I’ve been searching for the last hour and can’t find any infoThat's why I asked. If Unzue seemed positive, then it's likely Aquadro isn't his agent.
I’ve been searching for the last hour and can’t find any infoThat's why I asked. If Unzue seemed positive, then it's likely Aquadro isn't his agent.
I didn't expect you to do that. I suspect that isn't very easy to find out who the agent is for most riders.I’ve been searching for the last hour and can’t find any info
The big hitters isn’t hard to find. It’s the non Anglo domestiques that are difficult. I never found any ties between the two, so I don’t think it’s Aquadro.I didn't expect you to do that. I suspect that isn't very easy to find out who the agent is for most riders.
Dharma Sports so Quinziato is his agent.Do you know who Verona's agent is?
No, not yet . Movistar is always late with the resignings.Any word on Verona?
LOl I had the same thoughts earlier when I saw the tweet. I could totally see Unzue going after Aru. Karpets... I had forgotten about the “next Menchov.”View: https://twitter.com/cirogazzetta/status/1316429345867599873
I hope Unzue can resist the temptationHe has a soft spot for riders with such kind of profiles. Betancur, Karpets and Moreno ( their second period), Bruseghin, Moreau... the list is endless
The next Raspoetin would be a better description, due to their similaritiesnext Menchov.
Things Unzue likes more than anything else:View: https://twitter.com/cirogazzetta/status/1316429345867599873
I hope Unzue can resist the temptationHe has a soft spot for riders with such kind of profiles. Betancur, Karpets and Moreno ( their second period), Bruseghin, Moreau... the list is endless
The worst part is I can see him making that trade if trades were a thing.Things Unzue likes more than anything else:
He's basically the Jim Rutherford of cycling. It's a good thing for his sake that there's no transfer/trade system in the sport, I couldn't wait to see him trade Carretero or Samitier and a first round pick to Astana for the fading remains of Luís León Sánchez because he wants more veteran help and Valverde likes riding with him.
- taking a flyer on underperforming riders who still have years on their side but whose stars have waned: Betancur, Rujano, Mauricio Soler, Cobo (first time), Karpets (second time)
- paying above the odds for veteran climbers who are declining: Moreau, Bruseghin, Szmyd, Gadret, Cataldo, Moreno (second time)
- retreads: Cobo, Moreno, Karpets, Plaza
- dumpster diving in scenes people aren't really looking to pick up riders from: Reynes, Horrach, Marque, Teruel, Oyarzún, Pedrero
The 8th rider for the Vuelta team is Arcas.The Vuelta lineup... is strong. Mas, Valverde, Soler, Verona, Olivera, Rojas, Erviti
On paper there isn't one yet, but in practice it's more common these days to buy riders out of their contract. A couple of years back Verona from Etixx to Orica midway the season, last year the Rohan Dennis saga and recently Fausto Masnada from Astana to Quick Step.Things Unzue likes more than anything else:
He's basically the Jim Rutherford of cycling. It's a good thing for his sake that there's no transfer/trade system in the sport, I couldn't wait to see him trade Carretero or Samitier and a first round pick to Astana for the fading remains of Luís León Sánchez because he wants more veteran help and Valverde likes riding with him.
- taking a flyer on underperforming riders who still have years on their side but whose stars have waned: Betancur, Rujano, Mauricio Soler, Cobo (first time), Karpets (second time)
- paying above the odds for veteran climbers who are declining: Moreau, Bruseghin, Szmyd, Gadret, Cataldo, Moreno (second time)
- retreads: Cobo, Moreno, Karpets, Plaza
- dumpster diving in scenes people aren't really looking to pick up riders from: Reynes, Horrach, Marque, Teruel, Oyarzún, Pedrero
Hmm, do you blame him for that (I'm genuinely not sure about that)? I think he's being pretty smart.Well, and Savio's new niche, now that the gentleman's agreement to not sign returning dopers is over (plus there are fewer high profile dopers being caught to pad this niche). Savio used to give returning riders a chance on the cheap to return and go well, or capitalise on riders under duress who weren't wanted elsewhere, getting riders of much higher prominence than he might otherwise have been able to acquire - Pellizotti, Scarponi, Sella, Rebellin, Mattia Gavazzi, Hondo - but now he's found much more profitability in signing up Latin American wonderkids to long term contracts and then pocketing the buyout fee when they're inevitably ready for the step up a year or two later.
Not in the slightest. Since the UCI changed the rules to hamstring ProConti teams to stop people getting the best of both worlds as Cervélo and BMC did in the late 00s-early 10s, it's been progressively more difficult to run a consistent, long-term team on a ProConti budget, and Savio's found a way to make it work, more power to him. I don't necessarily like what it means long term for the sport in terms of things like the Ivan Sosa contract shenanigans, but that isn't Savio's fault.Hmm, do you blame him for that (I'm genuinely not sure about that)? I think he's being pretty smart.
Yes, 3 leaders. The difference this time is 3 leaders who actually get along with each other very well. Mas and Soler were friends before Mas joined the team and both get along very well with Valverde and value his advice. Mas has specifically said he values any racing KMs he can get with Valverde because there is so much he wants to learn. The bigger issue is what kind of form are they showing up with. However, until you mentioned it I hadn't realized the 3 of them had black bikes instead of blue ones.Black bikes for Valverde, Mas and Soler. They are in for the 3 leaders game again.
I'm not sure what Mas' peak is, heck not sure anyone actually is. However, today was a very good sign for Mas for fighting for the podium. Unfortunately Valverde's form is still off. He also said today the cold and rain that is very likely for much of this Vuelta is going to hurt him a lot. He made some comment that he thinks he's still capable of winning stages somewhere, but that it's time for him to switch to being a helper for Mas and basically ensure that Mas has everything he needs for the future.If Mas has the same form trajectory here as in the tour we'll bein for the most dominant GT victory in decades
Valverde not quite there yet tho sadly![]()
Alba & Rubio in 2-3 years' time.If Valverde effectively is done, then who will be Movistar's GT contender besides Mas?
Up until last year they had Alejandro and Quintana (and Carapaz also), now they have Mas, but what about the next 2/3 years? Any young gun? Any hiring?
Soler isn't obviously an option to top-5, even top-10 is doubtful apart from a field like this year Giro.