Yes, for them it makes total sense, but that's also what makes it ridiculous, obviously the system has a major flaw here. Of course you need the team and the confidence to know you'll get the results, but this is certainly not the way it's meant to be.
Sure it's a hole in the system, and it's up to the UCI to close it. Though it's still better system that the old one.
Didnt realize Mathias got renewed. I think he very much has earned it, he has been in some big breaks in some of the monuments and has shown hes an actual rider for these races (Flanders, Roubaix and MSR). Obviously most likely not winning, but has the potential to get some TV-time and decent results alá Erviti in those races for Movistar. It probably also helps that Emma Norsgaard, his sister, is one of the most interesting young riders in women's cycling (as far as I understand at least).
Correct me if Im wrong, but isn't this the first time Abarcá has signed a Danish rider?
According to Mathias Norsgaard pretty much all Movistar extensions were agreed upon during the first months of the year.
He got the offer himself after MSR.
I didn't know this, but Gert Frank apparently rode for Reynolds in its first season in 1980.