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

[Anderis]

Alpecin starts looking like a team that could step up to WT at some point in the near future.

 

[Leinster]

Philipsen to Alpecin Fenix according to their Instagram.

Good signing, another fastman for the squad.

Might they start moving up the ranks and MVP get to ride some WT Races next season?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Philipsen to Alpecin Fenix according to their Instagram.

Good signing, another fastman for the squad.

Weird move from Philipsen. He should have plenty of offers from WT teams.

 

[postmanhat]

He's not a rider I follow, but would I be harsh in saying Phillipsen hasn't progressed this year? Based only on looking at his results

 

[postmanhat]

Might they start moving up the ranks and MVP get to ride some WT Races next season?

I would have thought MVP's main focus next year is the Olympics MTB, so probably wouldn't be doing any more WT races than he has this year? Unless he sacrifices a fair chunk of the cyclocross season

 

[Krokro]

Might they start moving up the ranks and MVP get to ride some WT Races next season?

I don't really know where they are currently ranking in the Pro Teams ladder? But anyway, an increase in budget and some good recruits could allow them to aim top 1 for the WT race calendar.

Weird move from Philipsen. He should have plenty of offers from WT teams.

I agree with the probable Olympics focus from MVDP. Plus the fact he's having an average season (if we compare it to his long time rival), Alpecin might double their chances to have top results with both in the team.
That doesn't fully explain why Philipsen chose Fenix Alpecin but he might simply see an opportunity to be leader on important races in a smaller team.

 

[Wvv]

He's not a rider I follow, but would I be harsh in saying Phillipsen hasn't progressed this year? Based only on looking at his results

With the way he raced in recent weeks, certainly in the Brussels Classics, I'd say he has.

 

[search]

yeah, I mean, isn't he mainly an upcoming specialist for the (cobbled) classics?! There haven't exactly been many of those yet

 

[postmanhat]

With the way he raced in recent weeks, certainly in the Brussels Classics, I'd say he has.

Erm, he was 3rd last year behind Ewan and Ackermann.

5th this year, behind Bouhanni and Vermeersch. That was one of the results I was thinking of, as I though he'd do better given the relatively weak field

 

[primoz]

5th place after attacking with ~12km to go in brutal conditions. Gaviria was their main sprint option. Although I'm not saying he is having a good season.

 

[Wvv]

Erm, he was 3rd last year behind Ewan and Ackermann.

5th this year, behind Bouhanni and Vermeersch. That was one of the results I was thinking of, as I though he'd do better given the relatively weak field

He rode a very attractive race in horrible conditions with a strong attack in the final, and still managed to get 5th while the protected Gaviria couldn't even move up in what was left of the bunch. He was also more than decent in the Limousin, with a proper stage win.

In the development years, the way someone rides is almost as important as the results.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Weird move from Philipsen. He should have plenty of offers from WT teams.

Yes, it's not like they only have MVDP on the team, there's also Merlier, so I don't know how many chances he'll get to ride for himself.

 

[Anderis]

Yes, it's not like they only have MVDP on the team, there's also Merlier, so I don't know how many chances he'll get to ride for himself.

More than a fair share as any other rider who is around 3rd place in his team's hierarchy.

 

[postmanhat]

He rode a very attractive race in horrible conditions with a strong attack in the final, and still managed to get 5th while the protected Gaviria couldn't even move up in what was left of the bunch. He was also more than decent in the Limousin, with a proper stage win.

In the development years, the way someone rides is almost as important as the results.

Thanks As I said, I was judging his progress purely on results. He seems like the sort of rider I like. I'll start following him more closely now

 

[42x16ss]

More than a fair share as any other rider who is around 3rd place in his team's hierarchy.

I would have Philipsen equal or higher than Merlier TBH. With the reinforcements Alpecin Fenix have brought in it's not a bad move.

 

[WKA311]

I really hope Stanislaw Aniolkowski gets the chance to ride at WT or ProConti level next year. Absolutely amazing rides in those smaller eastern european stage races. Though with CCC folding it will probably be hard for him to find a team, at least on WT level.

 

[Anderis]

I really hope Stanislaw Aniolkowski gets the chance to ride at WT or ProConti level next year. Absolutely amazing rides in those smaller eastern european stage races. Though with CCC folding it will probably be hard for him to find a team, at least on WT level.

I've read on a Polish forum that he has an offer from a WT team.

 

[WKA311]

According to Kerckhoff over at Wielerflits, Hirschi is being shopped around to teammanagers despite having a valid contract for 2021 with Sunweb.

Source

 

[Anderis]

It seems like Sunweb really don't like hanging onto good riders.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

It seems like Sunweb really don't like hanging onto good riders.

Or maybe the travel industry is hit harder than ever before in history by Covid-19, and Sunweb's budget is shrinking - if indeed the sponsorship is maintained?

 

[Broccolidwarf]

According to Kerckhoff over at Wielerflits, Hirschi is being shopped around to teammanagers despite having a valid contract for 2021 with Sunweb.

Source

To me that sounds like severe budget cuts, and a need to capitalize on riders under contract.

 

[WKA311]

To me that sounds like severe budget cuts, and a need to capitalize on riders under contract.

Doubt it. They prolonged several contracts (long term), among those Benoots who won't be cheap after his Paris-Nice. They even invested heavily in their womens programme bringing in Lorena Wiebes, the worlds fastes sprinter atm.

Who knows if there is even truth to the rumour and if so, what the reasons are.

 

[Salvarani]

Alpecin put a lot of stock into races where Philipsen would be most likely to get some good results. Belgium/France. One-day races. He will be a part of a strong team for that.

 

[Anderis]

Or maybe the travel industry is hit harder than ever before in history by Covid-19, and Sunweb's budget is shrinking - if indeed the sponsorship is maintained?

The pattern has started long before Covid-19. Once they had Dumoulin but they've never replaced him with another rider capable of winning a GT. Once they had Kittel but now they no longer have a sprinter capable of regular wins on pancake flat stages on TdF level. Barguil left after 2017 despite having a contract for 2018 IIRC. It just seems like it's just beyond them to keep a strong team together for a few consecutive years.

 

[Anderis]

I've read some rumours that Alpecin are going to take over CCC's WT license.