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Teams & Riders The Great Big Cycling Transfers, Extensions, and Rumours Thread

Page 445 - Get up to date with the latest news, scores & standings from the Cycling News Community.
I think the buy out of the contract is so exaggerated. Van Gils is from Belgium. There is this Belgium law why he was able to break his contract. He would have done it regardless of Red Bull or not. So it is not a matter of Red Bull breaks the contract, it is a matter that the rider wants to get out.
But it is an issue if Red Bull Bora or Astana (or anyone else) approached him while he was under contract without Lotto's permission.
Or do you think he just decided to buy out off his own accord? Did he suddenly decide to retire, and then change his mind just as quickly?
 
Why is almost everyone so stranged about Johansen? The strange fact is he had to drop down to Portugal for this season. He is a quality rider whose place is the World Tour.

A big powerhorse, with a great speed for a KM - I think his true place is be second or third to last in a sprint train, he did a wonderful job in the Gerben Thijssen sprint train in 2023 - Julius is a capable TTer, above average in echelons and a perfect support rider in northern classics, where he can help navigate a team until the last hour / hour and half of the race.

Sure he is no prolific winner or world beater, but this guy would be useful for almost every World Team. He will be asked to pull in the front for 180 KMs and he is able to do more than that. He is no Cheng Ji or Ahmed Madan.
I guess part of the fascination is that most teams these days don't tend to sign pure domestiques like this. It's become all about winning and getting points so there is less space in the overall peloton for riders that are hard working but won't ever gather many points on their own. Perhaps in a way teams like UAE are the final refuge for riders like that since they already have their winners and are basically dominating on points anyway so they are not in a constant rat race for points like the bottom half of the WT and the entirety of PT teams are.
 
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It would be crazy if he went to Astana. The team has no credibility as of now. No one is performing there and their signings mainly consist of ageing riders chasing a hugely overpriced last / second to last contract.
Bit early to condemn Astana isn't it since they haven't actually really raced yet under the new chinese money infusion. Half their team will be new for next season so what happened in the past is not really indicative of anything going forward really.
 
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Which is, as I understand it, a breach of UCI rules. Although it seems that Lotto are not going to make an issue of it. Which they are entitled to do, but imho is not good for the sport if it normalises the unedrmining of contracts.
I find a lot of things wrong with the sport, one of them is the transfer system. I don't mind some people doing their thing to hopefully see changes in the future.
 
I think the buy out of the contract is so exaggerated. Van Gils is from Belgium. There is this Belgium law why he was able to break his contract. He would have done it regardless of Red Bull or not. So it is not a matter of Red Bull breaks the contract, it is a matter that the rider wants to get out.

In addition I wonder if anyone had so much problems that Uijtdebroeks broke his contract and signed with Visma that what Red Bull is trying to do now. Pretty skewed perception for me

LOL

People were super negative about the whole Uijtdebroecks case, one in particular was the hypocrite Ralph Denk himself btw. Only the Visma fans were making it seem like it was just fine.

Also, it doesn't mean that because there's a law that makes it possible (a lot of countries have similar laws, although not always one that makes it that easy), that it is morally ok or fine for the sport when leaders of smaller teams can just extend for more money and then leave 8 months later at the end of the year given the team has no way to replace him. If you don't understand why people are pretty negative about that in general you're blinded by your Red Bull adoration. Just imagine Astana buying out the best Cofidis riders in november so that they can stay in the WT? Completely normal and fine?

And no, Van Gils would not have done it "regardless of Red Bull". Carera offered him to other teams while still being on contract (against UCI rules, and even court would not be really happy about this but impossible to prove), basically trying to see what those teams would pay. Astana was the first to bite but immediately backed off when they got a no from Lotto. Ineos also asked Lotto (when Pidcock was about to leave) but also backed off initially. Red Bull never really backed off, they full on negotiated a contract with Van Gils and entourage (which is borderline illegal btw, but again not easy to prove). Astana and Ineos only came back into the picture once it was clear to them Van Gils was going to break his contract.
 
I don't care that media runs with such stories, but I was disappointed that he didn't say he was wrong. To this day, he still believes this is what happened at Bora, because he mentioned it again in the summer I think during one of his podcasts.

Everyone in the cycling world this story was at least majorly exaggerated and it was leaked by Cian's entourage to make the switch easier. I refuse to believe Zonneveld doesn't know that. He just doubles down because in most peoples eyes a journalist that deliberately shares unchecked or straight up false info for personal gain is way worse than just a dumb journalist that believes everything.

And from what I've heard via via (Belgian sources at Bora) Cian wasn't liked by everyone at Bora (but who is), but the straight up bullying thing and especially the special Cian hate Whats app was completely false. I mean it has basically been confirmed now by Cian himself, and other riders that know him well (like Vervaeke). Easy now tho after you got your wish.

And just to be clear, I think the way all that went ahead was disgusting, but Cian wanting to leave not that much. It happens that a 19y old doesn't really feel at home somewhere, he was on a contract signed when he was underage.. (similar to why I understand Widar more than Van Gils). Things like that happen, completely different to Van Gils who finessed a team that made him big.
 
It would be crazy if he went to Astana. The team has no credibility as of now. No one is performing there and their signings mainly consist of ageing riders chasing a hugely overpriced last / second to last contract.
No one? Are you sure?

When and where Michael_Valgren Amstel Gold?​

Who is Jakob Fuglsang and Magnus Cort? When and where they were doing well?​

 
Okok got it, the Visma move was also viewed very critical. Didnt feel that way back then for me but at the same time I was much less involved.

I still find it difficult to blame the teams with more money. For me, they're simply taking advantage of the competition and that's the professional system they're in. If you can criticize someone, then in my eyes it's the riders (who sign contracts and after a short time don't feel like it anymore) or the agents (who try everything to get more money).
 
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Storm/Øxenberg are rumoured to be on Ineos' dev team so I think they have the space, Piddler still up in the air too. Hopefully he goes to Movistar though, not that it's on the cards or anything, I just think it would be funny.
Ineos would be insane to let Pidcock go this year. Possibly no CX, and little MTB after the Olympic cycle. First season he can have a proper go at being a road cyclist since joining the team. See how. it goes and if he continues to be a bit flaky, then offload him.