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

[Filippo_3467]

Olav Kooij about to earn 9M in 3 years time. This sport is so doomed it's insane.

Red Bull main candidate, ready to ruin him. Decathlon also in the running.

Vermaerke to UAE is apparently an option.

Benson also started about Remco (and Specialized) to Ineos again btw.

They have a lot of money but not so much talent (in the aggregate not on the top of the roster) so overpaying for a rider with a relatively narrow skillset is probably the result of no big stars on the market. They ruined there relationship with Ackermann (who I think would have performed at Bora with a great leadout like van Poppel) and got no good pure bunch sprinter since then so in a way it's logical to do that. At least that could guarantee them to be relevant in a whole lot of races they can't challenge at the moment. In Kooij for classic success...never ever.

 

[hayneplane]

They have a lot of money but not so much talent (in the aggregate not on the top of the roster) so overpaying for a rider with a relatively narrow skillset is probably the result of no big stars on the market. They ruined there relationship with Ackermann (who I think would have performed at Bora with a great leadout like van Poppel) and got no good pure bunch sprinter since then so in a way it's logical to do that. At least that could guarantee them to be relevant in a whole lot of races they can't challenge at the moment. In Kooij for classic success...never ever.

It’s far too much money for someone who is not even a top 3 bunch sprinter and hasn’t demonstrated consistent classics potential.

 

[Samamba]

They have a lot of money but not so much talent (in the aggregate not on the top of the roster) so overpaying for a rider with a relatively narrow skillset is probably the result of no big stars on the market. They ruined there relationship with Ackermann (who I think would have performed at Bora with a great leadout like van Poppel) and got no good pure bunch sprinter since then so in a way it's logical to do that. At least that could guarantee them to be relevant in a whole lot of races they can't challenge at the moment. In Kooij for classic success...never ever.

They literally decided to overpay a sprinter 2 years ago and completely ruined them. Now, of course Kooij is on a completely different level, but 3M a years is just stupid. Well this sport is getting ridiculous so I guess it's just the new normal now. Doesn't really matter for Red Bull if it isn't worth it. They don't care if they throw a few millions down the toilet.

 

[yaco]

Olav Kooij about to earn 9M in 3 years time. This sport is so doomed it's insane.

Red Bull main candidate, ready to ruin him. Decathlon also in the running.

Vermaerke to UAE is apparently an option.

Benson also started about Remco (and Specialized) to Ineos again btw.

Why would Kooij go to Red Bull who have a recent history of not taking their sprinters to the TDF? He should be picking a team who will make him the undoubted leader for any GT.

 

[Netserk]

At that age, I'd also go for the 9M. Then you are well off no matter what happens afterwards.

 

[Landeirovic]

Piganzoli---> Visma

 

[YavorD]

I am curious to see where will Pedersen go?
He should stay with Lidl but with Milan and eventually Nys, his TdF opportunities may be limited and he may take his chances elsewhere.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Piganzoli---> Visma

Unless he improves a lot there (might be possible) he'll fight for the 4th gc rider spot with Kelderman, Blobloblo, Nordhagen and the other youngsters...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Unless he improves a lot there (might be possible) he'll fight for the 4th gc rider spot with Kelderman, Blobloblo, Nordhagen and the other youngsters...

Who is even supposed to be their third GC rider right now, Yates or Kuss? Plenty of space to grow into at Visma, but the fact that nobody is stepping up (also in the classics, perhaps except for Brennan) makes me doubt that Piganzoli can...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I am curious to see where will Pedersen go?
He should stay with Lidl but with Milan and eventually Nys, his TdF opportunities may be limited and he may take his chances elsewhere.

It's not going to happen, but Visma replacing Kooij with him is the one thing that could breathe new life into the cobbled classics.

 

[Samamba]

Why would Kooij go to Red Bull who have a recent history of not taking their sprinters to the TDF? He should be picking a team who will make him the undoubted leader for any GT.

I don't know, maybe the 3 million a year???
And I'm sure he will given a guarantee to start the Tour as long as Red Bull doesn't have a potential Tour winner.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

It's not going to happen, but Visma replacing Kooij with him is the one thing that could breathe new life into the cobbled classics.

I'm struggling to picture pederson and Belgian pozzato coming up with a single competent tactical decision between them

The collective incompetence in that classics team would make the races unwatchable

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I'm struggling to picture pederson and Belgian pozzato coming up with a single competent tactical decision between them

The collective incompetence in that classics team would make the races unwatchable

It cannot possibly be worse than it was this year.

...right?

 

[Mayomaniac]

I'm struggling to picture pederson and Belgian pozzato coming up with a single competent tactical decision between them

The collective incompetence in that classics team would make the races unwatchable

Pozzato and Ballan racing vs eachother and not vs Boonen vibes...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Why would Kooij go to Red Bull who have a recent history of not taking their sprinters to the TDF? He should be picking a team who will make him the undoubted leader for any GT.

RB have dropped their sprinters from the Tour because Bennett/Welsford were both useless. Kooij would come into the team as probably the fourth- or fifth-best sprinter in the world and would for sure be helped by having Van Poppel as a leadout rather than his subpar Visma train, so if (big if) he doesn't fall into the same spiral of underperformance that the majority of their signings do, he would be much better off from a sporting perspective.

 

[YavorD]

RB have dropped their sprinters from the Tour because Bennett/Welsford were both useless. Kooij would come into the team as probably the fourth- or fifth-best sprinter in the world and would for sure be helped by having Van Poppel as a leadout rather than his subpar Visma train, so if (big if) he doesn't fall into the same spiral of underperformance that the majority of their signings do, he would be much better off from a sporting perspective.

Ironically, in their first season Bora riders are performing very good.
Vlasov took half of his wins in 2022, Hindley won the Giro, Higuita had his best season as well, Dani Martinez podiumed the Giro...
All of them don't reach the same heights afterwards.

 

[Gratemans]

RB have dropped their sprinters from the Tour because Bennett/Welsford were both useless. Kooij would come into the team as probably the fourth- or fifth-best sprinter in the world and would for sure be helped by having Van Poppel as a leadout rather than his subpar Visma train, so if (big if) he doesn't fall into the same spiral of underperformance that the majority of their signings do, he would be much better off from a sporting perspective.

Also, Kooij is a sprinter that doesn't really need (or indeed even wants) a big sprint train I believe.

 

[yaco]

I don't know, maybe the 3 million a year???
And I'm sure he will given a guarantee to start the Tour as long as Red Bull doesn't have a potential Tour winner.

Money, of course, is tempting. However, there are a number of mid-ranking teams who could pay 2 million a year, who would give him unconditional leadership at Grand Tours. At the end of the day, Kooij needs to ride more GT's to receive bigger money in the future.

 

[Filippo_3467]

RB have dropped their sprinters from the Tour because Bennett/Welsford were both useless. Kooij would come into the team as probably the fourth- or fifth-best sprinter in the world and would for sure be helped by having Van Poppel as a leadout rather than his subpar Visma train, so if (big if) he doesn't fall into the same spiral of underperformance that the majority of their signings do, he would be much better off from a sporting perspective.

In the case of Bennett and Welsford yes. The brought Meeus instead who won in Paris. So that was a level descision. Ackermann...they threw him out because of Sagan in the end as well as wanting to go for a GC Top 5... both were factors imo.

With Kooij it would be different but on the other hand Denk wants to win the Tour and I see them betting everything on Roglic even though he can't win in 26.

 

[Netserk]

Who is even supposed to be their third GC rider right now, Yates or Kuss? Plenty of space to grow into at Visma, but the fact that nobody is stepping up (also in the classics, perhaps except for Brennan) makes me doubt that Piganzoli can...

As GC leaders this year, I'd rank them: Vingegaard, Yates, Jorgenson, Uijtdebroeks, Nordhagen, Kelderman, Kuss. The last two are too reluctant to take the role of leader and despite Uijtdebroeks's back problems his role is to lead (smaller) stage races. Next year I think Uijtdebroeks will be on his way to an early retirement and Jorgenson to take a more leading role.

 

[Cycling920]

Benson

As GC leaders this year, I'd rank them: Vingegaard, Yates, Jorgenson, Uijtdebroeks, Nordhagen, Kelderman, Kuss. The last two are too reluctant to take the role of leader and despite Uijtdebroeks's back problems his role is to lead (smaller) stage races. Next year I think Uijtdebroeks will be on his way to an early retirement and Jorgenson to take a more leading role.

I agree with you. It will be Cian Uijtdebroeks' last season as a pro

 

[LongtimeLurker]

All from Benson

so have to take most things with a grain of salt. Since he went on his own he has made a lot of mistakes. He probably gets used by agents to up the price of their riders.

The Bora-Kooij link is a pretty well known rumor behind the scenes tho, so that's correct.

This transfer is not happening

 

[LongtimeLurker]

Benson

I agree with you. It will be Cian Uijtdebroeks' last season as a pro

Unfortunate but I see this the same way

 

[Mayomaniac]

In the case of Bennett and Welsford yes. The brought Meeus instead who won in Paris. So that was a level descision. Ackermann...they threw him out because of Sagan in the end as well as wanting to go for a GC Top 5... both were factors imo.

With Kooij it would be different but on the other hand Denk wants to win the Tour and I see them betting everything on Roglic even though he can't win in 26.

I wouldn't dismiss Kooij to Astana just yet, they already signed his leadout man and seem to have a capable sprint train.

 

[YavorD]

To be honest, Ineos wouldn't be a bad choice for Kooij.