Transfers and Rumours 2012 > 2013

[Netserk]

Does Cantwell and/or Kump count as Neo-pros?

 

[Kazistuta]

just saying euskaltel is a more rounded in ways than team than quickstep, that never get criticised. who have zero for gt's and hilly classics.

Apart from Samu, who has got "the Milkshake" on Euskaltel in your opinion?

I like their team and culture, but let's be real:

Landa & Nieve has dissappointed majorly this year, considering their hype.
Anton seems to lack all the luck a GC contender should have.
Gorka x 2 has delivered somewhat positive surprises this year, but neither of them collect top5 places on regular basis.
Pello Bilbao is still an interesting talent, but haven't shown anything yet.

Apart from Samu, who on Euskaltel is a top5 potential for hilly classics and GT's?

And what about for time trials, cobbled races, sprints? Noone!

The team you're comparing with just had an exceptional season. I simply don't get the comparison, unless if it's to wind up El Pisti.

OPQS has several names competing for top5 in cobble races: Boonen, Chavanel, Terpstra etc.
They have several elite time trialists: Martin, Leipheimer, Kwiatkowski & Grabsch (granted, Grabsch is over the hill, but still)
They have at least two sprinters capable of winning: Boonen & Fenn (and had Chicchi this year)
They have Trentin & Van Keirsbulck, two youngsters with more to show from their seasons than Bilbao.

Yep,they don't have any top10 contenders for hilly classics (Devenyns, Chavanel and De Weert all have shown promise in these races though), but hadn't Leipheimer been injured this spring, I'm sure he would have finished in the top3-5 in Tour De France. Peter Velits also showed potential in the Vuelta while riding for HTC, and they've just signed Brambilla, who impressed a lot in the Giro.

I get that you emphasize the mountains and GT's, but there's no way a team like Omega Pharma should be compared to Euskaltel based on strength and versatility. A comparison with Saxo Bank from this year would've been more appropriate: "A one-man band" (Samu vs. Berto).

 

[janraaskalt]

Does Cantwell and/or Kump count as Neo-pros?

No, too old (for the UCI definition).

 

[Netserk]

No, too old (for the UCI definition).

What is the definition?
Never mind I found the definition (23 years old).

 

[janraaskalt]

What is the definition?

Art. 7
1. The status of new professional is given to any rider who joins a
UCI ProTeam or Professional Continental Team for the first time no
later than during his twenty-second year.
For the application of this article the date of joining shall be the
date on which the rider’s contract comes into force.
The age of the rider is determined by the difference between the
year of his hiring and the year of his birth.
2. The status of new professional ends:
a. If the contract comes into force before 1 July: on 31 December
of the subsequent registration year;
b. If the contract comes into force after 30 June: on 31 December of
the second subsequent registration year.
During this period the rider shall retain the status of new professional
even if:
a. The rider reaches the age of 23 during this period;
b. The contract is terminated early and the rider changes team.
3. If, at the time that the new professional’s contract comes into
force, the remaining term of the contract between the paying
agent and the principle partner or contracts between the paying
agent and the two principal partners is less than duration of the
contract as determined under the first paragraph of point 2 above
but equal to at least one year, the duration of the new professional’s
contract may be limited to the remaining duration of the contract
with the principal partner or the longer of the contracts with
the two principal partners.
If, on expiry of the contract between the paying agent and the
principle partner or the contracts between the paying agent and
the two principle partners, the team continues its activities or the
paying agent continues its activities in another team, he must reemploy
the rider at that rider’s request for at least one year and
under conditions which may not be less favourable to the rider.

 

[Netserk]

Art. 7
1. The status of new professional is given to any rider who joins a
UCI ProTeam or Professional Continental Team for the first time no
later than during his twenty-second year.
For the application of this article the date of joining shall be the
date on which the rider’s contract comes into force.
The age of the rider is determined by the difference between the
year of his hiring and the year of his birth.
2. The status of new professional ends:
a. If the contract comes into force before 1 July: on 31 December
of the subsequent registration year;
b. If the contract comes into force after 30 June: on 31 December of
the second subsequent registration year.
During this period the rider shall retain the status of new professional
even if:
a. The rider reaches the age of 23 during this period;
b. The contract is terminated early and the rider changes team.
3. If, at the time that the new professional’s contract comes into
force, the remaining term of the contract between the paying
agent and the principle partner or contracts between the paying
agent and the two principal partners is less than duration of the
contract as determined under the first paragraph of point 2 above
but equal to at least one year, the duration of the new professional’s
contract may be limited to the remaining duration of the contract
with the principal partner or the longer of the contracts with
the two principal partners.
If, on expiry of the contract between the paying agent and the
principle partner or the contracts between the paying agent and
the two principle partners, the team continues its activities or the
paying agent continues its activities in another team, he must reemploy
the rider at that rider’s request for at least one year and
under conditions which may not be less favourable to the rider.

Thanks

 

[MatParker117]

Here's Sky's Business so far (Put Cav in unknown as it's not yet confirmed):

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/535170/sky-strengthens-gc-focused-squad.html

Staying
■ Edvald Boasson Hagen
■ Bernhard Eisel
■ Chris Froome
■ Mathew Hayman
■ Sergio Henao
■ Pete Kennaugh
■ Christian Knees
■ Danny Pate
■ Richie Porte
■ Salvatore Puccio
■ Luke Rowe
■ Kanstantsin Siutsou
■ Ian Stannard
■ Chris Sutton
■ Ben Swift
■ Geraint Thomas
■ Rigoberto Uran
■ Bradley Wiggins
■ Xabier Zandio
Going
■ Davide Appollonio (Ag2r La Mondiale)
■ Michael Barry (retiring)
■ Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM)
■ Jeremy Hunt (retiring)
■ Thomas Löfkvist (Team IAM)
■ Lars-Petter Nordhaug (Rabobank)
In
■ Ian Boswell (Bontrager-Livestrong)
■ Dario Cataldo (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
■ Joe Dombrowski (Bontrager-Livestrong)
■ Vasil Kiryienka (Movistar)
■ David Lopez (Movistar)
■ Gabriel Rasch (FDJ-Big Mat)
■ Jon Tiernan-Locke (Endura Racing)
Unknown
■ Alex Dowsett
■ Michael Rogers
■ Davide Martinelli
■ Mark Cavendish

 

[Gloin22]

Dowset, Cav and Martinelli will leave. 1/2 more rider/s will come I believe.

No idea who though

 

[Wigwan]

Does anyone knows where the Spidertech riders will go?

 

[janraaskalt]

Dowset, Cav and Martinelli will leave. 1/2 more rider/s will come I believe.

Why is Dowsett believed to leave Sky? He seems to do well there.

 

[Richeypen]

Is the Rogers 'unknown' a potential clinic related sacking or is his contract up?

 

[janraaskalt]

Is the Rogers 'unknown' a potential clinic related sacking or is his contract up?

The latter.

 

[Richeypen]

Dowset, Cav and Martinelli will leave. 1/2 more rider/s will come I believe.

No idea who though

Their cobbles team now looks pretty shallow. Rasch in to replace Flecha, Hunt and Barry. Needs strengthening there big time.

 

[janraaskalt]

Their cobbles team no looks pretty shallow. Rasch in to replace Flecha, Hunt and Barry. Needs strengthening there big time.

Vanmarcke's 2013 team is still open, FAIK. Was rumoured to be Breschel's replacement at Rabobank, but since that has not been confirmed, why not Sky? Although I believe Geraint Thomas might step up and win something big.

 

[Richeypen]

Vanmarcke's 2013 team is still open, FAIK. Was rumoured to be Breschel's replacement at Rabobank, but since that has not been confirmed, why not Sky? Although I believe Geraint Thomas might step up and win something big.

Didnt Vanmarcke want reassurances about being leader. Not going to happen with EBH and Thomas in the team.


Is there a list of riders whos contracts are still undecided anywhere?

 

[Froome19]

Thomas back in the team. Touted as a future Flanders winner..

Stannard has been super promising this season, time for him to step up.

EBH also has the potential on the cobbles certainly.

+Puccio and Rowe are two very talented youngsters coming through who may have what it takes.

The team has a lot of potential, better than this year possibly, but it can backfire at the same time..

 

[Gloin22]

Is the Rogers 'unknown' a potential clinic related sacking or is his contract up?

Plus, Rogers been unhappy with Wiggins a bit. Not going go into details but before the Tour Rogers was 100% to sign extension, after the Tour not so.

Dowsett didn't live up to expectations. At Sky you really have to deliver in your 2nd year ( not much in 1st ). Dowsett has been unlucky with injuries etc. but proved to be one-dimensional rider a bit and Sky isn't really that interested in keeping him. I.e. they won't offer him much better contract and so he'll likely move on.

If the signings come it should really be classics rider, yes. But you never know. Fenn / Kwiatkwoski were linked and they're not really classics riders yet.

In Sky's first year Cance was linked to them. Wouldn't be surprised if Sky will only have 27 riders this season, limit their budget and go for Cance in 2013. Unlikely with Thomas / EBH for 2014 there, but you never know.

Tbh I don't expect Thomas to shine this year. 2014 would be his best year imo. EBH / Stannard will lead Sky's cobbled campaign. Hayman is a good asset to always have and could sneak a win ala Van Summeren.

 

[janraaskalt]

Is there a list of riders whos contracts are still undecided anywhere?

CQ Ranking's transfer overview is pretty good, but you can't see the riders without contract in 1 list.

 

[Froome19]

I do not believe the bit about Dowsett. He is rated very high at Sky from what I have seen.
And 8th at your first worlds ITT is a very good result.

Dont see how he can be labelled as more one dimensional than some of their other riders either, he is an engine as simple as that.

 

[Richeypen]

Thomas back in the team. Touted as a future Flanders winner..

Stannard has been super promising this season, time for him to step up.

EBH also has the potential on the cobbles certainly.

+Puccio and Rowe are two very talented youngsters coming through who may have what it takes.

The team has a lot of potential, better than this year possibly, but it can backfire at the same time..

They have potential but in Flecha, Hunt and Barry they have lost three very experienced riders. They still have Hayman but they need another experienced dom/road captain in the team

 

[Gloin22]

I do not believe the bit about Dowsett. He is rated very high at Sky from what I have seen.
And 8th at your first worlds ITT is a very good result.

Dont see how he can be labelled as more one dimensional than some of their other riders either, he is an engine as simple as that.

Decent TT and good flat rider. One - dimensional.

Can't climb, didn't show promise on cobbles. He's okay, but not great like.

Every other rider at Sky is better at him or has more potential at least apart from Rasch who's there for EBH. And Lopez / Zandio maybe. Still rate Lopez higher than Dowsett.

 

[Gloin22]

They have potential but in Flecha, Hunt and Barry they have lost three very experienced riders. They still have Hayman but they need another experienced dom/road captain in the team

Barry didn't ride classics this year with injury. So not a big miss. Hunt role replaced by Rasch. Plus Knees can step up, decent cobbled rider with experience.

But they do miss Flecha. And it's likely his role will be unfilled for 2013.

 

[Richeypen]

Decent TT and good flat rider. One - dimensional.

Can't climb, didn't show promise on cobbles. He's okay, but not great like.

Every other rider at Sky is better at him or has more potential at least apart from Rasch who's there for EBH.

Someones got to be at the bottom

 

[Gloin22]

Someones got to be at the bottom

Yep But to my knowledge Sky thought he'd be better rider. More promising. Simple as that.

However, he might sign for 1-year. Just to add numbers, because if Sky struggle to recruit 2 more riders if Cav leaves - they might struggle to put full squad in few races as they did this year

Knees, Eisel, Hayman, Puccio, EBH, Thomas, Stannard & Rasch would be expetced cobbled squad right now.

Rowe & Sutton would be rotated in at some points too ( KBK etc. )

It's decent suqad. Not winning material, but strong for Top 5 at Ronde / Roubaix and with few cards to play. Hayman / Eisel do ala Van summeren 2011 PR. And EBH seems to be improved finally. So it will be definitely interesting year for sky at classics.

 

[Richeypen]

Barry didn't ride classics this year with injury. So not a big miss. Hunt role replaced by Rasch. Plus Knees can step up, decent cobbled rider with experience.

But they do miss Flecha. And it's likely his role will be unfilled.

In his first 2 seasons with Sky Barry rode Gent-Wevelgem, Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne, E3, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad twice, RVV and Paris-Roubaix twice. His experience will certainly be missed.