Transfers and Rumours 2011 > 2012

[Ryo Hazuki]

Zargari, Gazvoda and Shpilevsky

still funny how ag2r and geox know how to use the system for them

 

[jens_attacks]

no betancourt at liquigas after all.probably it's better.

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=43587&tp=n

 

[ingsve]

Zargari, Gazvoda and Shpilevsky

Ya, it's so sad that riding really well at your current level now means you get a shot at moving up to better races rather than being stuck at the same 1.2 and 2.2 races all your career. Shameful really. They should really decline those offers.

 

[roundabout]

And you get all of that from where?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Ya, it's so sad that riding really well at your current level now means you get a shot at moving up to better races rather than being stuck at the same 1.2 and 2.2 races all your career. Shameful really. They should really decline those offers.

that's completely not his point he thinks it's sad from ag2r. still I;m happy with it because these asian riders get a chance here, iranian riders are promising. amir zargari is better than half the ag2r roster

 

[Sophistic]

Ya, it's so sad that riding really well at your current level now means you get a shot at moving up to better races rather than being stuck at the same 1.2 and 2.2 races all your career. Shameful really. They should really decline those offers.

Ah come on, Sohrabi for example brings more points than VdB2...this is absurd

 

[Angliru]

The only good news in this would be Samuel Sanchez riding in the same team as his friend. I wonder where someone like Igor Anton would end up at if this was really true.

I don't even want to think about it.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Ah come on, Sohrabi for example brings more points than VdB2...this is absurd

that's because vdb2 had no results this year basically. that's what you get for always focusing on one race per year

 

[canyonball]

no betancourt at liquigas after all.probably it's better.

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=43587&tp=n

Well, the initial news weren't very assuring.

If I understand correctly, he's contracted to A&S untill 2013, but.... last summer, he signed a contract with Liquigas for the 2012 season. The contract would only be valid if Aqua & Saponne wouldn't be on the road...can you do that? sounds sketchy, anyway.

 

[pastronef]

Well, the initial news weren't very assuring.

If I understand correctly, he's contracted to A&S untill 2013, but.... last summer, he signed a contract with Liquigas for the 2012 season. The contract would only be valid if Aqua & Saponne wouldn't be on the road...can you do that? sounds sketchy, anyway.

I guess the Acqua & Sapone management had a big scare when Garzelli was rumoured to leave (to Lampre?) so their 2012 Giro invitation would've been in real danger
luckily all went well for them

 

[Christian]

Ya, it's so sad that riding really well at your current level now means you get a shot at moving up to better races rather than being stuck at the same 1.2 and 2.2 races all your career. Shameful really. They should really decline those offers.

Well it's good for the riders but it is kind of sad from another point of view because it seems to go against AG2R's usual "philosophy" ... they have never been very successful but that's the way they did things and they always stuck with that. Now they are forced to bring in riders they normally wouldn't have considered just for their points.

That being said it's always nice to see some new faces and some "exotic" nations in the WorldTour so best of luck to them and may they quickly adapt to the peloton

 

[will10]

I think the UCI globalisation thing works to some extent with the AG2R case. Gives those a chance who win the minor continental rankings like the Asian Tour an opportunity to ride at the top lvel.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I think the UCI globalisation thing works to some extent with the AG2R case. Gives those a chance who win the minor continental rankings like the Asian Tour an opportunity to ride at the top lvel.

exactly the uci and anyone wanting more globalisation in cycling can't be happier

 

[will10]

exactly the uci and anyone wanting more globalisation in cycling can't be happier

unfortunately i can see a lot of these cases coming up over the next couple of years where guys like Mizbani will join a PT team, ride a handful of races all year and then be released cos a) they want to go back to asia and b) becuase they didn't pick up any pts.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I doubt that. those that can't handle the level will disapear yes, iranians might go too because iranian teams pay a lot more and they can't become stars in europe. but still some will stay that have the level and will to stay. this is also a good way to have within few years some iranian stars coming up.

 

[ingsve]

Ah come on, Sohrabi for example brings more points than VdB2...this is absurd

Sohrabi actually wins races. VdB2 doesn't win anything. Granted I think the points scale is a bit too skewed towards only wins but those two aren't exactly a representative pair to compare.

 

[Cimber]

exactly the uci and anyone wanting more globalisation in cycling can't be happier

Those names riders will be without work when their contract expires and otehr newbees from exotic countries will get a contract if they have points. They arent hiring riders, but buying points. Its not healthy to build teams up in such a way

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Those names riders will be without work when their contract expires and otehr newbees from exotic countries will get a contract if they have points. They arent hiring riders, but buying points. Its not healthy to build teams up in such a way

if they prove to be an asset then they will stay it's in the hand of the riders. the whole buying points thing is for a large part so much bs. you do know that only first 15 riders count in this and other 15 riders can have zero points so helpers or talents.

 

[El Pistolero]

Sohrabi actually wins races. VdB2 doesn't win anything. Granted I think the points scale is a bit too skewed towards only wins but those two aren't exactly a representative pair to compare.

I doubt Sohrabi will win races in Europe though

 

[will10]

I doubt Sohrabi will win races in Europe though

the fact of the matter is we have no idea. Same as when Haedo came from America, he could've been the next Cipollini, he could have failed completely. As it was he ended up somewhere in the middle, perhaps the same could be said of Sohrabi.

 

[luckyboy]

Zargari, Gazvoda and Shpilevsky

Have these been confirmed by the team?

 

[El Pistolero]

the fact of the matter is we have no idea. Same as when Haedo came from America, he could've been the next Cipollini, he could have failed completely. As it was he ended up somewhere in the middle, perhaps the same could be said of Sohrabi.

I wouldn't mind a Persian cycling star, but chances are bigger he'll fail. Haedo is a good cyclist and wins more than JVDB, but I'd rather have the latter on my team.

 

[roundabout]

Have these been confirmed by the team?

Don't think there are news on the AG2R page, but it's on the French federation website so I am almost certain that these are actual transfers.

http://ffc.fr/a_encart_centraux/ACTU_Depeches_LA_FRANCE_CYCLISTE.asp?actu_id=1374

 

[JRanton]

"I think the expectations are that we'll be competitive and get the colours of the jersey to the front for large percentages of the time."

By pulling back breaks on the front of the peleton no doubt. GreenEdge in the Tour is the best thing that could have happened for Sky, Cav and Wiggins. It'll be like having 16 domestiques as opposed to just seven.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Anyone heard anything about teams looking to sign Gediminas Bagdonas (another rider with some sporting criterion points)? I've now seen a few articles saying that he's been negotiating with a bigger team or that he's "caught the eye" of big teams. It was even mentioned in an interview with the An Post team manager. But I still haven't seen any team named.