As a team what they need is someone who can climb but also last long leading a peleton. Someone like Dennis, Castroviejo or WVA who on form can pace a peloton over a load of climbs and also be useful on the flat. Hirschi was probably who they wanted for that but he's been useless all year. Soler is definitely not that.
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As a team what they need is someone who can climb but also last long leading a peleton. Someone like Dennis, Castroviejo or WVA who on form can pace a peloton over a load of climbs and also be useful on the flat. Hirschi was probably who they wanted for that but he's been useless all year. Soler is definitely not that.
Arnaud De Lie (2002) will become pro with Lotto Soudal next season.
He's (really) fast and strong. In his first race of the year he got 3rd in a (semi)pro race (GP Vermarc won by Hodeg) after a really hard race. He showed his fast legs in the Giro u23 but the bunch never sprinted for the win and Saturday he won his first race as a u23 rider (GP Color Code Bessenge). So I would describe him as "not just a sprinter".
Good to see that Lotto Soudal doesn't make the same mistakes as in the last few years waiting too long to sign guys like De Plus, Van Wilder and Vandenabeele. First guy since Bjorg Lambrecht (and Vanhoucke to a lesser extent) I expect to immediately show his talent when he becomes pro.
He's (really) fast and strong. In his first race of the year he got 3rd in a (semi)pro race (GP Vermarc won by Hodeg) after a really hard race. He showed his fast legs in the Giro u23 but the bunch never sprinted for the win and Saturday he won his first race as a u23 rider (GP Color Code Bessenge). So I would describe him as "not just a sprinter".
Good to see that Lotto Soudal doesn't make the same mistakes as in the last few years waiting too long to sign guys like De Plus, Van Wilder and Vandenabeele. First guy since Bjorg Lambrecht (and Vanhoucke to a lesser extent) I expect to immediately show his talent when he becomes pro.
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I think Brandon Mcnulty can be that person. And than get his own chance in 1 week races.
A few years ago Laengen looked like he'd be perfect to fill that role, a big 80kg TTer who still finished 6th in the gc in the Tour of California.
In addition to those mentioned above, Bjerg might be able to fulfill that role in the future (obviously not to the extent of Dennis at last year's Giro but that isn't a realistic requirement for an all-round domestique). Kept pulling until the lower slopes of the final climb yesterday, when the peloton was significantly reduced, has shown reasonable climbing ability when in a free role, and he would hardly be the first TT guy to improve his climbing with age.
Marc Soler no seguirà al Movistar i l'UAE podria ser el seu equip el 2022 - 05 juliol 2021
El vilanoví du set anys com a professional al conjunt navarrès, amb qui potser no corri més per les lesions
www.lesportiudecatalunya.cat
Soler and Pedrero to UAE. DLC to Movistar.
If Richeze retire Hodeg will take him place.
Marc Soler no seguirà al Movistar i l'UAE podria ser el seu equip el 2022 - 05 juliol 2021
El vilanoví du set anys com a professional al conjunt navarrès, amb qui potser no corri més per les lesions
Soler and Pedrero to UAE. DLC to Movistar.
If Richeze retire Hodeg will take him place.
Hodeg would be the worst pick for led-out man. He probably the worst sprinter at positioning in the peloton. Hodeg, Molano and Gaviria sounds good on paper. But that def not gonna work.
hodeg to uae! together with molano in gaviria's little train. then hodeg can scribble to follow his predecessors and if gaviria still doesn't stand a chance, molano can still close the door neatly.
wonder what gaviria ever did wrong to always end up on his train with the most worthless figures. Richeze was once a hit, but also well past its sell-by date.
Yep. UAE need riders to control the flat. In fact they should have 6 guys to control flat stages & just one climber to support Pogacar. Flat stages are their greatest danger.
I refuse to believe a guy who can blow everyone to pieces over two climbs attacking 32km from the finish needs Marc Soler.
I don't think Pogacar can do that everyday. He needs good climbers forsure.
Is Astana folding? Most of their riders are rumored somewhere else. They have very few riders under contract for next year.
Or the ones with out-going contracts has said to their agents that they want out if they can go somewhere else.
I mean it has been turmoil for years around that team. Wages not being paid on time. Management problems.
Some of them has also been there for a few years. Might want a change of scenery either way.
It appears things have gotten worse for them as well. I suspect you're right about the riders out of contract at the end of the year. I wouldn't be surprised if Gorka either went to his agent or even called management at Movistar himself to see if they would be willing to bring him back. He knows they are a stable team.
Wouldn't it be a surprise if Gorka and Ion goes to different teams?
Sounds weird that he still gets a shot at WT levelHodeg to UAE? That sounds weird, both from an emotional and a sensible point of view.
Sounds weird that he still gets a shot at WT level
But I guess you're not all wrong...
I hope that a good deal of the mental side can be sorted out at another team, though. He's never been the best at positioning, but he does have some very good speed. I think his main problems right now really are that he doesn't really like to get involved in the fighting stuff and also has very probably lost all confidence at this point. I don't know how they are going to work on this, though, I mean DQS has a psychologist... But Hodeg surely doesn't get along with PL and maybe he doesn't feel good in the team anymore, and maybe, if the Jakobsen incident also plays a role a switch of scenery can also help.
I just hope.But I would have thought the probability of being the designated sprinter at a lower team higher. On the other hand as a clear lead-out there's no pressure to bring results, if that is a big problem.
They are good at signing young riders (Matxin's biggest strength), but you're right when it comes to the more established riders. Someone like Sobrero is out of contract, having someone like him (a tt specialist who is pretty light and can climb) would be a great addition to support Pogacar.
Formolo was probably the best big name signing they got over the last few years. Him and Pogi are really close (they also live in the same apartement complext in Monaco) so he doesn't seem to mind working for him.
I’d love to see Aquadro’s face when he realized one of his two go to teams is under new management and Gorka wants to go home.
Transfer of sorts, Soudal to sponsor Quickstep from 2023 and move away from Lotto
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