the moment they certainly struggle to fill all 3 GTs with a solid/strong squad.

True and if they bring in more big riders it will result in less dutch riders in big courses. That certainly isn't what I want to see.
So let's hope for more great dutch talent

 

[theyoungest]

I also think Rabo needs more topriders. I think their lineup is kinda small when you look at their performance in this years Vuelta for example... Big escape yesterday.. no Rabo rider. That happens so often..

More top riders? I think they're heading in the right direction. Gesink, Lulu Sanchez, Breschel, Boom, Freire, Mollema, Martens, Bos... that's a decent squad right there.

 

[Praetor]

More top riders? I think they're heading in the right direction. Gesink, Lulu Sanchez, Breschel, Boom, Freire, Mollema, Martens, Bos... that's a decent squad right there.

I don't really see how Bos fits into that. His level is considerably lower than the others you mention.

 

[theyoungest]

I don't really see how Bos fits into that. His level is considerably lower than the others you mention.

With Bos it's more a matter of the potential this guy has. Don't forget it's only his second year on the road.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

More top riders? I think they're heading in the right direction. Gesink, Lulu Sanchez, Breschel, Boom, Freire, Mollema, Martens, Bos... that's a decent squad right there.

Agreed. Personally if they get Bareddo, I'd like to see only dutch youngsters coming into the team in the next couple seasons.

Van poppel, bol, kelderman and maybe even wes. kreder spring to mind.

 

[issoisso]

Im still not really used to non dutch riders at rabobank really. Its your national team

Yes, Rabobank's had a lot of success over the years with their dutch youngsters Dennis van Mentsjov and Oskar van Freijre

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Still wierd. Especially that someone who is already big, and at the peak of their career, joins Rabo from his own default national team.

Anyway, it probably is a good deal for both teams, going for classics, and Gesink will have a superdomestique for gts.

Luttenberger, Rölf Sorensen, Bruyneel, etc etc, from the start Rabobank has always had a couple of foreign leaders or strong domestiques

it's probably just in your head.

 

[The Hitch]

Luttenberger, Rölf Sorensen, Bruyneel, etc etc, from the start Rabobank has always had a couple of foreign leaders or strong domestiques

it's probably just in your head.

Probably. For some reason ive got used to Menchov, Freire and the like at Rabo, so i dont really realise it, and its not really wierd when outsiders - from US, Uk, Australia, Asia, go to north european teams, I just dont expect Italians or Spaniards to go to the Belgian or Dutch teams. Such different language, such different culture, it feels wierd.

 

[hrotha]

Freire, Horrillo, Flecha, Gárate...

I think this is a great move for everybody involved, except for Caisse.

 

[theyoungest]

Probably. For some reason ive got used to Menchov, Freire and the like at Rabo, so i dont really realise it, and its not really wierd when outsiders - from US, Uk, Australia, Asia, go to north european teams, I just dont expect Italians or Spaniards to go to the Belgian or Dutch teams. Such different language, such different culture, it feels wierd.

Rabo has had a large Spanish contingent for quite some time now. Ardila, Garate, Freire, Menchov, Kozontchuk, Flecha, Horrillo... they're all either Spanish or live there and are so immersed in the country that you could call them such.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yes, Rabobank's had a lot of success over the years with their dutch youngsters Dennis van Mentsjov and Oskar van Freijre

Don't forget Jan Anton Pijl (who actually answers to that if you address him with it).

 

[Machu Picchu]

Matti Breschel has given his thumbs up to the move:

“I am happy to ride with Sanchez. He seems very tough, and he is a strong cyclist. He is one of the established riders now and will win some big races,”

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5...-Sanchezs-Rabobank-signing.aspx#ixzz0ykzMEVXf

rest here. (velonation)

 

[icefire]

Just went to cqranking to check that as of today, 4 out of the 5 highest ranked riders of the highest ranked country will ride next year in foreign teams. Just a thought.

 

[Arnout]

Just went to cqranking to check that as of today, 4 out of the 5 highest ranked riders of the highest ranked country will ride next year in foreign teams. Just a thought.

Interesting. Although Anton may climb into the top 5 after the Vuelta. In fact Sammie Sanchez also rides for a foreign team of course.

Does show that Movistar doesn't have a big gun yet, seems they will have to wait for Valverdes comeback.

 

[The Hitch]

Interesting. Although Anton may climb into the top 5 after the Vuelta. In fact Sammie Sanchez also rides for a foreign team of course.

Does show that Movistar doesn't have a big gun yet, seems they will have to wait for Valverdes comeback.

If Asturias is to be seen as a foreign country to Pais Vasco then we will have very few compatriots in cycling.