Transfers and Rumours 2013 > 2014

[pastronef]

Maybe that explains why Forni Avoltri just handed back its cards to hold the IBU Cup in the upcoming season - still, Italy has 3 IBU events next season (WC Antholz, IBU Cup Martell & Ridnaun), more than any country bar Germany!

I guess it's a regional thing in Italy though, since most of the top stars are from a fairly small area, with Hofer, Wierer and the Windisch brothers all from Brüneck/Brunico, the Runggaldier family all from Brixen/Bressanone and Ponza from Bozen/Bolzano. De Lorenzi is the only non-Südtiroler out of the main Italian names at present, I guess, and he's from Lombardia. Are there any facilities further south? Only ones outside of Veneto & Trentino I'm aware of are San Sicario from the 2006 Olympics, which is out of use, and Brusson in Aosta.

whoah, I do not know those names. it's really about 8-10 years since I stopped watching.

Anyway, back to transfers-rumours

Alex Rasmussen should concentrate on track racing in 2014, and come back to Rijs in 2015, if the danish bear finds a 2nd sponsor

 

[MatParker117]

I think you rather have the Disappointment In Advance Syndrome. No matter what course they come up with, you think it will suck anyway. This year we had Froome (the yellow jersey) isolated for almost an entire stage, and dropped in an echelon in another. What Froome train? What gormless idiots?

And what exactly is the je ne sais quoi that Euskaltel in its latest incarnation contributed to cycling? For the life of me, I can't remember a single thing they've done this year. And that includes Nieve.

Then two days later Pete Kennaugh and Richie Porte rode the entire peloton of there wheel and then Froome decided to wreak a terrible vengeance upon the three guys not in Black who were still with him and Richie and now next year he may have both a man who has top ten'd four grand tours and the Maglia Rosa to accompany him to the end of the final climb along with the eight olympic gold medals who'll have been on the front beforehand.

As a Sky fan I enjoy that prospect immensely the rest of you I'm not so sure.

 

[postmanhat]

Froome got isolated for an entire stage and everyone sat around like gormless idiots not putting any pressure on him. It was a stage that promised much and delivered little. It caused me to break my embargo on watching the Tour. That lasted a day.

The Sky Train failed miserably at this year's Tour on many stages. Saxo and Movistar nearly always had a lot more riders at the pointy end. Froome was just extraordinarily good on 2 or 3 stages

 

[bikeracer33]

Perhaps the Vuelta is a possibility. The Giro is not in reach i think with Proconti teams like NetApp, Colombia, Vino-Nippo, Androni, Bardiani and perhaps a Ceramica Flaminia.

Tour will be extremely difficult, if you look at the french squads Cofidis, Europcar and IAM who are 100% sure. Then you have Colombia, NetApp, La Pomme, Bretagne...

Perhaps the Vuelta is possible, if we take into account that Caja-Rural, NetApp, Colombia and Cofidis will get wildcards.

Thanks for laying this all out, but as good as they are I dont see NetApp and Colombia getting invited to all 3 GT's nor would they really want to do all 3. Also, can conti teams like La Pomme and Ceramica Flaminia even get invites to a GT? Dont forget MTN Qhubeka, they will certainly get an invite to a GT next year and I think the door is open for Wanty too, if they can secure some good results in the Belgium classics.

 

[Escarabajo]

Janier Acevedo to Garmin:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-acevedo-to-garmin

So no domestique for Uran.

 

[Afrank]

Very good signing for Garmin if true, will be a strong climbing domestique and should get his own chances every now and then both in Europe and (hopefully) the US. And doubly good because it may open up a spot for De Gendt to stay in WT.

 

[JRanton]

Perhaps the Vuelta is a possibility. The Giro is not in reach i think with Proconti teams like NetApp, Colombia, Vino-Nippo, Androni, Bardiani and perhaps a Ceramica Flaminia.

Tour will be extremely difficult, if you look at the french squads Cofidis, Europcar and IAM who are 100% sure. Then you have Colombia, NetApp, La Pomme, Bretagne...

Perhaps the Vuelta is possible, if we take into account that Caja-Rural, NetApp, Colombia and Cofidis will get wildcards.

Vini-Nippo and Ceramica Flaminia are continental teams and aren't eligible to ride grand tours (same with La Pomme). I think this Wanty team will have a chance of a Giro wildcard assuming that Acquarone decides to invite 22 teams (which he may not).

17 World Tour teams + Bardiani, Andoni, MTN Qhubeka, Colombia and Wanty for example.

NetApp and IAM Cycling are targeting Tour wildcards. Then there's the three French Pro-Conti teams for the Tour (assuming Bretagne-Seche get a wildcard which is far from certain).

There are plenty of opportunities for the Pro-Conti squads to get Vuelta invites. Only really Caja-Rural and Cofidis are guaranteed plus the 17 WT teams, leaving potentially three spots available.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Johnny Cantwell: Saxo-Tinkoff --> Drapac Cycling

Good to know he at least found a team

 

[JRanton]

Janier Acevedo to Garmin:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-acevedo-to-garmin

So no domestique for Uran.

Could do with getting Anton now. I guess Wout Poels is the next best climber on the OPQS roster but not sure if he'll be used as a domestique. There's not much else outside of him: De Weert, Brambilla, Pauwels. I think Uran will be doing Giro-Vuelta with Kwiatkowski being their GC guy for the Tour but we'll have to wait and see.

 

[JRanton]

Johnny Cantwell: Saxo-Tinkoff --> Drapac Cycling

Good to know he at least found a team

There was some talk of Drapac moving up to Pro-Conti. Does anyone know if that's still happening?

 

[theyoungest]

Could do with getting Anton now. I guess Wout Poels is the next best climber on the OPQS roster but not sure if he'll be used as a domestique. There's not much else outside of him: De Weert, Brambilla, Pauwels. I think Uran will be doing Giro-Vuelta with Kwiatkowski being their GC guy for the Tour but we'll have to wait and see.

If Uran wanted to do the Giro and Vuelta he should have stayed with Sky, he could have done the same and with a better team around him. He probably wants to be GC leader at the Tour, not sure how that will work out at OPQS, but then again I don't know why any climber would want to go to that team.

 

[search]

There was some talk of Drapac moving up to Pro-Conti. Does anyone know if that's still happening?

they did apply for it, yes, but it's not confirmed yet. Should work out though I think, can't see why not.

 

[JRanton]

If Uran wanted to do the Giro and Vuelta he should have stayed with Sky, he could have done the same and with a better team around him. He probably wants to be GC leader at the Tour, not sure how that will work out at OPQS, but then again I don't know why any climber would want to go to that team.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[JRanton]

they did apply for it, yes, but it's not confirmed yet. Should work out though I think, can't see why not.

Ah yes, I've just read it on the front page. It's not exactly the strongest looking Pro-Conti team but then I suppose they're only looking for invites to the likes of Tour Down Under and California.

 

[Anderis]

Very good signing for Garmin if true, will be a strong climbing domestique and should get his own chances every now and then both in Europe and (hopefully) the US. And doubly good because it may open up a spot for De Gendt to stay in WT.

I think Acevedo should do Giro+Utah+Colorado or California+Utah+Vuelta.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/09/news/garmin-set-for-dramatic-overhaul-in-2014_303875
So I think Acevedo will do one GT as a domestique.

Could do with getting Anton now. I guess Wout Poels is the next best climber on the OPQS roster but not sure if he'll be used as a domestique. There's not much else outside of him: De Weert, Brambilla, Pauwels. I think Uran will be doing Giro-Vuelta with Kwiatkowski being their GC guy for the Tour but we'll have to wait and see.

I'm quite certain the reason Uran has left Sky was that he wanted TdF leadership.

 

[Flamin]

Hoogerland close to joining Cannondale. Also has an offer from Wanty. Official news on Saturday.

Leukemans turned down an offer from Wanty. Apparently they offered him a salary that is 25% from what he earns this year

 

[search]

Wanty has a 2.5 to 3 million budget, I'd be surprised if they end up signing anyone of Leukemans, Flecha, de Gendt or Hoogerland. But who knows, they might benefit from the overflow of cyclists on the market

 

[Flamin]

Wanty has a 2.5 to 3 million budget, I'd be surprised if they end up signing anyone of Leukemans, Flecha, de Gendt or Hoogerland. But who knows, they might benefit from the overflow of cyclists on the market

Yeah, Hilaire is still looking for some extra funds. If that happens, he should be able to at least sign 1 'big' name.

 

[Escarabajo]

Could do with getting Anton now. I guess Wout Poels is the next best climber on the OPQS roster but not sure if he'll be used as a domestique. There's not much else outside of him: De Weert, Brambilla, Pauwels. I think Uran will be doing Giro-Vuelta with Kwiatkowski being their GC guy for the Tour but we'll have to wait and see.

I believe that one of the conditions of Uran going to OPQS is to do the Tour.

 

[JRanton]

I believe that one of the conditions of Uran going to OPQS is to do the Tour.

I think people have just assumed that. Depending on how Kwiatkowski develops it makes more sense for OPQS to have him as their GC man for the Giro and Vuelta where he has a better chance of finishing on the podium. I also read an interview with Lefevere in which he discussed Uran riding the Giro and Vuelta.

 

[Lexman]

Hoogerland close to joining Cannondale. Also has an offer from Wanty. Official news on Saturday.

Leukemans turned down an offer from Wanty. Apparently they offered him a salary that is 25% from what he earns this year

Leukemans should deliver more, winning the Druivenkoers is evidently not enough...

 

[Lexman]

Wanty has a 2.5 to 3 million budget, I'd be surprised if they end up signing anyone of Leukemans, Flecha, de Gendt or Hoogerland. But who knows, they might benefit from the overflow of cyclists on the market

Flecha might be a good choice, always agressive and might open the door for La Vuelta... add De Gendt to this...

 

[JRanton]

Kittel and Degenkolb extend with Argos until the end of 2016.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

In Colombia every mediocre rider could potentially be a Tour winner.

At least, that's what all those teams think who suddenly want to sign random Colombians.

what teams are signing random colombians?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Janier Acevedo to Garmin:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-acevedo-to-garmin

So no domestique for Uran.

they have one spot open. uran also wanted cano in the team. see how much leverage he has on lefevere or he will be a mad rider already.