Riders with contracts because of a friend?

[ingsve]

I thought it might be interesting with a discussion about riders that mainly have their current pro contract because they were part of the deal for another rider.
Here are some examples:

Thor Hushovd has for many years now used his team leader position to make sure his team also signs one of his friends for him to have around while training and on competitions. First it was Mads Kaggestad from 03-07 and when he retired it has been Gabriel Rasch that has followed Hushovd wherever he went.

When Sky signed EBH one of the terms they agreed to was to also bring on one of EBHs old friends from Joker-Bianchi, Lars-Petter Nordhaug.

It also seems fairly clear that Rigoberto Uran also got to bring one of his old team mates Xabier Zandio along in the deal.

What other examples do we know of where a rider has gotten signed in a package deal at the request of a bigger rider?

 

[Publicus]

Jesus Hernandez pretty much owes his entire cycling career to Alberto Contador.

 

[Fester]

Navarro and Noval as well.

Cohesive close nit and loyal groups work well, it makes sense to keep them together.

 

[roundabout]

Nick Gates with McEwen

Edit: not quite what the OP asked but close enough

 

[Barrus]

I thought it might be interesting with a discussion about riders that mainly have their current pro contract because they were part of the deal for another rider.
Here are some examples:

Thor Hushovd has for many years now used his team leader position to make sure his team also signs one of his friends for him to have around while training and on competitions. First it was Mads Kaggestad from 03-07 and when he retired it has been Gabriel Rasch that has followed Hushovd wherever he went.

When Sky signed EBH one of the terms they agreed to was to also bring on one of EBHs old friends from Joker-Bianchi, Lars-Petter Nordhaug.

It also seems fairly clear that Rigoberto Uran also got to bring one of his old team mates Xabier Zandio along in the deal.

What other examples do we know of where a rider has gotten signed in a package deal at the request of a bigger rider?

Well the brother of Peter Sagan would not have a contract with Liquigas without his brother

 

[nobilis]

Laurent Jalabert used to sign his brother Nicolas with him to every team they went to. ONCE and CSC i think.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Peter and Martin Velits

 

[Arnout]

Joseba Zubeldia also got a chance because of his brother.

 

[nobilis]

I think we can find many examples involving brothers. I can recall Beloki having a brother on the squad at Once. Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano and his brother Alvaro.

For non-brothers, when Vinokourov moved from T-Mobile to Liberty Seguros, countrymen Kashechkin and Yakovlev were too part of the deal

 

[roundabout]

Was Kashechkin ever at T-Mobile? I think he was with Credit Agricole before Liberty Seguros/Astana.

 

[fujisst]

Ahhh, that nefarious sceptre called politics rears its ugly wherever people are involved - which is basically in everthing, everywhere, and at all times...

Politics always has been a major component of who does and doesn't get a job. Pro cycling is no different from any other entity...

Case in point - Rahsaan Bahati not being on at least an American D3 team really puts me in a twist...

So many of the domestiques owe their contracts to buddies and friends higher up on the chain than to their actual riding ability...

 

[Oldman]

Indurain and his brother come to mind. He used to have his brother do press meets for him so he could rest up. Some of the reporters allegedly didn't know the difference.

 

[nobilis]

Was Kashechkin ever at T-Mobile? I think he was with Credit Agricole before Liberty Seguros/Astana.

Yeah he was at Credit Agricole but that doesn't mean that they weren't close despite being on different teams.

 

[craig1985]

Yeah he was at Credit Agricole but that doesn't mean that they weren't close despite being on different teams.

Although after the fallout from what happened in 2007, they won't acknowledge each other in the street anymore.

But it's like any industry though, you get employment through people you know, in fact this would sum up 99% of working career, I have gained employment through somebody I know. I got my first proper job, because when I sent my resume in, the girl who worked in HR, I went to school with, and we were friends. When that business went bankrupt, my next job was gained because my supervisor was friends with the health and safety officer at the job I was applying for, and the next job I got after that, I knew the other H&S dude, and made a phone call at 6am, and by 7.30am I had a new job, without going for an interview.

It's not what you know, but who you know, and cycling is no different. But back to the OP, I guess a guy like Chechu Rubiera has a had a longer career then what he thought he would (he was going to retire at the end of 2007 when Discovery Channel shut down), but being mates with Hog and Lance has seen him ride for another three years.

 

[AngusW]

Paul Kimmage got his place on Fagor in 1989 owing to his friendship with Stephen Roche.

More recently, Lance Armstrong came out of retirement and on to the Astana team due to his friendship with Johan Bruyneel. But he didn't get paid for that gig...

 

[NickBVK]

I wouldn't say it's a case of being political, obviously 'helping a brother out' comes into it.

But if a team goes after a marquee rider or one who will win a lot, it makes sense to make them as comfortable/able to perform as possible.

 

[ingsve]

I wouldn't say it's a case of being political, obviously 'helping a brother out' comes into it.

But if a team goes after a marquee rider or one who will win a lot, it makes sense to make them as comfortable/able to perform as possible.

Yes, of course. I'm not putting any judgement into these situations, I just think it's an interesting dynamic that isn't discussed very much. I think it can also give some perspective on the transfer market where you sometimes see some signings that look kind of strange when viewed in isolation but when looked at with this in mind it makes more sense.

 

[Ferminal]

Scott Davis

 

[MADRAZO]

Joaquin Novoa was not even good enough for a continentalteam, but because of trainingpartner Carlos Sastre he got a contract with Cervelo.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

For non-brothers, when Vinokourov moved from T-Mobile to Liberty Seguros, countrymen Kashechkin and Yakovlev were too part of the deal

Seeing how the entire point of the point of the deal was to specifically promote kazakhstani riders (which then turned into the main goal, when Liberty Seguros dissolved), it's not really surprising.

And it's not like they were a dead weight for the team. The simple fact that they came from different teams and developed there on their own shows that there it wasn't all clandestine.

I heard Allan Davis made a condition for Astana to hire his brother Scott as well in 2009.
________
Lovely Wendie

 

[craig1985]

If Saxo Bank go under, it wouldn't surprise me if Johnny Bellis ended up at HTC - Specialized, what with him being very good friends with Cavendish.

 

[la.margna]

Well (Noé - please forgive me), the most ridicolous constellation is Gianetti, who let's his son run who was nowhere close to Pro Tour level this season...

 

[Skibby the bush kangaroo]

I'm pretty sure Rob Hayles' stint at Cofidis 2001-2003 was due to him being mates with David Millar.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Jesus Hernandez pretty much owes his entire cycling career to Alberto Contador.

he was a huge climbing talent with liberty seguros u23 though. but after becoming pro his limiting engine and not being able to use dope to fuel that engine (after his relax days) made him dependant on contador indeed

also noval nowadays rides because of contador, used to be pretty good perhaps cuz of same reasons as hernandez with us (e)postal

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

he is asking about CURRENT contracts, god is is that hard to read?? the topic would be endless if we are going to name old guys here who owe their careers to a friend/brother.