Thor confirms BMC! Better for Cadel?

[Boeing]

you should never mix the grain with the grape

 

[Ad Rock]

While Gilbert would be an awesome addition for BMC, I still think they need another sprinter. Not necessarily a superstar, but someone who can contend in second tier races. A step up from Kristoff.

I don't really know who's out of contract who they could go for. I can't imagine they'd get Goss or Cav obviously... but maybe Leigh Howard would be a better choice to develop in the sprints? Maybe some of the second tier Quickstep sprinters will be available after their merger like Steegmans, Chicchi or Ciolek?

Pozzatto?????????

 

[auscyclefan94]

That's because you hate bmc.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Interesting...


Cadel Evans: “Regarding Thor coming to the team, the main objective of (team president) Jim Ochowicz was to get some guys onto the team to get some results early so they wouldn't rely just on me for race wins at the start of the year,"


“I said: 'Look Jim, you want to bring a sprinter to the team, I don't want to ride with a sprinter, because I've done that and I've done my share. 'If I do the Tour I want to do it for the win.'

“I was fairly clear about that and Jim was accepting of that, so it's under that basis that Thor comes to our team.”



Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9...printer-in-next-years-Tour.aspx#ixzz1UoYkUOuh

 

[cineteq]

“I said: 'Look Jim, you want to bring a sprinter to the team, I don't want to ride with a sprinter, because I've done that and I've done my share. 'If I do the Tour I want to do it for the win.'

Nice to hear Cadel's feelings right from the start, so it won't be misunderstandings with Thor as it was the case with JV/Garmin.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I always felt that Thor coming to the team could be problematic. I don't have that problem with Gilbert.

 

[jacko_69]

Thor will have to seek his own opportunities without compromising Cadel’s Tour aspirations, he's not a sprinter in the pure sense of the word anymore, he’ll have to look for the breaks like he did this year. I'm sure BMC management have thought this through, as I'm sure Thor knows BMC's focus for the Tour will be in total support of Cadel as it was this year.
On the whole the classics is where Thor's real focus will be, so as far as Cadel is concerned there shouldn't be too many conflicts of interest.

 

[kurtinsc]

Nice to hear Cadel's feelings right from the start, so it won't be misunderstandings with Thor as it was the case with JV/Garmin.

That's not really a good scenario for BMC.

I think Thor and Cadel could co-exist very well at the Tour... mainly because Thor can go for wins without needing much in the way of support, and could provide good assistance on stages where he can't go for a win.

But if Cadel has that attitude... it won't work. Thor has to not ride the Tour for it to happen.

 

[lanternrouge]

I always felt that Thor coming to the team could be problematic. I don't have that problem with Gilbert.

I am sure Gilbert will be most relieved to hear that

 

[kurtinsc]

Pozzatto?????????

Not really what I was thinking of. More a Van Hummel level sprinter. Someone who can contend for wins against lesser sprint fields but shouldn't have much of an ego problem if they aren't the main rider.

With Pozzatto... ego would be a problem.

 

[just some guy]

That's not really a good scenario for BMC.

I think Thor and Cadel could co-exist very well at the Tour... mainly because Thor can go for wins without needing much in the way of support, and could provide good assistance on stages where he can't go for a win.

But if Cadel has that attitude... it won't work. Thor has to not ride the Tour for it to happen.

Unless Thor rides as support for Cadel.

if the TTT is a Cobbled TTT then would you want Thor on your team of course.

Would you want Thor to help with position on flat days yep again.

Who would you want to send up the road on days you want not to drive the Peloton Thor again.

Thor wants the Cobble and I bet if he gets the support he wants if it works or not he will ride in support of Cadel if required or choosen for the team.

Cadel says he doesn´t want a sprinter Thor is not that.

 

[Karl Max]

Unless Thor rides as support for Cadel.

if the TTT is a Cobbled TTT then would you want Thor on your team of course.

Would you want Thor to help with position on flat days yep again.

Who would you want to send up the road on days you want not to drive the Peloton Thor again.

Thor wants the Cobble and I bet if he gets the support he wants if it works or not he will ride in support of Cadel if required or choosen for the team.

Cadel says he doesn´t want a sprinter Thor is not that.

The reason Hushovd choose BMC is because he wanted a strong team around him in the classics. His main focus at this point of his career is the spring classics. After last years tour he said that he was not sure he would go for the tour this year, but after winning the world championship he changed his mind about this. So I dont think the tour is the main target for Hushovd anymore, but of course if he get the chance to start there he will always be at his best there.

According to Norwegian papers Hushovds coach Atle Kvålsvoll has been quoted that next year he may not focus that much on the tour, but rather choose to prepare for the olympics. And if the olympics one of his main targets next year, then riding for Evans in the tour would probably be the perfect way to prepare for the olympics. And going for the green jersey would probably not be a big objective for him next year.

I think both riders will benefit from this transfer.

 

[hfer07]

Hushov just signed the contract & Evans is already "cutting him off" from the teams's Tour? Is that wise at all? even if Thor is a 100% focused on P-R , the classics and the Olympics- I think Evan's comments are just wrong-not because he isn't entitled to do so, but because is too soon make that kind of demand-considering that every Pro cyclist-no matter what is his schedule- The Tour is the most important race in the World & is the most desirable to participate in-so I think is a bit precipitated to make such suggestion-it's like already setting a wall for him from the start-not so good at all....

 

[Fetisoff]

Does all this(Evans' comments) mean that Gilbert is to stay with OPQS?

 

[Nielsa]

Hushov just signed the contract & Evans is already "cutting him off" from the teams's Tour?

Maybe reading too much into Evans' comments? He didn't want a sprinter, fine. Thor isn't a sprinter now, he makes the TTT better and climbs mountains better than some of the domestiques that BMC brought to this year's TdF.

I assumed Evans' comments were related to bringing in a one-dimensional pure sprinter type who needs a train past the 3km mark and needs to be paced up mountains behind the grupetto.

 

[Fatclimber]

3 Stage wins and the yellow jersey for 8 days...

I'm kind of speechless about him not doing the Tour. Most teams would be ecstatic over 10% of those results, let alone a single rider. It's Thor's choice though. Maybe he has realized all his TDF ambitions and is ready to back off and direct his focus totally on Spring races.

 

[hfer07]

Maybe reading too much into Evans' comments? He didn't want a sprinter, fine. Thor isn't a sprinter now, he makes the TTT better and climbs mountains better than some of the domestiques that BMC brought to this year's TdF.

I assumed Evans' comments were related to bringing in a one-dimensional pure sprinter type who needs a train past the 3km mark and needs to be paced up mountains behind the grupetto.

I'm not- and BTW if he wasn't implying Thor-then who is he referring to? we know he's not a pure sprinter nowadays, but Cadel seems to be bothered by the possibility of him "not being at his entire disposal" & rather go for stage hunting/green instead......
I still believe is wrong to do those sort of comments-specially at this moment when the team seems to be united & strong, so the balance can be disrupted with those kind of commentaries....

 

[jobiwan]

Don't really agree with Cadel, Thor would be a much better teammate for Cadel, in possible TTT's and cobbles.

 

[Nielsa]

I'm not- and BTW if he wasn't implying Thor-then who is he referring to?

I saw a Hushovd quote from tuesday this week saying he had talked to Cadel already. Here: http://www.vg.no/sport/sykkel/artikkel.php?artid=10097520

Paraphrased: Hushovd wants to ride the TdF next year. When asked about riding on a team with a GC favourite, he says: - I've talked to Cadel Evans, and I think things will be fine.

Now Cadel's quote:
“I said: 'Look Jim, you want to bring a sprinter to the team, I don't want to ride with a sprinter, because I've done that and I've done my share.

“I was fairly clear about that and Jim was accepting of that, so it's under that basis that Thor comes to our team.”

I read this as saying Ochowicz talked to Cadel before signing Hushovd, saying he wanted to bring in an un-specified sprinter. Cadel says he doesn't want a sprinter that can't carry his own weight up a mountain, someone who needs a lead-out train. Ochowicz says okay, and gets Hushovd, and Cadel is fine with that.

Of course that's just how I read it - we're all just guessing - but given what Hushovd said, I think Evans' quote might be misunderstood when taken out of context.

 

[just some guy]

I'm not- and BTW if he wasn't implying Thor-then who is he referring to? we know he's not a pure sprinter nowadays, but Cadel seems to be bothered by the possibility of him "not being at his entire disposal" & rather go for stage hunting/green instead......
I still believe is wrong to do those sort of comments-specially at this moment when the team seems to be united & strong, so the balance can be disrupted with those kind of commentaries....

I agree with you it is dumb and wrong for Cadel to say that he doesn´t want Thor riding the tour.

Now here is the big one IF he said that.

Media - Cadel to go for Olympic gold was one headline I saw, what Cadel said was he was very surprised he was even considered by Matt White, but he would be an fantastic to ride, if it means helping O´Grady or Matt Goss win or go for the win himself.

Cadel clearly wants the best team riding for him at the tour. One in All in no distractions like a sprinter going for green.

If ACF or anyone on Twitter can ask this question to Cadel.

Did you say you don´t want Thor riding the tour or is it you don´t want any other team goals just your overall placing.

Cadel would be stupid to not want the best team riding for him and if the rumours of the tour are true Thor is part of that team.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Quite clearly Gilbert won't be joining BMC, nor, it seems, anyone with the remotest interest in the GC of GT's.

IMO, Cadel is being an tool. What happens if he gets a mid/long term injury?
He said it himself: nowadays, it's essential to get results which in turn deliver qualifying points.
If he doesn't deliver, the team is on shaky ground.
He's had a golden season, this year. No guarantee he won't have a lousy one, next year.

Clearly, if Thor wasn't in direct competiton with Farrar, at Garmin, or hadn't been offered a hefty chunk of money, he'd be regretting his choice of BMC.........if he isn't already.

 

[ingsve]

It's going around now that Thor signed a contract already in March.

 

[euanli]

And that casts an even more interesting light on Paris Roubaix

 

[ingsve]

And that casts an even more interesting light on Paris Roubaix

It also indicates that Thor didn't really want to go to Garmin to begin with perhaps but rather that was he only forced to because of his existing personal contract with Cervelo. It would seem that March would be too early for friction to appear between him and Vaughters. They hadn't even started racing yet pretty much.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

I'm pretty sure Thor had some conditions regarding what races he will do and leadership when he signed the contract. If he really wants to do the tour and BMC won't let him, he would have signed with someone else.