Transfers and Rumours 2011 > 2012

[Fetisoff]

It really makes no sense from Hushovd's point of view, IMO. He reckons the problem at Garmin was that there were too many leaders and things weren't clear enough from the get go, so he didn't get the support he feels he deserved. To fix that, he moves to BMC, where the problem might be even worse. Unless all he cares about is Roubaix? That might be it, he's not getting any younger and BMC will probably ride for him there.

Well, I guess now we'll just have to wait and see.
The thing here, is that Gilbert has been so widely tipped to go to BMC, most of us have assumed it's a done deal. However if Gilbert moves to a different team, Thor's move makes perfect sense actually.

 

[El Pistolero]

Well, I guess now we'll just have to wait and see.
The thing here, is that Gilbert has been so widely tipped to go to BMC, most of us have assumed it's a done deal. However if Gilbert moves to a different team, Thor's move makes perfect sense actually.

Perhaps he's moving to BMC because Gilbert wants to go there

How would these two ever be rivals other then WC?

Thor sucks at RVV, AGR, FW, LBL. Milan-San Remo is no big deal really, it will just put Hushovd in a seat when Gilbert attacks on the Poggio like he always does.

Thor's season goals are MSR, P-R, Tour, Vuelta and WC. They both target different stages for wins at GTs, so teamwork shouldn't be any problem there as well. Plus Gilbert will skip the Tour most of the time anyway and just do the Vuelta.

 

[Fetisoff]

Perhaps he's moving to BMC because Gilbert wants to go there

How would these two ever be rivals other then WC?

Well, I'm sure that some of the tougher more selective sprint stages in the Tour or Vuelta would be one example.

Something also tells me that Phil might want to try and win P-R at some point in his career too.

But in a way, you're right, I think there might actually be more of a potential rivalry between Cuddles and Phil: Ardennes classics, uphill sprint stages in grand tours...

 

[ingsve]

I think one obstacle for Hushovd might be that Hincapie still wants to win Roubaix as well. Though I see that more as an obstacle for Hincapie.

 

[dlwssonic]

As a huge BMC fan im personally not very excited about this news. I never really supported thor and I dont see him winning PR. Fabian or Tom should usually be the winners. There might be some problems with 2 leaders in BMC for the tdf. hopefully he will work for cuddles occasionally. I still would be more delighted when I heard gilbert is going to BMC. Now thats a real star.

 

[michaeld]

Gilbert will stay with Omega-Pharma-Quickstep, they have him inked. PG banked on a release from OPL, but it didn't happen with this merger.

BMC would not afford Thor/Evans/Gilbert, and keep a crew of lieutenants gainfully employed. Thor doesn't need much, in the most part he just needs everyone else to stay out of his way, and no DS yelling 'we race for third' over the radio.

 

[Havetts]

Weening confirmed to GreenEdge.

 

[dlwssonic]

Gilbert will stay with Omega-Pharma-Quickstep, they have him inked. PG banked on a release from OPL, but it didn't happen with this merger.

BMC would not afford Thor/Evans/Gilbert, and keep a crew of lieutenants gainfully employed. Thor doesn't need much, in the most part he just needs everyone else to stay out of his way, and no DS yelling 'we race for third' over the radio.

Really? Im sure Gilbert or BMC will try to buy themselves out of the contract. The truth is andy rihs can afford thor, evans and gilbert.
He is filthy rich.

 

[Eric8-A]

Weening confirmed to GreenEdge.

You beat me to it

 

[Fetisoff]

Gilbert will stay with Omega-Pharma-Quickstep, they have him inked. PG banked on a release from OPL, but it didn't happen with this merger.

BMC would not afford Thor/Evans/Gilbert, and keep a crew of lieutenants gainfully employed. Thor doesn't need much, in the most part he just needs everyone else to stay out of his way, and no DS yelling 'we race for third' over the radio.

Which company holds the actual license, is it Omega Pharma, or Lotto?


P.S. Cancellara had no trouble buying out his contract last year

 

[LukeSchmid]

I think one obstacle for Hushovd might be that Hincapie still wants to win Roubaix as well. Though I see that more as an obstacle for Hincapie.

Hincapie is getting too old and I just don't think he has any chance. Hushovd at least has a small chance, certainly not as big a chance as Cancellara or Boonen but the strongest riders do not always win as we saw this year.

 

[Parrulo]

But you forget that Cancellara attacked to try to get up to JvS, and Hushovd couldn't handle it. Thor was supposed to follow Cancellara's last attack, and if he made it to JvS, he would outsprint him, but he couldn't follow the Canc.

I fully agree. You win PR by making the race, not by wheelsucking. Last years Thor didn't try to make the race like Tomke and Fabian do.

ty guys good to see some1 still has some good sense.

hushovd has never been able to follow/pull the right move when things get to the decisive parts of P-R and even tho he has 2 good placings never in those races was he in a position to actually contend for the win.

hushovd is just like flecha. a guy that can top 5 P-R but has no chance to win it.

in fact atm only 2 guys can enter roubaix and say " i will make the race so i can win it" and those are boonen and cancellara the others are just pending on those guys moves.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Which company holds the actual license, is it Omega Pharma, or Lotto?


P.S. Cancellara had no trouble buying out his contract last year

saxobank apparently didn't have the highest salaries.
was he even contracted for 11?

anyway thor is a much better PR hope the hincapie lol. This is a very good signing. Never understood all the thor hate.

 

[Fetisoff]

saxobank apparently didn't have the highest salaries.
was he even contracted for 11?

anyway thor is a much better PR hope the hincapie lol. This is a very good signing. Never understood all the thor hate.

Yeah, he was and at some point Bjarne was saying that Fabian is free to buy out his contract for 2 million euros. It was never said what the actual buy-out price was though.

Can't argue with you on the second point though. Hincapie is not going to win P-R, Thor still could. Don't think there was too much Thor hating going on, but I'm sure there will be more of it next year

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Nah Thor hate has been constant in these forums for the past year.

Personally I like Hushovd and would love to see the guy win PR. Or get pipped on the line by langeveld

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Really? Im sure Gilbert or BMC will try to buy themselves out of the contract. The truth is andy rihs can afford thor, evans and gilbert.
He is filthy rich.

Not to mention potential legal challenge -> settlement.

 

[Parrulo]

hey i don't hate thor. you will never see me saying anything bad about his performances at the tour where he mostly successfully compensated the speed he lost as years passed.

i just don't think he is top contender for P-R. he clearly lacks something on the last part of the race. in 2009 he wasn't able to follow boonens move(he crashed but he only did it cus he was under a lot of pressure from boonen) in 2010 he wheel sucked boonen for 30k and flecha for 20k before sprinting for second on the velodrome but the race was already lost and in 2011 where all he had to do was wheelsuck canc he was lucky enough for the moto to stop canc on the carrefour which i honestly think would have been a winning move by canc and then failled to follow canc when he attacked on a false flat road(no cobbles)

quick question: has hushovd ever made an attack that created some sort of important selection on P-R? like boonen and canc do.

 

[Nearly]

Renshaw to OrangeEDGE (Rabobank) http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/wielersport/10344367/__Mark_Renshaw_naar_Rabobank__.html?cid=rss

 

[Tuarts]

Wow. Rabo offered him more than Sky. Hope that stops the Cav to GE rumours too. Interesting that it said (I think) Rabobank (the sponsor) are focusing on the Australian market too. They now have Renshaw, Matthews, Brown and Dennis in RB-CT.

 

[diggercuz]

someone wanna help me out with the translation? Im assuming he has signed on for two years then?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Rabobank (bank) have been getting bigger in Australia so it makes sense.

 

[Nearly]

someone wanna help me out with the translation? Im assuming he has signed on for two years then?

I do not know Dutch but it is sufficently similar to German for me to say that "Rabobank heeft de Australische sprinter Mark Renshaw voor twee jaar vastgelegd" means that he has signed a 2 year contract.

Smart move by Rabo as it has been rapidly growing its Australian market presence (assuming there are any banks left after this week).

Interesting questions as to Renshaw's role. Will he be allowed to race for himself or be there to guide the previously unguided but unquestionably fast Theo missile? Not to mention the likes of Matthews and perhaps Freire**.

Edit: **..... and converting the Rabobus into the Rabotrain

 

[PCutter]

Wow. Rabo offered him more than Sky. Hope that stops the Cav to GE rumours too.

Never thought much of the Cav/GE rumours anyway, but it also makes sense for Sky not to fully pursue Renshaw as I'd imagine part of signing Cav is to get a British lead out train well oiled in time for the London Olympics. Having Renshaw lead him out doesn't help practice the Brit gold medal pursuit.*

* thats pursuit of medals, not the Team Pursuit which Cav obviously won't be a part of

 

[just some guy]

someone wanna help me out with the translation? Im assuming he has signed on for two years then?

Google translate.

Mark Renshaw to Rabobank

From our special correspondent
SAINT WILLEBRORD - Rabobank, the Australian sprinter Mark Renshaw fixed for two years. The pilot of Mark Cavendish in the Dutch team gets the chance to sprint for their own success. Basically he gets even green light to next year's Tour de France as the first sprinter of the team must be prepared.


Mark Renshaw next season riding for Rabobank.


The 28-year-old Renshaw won the Tour of Qatar. Because Rabobank major interests in the Australian market has been attracting an aussie company technically very interesting. In the Tour Down Under, the team the next few years, an increasingly important role.
No more at Cavendish
To what extent the development of Renshaw Theo Bos in the way is not clear. Forest seems next year not be eligible for the Tour team. On the other hand, there were stops printers as Andre Greipel, Thor Hushovd and the young John Degenkolb free when you sprint success in pursuing the Tour. The contract with Rabobank Renshaw offered was much higher than the financial offer which made him Team Sky. Thus, the success torque Cavendish Renshaw finally dismantled.

 

[Eric8-A]

Wow. Renshaw to Rabobank? I figured he'd follow Cavendish. Or is Cavendish also signing on to Rabobank but just keeping it secret for the time being? Don't think so.

So I guess Theo Bos will benefit from Renshaw's leadouts eh?