Transfers and Rumours 2014 > 2015

[jaylew]

He wasn't better than Boonen and Stybar in Paris-Roubaix though.

Yeah, he was. Just as he was better than them in Het Nieuwsblad, Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 Prijs, and Flanders. In fact, every cobbled classic this year in which he participated. Worst result - 6th. Northern classics rider of the year.

 

[Arnout]

He wasn't better than Boonen and Stybar in Paris-Roubaix though.

That's the thing. If you're just missing that extra something to be able to win vs Boonen or Cancellara in a straight duel, its better to join them, effectively beating them a lot of the time due to race position. It's how Devolder, O'Grady and many others were able to win in the cobbled classsics too.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Orica have made an offer to Keldermerckx since his contract expires this year

 

[ILovecycling]

Orica have made an offer to Keldermerckx since his contract expires this year

That would be a good move

 

[Netserk]

For all that it seems like he's been around forever and won a hundred races, Tom Boonen is only 33 (he's been a pro since 2000 and has "only" won 89 races). I think there's at least one more Monument in the man, myself.

Afaik he has won 115 races. His 100th win was the crosswind stage in Paris-Nice '12.

 

[Michele]

Apparently Marc Madiot said to Buhanni that if he wanna ride this Tour he must sign a new contract with the team.

 

[christopherrowe]

Afaik he has won 115 races. His 100th win was the crosswind stage in Paris-Nice '12.

Thanks. I was going by his entry at procyclingstats.com.

 

[T-Nielsen]

Apparently Marc Madiot said to Buhanni that if he wanna ride this Tour he must sign a new contract with the team.

How much would you bet that the answer was: "If I don't ride the tour I won't sign a new contract."

 

[GuyIncognito]

How much would you bet that the answer was: "If I don't ride the tour I won't sign a new contract."

If what Casar said about the entire team's relationship with Bouhanni is true, Madiot will be thinking 'A-ok with me'

Supposedly Chavanel was designated as his leadout man because he's the one guy who doesn't hate Bouhanni

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

First rate ego, 2nd rate sprinter.

 

[GuyIncognito]

First rate ego, 2nd rate sprinter.

Pretty freaking first rate for 23yo.
Unless you mean 2nd rate literally and not in the usual pejorative sense

 

[jaylew]

First rate ego, 2nd rate sprinter.

Ironically, he seems to be more professional than Démare around working for one another.

Démare: “I don’t think we can ride the Tour together. We can’t coexist because of differences in our characters. A victory of one of us certainly wouldn’t please another, that’s how it is.”

Bouhanni: "If I feel bad, yes, of course," he said. "It is a matter of honesty, but he would not do it for me. He won't share the roles, he has already said that he will never ride for me. I think this kind of statement is disrespectful to [manager Marc] Madiot. But hey, everyone has their own way of acting."

 

[GuyIncognito]

Fun fact: he once suggested to Greipel that they should settle their discussion with a fistfight.

Greipel said no because Bouhanni's a former boxer

 

[ciranda]

Fun fact: he once suggested to Greipel that they should settle their discussion with a fistfight.

Greipel said no because Bouhanni's a former boxer

Ha, awesome. Why do other FDJ riders hate him, specifically?

 

[GuyIncognito]

Ha, awesome. Why do other FDJ riders hate him, specifically?

I don't know. General attitude I assume.

 

[Netserk]

If what Casar said about the entire team's relationship with Bouhanni is true, Madiot will be thinking 'A-ok with me'

Supposedly Chavanel was designated as his leadout man because he's the one guy who doesn't hate Bouhanni

I thought Soupe was his leadout man.

 

[GuyIncognito]

I thought Soupe was his leadout man.

Checking now, it seems Chavanel has had the same exact calendar, while on the other hand Soupe was with him for only 3 races

 

[Netserk]

Checking now, it seems Chavanel has had the same exact calendar, while on the other hand Soupe was with him for only 3 races

But Soupe has been his last man those races, no? :O

 

[GuyIncognito]

No idea, to be fair.

 

[Netserk]

No idea, to be fair.

Me neither (well at least not with any confidence)

 

[GuyIncognito]

Pfft. Netjerk spitting in the Soupe just for fun

 

[Netserk]

Well I do think he was his last man in Paris-Nice, but I'm not certain.

 

[search]

Checking now, it seems Chavanel has had the same exact calendar, while on the other hand Soupe was with him for only 3 races

yeh, FDJ signed Chavanel because Bouhanni asked for it (it was said in an interview earlier this year)

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Ironically, he seems to be more professional than Démare around working for one another.

Démare: “I don’t think we can ride the Tour together. We can’t coexist because of differences in our characters. A victory of one of us certainly wouldn’t please another, that’s how it is.”

Bouhanni: "If I feel bad, yes, of course," he said. "It is a matter of honesty, but he would not do it for me. He won't share the roles, he has already said that he will never ride for me. I think this kind of statement is disrespectful to [manager Marc] Madiot. But hey, everyone has their own way of acting."

Démare's seemingly still smarting from that national championships.

They've kind of developed in different directions now though, and I don't see them as quite so directly competing as before. It's more like Degenkolb and Kittel now, with Démare being more all-round as his classics performances and double GC win at Dunkerque show.

 

[pastronef]

Dan Craven in Europcar kit

https://twitter.com/AlexBousseau/status/474462492455104512/photo/1