Transfers and Rumours 2016 > 2017

[Viktormyglegaard]

Michael Valgren is rumoured to join Sky - not Astana.

In an interview with a danish website a week ago, he said that he really wants to ride for Sky, so that he can figure out what it is that makes them so much better than other teams.

Also Dave Brailsford have been speaking very highly of Valgren and says that he really likes him as a rider.

Link: http://feltet.dk/nyheder/valgren_har_styr_paa_fremtiden/

 

[carolina]

In an interview with a danish website a week ago, he said that he really wants to ride for Sky, so that he can figure out what it is that makes them so much better than other teams.

wouldn't it be easier to just ask de jongh, sean yates or mick rogers

 

[elfarto]

Michael Valgren is rumoured to join Sky - not Astana.

In an interview with a danish website a week ago, he said that he really wants to ride for Sky, so that he can figure out what it is that makes them so much better than other teams.

Also Dave Brailsford have been speaking very highly of Valgren and says that he really likes him as a rider.

Link: http://feltet.dk/nyheder/valgren_har_styr_paa_fremtiden/

Well today he was pretty chatty with the Sky riders in the final stage meters

 

[MatParker117]

Good addition to the classics team/Viviani's train.

 

[Alex47]

Re:

According to La Gazzetta Andrea Guardini could sign with Lampre.

Lampre or the future Barhain Merida ?

 

[RedheadDane]

In an interview with a danish website a week ago, he said that he really wants to ride for Sky, so that he can figure out what it is that makes them so much better than other teams.

Aaah... he wants to be a spy!

Of course his "Hey, can I just totally 'sprint' for a top-20 here?" stunt today didn't exactly diminish those rumours.

 

[Viktormyglegaard]

Re:

Good addition to the classics team/Viviani's train.

He says he's looking for a team where he will get opportunities to ride for himself. I wonder if his 2nd place in this years Amstel Gold Race is enough to make him the leader for Sky in the Ardennes

 

[MatParker117]

Re: Re:

Good addition to the classics team/Viviani's train.

He says he's looking for a team where he will get opportunities to ride for himself. I wonder if his 2nd place in this years Amstel Gold Race is enough to make him the leader for Sky in the Ardennes

If the rumours about Puccio and Bahrain are true then that will be his type of role. When you have the Leige champion, Henao and Kwaitkowski in situ then he'll probably be a key domestique for them and Froome/Landa some stage races. Could be a good addition to Viviani's train as well.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

Good addition to the classics team/Viviani's train.

He says he's looking for a team where he will get opportunities to ride for himself. I wonder if his 2nd place in this years Amstel Gold Race is enough to make him the leader for Sky in the Ardennes

If the rumours about Puccio and Bahrain are true then that will be his type of role. When you have the Leige champion, Henao and Kwaitkowski in situ then he'll probably be a key domestique for them and Froome/Landa some stage races. Could be a good addition to Viviani's train as well.

Yes, short of joining Etixx or Movistar, Valgren couldn't find a way to guarantee himself less opportunity to lead in hilly classics than joining Sky. For his sake, I really hope he does not do such a thing, although from a Sky point of view he'd be a great versatile domestique.

 

[Valv.Piti]

He specifically said today he would get some freedom; Sky would probably be team he would get the least on. So unless he is stupid (he doesn't seem bright to me) or is playing games, I don't see him going there. My bets are Astana and Trek, hoping for Astana. Would be cool to get some insights on Aru/Lopez and they are thin in the classics.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Michael Valgren is rumoured to join Sky - not Astana.

In an interview with a danish website a week ago, he said that he really wants to ride for Sky, so that he can figure out what it is that makes them so much better than other teams.

Also Dave Brailsford have been speaking very highly of Valgren and says that he really likes him as a rider.

Link: http://feltet.dk/nyheder/valgren_har_styr_paa_fremtiden/

That would be so terribly disappointing
Funnily enough last night some of his fans were panicking about it, he replied "easy girls, no worries. Ciao"

 

[bikeit]

Matthews OBE departure confirmed by White

“Michael Matthews is not coming back to this team next year,” said White, confirming the 25-year-old’s departure, "but who did we work for?

I can't believe that they let this happen, they should have thrown a lot at him, I blame their loyalty to Gerro. Yes, he's got some great results for them but he's clearly on the downhill

 

[Billie]

Re:

Sérgio Paulinho said on Eurosport that he doesn't know where his racing next year yet. He didn't sound very convincing though.

He should sign for Trek so him, Demol and their friends can gang up on Contador once again

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Sérgio Paulinho said on Eurosport that he doesn't know where his racing next year yet. He didn't sound very convincing though.

He should sign for Trek so him, Demol and their friends can gang up on Contador once again

Paulinho was the only one who was loyal to Alberto in 2009.

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

Sérgio Paulinho said on Eurosport that he doesn't know where his racing next year yet. He didn't sound very convincing though.

He should sign for Trek so him, Demol and their friends can gang up on Contador once again

Paulinho was the only one who was loyal to Alberto in 2009.

no even Paulinho joined the Lance/Bruyneel camp.

 

[StryderHells]

Re:

Surely Katusha must be in the market for a top GC guy now Purito is retiring and maybe 2 other top dom climbers


Mayeb Nibali ifno Bahrain team ?? Could have pushed Purito

Are Katusha still going to be Katusha next season? Read on a few different places that they are getting a new sponsor and moving from being a Russian dominated team, they only have 8 riders under contract for next season and one of them is Zakarin so thats a GC guy.

 

[El Pistolero]

Matthews OBE departure confirmed by White

“Michael Matthews is not coming back to this team next year,” said White, confirming the 25-year-old’s departure, "but who did we work for?

I can't believe that they let this happen, they should have thrown a lot at him, I blame their loyalty to Gerro. Yes, he's got some great results for them but he's clearly on the downhill

He'll replace Degenkolb at Giant. Michael Matthews hasn't impressed me this year, so if this is his level for future seasons than I say good riddance. Yeah he won a Tour stage, but it was from a break, where he was the only one with two strong domestiques, and where Sagan was riding for second place it seems (green jersey points). In all other stages he came up short. His classics season was a letdown. I don't understand him: he doesn't ride the cobbled classics, but he's clearly not strong enough to win LBL... A rider of his caliber should target more classics than just Milan-San Remo, Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold Race.

 

[dirkprovin]

Matthews OBE departure confirmed by White

“Michael Matthews is not coming back to this team next year,” said White, confirming the 25-year-old’s departure, "but who did we work for?

I can't believe that they let this happen, they should have thrown a lot at him, I blame their loyalty to Gerro. Yes, he's got some great results for them but he's clearly on the downhill

He'll replace Degenkolb at Giant. Michael Matthews hasn't impressed me this year, so if this is his level for future seasons than I say good riddance. Yeah he won a Tour stage, but it was from a break, where he was the only one with two strong domestiques, and where Sagan was riding for second place it seems (green jersey points). In all other stages he came up short. His classics season was a letdown. I don't understand him: he doesn't ride the cobbled classics, but he's clearly not strong enough to win LBL... A rider of his caliber should target more classics than just Milan-San Remo, Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold Race.

Well, he was taken out by a fall at this years MSR; whether or not he could have won or podiumed is unknowable but he wasn't given the chance to find out.

AGR this year was curious. Much has been blamed on the Gerrans relationship but Matthews himself rode it differently to last year. He clearly thought that he burned his matches too early in 2015 by going with the initial move on the Cauberg. DID he or Gerrans actually have anything more to give .... again unknowbable.

He DID ride FW this year and was there on the Mur finishing just outside top 20 if I recall correctly. LBL may be a bit too much for him but he is also someone who could potentially win the two Laurentian one-dayers if his 2nd at Quebec in 2015 is anything to go by. I seem to recall somewhere that he has expressed some interest at riding RVV (think he ran 2nd at Junior version); maybe this could be on the menu at Giant.

Will Giant work out for him ?? Who knows, maybe the $$$ were the primary factor. There is certainly the position opening with Degenkolb moving on but whether there will be the support may be open to question .... maybe Giant can poach someone else from OBE ? I think the Gerrans situation COULD have been resolved in his favour but he's made his decision ...... and what will happen ... will happen.

 

[StryderHells]

Matthews OBE departure confirmed by White

“Michael Matthews is not coming back to this team next year,” said White, confirming the 25-year-old’s departure, "but who did we work for?

I can't believe that they let this happen, they should have thrown a lot at him, I blame their loyalty to Gerro. Yes, he's got some great results for them but he's clearly on the downhill

He'll replace Degenkolb at Giant. Michael Matthews hasn't impressed me this year, so if this is his level for future seasons than I say good riddance. Yeah he won a Tour stage, but it was from a break, where he was the only one with two strong domestiques, and where Sagan was riding for second place it seems (green jersey points). In all other stages he came up short. His classics season was a letdown. I don't understand him: he doesn't ride the cobbled classics, but he's clearly not strong enough to win LBL... A rider of his caliber should target more classics than just Milan-San Remo, Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold Race.

Well, he was taken out by a fall at this years MSR; whether or not he could have won or podiumed is unknowable but he wasn't given the chance to find out.

AGR this year was curious. Much has been blamed on the Gerrans relationship but Matthews himself rode it differently to last year. He clearly thought that he burned his matches too early in 2015 by going with the initial move on the Cauberg. DID he or Gerrans actually have anything more to give .... again unknowbable.

He DID ride FW this year and was there on the Mur finishing just outside top 20 if I recall correctly. LBL may be a bit too much for him but he is also someone who could potentially win the two Laurentian one-dayers if his 2nd at Quebec in 2015 is anything to go by. I seem to recall somewhere that he has expressed some interest at riding RVV (think he ran 2nd at Junior version); maybe this could be on the menu at Giant.

Will Giant work out for him ?? Who knows, maybe the $$$ were the primary factor. There is certainly the position opening with Degenkolb moving on but whether there will be the support may be open to question .... maybe Giant can poach someone else from OBE ? I think the Gerrans situation COULD have been resolved in his favour but he's made his decision ...... and what will happen ... will happen.

I think Matthews pretty much gave up on OBE after the Worlds last year and his form this year to me shows his heart hasn't been completely into it, I think we will see a different rider next season and he will win races. He's said many times that he really wants to win Amstel so that's an obvious target, it would be good to see him ride RVV and he's still young enough to gain experience in those types of races to be competitive. If he is indeed going to Giant then they have room to sign some more support with 15 riders under contract for next season but they have riders like Sinkeldam, Waeytens, de Backer who could offer good support. Thinking out loud I wonder if they would be interested in signing Durbridge, he showed and said he's interested in the cobbled races and has showed some positive signs this season that he's coming back into some consistent form, also he could be good support in a GT for Dumoulin on the flatlands if Giant and him are still set on trying to make him a GC rider.

 

[dirkprovin]

I think Matthews pretty much gave up on OBE after the Worlds last year and his form this year to me shows his heart hasn't been completely into it, I think we will see a different rider next season and he will win races. He's said many times that he really wants to win Amstel so that's an obvious target, it would be good to see him ride RVV and he's still young enough to gain experience in those types of races to be competitive. If he is indeed going to Giant then they have room to sign some more support with 15 riders under contract for next season but they have riders like Sinkeldam, Waeytens, de Backer who could offer good support. Thinking out loud I wonder if they would be interested in signing Durbridge, he showed and said he's interested in the cobbled races and has showed some positive signs this season that he's coming back into some consistent form, also he could be good support in a GT for Dumoulin on the flatlands if Giant and him are still set on trying to make him a GC rider.

If he DID, indeed, do as you say then he DOES lose some regard from me as OBE had no direct bearing on what actually transpired in Richmond.

How he will actually "gell" with Giant will only be seen once next season gets underway; it may work out positively or be a 2 year disaster ...... or something in between. Durbridge to Giant ..... we're thinking along similar lines; ever plausible as he may get more opportunities, maybe not. Actually Impey is also off contract but I don't see him leaving a team where he is very much at home & has prospered.

Not sure that Matthews would be a major asset to Dumoulin's GC aspirations, except in those GTs with TTTs where Matthews IS very valuable, but neither would he be a major obstacle as he is somewhat less resource-intensive than a straight-out bunch sprinter.

 

[Tych23]

The fastest man in the peloton is linked to Bora.

Strava measured Markus Burghardt at 130,7 km/h last Sunday. He would be great addition, one of the best work horses around and a German.

 

[StryderHells]

I think Matthews pretty much gave up on OBE after the Worlds last year and his form this year to me shows his heart hasn't been completely into it, I think we will see a different rider next season and he will win races. He's said many times that he really wants to win Amstel so that's an obvious target, it would be good to see him ride RVV and he's still young enough to gain experience in those types of races to be competitive. If he is indeed going to Giant then they have room to sign some more support with 15 riders under contract for next season but they have riders like Sinkeldam, Waeytens, de Backer who could offer good support. Thinking out loud I wonder if they would be interested in signing Durbridge, he showed and said he's interested in the cobbled races and has showed some positive signs this season that he's coming back into some consistent form, also he could be good support in a GT for Dumoulin on the flatlands if Giant and him are still set on trying to make him a GC rider.

If he DID, indeed, do as you say then he DOES lose some regard from me as OBE had no direct bearing on what actually transpired in Richmond.

How he will actually "gell" with Giant will only be seen once next season gets underway; it may work out positively or be a 2 year disaster ...... or something in between. Durbridge to Giant ..... we're thinking along similar lines; ever plausible as he may get more opportunities, maybe not. Actually Impey is also off contract but I don't see him leaving a team where he is very much at home & has prospered.

Not sure that Matthews would be a major asset to Dumoulin's GC aspirations, except in those GTs with TTTs where Matthews IS very valuable, but neither would he be a major obstacle as he is somewhat less resource-intensive than a straight-out bunch sprinter.

I was saying that Durbridge could be a handy addition in helping Dumoulin in GT's looking after him on the flatlands, I wouldn't expect Matthews to helping Dumoulin's GC aspirations but could easily see them coexisting in a GT squad.
I hope I'm not right about Matthews not putting in 100% with OBE after what happened at the Worlds as it would be a slight on his character but I do think it has played a part in him leaving OBE.

 

[trucido]

I think Matthews pretty much gave up on OBE after the Worlds last year and his form this year to me shows his heart hasn't been completely into it, I think we will see a different rider next season and he will win races. He's said many times that he really wants to win Amstel so that's an obvious target, it would be good to see him ride RVV and he's still young enough to gain experience in those types of races to be competitive. If he is indeed going to Giant then they have room to sign some more support with 15 riders under contract for next season but they have riders like Sinkeldam, Waeytens, de Backer who could offer good support. Thinking out loud I wonder if they would be interested in signing Durbridge, he showed and said he's interested in the cobbled races and has showed some positive signs this season that he's coming back into some consistent form, also he could be good support in a GT for Dumoulin on the flatlands if Giant and him are still set on trying to make him a GC rider.

If he DID, indeed, do as you say then he DOES lose some regard from me as OBE had no direct bearing on what actually transpired in Richmond.

How he will actually "gell" with Giant will only be seen once next season gets underway; it may work out positively or be a 2 year disaster ...... or something in between. Durbridge to Giant ..... we're thinking along similar lines; ever plausible as he may get more opportunities, maybe not. Actually Impey is also off contract but I don't see him leaving a team where he is very much at home & has prospered.

Not sure that Matthews would be a major asset to Dumoulin's GC aspirations, except in those GTs with TTTs where Matthews IS very valuable, but neither would he be a major obstacle as he is somewhat less resource-intensive than a straight-out bunch sprinter.

Anything to stop him morphing completely into Gerrans v2 is an improvement in my opinion.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Rumours have it that Valgren and Hansen joins Astana. Source: http://cykelmagasinet.dk/astana-bekraefter-henter-to-danskere-til-naeste-aar

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Tinkov announced on Russian Eurosport that Sagan will get 6 millions euros per year in Bora