Transfers and Rumours 2011 > 2012

[El Pistolero]

Still 4 possibilities left for Gilbert: Astana, BMC, Quickstep & Sky. He won't totally exclude Lotto & Omega Pharma, but assumes they won't have the money.
For the other 4 teams, the money won't matter in his decision, only the sportive possibilities & plans.

Lefevre asked Boonen to decide before the Belgian Championships (June 26) whether he'll stay with QS or not.

Yeah, also read it in the newspaper today

Here's some other info(I already posted in general news thread bc I was too lazy to look for this one)

Contract of 3 years with a salary of 3.5-3.8million euros
He's most impressed by the BMC offer
He wants Vanendert, Jurgen van de Walle and Leukemans with him.
He'll decide before 26 june.

Rabobank and Movistar(lol?) have also made an offer, but Gilbert didn't want to go to those teams. I hope he goes to either BMC or Quickstep.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Gilbert to QS, Boonen to BMC. Would be great.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert to QS, Boonen to BMC. Would be great.

I'd love to see Gilbert at BMC.

He'll have a lot of support in the hilly classics and cobbled classics. I hope he goes there. Imagine Gilbert, Cuddles, Van Avermaet and Leukemans in the same team for LBL. And in the cobbled classics he'll also have a lot of support.

Don't see why Gilbert would want to go to Quickstep, especially if Boonen leaves.

 

[just some guy]

Leukemans at BMC ?

 

[just some guy]

Gilbert to QS, Boonen to BMC. Would be great.

I agreee this would be the best fit

 

[El Pistolero]

Leukemans at BMC ?

If Armstrong can be in a team with Contador then so can GVA and Leukemans xD

Of course GVA can always decide to leave with Gilbert and Leukemans coming in.

 

[El Pistolero]

I agreee this would be the best fit

Why would Quickstep fit? They have no one to support him if Boonen leaves(with his entourage)

Yeah, they'll buy new names this year, but we don't know which ones, so perhaps Gilbert will play it safe or tell QS who to buy.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Don't see why Gilbert would want to go to Quickstep, especially if Boonen leaves.

Because they have found a gold mine recently. Meaning Gilbert can build his team around him.

 

[luckyboy]

Hope he goes to QST or Sky. ACF would be insufferable if Gilbert ended up at BMC.

Why would Quickstep fit? They have no one to support him if Boonen leaves(with his entourage)

Yeah, they'll buy new names this year, but we don't know which ones, so perhaps Gilbert will play it safe or tell QS who to buy.

You just said he will bring Leukemans, Vanendert and Van De Walle with him. I'd say that was pretty good support in addition to what is already there.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Hope he goes to QST or Sky. ACF would be insufferable if Gilbert ended up at BMC.



You just said he will bring Leukemans, Vanendert and Van De Walle with him. I'd say that was pretty good support in addition to what is already there.

Gilbert, Leukemans, Chavanel, Vanendert, Van Keirsbulck, Stybar, De Weert, Cataldo, Seeldraeyers, Steegmans, Terpstra + other additions.
Would be a very good classics team imo.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert, Leukemans, Chavanel, Vanendert, Van Keirsbulck, Stybar, De Weert, Cataldo, Seeldraeyers, Steegmans, Terpstra + other additions.
Would be a very good classics team imo.

But Cuddles is someone who can ride the final of a race like LBL. None of the others can't.
But I don't see Boonen leaving as he called Stybar his protegé and he won't leave QS.

 

[just some guy]

But Cuddles is someone who can ride the final of a race like LBL.

Which is why Boonen is a better fit at BMC.

BMC have Cadel and GVA for the Hilly one day races

and need a leader for the cobbles who can win.

Boonen plus 2 henchmen GVA, Burghardt,Schär,Phinney,Hinchapie,Quinziato, Ballen (unless having early retirement) D Wyss, Zahner. Kohler, plus a couiple of US boys

makes for a good looking classics unit

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Yeah, also read it in the newspaper today

Here's some other info(I already posted in general news thread bc I was too lazy to look for this one)

Contract of 3 years with a salary of 3.5-3.8million euros
He's most impressed by the BMC offer
He wants Vanendert, Jurgen van de Walle and Leukemans with him.
He'll decide before 26 june.

Rabobank and Movistar(lol?) have also made an offer, but Gilbert didn't want to go to those teams. I hope he goes to either BMC or Quickstep.

GVA + Gilbert now that's going to be difficult, Gilbert was one of the reasons Greg left OPL. He didn't want to play domestique anymore...

 

[El Pistolero]

Which is why Boonen is a better fit at BMC.

BMC have Cadel and GVA for the Hilly one day races

and need a leader for the cobbles who can win.

Boonen plus 2 henchmen GVA, Burghardt,Schär,Phinney,Hinchapie,Quinziato, Ballen (unless having early retirement) D Wyss, Zahner. Kohler, plus a couiple of US boys

makes for a good looking classics unit

Yeah, but I don't expect Cuddles to drop everyone on the hills and do a solo TT. His lack of sprint in LBL is a big disadvantage.

These days, I'd even rate Gilbert higher for the cobbled classics.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

But Cuddles is someone who can ride the final of a race like LBL. None of the others can't.

Leukemans? Vanendert? both did very good this year.
+ more new additions...

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Interesting talk of Gilbert to QST, Boonen to resign or go elsewhere. I've been thinking Boonen would resign with QST UNLESS Gilbert jumps to QST. Then if Gilbert goes to QST, I have a feeling Boonen would leave for another team as Gilbert/Boonen on same team seems like too many roosters in the same hen house. But I don't know, just guessing. Any of that make sense?

 

[saganftw]

Interesting talk of Gilbert to QST, Boonen to resign or go elsewhere. I've been thinking Boonen would resign with QST UNLESS Gilbert jumps to QST. Then if Gilbert goes to QST, I have a feeling Boonen would leave for another team as Gilbert/Boonen on same team seems like too many roosters in the same hen house. But I don't know, just guessing. Any of that make sense?

does gilbert want to win cobbled classics? if yes then they cant work together...if no then i dont see a problem,especially in QST which lacks GT rider

 

[luckyboy]

But Cuddles is someone who can ride the final of a race like LBL. None of the others can't.
But I don't see Boonen leaving as he called Stybar his protegé and he won't leave QS.

Gilbert doesn't need anyone in the finale clearly. Anyway Leukemans will be a superdomestique.

Yeah, but I don't expect Cuddles to drop everyone on the hills and do a solo TT. His lack of sprint in LBL is a big disadvantage.

These days, I'd even rate Gilbert higher for the cobbled classics.

You rate Gilbert higher than who? Boonen?

 

[Peyote]

Boonen to Saxo and Gilbert (+Leukemans, Vanendert,..) to QS. That would be great.

 

[El Pistolero]

Leukemans? Vanendert? both did very good this year.
+ more new additions...

Yeah, but he'd also have those if he goes to BMC. Just seems like a better team to me without a leader for the classics. As I doubt Boonen will leave anyway.

 

[El Pistolero]

Gilbert doesn't need anyone in the finale clearly. Anyway Leukemans will be a superdomestique.




You rate Gilbert higher than who? Boonen?

Yeah, but for the Ronde only then. If he'd have worked together with Ballan after the final hill they would've been gone.

 

[dlwssonic]

Boonen or gilbert to BMC yes. They do need a big, winning leader. But if they take leukmans alone then no. They need riders who constantly win. leukmans will become another ballan or hincapie.

 

[Michele]

So far this year Leukemans did much better than Ballan+Hincapie imho.

 

[dlwssonic]

So far this year Leukemans did much better than Ballan+Hincapie imho.

maybe hincapie but ballan had a pretty decent spring, leaving doping aside.

 

[taiwan]

I think Gilbert needs a team purely built around him. You could probably start a new team up with only Gilbert + neo-pros, and he'd be able to carry it. Hardly see the point of putting him on a team with anyone who wants to do anything in any day race.

i.e. Gilbert to BMC = too much. They have their chances with Evans and their many strong but less successful riders. I still can't imagine Boonen ever leaving Quick Step, although it was me who posted the article. It was probably just planted by Boonen's agent to add weight to their contract negotiations.