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

[Devil's Elbow]

So Unzue saw that his leader was an emotionally insecure GC rider who can't TT and has no kick and decided to add a second leader who... is also an emotionally insecure GC rider who can't TT and has no kick. Interesting choice.

 

[JosephD]

I agree with you to some extend. But Pescador and Novak are longshots and definitely not the type of talents that are guaranteed to become GT leaders.

For Cian Movistar will be a squad where he can be (co)-captain in every race for now. Whether that will remain like this in the future depends largely on how Cian performs in this role.

Absolutely, at the moment it's a great marriage and anything else, only time will tell. And it's great for Movistar that they've been able to get Cian and also Novak, considering for various reasons over the years from lack of devo team to not enough $, they've not got their hands on Rodriguez, Ayuso, Torres, Noval or Pericas

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It would be funny if the Bernal to Visma rumour turns out to be true now.

 

[Cycling920]

Absolutely, at the moment it's a great marriage and anything else, only time will tell. And it's great for Movistar that they've been able to get Cian and also Novak, considering for various reasons over the years from lack of devo team to not enough $, they've not got their hands on Rodriguez, Ayuso, Torres, Noval or Pericas

Novak is promising. But Uijtdebroeks won't be a success. In my opinion, he'll never be on a Grand Tour podium. Not even close.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Absolutely hilarious transfer, what the *** is unzue doing 😂

As for jayco, I hope they save their money and get Hindley if that is possible when his contract expires next season, I think he can still win a GT if he arrives at the right moment.

 

[Samamba]

No info, but wouldn't surprise me if Visma hijacked the Rex - Red Bull transfer given they have a spot and some money left now. They have been interested in him for a long time and his brother is also there so

 

[pastronef]

I'm waiting for @Libertine Seguros post on Cian's transfer

 

[Netserk]

No info, but wouldn't surprise me if Visma hijacked the Rex - Red Bull transfer given they have a spot and some money left now. They have been interested in him for a long time and his brother is also there so

I'd like that very much.

It's a question how much it's worth investing in the cobbled campaign if the leaders aren't better than what they were this year. Depth is not going to make up for that.

 

[Samamba]

I'd like that very much.

It's a question how much it's worth investing in the cobbled campaign if the leaders aren't better than what they were this year. Depth is not going to make up for that.

I think Rex would fit better at Visma than at Red Bull at least. Would also be valuable for Brennan.

 

[Netserk]

I think Rex would fit better at Visma than at Red Bull at least. Would also be valuable for Brennan.

Agreed. Would help a lot in the fight for position and being able to dictate the dynamics of the classics. Laporte getting back strong will be crucial for what they can do. I don't think Brennan will be ready to play such a role before 2027.

Do you think Rex would be better in the last 500 m than Affini? It's a strong duo to help Brennan, but doesn't exactly scream top speed.

 

[Samamba]

Agreed. Would help a lot in the fight for position and being able to dictate the dynamics of the classics. Laporte getting back strong will be crucial for what they can do. I don't think Brennan will be ready to play such a role before 2027.

Do you think Rex would be better in the last 500 m than Affini? It's a strong duo to help Brennan, but doesn't exactly scream top speed.

Rex is faster than Affini, but also doesn't have the super top speed, but imo that's not needed necessarily. Affini - Rex - Brennan would be good enough for now imo.

But again, I have no info about this, it was just a guess. I stopped trying to figure out what's going on with riders at Lotto and definitely Intermarché.

 

[yaco]

Absolutely hilarious transfer, what the *** is unzue doing 😂

As for jayco, I hope they save their money and get Hindley if that is possible when his contract expires next season, I think he can still win a GT if he arrives at the right moment.

Doubt Hindley will ever end up at jayco. Both don't rate the other.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I'm waiting for @Libertine Seguros post on Cian's transfer

Absolutely hilarious! I mean, Unzue going for a cut price flyer is no shock, but if he screams and cries and throws the team under the bus for feeling his 7th place is threatened, going to a team like Movistar with their history of not at all committing tactical harakiri and their spotless history of managing multiple leaders is a... well, let's just say it's a choice...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

On the surface it is a weird transfer, so wondering what can be the reason for this.

Does he blame Visma for the issues he had with his back for example? Or is Visma not going to stick to making Uijtdebroeks a GC captain next year in a GT?

Will be interesting to learn more about this, because it doesnt look good on Cian to be leaving another team before the end of his contract.

Edit: Ah from the responses given by Plugge and Uijtdebroeks it seems like it is the leadership role that Cian wants but cant be guaranteed at Visma. Seems like it is a good transfer for all parties involved then.

As a fan I still need to get used to these cycling transfers, but in other sports it is quite common, so i guess these type of transfers are fine.

Lmfao, as if anybody could have foreseen that a guy desperate for leadership moving to a team with already at least 3 guys ahead of him in the pecking order would not pan out... it's almost like it was predictable and the only REAL reason to go to Visma was to make money, and the only reason for Visma to have him was to make sure a rival didn't...

 

[Valv.Piti]

Im a Cian fan now. Lets go Cian, everything is forgotten, need those glory days back whatever it takes. Realistically though, he probably aint bringing them back, but who knows... the guy is pretty unpredictable.

 

[Movitrain]

Im a Cian fan now. Lets go Cian, everything is forgotten, need those glory days back whatever it takes. Realistically though, he probably aint bringing them back, but who knows... the guy is pretty unpredictable.

I agree with your general sentiment, given how absolutely starving for winning riders this team was for the last few years, adding any sort of (potential) high-end talent is exciting enough to forget that this is probably going to blow up in Eusebio's face at some point down the road.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I agree with your general sentiment, given how absolutely starving for winning riders this team was for the last few years, adding any sort of (potential) high-end talent is exciting enough to forget that this is probably going to blow up in Eusebio's face at some point down the road.

Yeah, but its better to at least try to add such talent, and this guy is definitely worth a flyer.

 

[Roku]

Agreed. Would help a lot in the fight for position and being able to dictate the dynamics of the classics. Laporte getting back strong will be crucial for what they can do. I don't think Brennan will be ready to play such a role before 2027.

Do you think Rex would be better in the last 500 m than Affini? It's a strong duo to help Brennan, but doesn't exactly scream top speed.

Rex is a beast. Think he fits best as second last man. He is great at bringing their riders to the front for the final KM and has delivered key lead-outs to Thijssen first and then Girmay.

Visma would finally have a decent leader for Roubaix as well.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Absolutely hilarious! I mean, Unzue going for a cut price flyer is no shock, ...

Is he cut price? Has there been a contract severance fee due to Visma?

 

[DBenson]

Frigo is awaiting a WT offer from a team.
Benson made it seem that he doesn't want to resign with IPT even tho he has the opportunity

I didn't say that. I interviewed his younger brother, who doesn't ride for IPT.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

I didn't say that. I interviewed his younger brother, who doesn't ride for IPT.

We established I'm *** at reading tweets two pages ago already

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

We established I'm *** at reading tweets two pages ago already

Yeah, but you've elicited DB's first post on the board for more than 6 years, so congratulations on that.