Thomas could leave Sky

[Anonymous]

I was going to put this one in the transfers thread, but with a number of brits on here it will probably derail that thread slightly so decided (against my better judgement) to create a thread for it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jul/18/geraint-thomas-team-sky-2012?INTCMP=SRCH

"A couple of the teams I've spoken to said they'd be happy to let me ride in the Games," he added. "It means a lot to a lot of people. Just because I'm British it doesn't mean 100% I'd stay. I'm definitely not going to discount them [other offers]. I'd listen to anyone really."

 

[thehog]

I was going to put this one in the transfers thread, but with a number of brits on here it will probably derail that thread slightly so decided (against my better judgement) to create a thread for it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jul/18/geraint-thomas-team-sky-2012?INTCMP=SRCH

Doesn’t surprise me. The all for Wiggo show must be a little annoying when Brad hasn’t brought home the bacon two years running now. They should be deploying Thomas in other ways but Sky don’t seem to care much outside the Tour. Thomas has got some bloody good talent – I see him as a Grand Tour rider one day but they’re barely preparing him for that role.

 

[hatcher]

Doesn’t surprise me. The all for Wiggo show must be a little annoying when Brad hasn’t brought home the bacon two years running now. They should be deploying Thomas in other ways but Sky don’t seem to care much outside the Tour. Thomas has got some bloody good talent – I see him as a Grand Tour rider one day but they’re barely preparing him for that role.

How should they be deploying him? Making him leader for Paris-Roubaix is a pretty significant deployment.

 

[Anonymous]

Personally I think Sky should be saying to Thomas, what do you want to do, and give him everything he asks for.

Hes not the kind of guy who is going to ask for leadership roles just for the glory, if he cant back it up.

I certainly think Garmin will have made him a major offer. JV has said many many times this year how much he admires Geraint, and I think they will be pretty desperate to get him.

Sky really need to step up and offer him whatever it takes. If they dont, you have to question a little their commitment to the idea of bringing through the best of british talent.

Man Utd to Wigan should be viewed by them as a backward step.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

If Cav goes to Sky then most of the team would be smart to leave.

 

[hrotha]

Sounds like the usual "I'll listen to other offers, so Sky better make sure they give me what I'm worth" stuff. Valverde also said he'd be looking to other options.

 

[Parrulo]

thomas is no GT contender and never will be one.

he can become a major force on the cobbled classics tho, in fact sky should put him ahead of flecha for next year's classics because flecha doesn't has what it takes to win and his best years are behind him while thomas is completely the opposite i would say.

but what is causing all of this? maybe sky are taking the guy for granted and not paying/offering him what he deserves?

what teams would want him? A team like saxo that is rebuilding his classics squad could use thomas.

btw dim this would be better on the transfers thread, it wouldn't derail it because this is transfer related . . . .

 

[ansimi]

Always smart to be open to other offers. I think he'll be worth more money to Sky than to other teams but he might find a nice fit somewhere else. It probably also depends on what else is shaking down at Sky. Cav would make it a very different team.

 

[jobiwan]

I think Garmin would be in the running, Leopard would be wise to get him for the Canc.

IF he leaves of course!

 

[Mambo95]

Sounds like the usual "I'll listen to other offers, so Sky better make sure they give me what I'm worth" stuff. Valverde also said he'd be looking to other options.

And Boonen 'considered' many offers, too.

He hasn't got any intention of leaving as long as he's paid what's he's worth.

 

[Midnightfright]

Personally I think Sky should be saying to Thomas, what do you want to do, and give him everything he asks for.

Hes not the kind of guy who is going to ask for leadership roles just for the glory, if he cant back it up.

I certainly think Garmin will have made him a major offer. JV has said many many times this year how much he admires Geraint, and I think they will be pretty desperate to get him.

Sky really need to step up and offer him whatever it takes. If they dont, you have to question a little their commitment to the idea of bringing through the best of british talent.

Man Utd to Wigan should be viewed by them as a backward step.

I like the Man U to Wigan reference. Very good. I still hard to believe SKY wouldn't give him what he wants, I still would be leaning towards him using this to help with contract talks. He seems to have massive potential in the cobbled classics and I fully expect him to be a major player next year. I think there's a lot of teams not just Garmin that would want him. But I still end up think surely SKY would be atleast as supportive as any other team of his track ambitions.

 

[hatcher]

There is no way in hell Sky won't be bending backwards to give him what he wants. Even if Thomas was 100% committed to staying, he should still be talking to other teams to make sure Sky give him the deal he deserves.

Just too good a fit for him to leave IMO. Young, talented, British, good with the media. Sky would be insane to not offer whatever they can.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Sounds like the usual "I'll listen to other offers, so Sky better make sure they give me what I'm worth" stuff. Valverde also said he'd be looking to other options.

You're probably right but it's a bit unusual to do this quite so nakedly. The quote is attributed to Thomas rather than 'a source close to the rider'.

Hopefully this is a 'don't take me for granted' negotiating ploy because Sky and Thomas Geraint are a perfect match as far as I can tell.

 

[Midnightfright]

Maybe G is a massive fan if transition sun glasses and his is desperate to do a top quality ad campaign hence the talk of Garmin.

 

[ruswilks]

I'd imagine it's just a bit of posturing from G to make sure he gets maximum value from his new contract, I can't see Sky not giving him exactly what he wants- he is the perfect BC track-to-road success story.

I'd imagine he'll also want a protected role on the cobbles and perhaps the chance to have a go at some week long stage races, aswell as freedom in the GTs to be more than Cav's 1km to go man.

 

[Midnightfright]

I'd imagine it's just a bit of posturing from G to make sure he gets maximum value from his new contract, I can't see Sky not giving him exactly what he wants- he is the perfect BC track-to-road success story.

I'd imagine he'll also want a protected role on the cobbles and perhaps the chance to have a go at some week long stage races, aswell as freedom in the GTs to be more than Cav's 1km to go man.

And let's be honest he shown enough to make those demands. Good for him xx

 

[Tank Engine]

Makes sense to keep your options open. Sky would certainly be supportive of him peaking for the olympics, but if Cav is coming to Sky, the dynamics of the team would certainly change. He is definitely looking to be a leader in the spring classics (looking forward to Flanders and Paris-Roubaix) and should be a major player in shorter stage races. Can't see that Geraint will ever have the ability in the high mountains to be a GC threat in the grand tours (although I've been pleasantly surprised with his progress in this field). I would say that Sky are betting on Kennaugh becoming their GC man within 3-4 years time. He'd be happy to be a super domestique in the Tour (apart from next year), as long as he is a leader in the spring.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Sounds like the usual "I'll listen to other offers, so Sky better make sure they give me what I'm worth" stuff. Valverde also said he'd be looking to other options.

Exactly.

Move along, nothing to see here.

 

[Swabian Lass]

if I were him I'd want to keep my options open in case they sign Cav. If Thomas gets what he wants in the Spring and decent pay he'll stay. If he suspects he's going to be sacrificed to finance/lead out Cav, then he'd be smart to move.

 

[greenedge]

I don't think he would leave Sky till after the Olympics.

 

[BYOP88]

Hey Dim, maybe you'll know slightly more about this than others here, during the British RR were there team orders or was it a case we don't care who wins as long as we win?

 

[MartinGT]

Man Utd to Wigan

Oh TSF you make me chuckle. Team Sky need to start winning things before they can be even thought of in that sort of anology Unless, you are implying Team Sky are Wigan of course and just got confused

back to the OP. I really like Thomas as a rider and think he could make a great classics rider and would like to see him stay at Sky.

Didnt he get "leadership" at PR because of Flecha poor show at RvV? I cant remember now It will be interesting what happens with him.

 

[MartinGT]

Hey Dim, maybe you'll know slightly more about this than others here, during the British RR were there team orders or was it a case we don't care who wins as long as we win?

They recom it was each man for themselves to a certain degree, well, thats what Wiggo said.

 

[gyrotime]

Will the recent legal problems / drop in stock price have any affect on the team Sky budget over the next couple of years (and thus their ability to offer lots of big contracts?) I honestly am not very familiar with the sponsorship setup and Newscorps overall investment, or whether there is any connection to this might be a total non-issue. Just asking...

 

[King Of The Wolds]

if I were him I'd want to keep my options open in case they sign Cav. If Thomas gets what he wants in the Spring and decent pay he'll stay. If he suspects he's going to be sacrificed to finance/lead out Cav, then he'd be smart to move.

Why not both? He can be leader for the spring Classics and then get to celebrate multiple Grand Tour stage wins as part of his team for the rest of the season, if Cav joins. Most cyclists would kill for those opportunities.