Transfers and Rumours 2011 > 2012

[Ryo Hazuki]

That's why he just found a new sponsor

And I'm sure Contador rides pro bono for good old Riis.

what new sponsor? he only has saxobank


also hoste to accent willems verandes :lolcry:

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

It always infuriates me when teams ask for the bikes back, especially from the domestiques, the teams are hardly paying for the bikes as it is all sponsored. Riders should get to keep a minimum of 2 of their team bikes.

they also get itt bikes that cost like 15.000 euros and the sponsor wants them back of course

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

That is because Cancellara and the Schlecks obviously aren't interesting for sponsors. Their new team couldn't find one either after all. So maybe we can't blame that one on Riis.

maybe kim andersen or who was it? is also an utter tool, that seems more like it. lots of talks but no deeds as is riis. how many tours has he won now as a director?

 

[El Pistolero]

what new sponsor? he only has saxobank


also hoste to accent willems verandes :lolcry:

No he doesn't

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=45295

 

[Benotti69]

they also get itt bikes that cost like 15.000 euros and the sponsor wants them back of course

that's why when you see pictures of the teams home base full of frames from the previous year in the previous year colours

 

[Angliru]

riis never finds sponsors.this is such a myth even with cancellara and shclecks on his team he had no money and almost no sponsors

So who exactly has been keeping this boat afloat for so long if not Riis?

 

[Thomsena]

maybe kim andersen or who was it? is also an utter tool, that seems more like it. lots of talks but no deeds as is riis. how many tours has he won now as a director?

When do you start taking your head out of your a rse?

 

[Cimber]

what new sponsor? he only has saxobank

He did find a new sponsor - just not a title sponsor.

Free training facilities and some money.
http://saxobanksungard.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=3446

 

[craig1985]

I think some of the riders previous bikes have to be donated to developing 3rd world cycling countries (ie in Africa, Asia, and some parts of South America). This is a UCI thing. Those who retire get to keep their bike/s if they pay for it, but it costs them next to nothing for it. I've seen former Silence Lotto domestique and now DS at Saxo Bank, Nick Gates at local club races and on training rides riding the Ridley that he was on during the '08 season with 11-speed Campagnolo (Super) Record groupset.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

If Contador gets banned they'll even be a crappy Pro Conti team lol.

Bolded names are somewhat decent...

Im with you, very average team. No way worthy of WT without contador.

 

[Thomsena]

Im with you, very average team. No way worthy of WT without contador.

Wouldn't be average if it wasn't for Contador though..

 

[nobilis]

Wouldn't be average if it wasn't for Contador though..

+1

Contador's salary accounts for maybe half or not more of the total budget for riders salaries.

 

[Cimber]

Wouldn't be average if it wasn't for Contador though..

Exactly. While they dont have a budget like BMC, SKY and Radioshack they do have a a nice budget, only Bertie costs so much that it puts alot of restraints on the the rest of the team. Without Bertie they could easily sign alot more classy riders.

As Riis said some weeks ago "Contador costs the same as 5 big stars"

 

[Benotti69]

I think some of the riders previous bikes have to be donated to developing 3rd world cycling countries (ie in Africa, Asia, and some parts of South America). This is a UCI thing. Those who retire get to keep their bike/s if they pay for it, but it costs them next to nothing for it. I've seen former Silence Lotto domestique and now DS at Saxo Bank, Nick Gates at local club races and on training rides riding the Ridley that he was on during the '08 season with 11-speed Campagnolo (Super) Record groupset.

I can see the point of the team wanting 2 (1 race and tt) bikes back but letting the rider keep 1 race and his training bike.

 

[Ney the Viking]

In an interview with a Danish newspaper Riis has said that in the spring they will work on the classics with Nuyens and work on a regular leadout train for JJ. Where the aim is that the leadout will be fully working at the Giro where they want to content for the early stages. Also Majka gets free reigns at the Giro to see how does at a GC (seems like Riis thinks he has capabilites as a future star).

Source http://politiken.dk/sport/cykling/ECE1465973/riis-klar-med-nyt-trumfkort-til-giro-starten-i-danmark/

 

[gilbertador]

Thing is Contador pulls in the same results as 5 big stars as well, the only teams capable of employing Contador and having other good riders are super teams with insane budgets.

 

[craig1985]

Thomas Kvist has retired at the age of 24 and is off to medical school.

 

[Eric8-A]

Has Tom Zirbel said anything about his team for next year?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

It looks like Gediminas Bagdonas may be returning to the An Post Sean Kelly Team for another year, as Geox look less and less likely to find a new sponsor in time. Apparently, he's been in touch with APST about a plan B, and they, unsurprisingly, would be only too happy to have him back. If this happens it's great for APST, but very hard on a rider who surely deserved a ride with a big team after a phenomenal season.

APST are apparently also on the verge of signing Niko Eeckhout for yet another season, with the 41 year old(!) looking likely to postpone retirement again.

http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_5992.shtml

The positive side of this is that APST, who had by far their best ever season last year, are likely to have a seriously strong team for a Conti outfit. They were expecting to lose four of their five main race winners last year (Bagdonas to Geox, Eeckhout to retirement, McNally to Europcar and Fenn to Omega Pharma), only holding on to Sam Bennett. And they had moved to replace them with a new crop of ambitious young track stars. Now it looks as if they'll have a team with all bar Fenn of their best riders from last year, along with the guys they were hoping would step into their shoes. The most immediately promising of the new riders look to be Scott Law, Mark Christian and Neils Wytinck (all 20 years old). They have also signed Jonny Bellis, which seems like a good move for both parties.

The downside is that it's a real pity that a rider like Bagdonas can have such a dominant season on a Conti team and still not get a chance at a higher level. The guy won a stage of the Tour of Britain, the Ras GC and two stages, the Ronde de l'Oise GC and a stage, plus his national ITT championship. If that doesn't get you a ride on a World Tour or a Pro Conti team, I'm not sure what exactly a Conti rider is supposed to do. Another casualty of the many team collapses and mergers this year.

Hopefully APST will get a lot of good invites this year. They are talking about becoming Pro Conti in 2013 and their team for 2012 looks like they wouldn't disgrace themselves at that level.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

it's better to win smaller races then to become one of zillion wt helpers that there are

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

it's better to win smaller races then to become one of zillion wt helpers that there are

At one level, I agree with you.

But, the fact is that he's already achieved close to as much as you can achieve on a decent Conti team, with a programme like An Post's. A rider who wins that much is obviously pretty ambitious, and once you've shown you are a winner at a lower level you are always going to want to ride at a higher level. That would mean starting out as a helper, but that's part of cycling unless you are obviously a phenomenal young talent earmarked for big things from the start. He's shown he can take opportunities when he gets them.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

bagdonas still ride races like dwars door vlaanderen or something. races where he woull be a leader or protected role and he hasn't show his class yet there so he can still prove a lot and if that's too high for him then it's still beter to win again smaller races then become a helper that nobody notices

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

bagdonas still ride races like dwars door vlaanderen or something. races where he woull be a leader or protected role and he hasn't show his class yet there so he can still prove a lot and if that's too high for him then it's still beter to win again smaller races then become a helper that nobody notices

That's true. An Post tend to get invites to races like the Tour of Belgium, Tour of Oman etc.

 

[FF'Wilco]

According to wielerland Kashechkin will ride for Team RusVelo. Astana is making a slot for Cobo ?

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

According to wielerland Kashechkin will ride for Team RusVelo. Astana is making a slot for Cobo ?

Wouldn't surprise me.

He wants to ride the Tour, though, so there may be leadership issues if it comes to that. Kreuziger and Brajkovic wouldn't be very pleased, I'd imagine.