Which Team would Gilbert choose?

[King Of The Wolds]

Who knows. I was just pointing out that there was a connection.

As for Sky being able to afford him, presumably they've already put in a bid that Gilbert finds worthy of consideration.

Personally I can't see why Sky would want him, he's not British and he's not a future prospect and he'll demand top wages.

I'll be disappointed if Sky sign him. This isn't consistent with their aim of succeeding with the best British talent. For example, should Sky make Gilbert leader for RVV, a race that we all agree Thomas can win eventually, how will Super G feel? Wouldn't the money be better spent on developing British talent? It would feel like an admission of failure to me.

I'd be surprised if Sky TV themselves sanction this move. How much publicity would it generate in their target market if Gilbert won LBL next year, for example? Very little. If they want to spend big, Sky TV would be much happier with getting Cav on board. Cav winning a load of TdF stages is big news in the UK.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

According to his manager, Vincent Wathelet, it's down to Quick-Step, BMC, Team Sky, Lotto & Omega Pharma. If possible (read: if they have the money) he prefers to stay in Belgium.

 

[dlwssonic]

he wants to go to a belgium team. But sky and BMC are way richer than them. and the belgian teams some of them might not have protour status next year.

 

[Fus087]

he wants to go to a belgium team. But sky and BMC are way richer than them. and the belgian teams some of them might not have protour status next year.

With Gilbert and his points, they would. That alone could be incentive enough to stretch the limits of the budget as far as possible.

 

[El Pistolero]

he wants to go to a belgium team. But sky and BMC are way richer than them. and the belgian teams some of them might not have protour status next year.

Gilbert can go to Christina's watches team if he wanted and it still would become World Tour team.

 

[Moondance]

According to his manager, Vincent Wathelet, it's down to Quick-Step, BMC, Team Sky, Lotto & Omega Pharma. If possible (read: if they have the money) he prefers to stay in Belgium.

Well, I doubt it. Gilbert reportedly is seeking €3m a year, which would likely make him the 2nd best best paid rider after Bertie.

The combined Omega-Lotto team had a budget of just under €10m a year. Given that they're splitting, one doubts either new team will have a budget much greater than 6-7m or so, when minor sponsors are added. Could either of those teams manage to pay about half their budget to Gilbert, as well as set up an otherwise reasonable team? I doubt it.

Quick-Step might have the money, with their €10m p.a. budget. Rumours were abound that Lefevre was seriously wooing Contador over the past two years, and serious wooing would've meant setting aside a large chunk of money that they would need to pay Bertie... And when Bertie decided to take his skillz elsewhere, that chunk of cash still remains. Moreover, Boonen's contract is up for renewal this year, and given his less-than-stellar performances the last two seasons especially they might be able to negotiate a little haircut there, which would free up some money with which to sign Gilbert.

The most sensible, if unlikely, option would be for one of the two Omega-Lotto sponsors to fuse with Quick-Step, which would allow the new QS+ team to sign Gilbert, Van Den Broeck and have some money left to spare.... Sadly the world sensible rarely turns up in questions of cycling team management.

 

[auscyclefan94]

imagine if Gilbert was at Astana with Vinokourov being his Directo Sportif during Liege. Vino would send Gilbert up the road with 100km to go

 

[Captain_Cavman]

He wins races and is Belgian(close enough to the UK). And his English is decent(as is his Dutch, French and Italian for that matter)

Why would they want a future prospect when Gilbert will be in top shape for the next 3 years to come.

It's a question of what Team Sky are trying to be. If they are simply going to try and become a great Pro Tour team, the next HTC or Discovery, then that creates the same number of openings for British talent that we had previously, i.e. very little.

That was the point about the 'British TdF winner within 5 years'. Not the literal, but the implication that the team was about giving opportunities for British talent to compete for the greatest prizes.

And in the case of EBH for instance where there is a gap in British talent, substitute another who is culturally similar, e.g. North European, ANZ.

Signing Gilbert doesn't really gel with the above. Another thing about him is... Let's assume he picks up a couple of TdF stages, can he do any better than the past calendar year (August to July)? Or is the risk all on the downside?

 

[dlwssonic]

I dont think the belgian teams are rich enough for gilbert. he is asking for a really high price. If he went to sky he would be pretty lonely as I dont think he has that much friends there. but if he joins BMC he has evans and GVA to talk too.

 

[Gloin22]

He'll go to BMC. I could bet a lot of moeny for it, if there was a bet.

 

[dlwssonic]

He'll go to BMC. I could bet a lot of moeny for it, if there was a bet.

I would be very happy if he does. but still sky and the belgian teams also have a very good chance of getting him.

 

[dlwssonic]

I will go with Bruyneel taking control of a belgian team with Trek ( omega pharma or lotto ) and forming it around Gilbert/ other riders. Bold prediction. Greenedge as well would have the financial clout to attract him. BMC, Astana and QS favourites probably. They would each have motivation as well. However it would be dog to drop Boonen from QS and replace him with another classics rider. I just do not see that happening unless if Boonen leaves soon he shall not go to QS.

He might not go to BMC as GVA left to be a leader.
He's not going to astana

://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-narrows-list-of-possible-teams-for-next-season-to-five

No way in hell BMC would rather have GVA as their leader then gilbert. GVA might quit BMC if gilbert comes because he will have to do a lot of domestique duties just like in silence lotto.

 

[Gloin22]

I doubt Sky will sign him. From the DS interviews on their facebook page they eren't that much intrested.

And I heard also on another forum news like that :

Remember how i knew Van Avermaet would go to BMC from an inside source?

Well, if just heard from that source that Gilbert might go to BMC next year aswell.

The source is Van Avermaet's mother as the person lives in the village she lives too. She said two months before that Greg would go to BMC and it happend. Might be rather funny source, but the person is quite convinced

 

[dlwssonic]

I doubt Sky will sign him. From the DS interviews on their facebook page they eren't that much intrested.

And I heard also on another forum news like that :



The source is Van Avermaet's mother as the person lives in the village she lives too. She said two months before that Greg would go to BMC and it happend. Might be rather funny source, but the person is quite convinced

Wow it will be so great to have gilbert in BMC. but how does GVA's mom know about gilbert

 

[Gloin22]

I have no idea. The person never told us, but he was completely right with Greg joining BMC and he knew it before anyone else when nobody believed him very much.

 

[dlwssonic]

I have no idea. The person never told us, but he was completely right with Greg joining BMC and he knew it before anyone else when nobody believed him very much.

yep no one would have guessed GVA would be going to BMC

 

[Andre.J]

QuickStep...no doubt about it

 

[dlwssonic]

QuickStep...no doubt about it

if boonen goes which is unlikely.

 

[just some guy]

What ever happens Gilbert new team should get a mirror in the uniform so Pozzato can look at himself.

If Fabian was saying during the classics that if he bought coffee they would have as well, next year If Phil goes to the toilet a couple of days before the race so will 5 others.

He will be marked to death - so maybe a GVA type may get a Pozzato type classic win out of it.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

if boonen goes which is unlikely.

Why? Co-leading in Vlaanderen and phille for the hillies? Lefevere did it with Museeuw, Tafi, Ballerini as well...

 

[Mambo95]

It's a question of what Team Sky are trying to be. If they are simply going to try and become a great Pro Tour team, the next HTC or Discovery, then that creates the same number of openings for British talent that we had previously, i.e. very little.

At the risk of sounding a bit like Wiggins, their approach seems to be very similar to Manchester United. Developing young homegrown riders from the youth system, some of which are great, some of which end up in the reserves and mixing them in with promising talent from further afield and the occasional superstar. They manage to balance success with maintaining a British core. Brailsford has certainly talked to Alex Ferguson quite a bit in the past.

Having said that, Gilbert doesn't really seem to fit that profile (he's more a Chelsea/Man City type signing)

 

[Anonymous]

At the risk of sounding a bit like Wiggins, their approach seems to be very similar to Manchester United. Developing young homegrown riders from the youth system, some of which are great, some of which end up in the reserves and mixing them in with promising talent from further afield and the occasional superstar. They manage to balance success with maintaining a British core. Brailsford has certainly talked to Alex Ferguson quite a bit in the past.

Having said that, Gilbert doesn't really seem to fit that profile (he's more a Chelsea/Man City type signing)

Id agree. I dont think its Sky's style (and dont want it to be) to sign what are basically complete riders. The likes of Gilbert, Cancellara, Cavendish.. its just buying wins.

I think BMC is the likely destination, and the best destination for Phillipe

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Id agree. I dont think its Sky's style (and dont want it to be) to sign what are basically complete riders. The likes of Gilbert, Cancellara, Cavendish.. its just buying wins.

I think BMC is the likely destination, and the best destination for Phillipe

I know what you mean but I disagree about Cavendish. It's like he'd be rejoining his home town team; To carry on the sounding a bit like Wiggins theme, think Shearer passing up Manchester Utd for Newcastle. Whereas Gilbert to Sky would be more like Robinho going to Man City.

 

[luckyboy]

Hopefully QuickStep

 

[luckyboy]

Just read this article.. http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8...to-sign-Gilbert-five-teams-in-contention.aspx

"Lampre and Euskaltel also no longer appear to be in the running, leaving Quick Step, BMC, Sky Procycling, Lotto and Omega Pharma."