Transfers and Rumours 2016 > 2017

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StryderHells

StryderHells

Oct 10, 2015
3,115
1,652
16,680
TMP402

TMP402

Mar 13, 2015
6,554
256
17,880
Cyclingnews understands that the Bahrain team will bring several riders from the current Lampre-Merida team across including Louis Meintjes, who signed from MTN Quebeka last year. Lampre-Merida currently has around 15 riders under contract for 2017 but that is on the understanding that they have a WorldTour licence. At present no 2017 licences have been approved, with the UCI still yet to announce how their system will work in 2017.

The new Bahrain team are also interested in Lampre’s Diego Ulissi who had a strong Giro d’Italia and is currently out of contract for 2017. The team have also been linked with Rafal Majka but Cyclingnews understands that a deal has not yet been signed. The new Bahrain team have also been approached by Roman Kreuziger’s representatives but so far the Bahraini team have not offered the Czech rider a contract.

We also understand that Castelli will be the kit sponsor for the team and Merida will almost certainly supply the team with bikes and join as a secondary sponsor. The full team name has yet to be confirmed but one source told Cyclingnews that Bahrain-Merida was a front running option. Cyclingnews contacted Copeland but he declined to comment. He remains under contract with Lampre-Merida.

Such a scenario would leave Lampre’s future in the sport uncertain. The Italian press, however, have speculated that the remnants of the team could move into the Pro-Continental ranks. A move of this nature would leave Italy without a WorldTour team.
Click to expand...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bahrain-team-linked-to-lampre-merida-riders/
 
Christian

Christian

Mar 13, 2009
5,245
2
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As one of the forum's self-proclaimed resident Trek experts, I want to put in my two cents on the recent rumours surrounding the team. I'd say that first of all what we must keep in mind is that in the past two years, Trek have been linked with just about every GC rider you could think of, and in the end they ended up with Mollema (no disrespect). Last year Guercilena famously proclaimed they had a 45% (I forget the exact number) chance of signing Cavendish. Guercilena seems like a nice enough guy but he is also clueless and seems to read the grounds of his morning Segafredo(TM) coffee to anounce percentages and probablilities to the press before noon. So the fact that Contador should be linked to Trek is not in the least surprising but as with many riders in the past it could just be hogwash.

But on the other hand it should be noted that Contador fits Trek's profile perfectly. Essentially they are 100% all about publicity, and the sporting side is somewhat secondary. What they are looking for is not the best rider, but the best brand ambassador. It used to be Cancellara, now they can just transfer Cancellara's salary to Contador. It will be basically the same as before, they will have no budget to build a halfway decent team but they'll have that one stand out rider who has enough talent to win even without a good team. Plus they can plaster "PISTOLERO" instead of "SPARTACUS" on everything, give him special custom painted bikes, have him participate in coffee giveaways, etc.

So in my opinion those are the pro's and con's, with the added factor that someone like Contador probably has a limited amount of teams to choose from, and even though Trek are somewhat ridiculous they are also harmless, so while it might not be the best choice it probably wouldn't be the worst either. If Lampre can pull together a decent offer though and get Specialized on board (should Merida leave them for Bahrain), that would probably be best for everyone involved.
 
P

pastronef

Aug 19, 2011
9,047
3,320
23,180
Christian said:
As one of the forum's self-proclaimed resident Trek experts, I want to put in my two cents on the recent rumours surrounding the team. I'd say that first of all what we must keep in mind is that in the past two years, Trek have been linked with just about every GC rider you could think of, and in the end they ended up with Mollema (no disrespect). Last year Guercilena famously proclaimed they had a 45% (I forget the exact number) chance of signing Cavendish. Guercilena seems like a nice enough guy but he is also clueless and seems to read the grounds of his morning Segafredo(TM) coffee to anounce percentages and probablilities to the press before noon. So the fact that Contador should be linked to Trek is not in the least surprising but as with many riders in the past it could just be hogwash.

But on the other hand it should be noted that Contador fits Trek's profile perfectly. Essentially they are 100% all about publicity, and the sporting side is somewhat secondary. What they are looking for is not the best rider, but the best brand ambassador. It used to be Cancellara, now they can just transfer Cancellara's salary to Contador. It will be basically the same as before, they will have no budget to build a halfway decent team but they'll have that one stand out rider who has enough talent to win even without a good team. Plus they can plaster "PISTOLERO" instead of "SPARTACUS" on everything, give him special custom painted bikes, have him participate in coffee giveaways, etc.

So in my opinion those are the pro's and con's, with the added factor that someone like Contador probably has a limited amount of teams to choose from, and even though Trek are somewhat ridiculous they are also harmless, so while it might not be the best choice it probably wouldn't be the worst either. If Lampre can pull together a decent offer though and get Specialized on board (should Merida leave them for Bahrain), that would probably be best for everyone involved.
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If Merida leaves, Lampre will go pro-conti.

Merida owns Specialized so no way Specy funds Lampre. Merida cares about Bahrain.

I like Contador to Trek. he began winning with a Trek
 
T

thehook

Mar 9, 2013
572
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Quick question here. If your say ...Trek or any other team on the Hunt for a GC guy. Why would you look to an older rider? Why not try to sign a young GC guy and bring him up? ARU, Lopez, Kruswijcz, Carthy. Try to nurture him in your system. Let him learn how to win.
Mollema was never going to be that guy. Ryder is done. Uran is a good rider, but he is off the SKY marginal gains. I guess I look at as a growing kinda process?
What are the thoughts out there?
 
Z

Zinoviev Letter

Aug 18, 2010
11,435
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Re:

thehook said:
Quick question here. If your say ...Trek or any other team on the Hunt for a GC guy. Why would you look to an older rider? Why not try to sign a young GC guy and bring him up? ARU, Lopez, Kruswijcz, Carthy. Try to nurture him in your system. Let him learn how to win.
Mollema was never going to be that guy. Ryder is done. Uran is a good rider, but he is off the SKY marginal gains. I guess I look at as a growing kinda process?
What are the thoughts out there?
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Two riders at the same level: One a young rider on the way up, the other an older rider moving down from his peak. Obviously from a sporting point of view, the young guy is the better option. But pro cycling is advertising on wheels. The fading champion gets publicity, from articles about him to simply more commentary mentions, that the young rider doesn't get unless he happens to win big.
 
J

janraaskalt2

Mar 13, 2015
66
0
0
Re:

thehook said:
Quick question here. If your say ...Trek or any other team on the Hunt for a GC guy. Why would you look to an older rider? Why not try to sign a young GC guy and bring him up? ARU, Lopez, Kruswijcz, Carthy. Try to nurture him in your system. Let him learn how to win.
Mollema was never going to be that guy. Ryder is done. Uran is a good rider, but he is off the SKY marginal gains. I guess I look at as a growing kinda process?
What are the thoughts out there?
Click to expand...
Financial security is guaranteed for 1 or 2 years for most teams. You have to get results during that period to get the sponsor, or an other sponsor, to pay for 1-2 extra years. The scope of most teams is short term. Secondly, you name the ones that are successful, not the ones that failed to become GC contender. For each young GC contender there at least 2 that have failed in that area. Besides all that, yes it's much more fun to develop such a rider that buy one.
 
Oliwright

Oliwright

May 18, 2016
749
1
4,985
If your trek you sign Contador for the Tour for the next year or two and you also sign Lopez, Carthy, Yates.
They can be given Tirreno if Berty goes to Paris Nice and they can ride the giro and learn GC and develop so that when Berty hangs up the bike they will be ready to lead the team.
 
B

Brullnux

Mar 31, 2015
10,190
4,941
28,180
Re:

thehook said:
Quick question here. If your say ...Trek or any other team on the Hunt for a GC guy. Why would you look to an older rider? Why not try to sign a young GC guy and bring him up? ARU, Lopez, Kruswijcz, Carthy. Try to nurture him in your system. Let him learn how to win.
Mollema was never going to be that guy. Ryder is done. Uran is a good rider, but he is off the SKY marginal gains. I guess I look at as a growing kinda process?
What are the thoughts out there?
Click to expand...
Because Kruswijcz (didn't realise he was actually of an Eastern European descent) is 29, and is definitely not young. Why do people keep saying he's young? :D
 
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