Transfers and Rumours 2011 > 2012

[boomcie]

...

You make a few valid points, but I had expected someone to come up with those, because they are common knowledge.

Teammates from another country, are never as useful as the ones from your own country (except for the one from smaller countries maybe). Sure, you can get a few of them to close some gaps in the beginning of the race, but when things get hectic it's not that simple.

Gilbert staying in touch with a few of his Belgian compatriots enables him to mold a strong and loyal team, which will be a lot more solid than a bunch of scattered riders from other countries trying to work together. These riders weren't present at the same team briefing and are harder to reach during the race when an acute situation arises. Some foreigners will also try to hide their loyalty to Gilbert and will therefore not be performing optimally.

Regarding Cavendish: his style of racing is more straightforward than Gilbert's. All he needs to do is keep the bunch together and have a decent leadout at the finish. Gilbert needs teammates for several purposes and in very diverse situations. He might go in the attack with 50k to go, with a few strong riders, but he can also wait it out for the last climb, in which case he needs compatriots in the attack... This further complicates the matter of having foreign "teammates" at the worlds/Olympics.

I'm sure all Belgians will work for Gilbert, regardless of where he rides. Still, it will be very useful for him to close part of the ranks before the start of the worlds rather then during the worlds.

 

[theyoungest]

Jetse Bol turns pro at Rabobank in 2012.

Jens Mouris leaves Vacansoleil, probably for GreenEdge.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Jetse Bol turns pro at Rabobank in 2012.

There's a shocker.

 

[Anonymous]

No big surprise, but Henderson and Sutton both to Greenedge.

Luke Rowe making the step up to the Sky pro team

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

No big surprise, but Henderson and Sutton both to Greenedge.

Luke Rowe making the step up to the Sky pro team

he is pretty quick. Not a bad signing.

I am glad to see Greenedge shaping up.

 

[JRanton]

No big surprise, but Henderson and Sutton both to Greenedge.

Luke Rowe making the step up to the Sky pro team

It's a shame to lose both Henderson and Sutton.

Do you know if any of Sky's current British riders will be leaving the team? Is Jez going to carry on for another year?

 

[Anonymous]

It's a shame to lose both Henderson and Sutton.

Do you know if any of Sky's current British riders will be leaving the team? Is Jez going to carry on for another year?

Dont know. I think Jez is only on one year and Russ is in his last year. Cummings contract might be up this year as well.

If body language is anything to go by it would appear Cav is well and truly one of the team.

 

[nevada]

Never really understood why the contract negotiations happen now. In the situation with Cav, assuming he has agreed some deal with Sky it could ride to their benefit rather than HTC.

 

[just some guy]

Never really understood why the contract negotiations happen now. In the situation with Cav, assuming he has agreed some deal with Sky it could ride to their benefit rather than HTC.

I have thought of this as well. Bit harder for Cav but say Gilbert or a climber type much easier for another team to help get stages etc so the new signing brings points to the new team.

the system is dumb.

 

[Mambo95]

Never really understood why the contract negotiations happen now.

Convenience. Everyone's in the same place. Riders, team bosses, sponsors, agents... They're all at the Tour.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I Thought Gilbert was going to announce th team he was going to before the tour or have I got that wrong?

 

[just some guy]

I Thought Gilbert was going to announce th team he was going to before the tour or have I got that wrong?

1st of August was the date Ive read

 

[just some guy]

So a Belgium super team

Omega -Quickstep

VDB2 may have may the wrong choice if reports of going to Lotto for 4 years are correct.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quick-step-and-omega-pharma-to-become-one-team

 

[boomcie]

So a Belgium super team

Omega -Quickstep

VDB2 may have may the wrong choice if reports of going to Lotto for 4 years are correct.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quick-step-and-omega-pharma-to-become-one-team

That would be great actually. It would be the best solution for al parties. Lotto could keep it's WT-status and Omega Pharma - Quickstep could join Boonen and Gilbert in one team, making it totally awesome.

With Lotto, VDB2 would then have a WT team at his disposal and would therefore have made the right decision. (If of course Lotto keeps a WT license).

 

[Lanark]

That would be great actually. It would be the best solution for al parties. Lotto could keep it's WT-status and Omega Pharma - Quickstep could join Boonen and Gilbert in one team, making it totally awesome.

With Lotto, VDB2 would then have a WT team at his disposal and would therefore have made the right decision. (If of course Lotto keeps a WT license).

Marc Coucke own the WT license. If Lotto want it, I believe they have to apply to it to the UCI like very other team, and I'm not sure if they're the number one candidate (Greenedge).

 

[boomcie]

Marc Coucke own the WT license. If Lotto want it, I believe they have to apply to it to the UCI like very other team, and I'm not sure if they're the number one candidate (Greenedge).

I know Coucke has it, but Lotto has been in the peloton since what? 1984? I'm guessing they'll have a few tricks up their sleeves. We'll see.

+I believe the license expires at the end of this year?

 

[boomcie]

Omega Pharma will pair up with Quick Step, Leopard-Trek or Vancasoleil-DCM. They'll announce their final decision before the start of the Tour.

Omega Pharma manager Geert Coeman reported this to Belga himself.

Source

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

wow seems I was right after all, lefevere doesn't have extra money at all from his czech backer, he just gets omega as new sponsor to have 15 million while lotto won't make it. one belgian pt team instead of possibly 3 seems pretty bad.

 

[just some guy]

Omega Pharma will pair up with Quick Step, Leopard-Trek or Vancasoleil-DCM. They'll announce their final decision before the start of the Tour.

Omega Pharma manager Geert Coeman reported this to Belga himself.

Source

Translation to English..

Before the start of the 98th edition of the Tour de France, which begins Saturday in the Vendee, Omega Pharma will announce which team next season to go along. Reported that Omega-manager Geert Coeman Tuesday at Belga.
"I want to comment too much about not losing," Geert Coeman gave them. , "I have indeed some people who speak closely with the new project. I call the message that we, together with Quick.Step a bit premature and perhaps a little too bluntly. I deny not that the group around Patrick Lefevere one of the three candidates whom we wish to connect our destinies. " "Besides, we also have Quick.Step had extensive contacts with Leopard Trek Vacansoleil DCM. With those three parties we sat in the last straight line, say the last ten meters. Omega Pharma and Quick.Step ever wanted a marriage entered into after that time it was blown up? That was long before my time. Now we talk about something else. We hope to find a solution. Coming days than we know with whom we merge. Later this week the issue have been completed in order to prevent further speculation and with a cool head to start the Tour. " Omega Lotto and have been working together since 2005, but the end of April the National Lottery announced suddenly that the cooperation put was stopped.

If they got with Leopard and Gilbert signs with them - Nightmare

 

[Anonymous]

Somehow the Telegraaf assumed he would go there, but the Greenedge rumour was there long before the Sky one.

I would say the chances of him going to Sky have moved from unlikely to possible.

still dont see it personally.

 

[ingsve]

No big surprise, but Henderson and Sutton both to Greenedge.

Luke Rowe making the step up to the Sky pro team

Are these rumors or confirmed transfers? Any news about Gerrans?

 

[Lanark]

If they got with Leopard and Gilbert signs with them - Nightmare

In some ways it would make sense. Leopard is a big team without a sponsor, Omega Pharma is a big sponsor without a team. But Gilbert going to Leopard would give me some serious Mapei-flashbacks.

 

[Anonymous]

not sure if its on here already but a lot of rumours linking Dekker to garmin development team with a view to riding for Garmin Cervelo next year.

 

[Task_Force]

Stef Clement stays with rabo for another year!!

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Five of the best Italian U23 riders turn pro next year:

Nicola Boem (Zalf Fior) --> Farnese Vini
Matteo Busato (Zalf Fior) --> Farnese Vini
Enrico Battaglin (Zalf Fior) --> Colnago-CSF
Sonny Colbrelli (Zalf Fior) --> Colnago-CSF
Cristian delle Stelle (Trevigiani Bottoli) --> Colnago-CSF

Strange that no bigger team picked such awesome talents like Battaglin and Colbrelli.