Transfers and Rumours 2012 > 2013

[Ryo Hazuki]

the system isn't the problem. it's the stupid obsession certain teams have with being wt. look at argos, that could've done any race and gt they wanted basically. euskaltel would get invited to tour and vuelta 90% I'd say and keep their fans.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

santi perez signs with loule louletano

 

[hrotha]

so? nobody had heard of soler until the 2007 tour. that didn't mean he wasn't one of the best climbers in the world just before that. belda was the only one able to follow quintana this year in vuelta madrid queenstage until final km. so he's of incredible high level

You're aware that Belda has been popped, right?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

santi perez signs with loule louletano

That's pretty un-shocking, at least once we knew Zaballa was back, so that 2010 Asturias stuff led to nothing.

In addition to Durán, that Bici article quoted earlier would seem to imply that Nuno Ribeiro stays at Efapel and doesn't move as was previously thought. They also note Joni Brandão has signed at Efapel, and Hernâni Broco, who had been thought to have been returning to LA, is now down as an Efapel rider as well.

A bit of a merry-go-round in Portugal at the moment, it seems.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

the system isn't the problem. it's the stupid obsession certain teams have with being wt. look at argos, that could've done any race and gt they wanted basically. euskaltel would get invited to tour and vuelta 90% I'd say and keep their fans.

It's not stupid, it's a result of the system.

If you are World Tour, you are guaranteed entry to all of the races your sponsor wants you to be at. If you are not, then you are not. And given that so many slots at important races are automatically allotted to the World Tour teams, leaving few Wild Cards, not being World Tour represents taking a substantial risk with the survival of your team.

Sure, it's likely that, say, Argos and Euskaltel would be invited to the races they most care about. But with each race, there's a risk that the powers that be decide that for whatever reason they are going to invite a Netapp or some other random unexpected team along with their local PC outfits. And then you are screwed.

If there was a smaller WT and many more wildcards, it might stop being rational for teams with relatively small budgets and relatively specialised rosters not to bother with it. But 18 teams guaranteed entry to each race makes it too much of a risk for anyone to pass it up if they can avoid doing so.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

You're aware that Belda has been popped, right?

no I didn't. when was he caught? doesn't surprise me, my statement was merely to show that dominating the spanish elite racing is a pretty good level

 

[greenedge]

I hope Gerdermann can find a WT team but if not could he go to IAM?

 

[janraaskalt]

The system is the problem, Euskaltel are just the most obvious representation of what's wrong with it because they are the team most rigidly tied to an identity.

The system does not force Euskaltel to have a rigid identity. It is what they want themselves. That's okay (and admirable), but face the consequences.

 

[Matthijs]

Everybody wants to be WT because everybody wants te ride the Tour.
Euskaltel will get dropped right away I think. Their attacking breakaway climbers who never win can be easily replaced by French ones. Besides, they only really focus on 3 days in the Pyrenees and do nothing besides maybe 2 other hilly/mountain stages. Their GC guy Sanchez is getting older and is one the same level as 5 other GC guys. If they did not gave Menchov a wild card in 2010, they can easily drop Euskaltel.

Argos has the potential of bring some German attention back. And making the sprints in 7 stages more interesting. I think they have a good change but what if there is just one French WT team again and allmost all wild cards go to french teams?
And this year they have a good change, but what in 2013? Competing with your team on the highest level makes the individual riders better. If you're WT its easier to stay on that level, if your PC you will be ignored once in a while for the Tour and some Monuments.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Everybody wants to be WT because everybody wants te ride the Tour.
Euskaltel will get dropped right away I think. Their attacking breakaway climbers who never win can be easily replaced by French ones.

Agreed. Maybe not right away, but it's a legitimate concern. If either Lotto or Saxo won't be WT and Euskaltel wouldn't either... Euskaltel would likely be out as the other 3 wildcards will go to French teams.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

The system does not force Euskaltel to have a rigid identity. It is what they want themselves. That's okay (and admirable), but face the consequences.

Euskaltel got told they most likely wouldn't be invited to the Tour if they wouldn't be WT. So it was either sign some useless riders who happen to have points, or don't ride the Tour. And with cycling being a sport in which only one event really counts, I imagine that was an easy choice to make.

As Matthijs says, if I were ASO I would drop Euskaltel right away. The Basks only make a small market and you don't earn money by people standing at the side of the road. There are already too many people visiting the mountains to watch the Tour anyway, losing the Basks won't be a problem. If instead of Euskaltel you can get a German team, that is a good business decision. If you get a Colombian or Chinese team it is even better.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Well, technically Argos is a Dutch team, but I get that they have some good German riders and a Japanese co-sponsor as well.

 

[janraaskalt]

Euskaltel got told they most likely wouldn't be invited to the Tour if they wouldn't be WT.

I don't believe that is true. If you have a source article, please link it here.

If it is true however, being excluded from a race that suits the team best, it adds more proof to the fact that Euskaltel does not belong in the World Tour.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

If it is true however, being excluded from a race that suits the team best, it adds more proof to the fact that Euskaltel does not belong in the World Tour.

How on Earth would potentially not being invited to an event because you come from too small a market in any way indicate that you don't belong in the World Tour?

Who belongs in the World Tour is decided by (arbitrary, silly, distorting to the sport, but nevertheless known to all in advance) points criteria. Euskaltel met those criteria. And they bring more to the sport than a billion dull sprinter's teams.

 

[Pentacycle]

How on Earth would potentially not being invited to an event because you come from too small a market in any way indicate that you don't belong in the World Tour?

Who belongs in the World Tour is decided by (arbitrary, silly, distorting to the sport, but nevertheless known to all in advance) points criteria. Euskaltel met those criteria. And they bring more to the sport than a billion dull sprinter's teams.

Looking at their new line-up they might become one of those dull sprinter teams, and their GC leaders will become boring too, riding conservatively not wasting any unnecessary energy with attacks.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Looking at their new line-up they might become one of those dull sprinter teams, and their GC leaders will become boring too, riding conservatively not wasting any unnecessary energy with attacks.

Yup, sad to say it but I can see, especially with the way routes are going, guys like Igor Antón and Mikel Nieve will start riding defensively to save themselves for the TT.

 

[theyoungest]

Yup, sad to say it but I can see, especially with the way routes are going, guys like Igor Antón and Mikel Nieve will start riding defensively to save themselves for the TT.

Euskaltel, the new HTC... what have you done to make God do this to you?

 

[Arnout]

Yup, sad to say it but I can see, especially with the way routes are going, guys like Igor Antón and Mikel Nieve will start riding defensively to save themselves for the TT.

Anton should make sure he is in the position to ride defensively for the TT again.

 

[Cimber]

Nick Gates leaving Saxo-Tinkoff:

Nick Gates‏@NicholasGates1

After 2 years with @saxobanktinkoff I have decided to move on.More family time.Have never witnessed a more dedicated passionate group of people.Bjarne is simply special!The man is a visionary,great for the sport.Good Luck @saxobanktinkoff for 2013 believe me they will kick A!

 

[theyoungest]

Anton should make sure he is in the position to ride defensively for the TT again.

Again?


10char

 

[Grzdylu]

Jarosław Marycz from Saxo Tinkoff to CCC Polsat Polkowice.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Looking at their new line-up they might become one of those dull sprinter teams, and their GC leaders will become boring too, riding conservatively not wasting any unnecessary energy with attacks.

I don't think that there's any reason to think they will become a sprinter's team, because their sprinters just aren't good enough. But if they start forcing their leaders to ride conservatively so as to defend 8th place, that will be yet another catastrophic result of the WT points system.

It's what has previously driven me nuts about Ag2r. They need points, so they have made their best riders protect point scoring placings rather then ride for stage wins. At least this year Ag2r have signed a bunch of exciting riders who can win though, whereas Euskaltel are like last year's Ag2r in signing a bunch of riders just for points.

 

[pastronef]

https://mobile.twitter.com/sabinoangoitia/status/270460146218582016?p=v

Sabino Angoitia
Dejando fuera a Txurruka y Velasco.Euskaltel demuestra q no tiene ni puta idea d Ciclismo.Además vais a perder un montón d Clientes.........

in leaving Txurruka and Velasco Euskaltel shows they don't understand a sh*t of cycling. and they're going to lose many clients

 

[Sydney21]

Nick Gates leaving Saxo-Tinkoff:

Nick Gates‏@NicholasGates1

After 2 years with @saxobanktinkoff I have decided to move on.More family time.Have never witnessed a more dedicated passionate group of people.Bjarne is simply special!The man is a visionary,great for the sport.Good Luck @saxobanktinkoff for 2013 believe me they will kick A!

3 scenarios

1. Successor to Matt White as DS at GE

2. He really does simply want to spend more time with his family

3. Was the bleeped out name on 7.30 report and has decided to get out and turn himself in.

I would describe myself as being confident that the first scenario will turn out to be the correct one.

 

[Arnout]

Again?


10char

Yeah like in the '10 Vuelta.

I know you're trying to troll but I'm not falling for it