Cees Bol, not related to Jetse Bol, signs with Sunweb. After Nieuwenhuis and Kanter their 3rd signing for the new season. Bol spent most of his 2017 season being out with a concussion, but has bounced back this season with a couple of good results.
George Bennett signs a new 2-year contract with LottoNL.
George Bennett signs a new 2-year contract with LottoNL.
www.twitter.com/laflammerouge16
According to L'Equipe, Richie Porte will be in Aqua Blue Sport next year and the Irish Team will be into World Tour
wow!
According to L'Equipe, Richie Porte will be in Aqua Blue Sport next year and the Irish Team will be into World Tour
wow!
- Jun 27, 2013
- 5,217
- 9
- 17,495
I thought there were no spots available for 2019?
And what happened to last week's "Porte refused Aqua Blue's offer and signed with Trek"?
And what happened to last week's "Porte refused Aqua Blue's offer and signed with Trek"?
- Jan 23, 2016
- 2,505
- 4
- 11,485
pastronef said:
I expect if this is true then Ewan will be at the same team. Benson mentioned Aqua Blue as a contender for Porte.
silvergrenade said:
Shades of BMC and Cadel although unless they received a cash injection you would think he would earn more elsewhere and also be at a much better team. Think i believe more in the Trek rumour or maybe one of the mid east teams. If it's true then Porte is probably saying goodbye to his Tour aspirations. Some would say not before time.
- Feb 20, 2010
- 33,064
- 15,272
- 28,180
Richie Porte will be 34 before any GTs start next year, and he only has two GT top 10s, one of which was the freak break in the 2010 Giro. Obviously he's long since proven himself in stage racing, as he's collected a formidable one-week palmarès, but realistically, his GT palmarès is still pretty weak. Given that, it's not surprising that many of the top teams are not going to give him a contract to be their #1 guy given that you would expect him to start declining fairly soon. The likes of Sky have their leaders of his generation - Froome, Thomas - and their young successors - Sivakov, Bernal - and likewise Movistar may have Valverde, but Quintana and Landa are five years younger than Porte, plus they have Soler and Carapaz too. Bahrain have aging leaders which may free up some space, but Nibali is only two months older than Porte and infinitely more proven in GTs as well as one day races, Bora will never need a big-time stage race leader so long as Sagan can bring them all the success they need to keep the team prominent, Mitchelton have Chaves - 5 years younger - and the Yates brothers - 7 years younger - and seem to be gravitating away from their "Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi!" roots, and I'm not sure Porte would want to be well down the totem pole either. Also, Jack Haig's pretty good for the future too. No GC contender worth their salt is going to Quick Step, Lotto-NL have Roglič and just locked Bennett down, Sunweb's led by Dumoulin who's 5 years younger and they already have in Hindley and Storer two strong Australian climbing prospects, plus they have Kelderman too of course, and UAE have Aru.
That more or less leaves Porte with Trek, Katyusha (where he'll probably only be co-leader with Zakarin anyway), the French teams which I don't see as particularly likely, or places like Dimension Data and Slipstream, where aging contenders go to die or throw one last roll of the dice at the top level (and the latter have Urán too anyway). Having been very critical of Aqua Blue's team as a bunch of decent but unspectacular journeymen, that's still a level higher than Cuddles' original BMC team and not much of a step down on teams like Dimension Data and EF-Cannondale, especially as signing Porte may lure a couple of other decent level veterans to help teach the most interesting riders ABS have got, i.e. Dunbar and Pedersen and strengthen that squad a bit, especially as the team boss is smarting a bit this year from not getting the Vuelta invite he thought he deserved (but wasn't as vocal when he equally arbitrarily got that invite last year, of course) so will be keen to prevent that happening again. There aren't many ProConti teams you could argue were strong enough to support a leader like Porte at the level of calendar he would be looking for, even as a veteran, and so the ProConti teams who have the clout or the ambition to step up would seem the only realistic ones, which leaves ABS and Israel Cycling Academy, since Cofidis and Fortuneo already have their figureheads and signing Porte would be against the stated policy of Roompot.
That more or less leaves Porte with Trek, Katyusha (where he'll probably only be co-leader with Zakarin anyway), the French teams which I don't see as particularly likely, or places like Dimension Data and Slipstream, where aging contenders go to die or throw one last roll of the dice at the top level (and the latter have Urán too anyway). Having been very critical of Aqua Blue's team as a bunch of decent but unspectacular journeymen, that's still a level higher than Cuddles' original BMC team and not much of a step down on teams like Dimension Data and EF-Cannondale, especially as signing Porte may lure a couple of other decent level veterans to help teach the most interesting riders ABS have got, i.e. Dunbar and Pedersen and strengthen that squad a bit, especially as the team boss is smarting a bit this year from not getting the Vuelta invite he thought he deserved (but wasn't as vocal when he equally arbitrarily got that invite last year, of course) so will be keen to prevent that happening again. There aren't many ProConti teams you could argue were strong enough to support a leader like Porte at the level of calendar he would be looking for, even as a veteran, and so the ProConti teams who have the clout or the ambition to step up would seem the only realistic ones, which leaves ABS and Israel Cycling Academy, since Cofidis and Fortuneo already have their figureheads and signing Porte would be against the stated policy of Roompot.
Re:
It seems that I again underestimated how rich Aquablue’s owner is. I wonder is there a sponsorship lined up because paying for a WT team would be quite a jump. If this does happen it would seem that there will be quite an Australian flavour to the team, with Porte as the GC man and presumably the suddenly teamless Caleb Ewan as sprinter. The latter, of course, being the team owners son in law. You’d have to assume that Nico Roche would come across to support Porte as he’s the highest profile out of contract Irish rider.
There’s already the basics of a competent team to support a high level GC man and sprinter. Lots of solid rouleurs, plus climbers like Denifl and Warbasse. What they are short of is a chief lieutenant for each of superdom quality.
It’s interesting that they are ambitious enough to be talking to such riders, but ultimately I’ll believe it when I see it. Trek seem like a lower risk proposition for someone like Porte.
It seems that I again underestimated how rich Aquablue’s owner is. I wonder is there a sponsorship lined up because paying for a WT team would be quite a jump. If this does happen it would seem that there will be quite an Australian flavour to the team, with Porte as the GC man and presumably the suddenly teamless Caleb Ewan as sprinter. The latter, of course, being the team owners son in law. You’d have to assume that Nico Roche would come across to support Porte as he’s the highest profile out of contract Irish rider.
There’s already the basics of a competent team to support a high level GC man and sprinter. Lots of solid rouleurs, plus climbers like Denifl and Warbasse. What they are short of is a chief lieutenant for each of superdom quality.
It’s interesting that they are ambitious enough to be talking to such riders, but ultimately I’ll believe it when I see it. Trek seem like a lower risk proposition for someone like Porte.
Re: Re:
they train together almost every week when not racing, all living in Monaco or thereabouts. that would be a nice AquaBlue team if they all get together.
Zinoviev Letter said:
they train together almost every week when not racing, all living in Monaco or thereabouts. that would be a nice AquaBlue team if they all get together.
- Mar 13, 2015
- 7,658
- 3,422
- 23,180
Ewan of course is soon to by Aqua Blue Team owners son in law ..I certainly can see him (of any of them ) at AB
Porte not so certain...he needs support riders as does CE ...and that would mean a big budget ...Not sure AB have the funds for 2 stars with different trains
Porte not so certain...he needs support riders as does CE ...and that would mean a big budget ...Not sure AB have the funds for 2 stars with different trains
There are reports that BMC will merge with CCC. Ochowicz will remain in charge and Van Avermaet will be in the team.
https://www.hln.be/sport/wielrennen/het-is-rond-van-avermaet-blijft-bij-opvolger-bmc-ploeg~a976abd0/
https://www.hln.be/sport/wielrennen/het-is-rond-van-avermaet-blijft-bij-opvolger-bmc-ploeg~a976abd0/
- Jun 27, 2013
- 5,217
- 9
- 17,495
Re:
Is Madiot abandoning his "French leaders only" project or is he seen as a future domestique?
Der Effe said:
Is Madiot abandoning his "French leaders only" project or is he seen as a future domestique?
- Dec 27, 2015
- 3,866
- 2,297
- 16,680
TRENDING THREADS
-
World Championship 2025: Men’s RR, September 28- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 2K
-
Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread- Started by DNP-Old
- Replies: 36K
-
Teams & Riders Tadej Pogačar discussion thread- Started by Lequack
- Replies: 41K
-
Il Lombardia 2025, monument, October 11- Started by Krzysztof_O
- Replies: 792
-
Teams & Riders The Great Big Cycling Transfers, Extensions, and Rumours Thread- Started by RedheadDane
- Replies: 13K
-
European Championship 2025: Men’s RR, October 5- Started by Berniece
- Replies: 854
-
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
Teams & Riders The "MVP" Mathieu Van der Poel Road Discussion Thread
- Latest: Axel Hangleck
-
-
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram