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

[TMP402]

And today or tomorrow he will somehow make Naesen seem like the bad guy here.

I remember when Lefevre said Stannard beating three QS riders was not a good win because "when you have Sir Bradley Wiggins on the team, he must be the leader", or words to that effect.

 

[tobydawq]

I remember when Lefevre said Stannard beating three QS riders was not a good win because "when you have Sir Bradley Wiggins on the team, he must be the leader", or words to that effect.

Wauw, okay, I hadn't heard that.

 

[RedheadDane]

I remember when Lefevre said Stannard beating three QS riders was not a good win because "when you have Sir Bradley Wiggins on the team, he must be the leader", or words to that effect.

So, he was expecting Stannard to stop and wait for Wiggins? Completely ignoring the fact that Stannard was the defending champion of the race...

 

[42x16ss]

Yeah, the strange thing is that they didn't even answer. I can understand that they wouldn't have enough money to give him a contract, but who knows how willing Naesen was to take less for the opportunity to get a big win with DQS.

To be fair, Naesen would benefit from DQS far more than DQS would from Naesen. I don't like Lefevere but he's generally had a good nose for transfers. I'm not convinced that Naesen offers anything someone like Stybar doesn't already.

 

[Bonimenier]

To be fair, Naesen would benefit from DQS far more than DQS would from Naesen. I don't like Lefevere but he's generally had a good nose for transfers. I'm not convinced that Naesen offers anything someone like Stybar doesn't already.

That's true. Obviously Naesen would benefit from it, that's most likely the reason he contacted Lefevere. I'm not saying Lefevere should've given him a contract, but he could have listened to see how much money Naesen was willing to give up to ride for him. Obviously always the possibility that Naesen demanded a minimum wage in his original mail that Lefevere found too high.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

ok, i know the ratio of success of Beppe's rumos are not good but Bettiol to Ineos?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1339643147375276034

View: https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/1339643147375276034

 

[TMP402]

I remember when Lefevre said Stannard beating three QS riders was not a good win because "when you have Sir Bradley Wiggins on the team, he must be the leader", or words to that effect.

Feeling like I might have been unfair to Lefevre, I went back and found the original quote. It's from the Cycling Podcast episode recapping the 2015 OHN. Here it is:

Well, if I say this I am a bad loser; I saw the reactions already on Twitter, but I am still convinced if you have a team like Sky and Sir Bradley Wiggins is the whole race riding with you out of the wind, and you are in a breakaway for 40km and, er, he [Stannard] win, it’s a strong rider, but, in my eyes it’s not a big win.

6. Ian Stannard outwits Etixx-Quick Step

March 5 | How did Ian Stannard of Team Sky beat three riders from the same team to win Het Nieuwsblad, the opening cobbled race of the new season?

audioboom.com

 

[SafeBet]

ok, i know the ratio of success of Beppe's rumos are not good but Bettiol to Ineos?

Makes sense to me.
Ineos has been bad on the cobbles the past couple of seasons and their interest for Italian riders goes a long way back.

 

[Roku]

Naesen would have reached a new level in Deceuninck. He would have learned about positioning and be protected to attack echelons (his two main weaknesses).

Replacing Jungels with Naesen would have improved the classics team. Then again we know DQT does not have a super budget and Naesen probably is earning a lot in Ag2r.

By the way, with the additions of Schar and Van Avermaet (weird it may sound, he is signing as super domestique for Naesen or co-captain at best), Naesen will also have that much needed support and improved support in terms of positioning and protection.

 

[Anderis]

ok, i know the ratio of success of Beppe's rumos are not good but Bettiol to Ineos?

Bettiol would be a very Ineos signing for Ineos. One of the best climbers among the cobbled classics specialists = a perfect GT domestique.

1. A cobbled classics specialist who can protect the leaders on the flat stages? Check
2. A very good TT-er should there be a TTT in a GT? Check
3. One of the best climbers among the heavier classics specialists to be there helping the leaders not only on the flat but also on hilly stages or pulling a good pace on the lower slopes of a mountain? Check

I guess he would even improve his climbing further at Ineos, perhaps at the cost of his chances in the classsics, unfortunately, like they did with Dylan van Baarle.

Possibly 2nd best rider in the entire peloton for that role after Wout Van Aert, so I guess he will be worth his money for Ineos and EF will likely not be able to make a financially competitive counter-offer should Ineos really want him. Bettiol already has his big win so I can see him choosing to settle for a well-paid domestique job instead of chasing further success in the classics, as his market value is going to drop if he doesn't win anything big in the next 2 or so years and it will be tough as hell to win with guys like VdP, Van Aert and Evenepoel looking like aliens compared to the previous generation of classics riders.

 

[Wvv]

By the way, with the additions of Schar and Van Avermaet (weird it may sound, he is signing as super domestique for Naesen or co-captain at best), Naesen will also have that much needed support and improved support in terms of positioning and protection.

Greg is still the n°1 leader coming into the new season. His payroll, the fact he and BMC are tight and of course his ability to get more results than Oliver justify this. Which doesn't mean the one can't profit from the other.

 

[Roku]

Greg is still the n°1 leader coming into the new season. His payroll, the fact he and BMC are tight and of course his ability to get more results than Oliver justify this. Which doesn't mean the one can't profit from the other.

That's not true for the Flemish classics, unless Ag2r is lying a la UAE with Aru and Pogacar. Oliver is the leader of the team for those races.

 

[Wvv]

That's not true for the Flemish classics, unless Ag2r is lying a la UAE with Aru and Pogacar. Oliver is the leader of the team for those races.

Of course they're not gonna put aside their leader of the previous years that easily, certainly not towards media and fans. But GVA has the bigger status and also payroll by far. He's also still more of a winner than Ollie and a lot more consistent, which is important when it comes to WT-rankings. It should benefit them both though, and it's a good thing that they're friends.

 

[BlueRoads]

I thought the new AG2R concept was a swarm approach? With so many capable riders for the classics it would certainly make sense to not put all money on one horse?

 

[Salvarani]

Naesen and GVA are friends and been training for years together. They both know having strong teammates only benefit and increase their chances for a big win. Neither seems like they have a big ego.

GVA, since he has some big wins and more established, might be the new face of the team and their new approach. Im pretty sure him and Naesen will work as a tandem though in the big races.

 

[TMP402]

Friends!

 

[Ricco']

Jay Vine won the 2020 Zwift Academy and a pro contract with Alpecin - Fenix for 2021.

5th at the 2020 Herald Sun Tour (3rd in the last MTF, 9'' behind Hindley) and 3rd at the 2019 New Zealand Cycle Classic.

 

[Wvv]

Jay Vine won the 2020 Zwift Academy and a pro contract with Alpecin - Fenix for 2021.

5th at the 2020 Herald Sun Tour (3rd in the last MTF, 9'' behind Hindley) and 3rd at the 2019 New Zealand Cycle Classic.

A bit of a surprise that Alpecin didn't choose Lionel Vujasin, who's a Belgian star in Zwift races and already cooperating with Canyon. He also won a lot of the challenges during this Academy. I guess his lack of road performances and his age (31) cost him the spot.

 

[Roku]

As far as i Know, the deal was a job for the winner.

 

[Wvv]

As far as i Know, the deal was a job for the winner.

Vujasin won the scratch and the time trial (albeit the latter after an electronical for Vine) on the final day. In the announcement manager Roodhooft also said 'after long consideration' ... so that kind of tells me they used a jury as well to decide.

 

[yaco]

Jay Vine won the 2020 Zwift Academy and a pro contract with Alpecin - Fenix for 2021.

5th at the 2020 Herald Sun Tour (3rd in the last MTF, 9'' behind Hindley) and 3rd at the 2019 New Zealand Cycle Classic.

Actually, Jay Vine's attempt on the 19th of December was stopped because of a power outage and he did a second test on December 20 to win the prize - Think Vine is PCT level but doubt he is WT level - Can think of at least 3 or 4 better prospects from OZ.

 

[Ricco']

Since yesterday I've been reading some things about Vine and he has a nice story.

He worked and trained simultaneously until March of last year, when he quit his job to dedicate himself to cycling to get into the World Tour. This year his team (Nero Continental) stepped up to Conti levels and this was the year where he would definitely try to step up but after Herald Sun Tour and with the COVID outbreak, his goals and plans to show himself went off the hill and Zwift Academy, to which he focused his preparation, was his last attempt before deciding if he would went on cycling professionally or would went out and search for a job again.

 

[Ricco']

Trinity Racing for 2021:

Haley Batten (USA)
Christopher Blevins (USA)
Sam Culverwell (GBR)
Matthew Devins (IRL)
Thomas Gloag (GBR)
Ben Healy (IRL)
Luke Lamperti (USA)
Alex Malacarne (BRA)
Cameron Mason (GBR)
Finley Newmark (IRL)
Ollie Rees (GBR)
Tosh Teare (JAP)
Chiara Teocchi (ITA)
Ben Turner (GBR)
Max Walker (GBR)

I know it's the same bike sponsor, but wasn't expecting Haley Batten and Chris Blevins to leave Specialized Factory Team for Trinity. Good team for the XCO world cups.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

And PF-P is leaving Canyon-Sram.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Trinity Racing for 2021:

Haley Batten (USA)
Christopher Blevins (USA)
Sam Culverwell (GBR)
Matthew Devins (IRL)
Thomas Gloag (GBR)
Ben Healy (IRL)
Luke Lamperti (USA)
Alex Malacarne (BRA)
Cameron Mason (GBR)
Finley Newmark (IRL)
Ollie Rees (GBR)
Tosh Teare (JAP)
Chiara Teocchi (ITA)
Ben Turner (GBR)
Max Walker (GBR)

I know it's the same bike sponsor, but wasn't expecting Haley Batten and Chris Blevins to leave Specialized Factory Team for Trinity. Good team for the XCO world cups.

Are they becoming a UCI Continental team on the road?