Transfers "Rumours & Reality" and Young Guns

[davestoller]

Lance never did PR even in his pre-cancer classics riders days. Other than Phinney who I think won the amatuer PR this year none of the others ever rode it either. If Balln goes to radio shack its for the paycheck, unless he's truly gullible.

Yeah, because no one in cycling, business, industry, academia or any other venture ever does anything just for the paycheck, right?

 

[Anonymous]

I guess it's about time I stop only posting transfer news on another forum

So here's today's transfers:

- Robert Hunter has signed with Garmin;

Hes not signed for garmin yet

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Lance never did PR even in his pre-cancer classics riders days. Other than Phinney who I think won the amatuer PR this year none of the others ever rode it either. If Balln goes to radio shack its for the paycheck, unless he's truly gullible.

peopel are being a little presumptious with radioshack, we don't know who will be on there team, so who is to say they wont have a team that can support ballan?

 

[craig1985]

I suppose Ballan could always ride the Giro for RS.

 

[Payo2000]

Cross Post from Evans vs Wiggins

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/04/bradley-wiggins-interview-donald-mcrae

Wiggins is more measured. "It would be interesting to ride for someone like Lance but Andy Schleck is going there..."

Is Bradley speculating about this? or does he know for sure? ...of course he doesn't actually say when AS will move.

 

[bjaelkesex]

Juan Antonio Flecha to Team Sky

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/flecha-leaving-rabobank-after-four-years

 

[craig1985]

Now nothing can be announced officially until September 1 and yet we have seen plenty of riders change their teams for the next season well before this (ie Gilbert announced he was joining Silence Lotto in May 2008, and Leif Hoste and Jurgen van den Broeck both announced they were leaving Discovery for Predictor/Silence Lotto in May 2006), is this a hand shake agreement they will sign, or have they got permission from their current team to sign for another team (like the Peter and Martin Velits recent announcement that they are going to Columbia)?

 

[TRDean]

In light of the fact that Rabo say they are downsizing to 26 riders...it makes much more sense that van Garderen left. He most likely knew what was going on and now it appears that he definitely made the best move for himself.

Anyone have any rumors regarding either Skil or Vacansoleil and any rider signings?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

surprised at news of Rabobank downsizing... was hoping for a couple good signings this season. ahwelll...

 

[Bala Verde]

Hmm, according to Het Nieuwsblad and contrary to earlier 'rumours', they apparently have found proof enough to report that Lövkvist and Hagen have signed for Team Sky.

And now obviously Flecha as well.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

surprised at news of Rabobank downsizing... was hoping for a couple good signings this season. ahwelll...

Rabo denies they are downsizing. Check out our Flecha story, it has been updated.

Susan

 

[TRDean]

Rabo denies they are downsizing. Check out our Flecha story, it has been updated.

Susan

Funny Susan, I read the downsizing in the original Flecha story.

 

[BeachBum]

In the Cycling News report, there's talk of 21 candidates (all current PT teams plus the 3 you mention), and Pat McQuaid said it would be likely that 1 or 2 teams out of 21 will not get it.

The idea is to "raise the bar": I suppose this means you must come with a solid roster and some financial backing. If you're part of the PT, you have to run in PT events, thus have the means to do so.
Seems pretty clear the small teams will get the bad end of the stick there.

It may be too soon for Cervelo to make the jump, esp. with so many candidates.

It makes sense for the UCI to 'raise the bar.' I don't know how much $$ Cervelo has vis-a-vis Skil Shimano, but in terms of results Cervelo has it all over Skil Shimano. For that matter, Cervelo has better results than a lot of actual PT teams (cough, Lamepre, Silence-Loser, cough).

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Funny Susan, I read the downsizing in the original Flecha story.

Yup, that's why it was updated!

Susan

 

[awesometown]

Funny Susan, I read the downsizing in the original Flecha story.

They're probably downsizing, but at the same time his rumored transfer to Team Sky will fill their giant "rider who never really lived up to the hype after his tour stage win" gap.

Or maybe they are aiming for some marginal results in the classics! Is roger hammond still under contract?

 

[Nick C.]

They're probably downsizing, but at the same time his rumored transfer to Team Sky will fill their giant "rider who never really lived up to the hype after his tour stage win" gap.

Or maybe they are aiming for some marginal results in the classics! Is roger hammond still under contract?

Hey its not totally his fault Nico Mattan was able to ride part of the last K "derriere moto" in GW a few years ago. But seriously, he must have close to half a dozen podiums in the cobbled classics in the past three to four yeatrs, its not a win, but it doesn't suck either.

 

[awesometown]

Hey its not totally his fault Nico Mattan was able to ride part of the last K "derriere moto" in GW a few years ago. But seriously, he must have close to half a dozen podiums in the cobbled classics in the past three to four yeatrs, its not a win, but it doesn't suck either.

Is that the mark of a quality classics rider these days? I want that job....

 

[Nick C.]

Is that the mark of a quality classics rider these days? I want that job....

You have some tough standards, there most be about a dozen guys in the whole peleton who measure up and that includes the hilly classics as well as the cobbled ones. I figure if you're in the final selection most of the time you're doing well. After all not everyone can have the good fortune of Stijn Devolder.

 

[Bala Verde]

Rabo denies they are downsizing. Check out our Flecha story, it has been updated.

Susan

An Interview with Flecha on the rabosport site, in dutch.

To summarize:

He states that he is leaving, despite a generous offer from Rabobank to extend his contract for 2 more years, in search of a new challenge. He has always felt a good vibe on the team - countering claims made by dutch newspapers that he didn't feel appreciated - underlined by the fact that he has been with RAB for 4 years, the longest period he has been with the same team.

He wants to join a new team, and pass on his experience to new, younger riders. He also mentions that he is a team player - as evidenced by his years with RAB - so he is looking forward to maintaining that role on the new team he's joining. One more ambition, hardly a surprise, to win PR...

 

[runninboy]

Hey its not totally his fault Nico Mattan was able to ride part of the last K "derriere moto" in GW a few years ago. But seriously, he must have close to half a dozen podiums in the cobbled classics in the past three to four yeatrs, its not a win, but it doesn't suck either.

I agree to keep getting on the podium in the classics is not easy. Besides the fact that since he has been on the podium he has no chance to "sneak away" for a win.There is also the problem of being from the UK, he will get no help. If you are a Belgian you will work with another Belgian to neutralize him, same with the French, Dutch, etc he is screwed because there is not much chance of him seeing a fellow countryman when push comes to shove in the classics.

 

[issoisso]

Steegmans and Katusha have terminated their contract by "mutual consent".

Translation: "get the f*** out or be thrown out"

 

[Bala Verde]

Bram de Groot has been the first 'victim of the non-existent downsizing process' at RAB. His contract wasn't extended.

Others that have been extended:

Paul Martens - 2011
Grischa Niermann - 2010
Graeme Brown - 2010 (seriously, that must be an exposure thing in Australia for Rabobank. On the other hand, it is said that he is the one to collect collect victories early in the season... like TdU and Qatar???)

 

[TRDean]

Steegmans and Katusha have terminated their contract by "mutual consent".

Translation: "get the f*** out or be thrown out"

Where do we think Steegmans will end up? I think he would flourish in a Dutch or Belgian team...Topsport maybe? Or is he good enough to get on with a bigger team? Maybe I could see him fitting in at Vacansoleil?

 

[Nick C.]

Where do we think Steegmans will end up? I think he would flourish in a Dutch or Belgian team...Topsport maybe? Or is he good enough to get on with a bigger team? Maybe I could see him fitting in at Vacansoleil?

Between his performance at the Tour last year (save champs where his leadout gave him a huge lead to start with) and this season he'll be lucky to land a ProTour job.

 

[Buninyong Bunny]

Bram de Groot has been the first 'victim of the non-existent downsizing process' at RAB. His contract wasn't extended.

Others that have been extended:

Graeme Brown - 2010 (seriously, that must be an exposure thing in Australia for Rabobank. On the other hand, it is said that he is the one to collect collect victories early in the season... like TdU and Qatar???)

I don't believe so, since the name Graeme Brown would mean absolutely nothing to any more than the very small number of cycling fanatics in Australia - so they wouldn't be doing it for the media exporuse. Maybe they are changing goals and just aiming for getting any expourse at all