Transfers and Rumours 2018 > 2019

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Apr 30, 2011
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Red Rick said:
http://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/356761/mikel-landa-heeft-spijt-van-transfer-naar-movistar.html?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

Allegedly, Landa wants to leave Movistar already.

And allegedly, Vino wants him back.
:lol:

All hail Landa!
 
Jul 27, 2009
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Looks like Landa in reality absolutely wanted to win the Giro d'Italia! :D

But that's the second year in a row that Unzue pisses of his leader by weird grand tour schedules and to be honest everyone including Landa himself probably expected him to be signed as a captain for the corsa rosa!
 
May 31, 2015
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Absolute rubbish. He gets his chances this year, with Tirreno and Pays Basque as best examples and later on the Vuelta. In Pays Basque Quintana even functioned as his helper! Seems to me the Italians are pissed that he skipped the Giro and they need to fill their papers somehow. For Landa, it was the Tour and Vuelta all the way. In the interview with Marca he even states that the Giro doesn't fit in his schedule in order to be as fresh as possible for the Tour.

On the channel of Movistar there are plenty of videos where he says he likes the atmosphere within the team. Can't imagine Landa being a topclass actor, as an outgoing type of person.

https://as.com/ciclismo/2017/12/22/mas_ciclismo/1513982235_481001.html
http://www.marca.com/ciclismo/vuelta-espana/2018/01/13/5a5a087fe5fdea900e8b457e.html
 
Well, let's be real, whether this story is based on the truth or not, this Movistar experiment was a disaster from the get go. It's only inevitable that Nairo and Landa are going to clash. The Vuelta would have been much better suited for Unzue to unleash this four headed demon. Their whole Tour selection is rubbish, from 1 through 5 really (the 5th being Amador).
 
Aug 3, 2015
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Hmm. Lets wait to judge the 'experiment' until the Tour is over. Maybe they all get through the cobbled stage just fine and then I cant see them not winning against this field.
 
May 31, 2015
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Netserk said:
I don't think Quintana helped him one second in Itzulia.

That's another discussion. Before Itzulia it was communicated that Landa would be the absolute leader, also confirmed by Quintana himself.
 
Re:

Valv.Piti said:
Hmm. Lets wait to judge the 'experiment' until the Tour is over. Maybe they all get through the cobbled stage just fine and then I cant see them not winning against this field.
Honestly, I think it would be much better for the team were one of Nairo or Landa already down 15 minutes after the Roubaix stage. At least then you'd know who should be working for who. Landa has already said as much, that he isn't going to lift a finger for anyone if he is in the same situation as last year.
 
May 31, 2015
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Valv.Piti said:
Hmm. Lets wait to judge the 'experiment' until the Tour is over. Maybe they all get through the cobbled stage just fine and then I cant see them not winning against this field.

If they stay on their bike. Unzue be like: We like to take it day by day :D
 
Feb 18, 2015
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In my opinion this three leaders idea was Unzue's plan to derail the sky train in the tour which is completely useless now as sky will most likely not be the team to beat. In the moment Froome said he wanted to go for the double they should have put the giro on Landa's schedule (or valverde's if Landa hadn't wanted). Now they might very well be in the position to have a rider in yellow early and the other two leaders are just riding around not knowing what to do with their good legs. Would be hilarious if both Quintana and Landa end up riding for Valverde.

To come back to topic. I wouldn't be surprised if Landa wants to leave again soon and if Astana wants to sign a new gc leader as Lopez seems to have huge problems on any terrain except long climbs. But I don't see that move happening after this season already. If it happens it would be hilarious though :D
 
Nov 16, 2013
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Gigs_98 said:
In my opinion this three leaders idea was Unzue's plan to derail the sky train in the tour which is completely useless now as sky will most likely not be the team to beat. In the moment Froome said he wanted to go for the double they should have put the giro on Landa's schedule (or valverde's if Landa hadn't wanted). Now they might very well be in the position to have a rider in yellow early and the other two leaders are just riding around not knowing what to do with their good legs. Would be hilarious if both Quintana and Landa end up riding for Valverde.

To come back to topic. I wouldn't be surprised if Landa wants to leave again soon and if Astana wants to sign a new gc leader as Lopez seems to have huge problems on any terrain except long climbs. But I don't see that move happening after this season already. If it happens it would be hilarious though :D

It certainly would be and if Valverde is good in the first week, it's very difficult to imagine him not putting a significant amount of time into either of his co-captains.

And what would they do then?
 
Jul 27, 2009
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tobydawq said:
Gigs_98 said:
In my opinion this three leaders idea was Unzue's plan to derail the sky train in the tour which is completely useless now as sky will most likely not be the team to beat. In the moment Froome said he wanted to go for the double they should have put the giro on Landa's schedule (or valverde's if Landa hadn't wanted). Now they might very well be in the position to have a rider in yellow early and the other two leaders are just riding around not knowing what to do with their good legs. Would be hilarious if both Quintana and Landa end up riding for Valverde.

To come back to topic. I wouldn't be surprised if Landa wants to leave again soon and if Astana wants to sign a new gc leader as Lopez seems to have huge problems on any terrain except long climbs. But I don't see that move happening after this season already. If it happens it would be hilarious though :D

It certainly would be and if Valverde is good in the first week, it's very difficult to imagine him not putting a significant amount of time into either of his co-captains.

And what would they do then?
Lose the Tour against Bardet!
 
Feb 20, 2010
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vuelta98-1056x920.jpg
 
Jun 30, 2014
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Some Giro rumours about a few of the young Italians:
-Ciccone has a buy out clause in his contract, Astana, Trek, UAE and AG2R (replacement for Pozzovivo as their guy for the Italian races?) are apparently interesting in signing him. He's managed by Johnny Carera, so Bahrain would also make sense.
-Ballerini also has a buy out clause in his contract, Astana and Katusha want to sign him, Trek and EF Drapac have also shown interest.
-Masnada apparently also has a few offers, but Savio would like to keep him on his team.
Source: http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/2018/05/...snada-ciccone-pier-augusto-stagi-tuttobiciweb
 
Jun 27, 2013
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Moviestar said:
GuyIncognito said:

How'd you get a picture of Dumoulin with Escartin and Chaba?

I don't see Dumoulin at all in Olano, Poels would be a better choice

How so? Poels is far less consistent from stage to stage than Olano, more explosive, not half the TT rider most of the time, and better in short climbs. Also much worse downhill. Their finish is similar, I'll give you that.
 
Feb 18, 2015
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Mayomaniac said:
Some Giro rumours about a few of the young Italians:
-Ciccone has a buy out clause in his contract, Astana, Trek, UAE and AG2R (replacement for Pozzovivo as their guy for the Italian races?) are apparently interesting in signing him. He's managed by Johnny Carera, so Bahrain would also make sense.
-Ballerini also has a buy out clause in his contract, Astana and Katusha want to sign him, Trek and EF Drapac have also shown interest.
-Masnada apparently also has a few offers, but Savio would like to keep him on his team.
Source: http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/2018/05/...snada-ciccone-pier-augusto-stagi-tuttobiciweb
Ciccone to Bahrein would just make so much sense. It's a team full of Italian veterans who will all retire in the next few years, so the team needs new young riders. Ciccone is probably Italy's best current climbing prospect and as this is the most Italian WT team so he would be a perfect fit
 
Jun 30, 2014
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Gigs_98 said:
Mayomaniac said:
Some Giro rumours about a few of the young Italians:
-Ciccone has a buy out clause in his contract, Astana, Trek, UAE and AG2R (replacement for Pozzovivo as their guy for the Italian races?) are apparently interesting in signing him. He's managed by Johnny Carera, so Bahrain would also make sense.
-Ballerini also has a buy out clause in his contract, Astana and Katusha want to sign him, Trek and EF Drapac have also shown interest.
-Masnada apparently also has a few offers, but Savio would like to keep him on his team.
Source: http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/2018/05/...snada-ciccone-pier-augusto-stagi-tuttobiciweb
Ciccone to Bahrein would just make so much sense. It's a team full of Italian veterans who will all retire in the next few years, so the team needs new young riders. Ciccone is probably Italy's best current climbing prospect and as this is the most Italian WT team so he would be a perfect fit
Yes, last year I already hoped that he would sign with them and ride with Nibali and Pozzovivo.
Next year they could have him and Padun racing and learning from Nibali and Pozzovivo, that would be a great learning experience for them and the team could slowly built the 2 young gc riders behind their 2 main guys (and Ion, if you want to see him as a gc rider for gts).
 
May 5, 2010
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Re: Re:

GuyIncognito said:
Moviestar said:
GuyIncognito said:

How'd you get a picture of Dumoulin with Escartin and Chaba?

I don't see Dumoulin at all in Olano, Poels would be a better choice

How so? Poels is far less consistent from stage to stage than Olano, more explosive, not half the TT rider most of the time, and better in short climbs. Also much worse downhill. Their finish is similar, I'll give you that.

Are you guys talking about riders being similar in looks, or in riding style/abilities?
 
Oct 14, 2017
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tobydawq said:
Gigs_98 said:
In my opinion this three leaders idea was Unzue's plan to derail the sky train in the tour which is completely useless now as sky will most likely not be the team to beat. In the moment Froome said he wanted to go for the double they should have put the giro on Landa's schedule (or valverde's if Landa hadn't wanted). Now they might very well be in the position to have a rider in yellow early and the other two leaders are just riding around not knowing what to do with their good legs. Would be hilarious if both Quintana and Landa end up riding for Valverde.

To come back to topic. I wouldn't be surprised if Landa wants to leave again soon and if Astana wants to sign a new gc leader as Lopez seems to have huge problems on any terrain except long climbs. But I don't see that move happening after this season already. If it happens it would be hilarious though :D

It certainly would be and if Valverde is good in the first week, it's very difficult to imagine him not putting a significant amount of time into either of his co-captains.

And what would they do then?


I could definitely see that happening just because of the way the first week to 10 days is laid out. Somehow I don't think this is one of the scenarios the team ever imagined either. The way the first week plays out it could end up with Valverde and Nibali having significant time on everyone else in the GC after the cobbled stage and they both proved this spring they are more than capable of handling cobbles.

As to the Giro, Valverde actually had wanted to race the Giro. Except there was no way he was going to be able to. After his sprint schedule he said that his body was screaming at him at LBL that it was time for a break. With the injury and everything he had to put into his rehab there was never going to be any way he would have been able to have raced the Giro this year.

Now back on topic, there was an article in a Spanish publication that Landa apparently is wondering if he made the wrong choice in coming to Movistar. (Um, I think most of us thought he would have been better off back at Astana or going to Trek). Maybe he needs a better agent? Then again during Ardennes week he said he was very happy to get a chance to race with Valverde as his team leader because he learned he still has a lot to learn about being a team leader.
 
Jul 27, 2009
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No matter what happened that day at Sestriere, Martinelli was always the best sports director to handle a rider & character like Landa!
 
May 31, 2015
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Re: Re:

GuyIncognito said:
Moviestar said:
GuyIncognito said:

How'd you get a picture of Dumoulin with Escartin and Chaba?

I don't see Dumoulin at all in Olano, Poels would be a better choice

How so? Poels is far less consistent from stage to stage than Olano, more explosive, not half the TT rider most of the time, and better in short climbs. Also much worse downhill. Their finish is similar, I'll give you that.

Thought you were hinting at the looks, my bad.
 

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