Transfers and Rumours 2014 > 2015

[Butterhead]

Don´t know if we wanna continue the rumors about Sagan for next year, but Riis now official confirms Tinkoffs interest in signing him but nothing conclusive yet of course, at least not official. But several facts suggests it could be very much the case.

 

[qwerty16]

Don´t know if we wanna continue the rumors about Sagan for next year, but Riis now official confirms Tinkoffs interest in signing him but nothing conclusive yet of course, at least not official. But several facts suggests it could be very much the case.

Apart from a big cheque there aren't many reasons to think of as to why he should go there. Even less support for cobbles than at his current team, while he Tinkoff have absolutely no one to lead out the sprint (Bennati is past his sprinting days) at all and apart from that he would have to deal with the presence of Contador and his domestiques in some races (with TDF being the biggest problem of course).

 

[Butterhead]

Apart from a big cheque there aren't many reasons to think of as to why he should go there. Even less support for cobbles than at his current team, while he Tinkoff have absolutely no one to lead out the sprint (Bennati is past his sprinting days) at all and apart from that he would have to deal with the presence of Contador and his domestiques in some races (with TDF being the biggest problem of course).

Oleg have not made it a secret that most of the team would be substituted within 2 years, so how the team will look like for both a Sagan and a Contador is yet to be seen, but I can´t see why Sagan should have any problems signing Tinkoff, they had Canc along with the Schlecks, and we know that went well, Canc had the strongest team to the cobbles and the team did fine to in the tour. I can´t see a problem, especially with the money involved now, Oleg can sign whoever he wants to pay for.

And the fact that Sagan's manager at the same time is Riis´s long time personal friend doesn´t hurt either, together with the rumors there are no Alonso team at all, I would say this rumor has a lot of depth.

 

[ExtraSpoke]

And the fact that Sagan's manager at the same time is Riis´s long time personal friend doesn´t hurt either, together with the rumors there are no Alonso team at all, I would say this rumor has a lot of depth.

Regarding Riis, it is quite possible that he can bring what is missing from Sagan to finally win those elusive classics.
(No hidden relation to the clinic here)

 

[Butterhead]

Regarding Riis, it is quite possible that he can bring what is missing from Sagan to finally win those elusive classics.
(No hidden relation to the clinic here)

You mean the Riis effect

Well, I think it´s important not to forget that Sagan is only 24 year old, he have plenty of time. And I don´t even think the Riis effect is necessary, next year he will take his first monument no matter who he rides for.

 

[argyllflyer]

You mean the Riis effect

Well, I think it´s important not to forget that Sagan is only 24 year old, he have plenty of time. And I don´t even think the Riis effect is necessary, next year he will take his first monument no matter who he rides for.

In which race? Not MSR if the route is as what was planned for 2014. Not LBL and not Lombardy. So Roubaix or Flanders then. I don't think he'll win either next year unless he finds his lost flat sprint. I think he's plateaued slightly this season so will be interesting to see how he goes against Cav in California, a race he usually cleans up in with zero competition. Bit tougher this year.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Well, I think it´s important not to forget that Sagan is only 24 year old, he have plenty of time. And I don´t even think the Riis effect is necessary, next year he will take his first monument no matter who he rides for.

Im pretty sure most people said that for this season too.

 

[Damiano]

Has anyone heard anything about Guardini? After two miserable years at Astana, he surely has to move on, right? His contract should be up after this season.

 

[MatParker117]

Bouhanni where does he end up?

 

[Butterhead]

Im pretty sure most people said that for this season too.

I didnt.....

 

[Michele]

Has anyone heard anything about Guardini? After two miserable years at Astana, he surely has to move on, right? His contract should be up after this season.

No rumors yet but a change of team is probably gonna happen.

 

[Fzotrlool]

Bouhanni where does he end up?

Garmin? A good replacement for Farrar who will work better as a lead-out man.

 

[trevim]

Garmin? A good replacement for Farrar who will work better as a lead-out man.

Yeah if I was a sprinter I would love to have a guy like Farrar ahead of me...

 

[CycloAndy]

Bouhanni where does he end up?

BMC could do with a sprinter to replace Hushovd.

 

[JosephD]

Bouhanni where does he end up?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/several-teams-want-bouhanni-says-agent

His agent says up to 7 top teams are looking at him although staying at FDJ is not out of the question

 

[Anderis]

Garmin? A good replacement for Farrar who will work better as a lead-out man.

BMC 99%, Garmin, Tinkoff Saxo and ? That's mu guesses of course.

It seems some good riders tend to be linked with Garmin quite often here. I don't understand why, since Garmin are nowhere near to be a top5 team in terms of budget AFAIK.

 

[coimbrawu]

So if Sagan, Viviani, Basso all leave, Cannondale will degrade to pro-conti?

 

[Michele]

Viviani not rumored to be leaving, Basso is a bad copy of what he used to be so they wont lose much, Sagan yes, almost surely leaving.

Turning pro conti? The rumor is that they will remain WT and with the money saved by Sagan's actual contract they could still make a decent team.

 

[pastronef]

Viviani not rumored to be leaving, Basso is a bad copy of what he used to be so they wont lose much, Sagan yes, almost surely leaving.

Turning pro conti? The rumor is that they will remain WT and with the money saved by Sagan's actual contract they could still make a decent team.

and, like you said before, if Sojasun puts is some more money, the budget should be fine.

 

[qwerty16]

In which race? Not MSR if the route is as what was planned for 2014. Not LBL and not Lombardy. So Roubaix or Flanders then. I don't think he'll win either next year unless he finds his lost flat sprint. I think he's plateaued slightly this season so will be interesting to see how he goes against Cav in California, a race he usually cleans up in with zero competition. Bit tougher this year.

Might well be he has already peaked sprinting-wise. Happens quite often with a rider with his characteristics. Riders like Boonen, Hushovd, Boasson Hagen even Farrar all lost sprinting speed over the years but at the same time they got tougher. Even someone like Farrar, who hasn't been focusing that much on the classics, has gone through that process.

Not saying it's definitely the case with Sagan, future will tell.

 

[Butterhead]

In which race? Not MSR if the route is as what was planned for 2014. Not LBL and not Lombardy. So Roubaix or Flanders then. I don't think he'll win either next year unless he finds his lost flat sprint. I think he's plateaued slightly this season so will be interesting to see how he goes against Cav in California, a race he usually cleans up in with zero competition. Bit tougher this year.

I´ve said it the last 2 - 3 years, whatever great talent Sagan is, he´s still to young, and in my opinion haven´t been taken good enough care of, team success came first. When you go distances way beyond 200 km, you just need the toughness, and only way to get that comes with time and careful training and programs. What Sagan lacks now is the toughness, the stamina beyond the 200 km but he will get there.

I think Sagan could win whatever Monument he set his mind to, maybe not next year, but in the future, but I would still say he could win RvV already next year.

 

[Butterhead]

Might well be he has already peaked sprinting-wise. Happens quite often with a rider with his characteristics. Riders like Boonen, Hushovd, Boasson Hagen even Farrar all lost sprinting speed over the years but at the same time they got tougher. Even someone like Farrar, who hasn't been focusing that much on the classics, has gone through that process.

Not saying it's definitely the case with Sagan, future will tell.

Naaa, he haven´t lost his sprinting skills, but ofc he can loose them when the distances go further and beyond the 200 km mark.

 

[bikeracer33]

So Matt White says that Orica will announce in a few weeks time the signing of a Grand Tour rider...Evans?

 

[karlboss]

So Matt White says that Orica will announce in a few weeks time the signing of a Grand Tour rider...Evans?

With the team they have they should look at Bouhanni.

For a GC rider I think they need a non puncheur to avoid conflict with Gerrans, or someone who doesn't enter Liege. Also in terms of improving the team if a GC rider is on the cards I think they need to be able to podium a GT, otherwise it's hard to outshine their current performance. Not under contract the list is short. Based on 2012 and 2013 Wiggins, Evans, and Horner is about it as far as proven go, as far as promise goes maybe throw in Roche? Near everyone else I can think of is under contract for 2015. Horner would be the cheapest. Wiggins is possibly 4 birds with one stone, Cobbles, Time trials, team time trials, and GC, but is probably the most expensive and I think to perform in GTs would need super support (top 10 in their own right) which also comes at a price. Evans has patriotism on his side, and if a rider like Morabito came that would probably be enough.
Will be interesting to see, or we could be blind sided as they sign a really young gun like Kelderman to develop as he will over the next 5 years. Or someone whose name you casually throw in without expectation for a top result, he'd generate some interest if he can equal last year's vuelta.

I'd think having a genuine bunch sprinter like Bouhanni would pay dividends.

 

[stefank]

There could be a protocol problem if Wiggins were to sign for Orica. Does the honorific "sir" take precedence over that of "mate"? I doubt it.