Transfers and Rumours 2013 > 2014

[Arredondo]

Is this real?

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/chris_froome_to_sign_with_movistar/

 

[Netserk]

Is this real?

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/chris_froome_to_sign_with_movistar/

"We are trying to sign a contract with Froome for Movistar team, during the Vuelta a Espana 2011 we were negotiating, but we didn’t manage to reach an agreement back then. Surely Sky will not hand over the rider of this class easily, but the case is still open "- says Unzue.

 

[Arredondo]

"We are trying to sign a contract with Froome for Movistar team, during the Vuelta a Espana 2011 we were negotiating, but we didn’t manage to reach an agreement back then. Surely Sky will not hand over the rider of this class easily, but the case is still open "- says Unzue.

That's really funny

 

[GP Blanco]

Is this real?

http://www.cyclingquotes.com/news/chris_froome_to_sign_with_movistar/

One is always free to try.

 

[theyoungest]

I read it on Biciciclismo, where I assume Cyclingquotes have got it from as well, but there the gist is totally different. They tried to sign him during the Vuelta 2011, that's true. But the negotiations ended when he exploded during that race, and Sky didn't want to let him go.

I think Cyclingquotes need to calibrate their Google translate.

 

[Michele]

Lampre had a verbal agreement, nothing signed, during the race but then the miracle happened.

 

[Afrank]

I'm starting to think it was just Ryo trolling the CQ game

It most definitely was.

 

[coimbrawu]

Not sure if anyone mention before: A Chinese rider Xu Gang from Champion System will join Lampre-Merida next season

And Hong Kong talent Choi Ki-Ho is linked with Greenedge
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=67061

Choi Ki Ho has a very impressive 2012 2013 season:
Hong Kong ITT national champion
1st in Tour de Ijen 2012
1st in Tour of Fuzhou 2012
1st in Tour of Thailand 2013
1st in Tour De Korea 2012
3rd in Tour of Taihu Lake 2012

He is only 22, but I think he is one of the most gifted young gun from Asia. Hope he can find a WT/PCT team in the next season.

edit: Some journalist from Hong Kong said he may retire to continue his study at the college...

 

[42x16ss]

Good to hear, from all reports he's quite a classy rider and worth investing in.

 

[coimbrawu]

Caja Rural's 2014 roster is complete (18 riders): http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=67027


Javier Aramendía
David Arroyo
Pello Bilbao
Karol Domagalski
Ramón Domene
Rubén Fernandez
Fabricio Ferrari
Omar Fraile
Marcos Garcia
Fernando Grijalba
Francesco Lasca
Ángel Madrazo
Luis Más
Antonio Molina
Heiner Parra
Antonio Piedra
Ametx Txurruka
Davide Vigano


New signings (seven): Pello Bilbao (Euskaltel), Fernando Grijalba (Amateur), Ángel Madrazo (Movistar), Lluis Más (Burgos BH-Castilla y Leon), Antonio Molina (Amateur), Heiner Parra (4-72 Colombia), Davide Vigano (Lampre-Merida).

Departures (seven): Andre Cardoso (Garmin-Sharp), Manuel Cardoso (?), Yelko Gomez (?), Francisco Moreno (?), Enzo Moyano (?), Danail Petrov (?), Ivan Velasco (?).

There is a rumor that Lulu Sanchez is linked with Caja Rural?

 

[GP Blanco]

There is a rumor that Lulu Sanchez is linked with Caja Rural?

There is. Quite a surprise considering his talent.

http://www.ciclo21.com/luis-leon-sanchez-muy-cerca-del-caja-rural-rga/

 

[Arredondo]

There is. Quite a surprise considering his talent

Not quite if you consider his past, and time of the year.

 

[GP Blanco]

Not quite if you consider his past, and time of the year.

There are more WT riders with the same past and LL Sanchez and Belkin came already in May to an agreement to end the contract. It is not like he came on the market just a couple of weeks ago.

 

[theyoungest]

Not quite if you consider his past, and time of the year.

His salary for the next two years has already been paid, so even if clinic-related evidence turns up its not a massive loss to any team in terms of money.

For Movistar or Astana not to sign him is actually quite hypocritical, considering the rest of their roster. It's not like he isn't good enough.

 

[Arredondo]

There are more WT riders with the same past and LL Sanchez and Belkin came already in May to an agreement to end the contract. It is not like he came on the market just a couple of weeks ago.

No, but teams are come into action at August/september, so he's got the same position as other riders. The thing is, is that his case isn't cleary solved yet. There are still rumours about the fact that the case dealt with bribary, and 'other riders with the same past' serve their suspension and are ''clean'', but LLS still isn't cleared enough to knew certain as a team that problems are passed forever.

If he perfoms well with Caja-Rural, which he likely does, he will get picked up by a WT team next year, that's also a conclusion which you can draw easily.

 

[Netserk]

His salary for the next two years has already been paid, so even if clinic-related evidence turns up its not a massive loss to any team in terms of money.

For Movistar or Astana not to sign him is actually quite hypocritical, considering the rest of their roster. It's not like he isn't good enough.

Not to mention Saxo, who could really use a cheap (free) rider.

 

[JRanton]

André Schulze (Euskaltel) retires and will be a DS at NetApp-Endura next year: http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=67085

 

[Michele]

There is. Quite a surprise considering his talent.

http://www.ciclo21.com/luis-leon-sanchez-muy-cerca-del-caja-rural-rga/

It would be very good for Caja Rural but on the other hand this sounds like one of those Riis situations.

 

[Arredondo]

I don't know if it's mentioned yet, but for our Portugese interested cycling fans, Efapel Glassdrive has signed former Vuelta a Portugal winner Ricardo Mestre, who returns to his home country after a year with Euskaltel. They also signed Rafael Reis, and are really close to sign a contract with Gustavo Veloso.

I didn't know though that Carlos Oyarzun is going to ride for Efapel next year.

http://www.****iociclismo.it/ciclomercato/efapel-glassdrive-annunciati-nove-corridori-33008

 

[JRanton]

Leigh Howard and Mitch Docker extend with Orica-GreenEdge for two years to 2015:

http://www.greenedgecycling.com/news/mitch-docker-extends-contract-with-orica-greenedge

http://www.greenedgecycling.com/news/leigh-howard-re-signs-with-orica-greenedge

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

a new chilean ct team based in spain with 8 chilean riders, 4 spanish riders and a spanish manager.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I don't know if it's mentioned yet, but for our Portugese interested cycling fans, Efapel Glassdrive has signed former Vuelta a Portugal winner Ricardo Mestre, who returns to his home country after a year with Euskaltel. They also signed Rafael Reis, and are really close to sign a contract with Gustavo Veloso.

I didn't know though that Carlos Oyarzun is going to ride for Efapel next year.

http://www.****iociclismo.it/ciclomercato/efapel-glassdrive-annunciati-nove-corridori-33008

Yea, they really needed reinforcements since Rui Sousa, César Fonte (both to Radio Popular) and Arkaitz Durán, Ricardo Vilela and Nuno Ribeiro (all to OFM) have all split and sadly Hernâni Brôco has retired, leaving them with only Sérgio Sousa and Joni Brandão as established talents (Brandão's still establishing himself, mind). With OFM having lost Marque it would make sense for them to keep César, however I can see why Efapel would want to do the switch.

Efapel have also signed ex-Orbea and Euskaltel man Garikoitz Bravo, so hopefully this year RTP and the Volta's organisers will recognise his name and not call him "Bravo Garikoitz" for a week and a half. I wonder if they'll work out Gustavo César's name too.

 

[42x16ss]

No, but teams are come into action at August/september, so he's got the same position as other riders. The thing is, is that his case isn't cleary solved yet. There are still rumours about the fact that the case dealt with bribary, and 'other riders with the same past' serve their suspension and are ''clean'', but LLS still isn't cleared enough to knew certain as a team that problems are passed forever.

If he perfoms well with Caja-Rural, which he likely does, he will get picked up by a WT team next year, that's also a conclusion which you can draw easily.

The other thing is, if LLS comes out relatively unscathed and Caja Rural have a very good year - which is very possible with that roster - they may find themselves looking at a WT spot in 2015.

There may be a few good WT riders looking for new teams at the end of next year because of limited opportunities thanks to the flooded transfer market this year. If Caja Rural have a good 2014 and make some good transfers I don't see how it isn't possible.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Money. They would need another sponsor because their budget simply will not and can not compete at the WT level. Good results maximise the chance of getting one, but at present they're too small. I'm a fan of the team and I think they're generally going about things the right way though. Not tied down by points, they're going out there the old-fashioned way - enlivening races and getting their sponsors talked about by getting airtime and signing the type of riders fans want to see as well as the guys who can get bankable results and handle the financial side of things with winnings etc.

 

[coimbrawu]

The other thing is, if LLS comes out relatively unscathed and Caja Rural have a very good year - which is very possible with that roster - they may find themselves looking at a WT spot in 2015.

There may be a few good WT riders looking for new teams at the end of next year because of limited opportunities thanks to the flooded transfer market this year. If Caja Rural have a good 2014 and make some good transfers I don't see how it isn't possible.

It is not easy for Caja Rural to maintain in ProConti level, considering the finance of Spain. It is highly possible the banks of Spain will be affected by the financial crisis again in the coming 1 year so will the Caja Rural.

Spaniard cycling is still in decline and we don't know when will be an end. See the following chart:

If we count Burgos BH-Castilla y León and Euskadi - NER Group (which looks in trouble now), there are only 4 pro Spaniard teams (WT, ProConti plus conti team) in 2014, if not, 3 or 2 teams left. It will be very very strange if they have 2 WT team without any pro-conti or conti team in 2015