Transfers and Rumours 2017 > 2018

[SafeBet]

The problem with Bardiani is that we're not even sure they'll be invited to the Giro next year.

 

[Squire]

Re:

The problem with Bardiani is that we're not even sure they'll be invited to the Giro next year.

I'd be very surprised if they weren't. They have more to offer to the race than all the other Italian teams and also more than the foreign money candidates (CCC, Gazprom, ICA).

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

The problem with Bardiani is that we're not even sure they'll be invited to the Giro next year.

Yeah, not to happy about this one, I'd have prefered to see him sign with a team like Bahrain or even Astana, teams like BMC or Trek could also give him enough freedom at the Giro.
I expected a lot more from him in the Autumn classics, the guy has the potential to do really well in hilly one day races and Nibali rates him pretty high. He was great in the 2016 edition of AGR, durning the final km he was Colbrelli's only domestique and fighting for position and keeping near the front, things that you'd expect from a seasoned domestique, not a 58kg light skinny climber who's racing his first really long one day race as a neopro.
Maybe he still hasn't fully recovered from th heart surgery, he looked to be on the right track in the Tour of Utah when he won the queenstage.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Cannondale / EF should sign Shane Archbold.

They need a lead out man. He's a good professional lead out man who is out of contract next season. He's out of contract because he managed to injure himself for almost a whole year and in the meantime Selig was extremely good in the role. He has been back for all of eight race days since his injury. He's been Bennett's lead out for the last four of those days (well, last leadout for three, second last today as it was his job to lead through the technical run in). In those four starts, Bennet has won all four. Is that down to Archbold? Well, no, it's mostly down to Bennett obviously. But it does demonstrate that Archbold is back to being a very good lead out already and his injury didn't permanently reduce his level.

He's a rider who really doesn't deserve to find himself without a pro contract, just because of an injury. He's available cheap. And he is a specialist at a role Cannondale really need to fill if they are to get the best out of their new sprinter.

 

[yaco]

Actually Docker and Archibald as part of a lead out should work well.

 

[Anderis]

Re:

They need a lead out man.

Do they?

I think with Modolo, McLay, Van Asbroeck, Docker, Vanmarcke and Phinney they have enough quickish riders to create a sprint train. And we will also see what Logan Owen can do. Nothing against Archbold but I don't think he would make THAT much of a difference.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Re: Re:

They need a lead out man.

Do they?

I think with Modolo, McLay, Van Asbroeck, Docker, Vanmarcke and Phinney they have enough quickish riders to create a sprint train. And we will also see what Logan Owen can do. Nothing against Archbold but I don't think he would make THAT much of a difference.

I think lead out is best seen as a specialist role. Cannondale have sprinters and they have train grunts, but nobody who has made a career out of being the final launchpad and guide through the scrum. Maybe one of the sprinters can do it well, but it's something they will have to learn and may or may not be good at. A leadout who knows his business can help a great deal in getting the best out of both sprinter and train, which is why most teams that are serious about sprinting and have laid out money for both a sprinter and a train make sure they have a Richeze or Renshaw or Selig to help maximise the return on that investment.

Now Cannondale are turning to sprints on the cheap compared to an OPQS or HTC. They are hardly going to pay for a very top end lead out specialist who would cost more than most of their sprinters. But a good specialist who is available for very little for reasons that have nothing to do with poor form? To me that looks like a cost effective way to maximise the results they are paying those sprinters for.

Particularly as Archbold has lots of experience at both of the main types of lead out role - he can be a power guy at the end of a full train, or he can be the "guide to the best wheel" pilot in a situation where other teams are stronger. Both will probably be very useful.

 

[TMP402]

Zinoviev is right on the money.

 

[Anderis]

Łukasz Owsian, Michał Paluta, Kamil Małecki, Patryk Stosz, Jonas Koch and Adrian Kurek all extend with CCC.

That probably means Ponzi is out because CCC's DS said that there were going to be only 6 foreign riders in their 2018 roster and those appear to be Koch, Sisr, Tratnik, Kump, Antunes and Schlegel.

 

[Roku]

Re:

Łukasz Owsian, Michał Paluta, Kamil Małecki, Patryk Stosz, Jonas Koch and Adrian Kurek all extend with CCC.

That probably means Ponzi is out because CCC's DS said that there were going to be only 6 foreign riders in their 2018 roster and those appear to be Koch, Sisr, Tratnik, Kump, Antunes and Schlegel.

It was about time. He did not anything to merit for a renewal and was probably getting a large paycheck.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Well Shane Archbold won't be going to Cannondale as Aquablue have just announced his signature.

 

[Der Effe]

Archbold from Bora to Aqua Blue Sport.

 

[Anderis]

Howes extends with Slipstream for 2 years:
http://slipstreamsports.com/howes-stays-slipstream-sports/

 

[capuldemetal]

Goga Ruiz-Sandoval‏Verified account @BiciGoga 2h2 hours ago
More
Hay que agaracederle a @MovistarCo su apoyo al ciclismo a través de los 7 años que sostuvieron al equipo @Movistar_Team2 en Colombia, ojalá que algún patrocinador pueda recuperar esta valiosa estructura y recursos humanos.

movi to dismand their colombian structure?

 

[mariposa]

Re:

Goga Ruiz-Sandoval‏Verified account @BiciGoga 2h2 hours ago
More
Hay que agaracederle a @MovistarCo su apoyo al ciclismo a través de los 7 años que sostuvieron al equipo @Movistar_Team2 en Colombia, ojalá que algún patrocinador pueda recuperar esta valiosa estructura y recursos humanos.

movi to dismand their colombian structure?

Yes unfortunately. They released a communication to say the sponsorship of the team will finish at the end of the year

http://zonacycling.com/movistar-colombia-cancela-patrocinio-equipo-local-ciclismo/

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Franklin Six (Godchild of Frank VDB (god bless him)) will become pro with WB Aquaprotec. He finished runner-up on the NC, won the Handzame Classic and finished six in the U23 LBL this year.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

Franklin Six (Godchild of Frank VDB (god bless him)) will become pro with WB Aquaprotec. He finished runner-up on the NC, won the Handzame Classic and finished six in the U23 LBL this year.

Godchild and nephew, I think?

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

Franklin Six (Godchild of Frank VDB (god bless him)) will become pro with WB Aquaprotec. He finished runner-up on the NC, won the Handzame Classic and finished six in the U23 LBL this year.

Godchild and nephew, I think?

correct and his dad was also a cyclist, Sebastien Six, I didn't think he had any notable results though.

 

[Squire]

Intxausti will apparently continue with Sky next year.

 

[mariposa]

David Arroyo announced on twitter that he will not be wearing Caja Rural's colours next year. It's not clear whether he is retiring or has another team. He is 37 so possibly the former.

 

[Ricco']

David Arroyo announced on twitter that he will not be wearing Caja Rural's colours next year. It's not clear whether he is retiring or has another team. He is 37 so possibly the former.

37 years? Plenty of time to return to Portugal. Without Antunes and Silva (and Alarcón?) someone needs to join Cesar Veloso and António Carvalho on the conquest of the Volta.

 

[Akuryo]

David Arroyo announced on twitter that he will not be wearing Caja Rural's colours next year. It's not clear whether he is retiring or has another team. He is 37 so possibly the former.

37 years? Plenty of time to return to Portugal. Without Antunes and Silva (and Alarcón?) someone needs to join Cesar Veloso and António Carvalho on the conquest of the Volta.

Retirement with 37? Rebellin is laughing from somewhere.

 

[Anderis]

Yeah, it's stupid to retire before your prime years come, as would Chris Horner say.

 

[capuldemetal]

the Inner Ring‏ @inrng 7m7 minutes ago
More
Fabio Aru confirmed for UAE Emirates in 2018 says team's website http://www.uaeteamemirates.com/category/teams-roster/ …

 

[May0maniac]

It was already a done deal, but now they have a strong team, Dan Martin and Kristoff for the Tour and various one day races, Aru for Giro, Vuelta and the Italian Autumn races, overall a really strong team.