Transfers and Rumours 2012 > 2013

[LaFlorecita]

Evidence suggests that Chris Anker Sørensen is also looking at Team Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank in 2013. Dane is currently negotiating with Bjarne Riis.
Chris Anker Sorensen
"The ox from Hammel" looks set to continue with Bjarne Riis and points out that he would like to continue on the Danish team.

"I would like to continue, and I've talked a little with Bjarne and I think we are alright close," says Chris Anker Sørensen opposite Ekstrabladet.dk.

Chris Anker Sørensen points out that he also keeps other doors open if it would not turn into a contract with Bjarne Riis and Co..
"I expect to agree with Bjarne. We negotiate for an extension of the contract, and it looks good, "adds Chris Anker Sørensen, do not put a timeframe on when he expects that the contract is in place.

"It's not just up to me, unfortunately."

Ok I am a happy puppy.

 

[greenedge]

not really a surprise to most people that he didnt go with GE

for all of his road career apart from a short stint riding with the AIS/SA.com team he has always stayed away from his state/national federation and has pretty much done things his own way - which is why a lot of people like and dislike him

OGE should have swallowed their pride and tried to snap him up- quickly as well.

 

[DominicDecoco]

There's nothing like a few extra money in bank that can suddenly make you 'a good friend'. Porte back to Saxo?
http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/tidligere-riis-rytter-bjarne-har-skabt-mig

 

[LaFlorecita]

There's nothing like a few extra money in bank that can suddenly make you 'a good friend'. Porte back to Saxo?
http://www.sporten.dk/cykling/tidligere-riis-rytter-bjarne-har-skabt-mig

I can't see it happening, he's really happy at sky, plus he said he enjoys riding for Wiggo, more so than riding for Alberto. And I think that Porte would want to be leader at some races while they might get Jakob who wants the same.. and if Bjarne had to choose between Jakob and Richie I think he would choose Jakob.

 

[ingsve]

This is a few weeks old but it seems like it hasn't been mentioned in the forums yet that Jonas Ahlstrand from Team Cykelcity will ride as a stagiaire for Team Argos-Shimano this year. Ahlstrand is a sprinting talent who won a stage in Glava Tour of Norway in May and was 3rd in the U-23 race La Côte Picarde and 7th in the U-23 Ronde van Vlaanderen.

 

[The Joker]

I can't see it happening, he's really happy at sky, plus he said he enjoys riding for Wiggo, more so than riding for Alberto. And I think that Porte would want to be leader at some races while they might get Jakob who wants the same.. and if Bjarne had to choose between Jakob and Richie I think he would choose Jakob.

I can't see Porte being a leader at too many races with Sky, not when they have Wiggo, Froome, Uran, Haneo etc all in front of him for GTs, and Wiggo, Froome, Uran, Henao, Rodgers, EBH in front of him for 1 week stage races.

I imagine the reason Porte likes riding for Wiggins more is that they are similar riders and so Porte is able to help Wiggins, wheras Porte showed last year he wasn't much help to Alberto. Even if Porte rode like he is doing this year, he still wouldn't be much help to Alberto, because Alberto doesnt need much help...

 

[greenedge]

Sky evidently see potential in Porte and he seems to be under the assumption that he will lead at a GT next year.

Uran/ Henao for the moment at least need time bonuses and little ITT kms' to place high in GT's ( the Giro top 20 was weak ) but at the TDF they might struggle to crack it. Rogers will not be a GC leader again and EBH will not be leading at stage races other than Eneco/ Norway where there are quite a few continental teams.

 

[The Joker]

Uran/ Henao for the moment at least need time bonuses and little ITT kms' to place high in GT's ( the Giro top 20 was weak ) but at the TDF they might struggle to crack it.

I never said Uran / Henao would lead Sky at the TDF, but they will definately be the GC leaders for Sky at future Giros & Vueltas. They are also only 25 / 26 and younger than Porte, and have more upside in my opinion. Both will also improve their TTs over time, unless of course they suffer from Andy Schleck disease.

Rogers will not be a GC leader again

I didn't say Rogers will be team leader at a grand tour, I said he will lead Sky at 1 week stage races. You are kidding yourself if you think he wont lead Sky at smaller races next year. Like he did this year at Tour Down Under (4th overall), Bayern-Rundfahrt (1st overall) and Criterium International (3rd overall). He also came 2nd overall in the Dauphine and 5th overall at Romandie (granted 1 spot behind Porte).

Rogers is a better bet then Porte to lead Sky at most one week or smaller races (provided he stays healthy like he has this year). Look at his record. 3 time world TT champion, has won the Tour of California, Tour Down Under, Vuelta a Andalucía, Tour de Belgium, Deutschland Tour, Route du Sud. He has also finished on the podium at Tour de Suisse and Volta a Catalunya. What has Porte won, other than Volta ao Algarve? Porte has also come 7th at the Giro, thanks to being in a breakaway. But Rogers has come 7th at the Giro too, plus 9th overall at the TDF.

Rogers is also only 4 months older than Wiggo, and younger than guys like Evans, Leipheimer, Horner, Kloden, Sanchez etc who are all still very successful at 1 week races.

EBH will not be leading at stage races other than Eneco/ Norway where there are quite a few continental teams.

If Sky wanted to, EBH could lead the team for overall at any number of 1 week stage races, including Eneco, Norway, Tour Down Under, Tour of Beijing, Oman, Qatar. He could probably win all of these, plus others, if that is what they wanted EBH to do.

EBH has far more upside potential than Porte, particularly in 1 week stage races.

Sky evidently see potential in Porte and he seems to be under the assumption that he will lead at a GT next year.

Undoubtedly Porte has potential, but next year he would be better off at almost any team other than Sky. Next year, with Alberto and Andy back, do you really think Sky will send both Wiggins and Froome to the TDF? If they split them, which they will almost certainly do, what GT would Porte be the leader at? TDF - nope, that will be Wiggo. Vuelta - nope, that will be Froome. Giro - nope that will almost certainly again be Uran and Henao.

There will also be very few opportunities to lead Sky at 1 week stage races next year, since in Wiggo, Froome, Rogers, Uran, Henao & EH, they have better options for almost all 1 week stage races on the calendar.

If Porte wants an opportunity to shine next year, he should seriously consider any offers he might get, from Saxo Bank Tinkoff or anyone else. Otherwise he'd better hope that Froome and / or Rogers get sick again...

 

[auscyclefan94]

I am not sure if this has been mentioned, but supposedly Szmyd and Oss are going to BMC next year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I am not sure if this has been mentioned, but supposedly Szmyd and Oss are going to BMC next year.

That is news from a month ago or so, when the Saxo Liqui merger rumours started.

 

[greenedge]

I never said Uran / Henao would lead Sky at the TDF, but they will definately be the GC leaders for Sky at future Giros & Vueltas. They are also only 25 / 26 and younger than Porte, and have more upside in my opinion. Both will also improve their TTs over time, unless of course they suffer from Andy Schleck disease.

I didn't say Rogers will be team leader at a grand tour, I said he will lead Sky at 1 week stage races.

If Sky wanted to, EBH could lead the team for overall at any number of 1 week stage races, including Eneco, Norway, Tour Down Under, Tour of Beijing, Oman, Qatar. He could probably win all of these, plus others, if that is what they wanted EBH to do. EBH has far more upside potential than Porte, particularly in 1 week stage races.

Undoubtedly Porte has potential, but next year he would be better off at almost any team other than Sky. Next year, with Alberto and Andy back, do you really think Sky will send both Wiggins and Froome to the TDF? If they split them, which they will almost certainly do, what GT would Porte be the leader at? TDF - nope, that will be Wiggo. Vuelta - nope, that will be Froome. Giro - nope that will almost certainly again be Uran and Henao.

There will also be very few opportunities to lead Sky at 1 week stage races next year, since in Wiggo, Froome, Rogers, Uran, Henao & EH, they have better options for almost all 1 week stage races on the calendar.

The point is Uran/Henao will not win many 1 week races next year- unless if it has minimal ITT kms'.

We shall see about Porte and even if he does not lead next year at Sky he can work at their team/ learn and then lead at a team the next year.

Uran started cycling a bit earlier than Porte as well- though Henao has only now gotten into the WT ranks.

Uran and Henao could even leave to join a team- say Colombia Coldportes.

EBH could lead at 1 week races but he needs to get the results- this year he should have won the TDU hands down. I think EBH sill continue to be focusing on the classics next year so therefore i dispute the idea EBH would be a better leader for one week races- there is usually always one better climber ( Gesink- Oman last year ), one better sprinter who will take the bonuses ( Greipel TDU ) and a better ITTer ( in this case i can't remember a specific example )- but you get my drift. Porte can also lead at races like TDS, ToC, TOR, T-A and all the other one week races.

You are right about the Rogers part- i misread it sorry.

If the route next year for the TDF has as many climbs as last year/ the year before ( which it is rumoured to have- being the 100th TDF run ) Froome would likely also go to the TDF as well as the route would suit him more than Wiggins.

 

[theyoungest]

Moreno Hofland (Dutch U23 champion) turns pro next year at Rabo.

 

[gustienordic]

Moreno Hofland (Dutch U23 champion) turns pro next year at Rabo.

Rabo Conti or Rabo Pro Team? (I'm assuming Conti)

 

[FF'Wilco]

Rabo Conti or Rabo Pro Team? (I'm assuming Conti)

He's already in Rabo Conti. Turning pro means WT Rabo of course.

 

[maltiv]

EBH could lead at 1 week races but he needs to get the results- this year he should have won the TDU hands down. I think EBH sill continue to be focusing on the classics next year so therefore i dispute the idea EBH would be a better leader for one week races- there is usually always one better climber ( Gesink- Oman last year ), one better sprinter who will take the bonuses ( Greipel TDU ) and a better ITTer ( in this case i can't remember a specific example )- but you get my drift. Porte can also lead at races like TDS, ToC, TOR, T-A and all the other one week races.

Of course he shouldn't have won the TDU. Only Australians are in form in TDU and EBH rode it for training like 90% of the peloton. Peaking for TDU is never a good idea, as proven year after year. Neither Valverde or Gerrans managed to be in top shape for the ardennes, for example, probably due to being in shape too early.

I hope that if EBH fails in the classics again next year that he just gives up on them and focuses on stage races instead. He has a massive, raw talent for ITT. After all, the first race he won was a ITT in criterium international ahead of Tony Martin and Zabriskie, as a 20 y.o neo-pro. His climbing has also improved a lot the last two years.

As for Porte, I agree that he has become way too good now to be a domestique in almost every race he enters. In almost every other team he'd have a lot of freedom. Wouldn't surprise me if he joins GreenEdge when his contract expires. Still, his time at Sky was probably good for him, as he clearly must've learned a lot, judging by his improvement this year.

 

[SafeBet]

Don't know if mentioned before but Nibali should officially sign for Astana on the first rest day.

 

[Forunculo]

Don't know if mentioned before but Nibali should officially sign for Astana on the first rest day.

Wasn't 1st August or September the date when the window is open?

 

[SafeBet]

Didn't know that.
I heard it on RAI today and they were pretty confident, but it's still RAI so...

 

[gustienordic]

He's already in Rabo Conti. Turning pro means WT Rabo of course.

Any news on Goos?

 

[greenedge]

Of course he shouldn't have won the TDU. Only Australians are in form in TDU and EBH rode it for training like 90% of the peloton. Peaking for TDU is never a good idea, as proven year after year. Neither Valverde or Gerrans managed to be in top shape for the ardennes, for example, probably due to being in shape too early.

I hope that if EBH fails in the classics again next year that he just gives up on them and focuses on stage races instead. He has a massive, raw talent for ITT. After all, the first race he won was a ITT in criterium international ahead of Tony Martin and Zabriskie, as a 20 y.o neo-pro. His climbing has also improved a lot the last two years.

As for Porte, I agree that he has become way too good now to be a domestique in almost every race he enters. In almost every other team he'd have a lot of freedom. Wouldn't surprise me if he joins GreenEdge when his contract expires. Still, his time at Sky was probably good for him, as he clearly must've learned a lot, judging by his improvement this year.

I share the same sentiments about Porte and EBH.
EBH does not do the Ardennes he peaked for the Northen Classics/ M-SR, so the TDU was good for him- ( the eventual winner of the TDU won M-SR )- he probably dug too deep to get into good form there and Valverde continued racing straight after the TDU and did P-N ( whilst going deep at P-N ) instead of T-A which might have suited him better ( though i now he does not want to race in Italy ).

 

[Kazistuta]

Any news on Goos?

He's gonna get a second chance as stagiaire at Rabo from August (Tour of Utah)

 

[Michele]

According to Rai's Radiocorsa;

-Peter Sagan got multiple offers from many teams like Omega Pharma with a 2.5 million contract
-Andrea Guardini seems to be almost surely leaving Farnese Vini for Saxo Bank as it did a very big offer
-Roberto Ferrari should replace Petacchi at Lampre
-Kreuzinguer and Kiserlovski minght end to Saxo for help Contador
-Sascha Modolo wanna leave Colnago for go into a WT team and got an interesting offer from Astana
-Bennati would leave Radioshack for go to Katusha as Freire's replacement
-Renshaw almost confirmed going back as Cav's leadout
-Ignazio Moser has been seen wearing BMC kit with some BMC guys during a ride on the route of Firenze's Worlds

 

[LaFlorecita]

According to Rai's Radiocorsa;

-Andrea Guardini seems to be almost surely leaving Farnese Vini for Saxo Bank as it did a very big offer
-Kreuzinguer and Kiserlovski minght end to Saxo for help Contador

I'd love this Mr Money make it happen.

 

[janraaskalt]

-Ignazio Moser has been seen wearing BMC kit with some BMC guys during a ride on the route of Firenze's Worlds

Is he ready to become pro in 2013? It seems more likely he'll go to the new BMC CT first.

 

[taiwan]

According to Rai's Radiocorsa;

-Peter Sagan got multiple offers from many teams like Omega Pharma with a 2.5 million contract
-Andrea Guardini seems to be almost surely leaving Farnese Vini for Saxo Bank as it did a very big offer
-Roberto Ferrari should replace Petacchi at Lampre
-Kreuzinguer and Kiserlovski minght end to Saxo for help Contador
-Sascha Modolo wanna leave Colnago for go into a WT team and got an interesting offer from Astana
-Bennati would leave Radioshack for go to Katusha as Freire's replacement
-Renshaw almost confirmed going back as Cav's leadout
-Ignazio Moser has been seen wearing BMC kit with some BMC guys during a ride on the route of Firenze's Worlds

Interesting. So Petacchi retires, or...