Transfers and Rumours 2013 > 2014

[Gloin22]

I think it's not so clear and he should try for TDF for a few more years. He is 30 ffs he can go for Giro/Vuelta when he's 35 okay.

Well it was clear this year.. at least.

And before you say about his training numers before Tour. Wiggins said same thing too before Giro

 

[LaFlorecita]

Well it was clear this year.. at least.

And before you say about his training numers before Tour. Wiggins said same thing too before Giro

No. This year showed he was not at his best. What the reason was well perhaps we'll know some time in the future.

While I prefer the Giro and Vuelta over the Tour (I hate the Tour) the Tour is still the biggest event and even though it may be easier for him to win the Giro instead of the tour next year because Nibali and Froome will both be at the Tour (RichieBorg (TM) will be there though), it will leave a lot of us wondering what he could've done at the Tour just like with Nibali this year. Besides what if Froome and Nibali crash out, or get ill, or whatever, he would kick himself to death I guess. Besides, 2 Tour wins is not enough and his last TDF should not be a complete failure. It would be nice to win the Giro or Vuelta but it would mean nothing against 3rd rate competition. Better try for the Tour and fail a few more years than be left wondering forever what could have been. That is my opinion at least.

 

[Le Baroudeur]

Now Riis is saying AC can leave if all parties agree. Meh.

Not quite what he said... He implied 'in theory', You forgot the part where he said "but thats not the situation we are running with at the moment".

Alberto should just have issued a denial...

 

[JOAO11]

I think we haven't seen the last great Contador yet so he should stay with Saxo, with great team support, and then when the time comes to end his career he can join his friends.

I think the problem is Contador, not the team because the team in this Tour gaves a very good support (special Kreuziger and Rogers), but Contador didnt respond well. Anyway, I hope Contador win Tour in the next here.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Not quite what he said... He implied 'in theory', You forgot the part where he said "but thats not the situation we are running with at the moment".

Alberto should just have issued a denial...

Alberto doesn't issue denials except on clinic issues I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

 

[karlboss]

In my mind the order of GC riders at the moment goes something like
*****Froome,
****Wiggins, Quintana, Porte, Nibali
***Valverde, Rodriguez, Contador, Kreuziger, Uran

We can all argue about the order, but the point I'll make is this, only riding one GT a year, not being a sure thing to win, without an ability to win classics or stages (he has 1 for the year) shouldn't be the highest paid rider in the pro peloton. Looking at CQ ranking, at the end of 2013 he'll be looking at about 1200 points, which is good for around top 20. Nor should he expect to be undisputed leader any team with another person on my list. He has the record, but not the form.
For Saxo, Contador moving on I think is a good move, they save money which presents options, maybe not for 2014 but certainly 2015, having said there aren't too many riders with Tour winning potential and I think that is what Riis wants. However purely on money a move isn't worthwhile for Contador, so I'd say it's unlikely to happen.
If I ran a team, I'd be happy to pay Contador around 2 million and either have him aim for giro and vuelta, or go to the tour as co leader next to someone on the list above, and that includes Alonso's team.

 

[The Hitch]

Well it was clear this year.. at least.

And before you say about his training numers before Tour. Wiggins said same thing too before Giro

Well Wiggins is a pathological liar, so that doesn't mean anything. But yes Contador does lie sometimes too. I didn't see the bit though where he said his training numbers were good before the Tour. In 2012 Vuelta and 2011 Giro he said that hill he times hisself up pre gt he got records both times but 2013 he didn't say anything like that.

 

[Dedelou]

I think the problem is Contador, not the team because the team in this Tour gaves a very good support (special Kreuziger and Rogers), but Contador didnt respond well. Anyway, I hope Contador win Tour in the next here.

there is a huge difference between no winning and not doing well. Terminating 4th is quite good, even when one has finished 1st a few times before. How many former winners did better than this?

 

[PCutter]

...previously posted

 

[Wigwan]

In my mind the order of GC riders at the moment goes something like
*****Froome,
****Wiggins, Quintana, Porte, Nibali
***Valverde, Rodriguez, Contador, Kreuziger, Uran

We can all argue about the order, but the point I'll make is this, only riding one GT a year, not being a sure thing to win, without an ability to win classics or stages (he has 1 for the year) shouldn't be the highest paid rider in the pro peloton. Looking at CQ ranking, at the end of 2013 he'll be looking at about 1200 points, which is good for around top 20. Nor should he expect to be undisputed leader any team with another person on my list. He has the record, but not the form.
For Saxo, Contador moving on I think is a good move, they save money which presents options, maybe not for 2014 but certainly 2015, having said there aren't too many riders with Tour winning potential and I think that is what Riis wants. However purely on money a move isn't worthwhile for Contador, so I'd say it's unlikely to happen.
If I ran a team, I'd be happy to pay Contador around 2 million and either have him aim for giro and vuelta, or go to the tour as co leader next to someone on the list above, and that includes Alonso's team.

Contador is not just paid to win bike races, but also for the exposure that he gets. And he gets a LOT.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Contador is not just paid to win bike races, but also for the exposure that he gets. And he gets a LOT.

but if he doesn't win, it becomes negative exposure.

 

[gustienordic]

In my mind the order of GC riders at the moment goes something like
*****Froome,
****Wiggins, Quintana, Porte, Nibali
***Valverde, Rodriguez, Contador, Kreuziger, Uran

I don't want to be some AC fanboy who is going to rip you apart, but I think just about everything with regard to this list is wrong. I don't want to troll you, or anything, but you base your entire point off of what I think is quite wrong, so thats why I'm attacking this post.

Froome perhaps was the undisputed destroyer of worlds at the TDF this year, but Contador remains the best current GT rider (palmares) especially if we count all his "wins."

We have seen how much a year can make in GT performance (Wiggins 2013, Rodriguez 2012, Kreuziger 2013) AC has the most GT wins to his name, Nibali may perhaps win his second GT of the year soon & Quintana is a little angel.

My point is this: Contador has one of the highest profiles of any cyclist. He is well loved, a proven GT rider, etc. I don't think Riis is ready to dump him yet. He is perfectly capable of winning perhaps 2-3 more GTs in his career, especially if he targets the Giro-Vuelta.

 

[karlboss]

I don't want to be some AC fanboy who is going to rip you apart, but I think just about everything with regard to this list is wrong. I don't want to troll you, or anything, but you base your entire point off of what I think is quite wrong, so thats why I'm attacking this post.

Froome perhaps was the undisputed destroyer of worlds at the TDF this year, but Contador remains the best current GT rider (palmares) especially if we count all his "wins."

We have seen how much a year can make in GT performance (Wiggins 2013, Rodriguez 2012, Kreuziger 2013) AC has the most GT wins to his name, Nibali may perhaps win his second GT of the year soon & Quintana is a little angel.

My point is this: Contador has one of the highest profiles of any cyclist. He is well loved, a proven GT rider, etc. I don't think Riis is ready to dump him yet. He is perfectly capable of winning perhaps 2-3 more GTs in his career, especially if he targets the Giro-Vuelta.

I base my opinion on return on investment, the return here is exposure (I think most agree with that), and Contador while once unbeatable is now ranked where i rank him, and over time unless that changes his exposure will drop over time. At 4.5 million Riis won't be looking to drop him at all costs, but he must be having doubts. Just as BMC would with Evans at a rumoured 3+ million.

Lets take Evans for a second, from 2007 ranked 1,3,3,6,3 in the world, then 41 in 2012 ,and currently 37, for how long do you keep paying him and expecting him to ride like a superstar?

BTW I certainly wouldn't pay Wiggins, Uran, Kreuziger, Porte or Quintana what I'd pay Contador. I'd pay Froome more and it's debateable who'd I'd give more from Rodriguez, Valverde, Nibali and Contador.

Actually Valverde the least of that group, i find him boring

 

[Bushman]

I base my opinion on return on investment, the return here is exposure (I think most agree with that), and Contador while once unbeatable is now ranked where i rank him, and over time unless that changes his exposure will drop over time. At 4.5 million Riis won't be looking to drop him at all costs, but he must be having doubts. Just as BMC would with Evans at a rumoured 3+ million.

Lets take Evans for a second, from 2007 ranked 1,3,3,6,3 in the world, then 41 in 2012 ,and currently 37, for how long do you keep paying him and expecting him to ride like a superstar?

BTW I certainly wouldn't pay Wiggins, Uran, Kreuziger, Porte or Quintana what I'd pay Contador. I'd pay Froome more and it's debateable who'd I'd give more from Rodriguez, Valverde, Nibali and Contador.

Actually Valverde the least of that group, i find him boring

On what basis do you place Wiggins higher than Contador? That doesn't make sense at all. He should't even be above Rodríguez or Valverde.

 

[karlboss]

On what basis do you place Wiggins higher than Contador? That doesn't make sense at all. He should't even be above Rodríguez or Valverde.

I took "at the moment" as being best performance this year and last so I included Wiggins 2012 Tour.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I took "at the moment" as being best performance this year and last so I included Wiggins 2012 Tour.

But apparently not Contador's 2012 Vuelta.

 

[Bushman]

But apparently not Contador's 2012 Vuelta.

+1

10 characters

 

[karlboss]

But apparently not Contador's 2012 Vuelta.

I included that, and on that basis I rank him equally strong as Valverde, and Rodriguez.

 

[Bushman]

I included that, and on that basis I rank him equally strong as Valverde, and Rodriguez.

Maybe you should also compare Wiggins Giro this year with Contadors Tour.

 

[karlboss]

Alright Wiggins doesn't belong there. Happy?

 

[Bushman]

Alright Wiggins doesn't belong there. Happy?

Very happy yes

 

[Moviefan1203]

On what basis do you place Wiggins higher than Contador? That doesn't make sense at all. He should't even be above Rodríguez or Valverde.

Well, I certainly wouldn't rate Wiggins ahead of Contador, but he should be ranked higher than Valverde and Rodriguez. He is a recent Tour winner, and they have never won.

 

[JOAO11]

there is a huge difference between no winning and not doing well. Terminating 4th is quite good, even when one has finished 1st a few times before. How many former winners did better than this?

Yes, I agree. A fourth place is a good position, but before Tour starts who were the favorites to win the competition?Contador and Froome.
The end of Tour:
Position Contador: Fourth
Position Froome: First

 

[Herr Katt]

Magnus cort nielsen of team cult energy will probably join Garmin next year

 

[nobilis]

Well, I certainly wouldn't rate Wiggins ahead of Contador, but he should be ranked higher than Valverde and Rodriguez. He is a recent Tour winner, and they have never won.

Oh really? What about Valverde's 2009 Vuelta?

Bak to the thread topic : Cofidis have signed 2 riders from Etixx INHed-CT : Florian Sénéchal and Louis Verhelst on a 2-year contract.