...And They're Off!

I hope he rides with his jersey zipped and I hope he does well at the Tour of Spain.

Oss is off to BMC. Makes me wonder if Sagan is heading there too.

liqui's managers would find life very difficult with the press and tifosi if all they had left in october is basso. after the melt off of talent they have had since taking the giro-vuelta, the leaders need to keep some bona fide talent.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by slovakguy [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

liqui's managers would find life very difficult with the press and tifosi if all they had left in october is basso. after the melt off of talent they have had since taking the giro-vuelta, the leaders need to keep some bona fide talent.

Exactly what I'm thinking too.
In fact, probably the thoughts of every cycling fan.

Let's see what Capecchi can do in Vuelta.
Maybe he's Liquigas' GT future.
As long as there is Sagan in the team, they have some space for maneuver. But I'm not sure tiffosi will be too happy.

I like Sagan at Liquigas and hope he stays there, I just know that he and Oss have a relationship somewhat like Cav and Eisel.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by slovakguy [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/roche-signs-for-saxo-bank-tinkoff-bank

i, for one, am glad that he's off ag2r. that squad never really seemed to put any support on the road behind his efforts. given his statements, he realises that contador will be the premier rider, but sees some future in the other gt's. hoping this works out well for him.

now that the season is officially open, can't wait to find out how the seats will be rearranged on the teams.

Roche will be riding as a domestique for Contador according to one of his newspaper articles, if both Roche and Bertie are cycling in the same race.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by limerickman [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Roche will be riding as a domestique for Contador according to one of his newspaper articles, if both Roche and Bertie are cycling in the same race.

the way i read his interview in cn, should roche and contador be slated for different g t's, roche sees that the saxo team will offer him a chance at team leadership. i know it's odd, but i think contador will be able to pull off a giro-tour double (and this year would have been the greatest shot at that feat), leaving roche to scrabble for scraps occasionally. better those scraps than some of the treatment roche has been given by his ag2r teammates over the years.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by slovakguy [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

the way i read his interview in cn, should roche and contador be slated for different g t's, roche sees that the saxo team will offer him a chance at team leadership. i know it's odd, but i think contador will be able to pull off a giro-tour double (and this year would have been the greatest shot at that feat), leaving roche to scrabble for scraps occasionally. better those scraps than some of the treatment roche has been given by his ag2r teammates over the years.

I should be surprised at Roche signing for a team run by Riis.

quite understandable, but in the article linked above and the one following (which i believe you refer to) he does give his reasons for making the move. and if his dad is okay with it, well, so be it. i'd really like to see his career get some marquee titles to reward him for his consistent/year round efforts.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/nicolas-roche-joining-contador-team-a-huge-new-challenge-3187112.html

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by limerickman [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I should be surprised at Roche signing for a team run by Riis.

Why?

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by swampy1970 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
Why?

not putting words in lim's mouth, but most likely due to roche's anti-doping position.

slovakguy said:

the way i read his interview in cn, should roche and contador be slated for different g t's, roche sees that the saxo team will offer him a chance at team leadership.  i know it's odd, but i think contador will be able to pull off a giro-tour double (and this year would have been the greatest shot at that feat), leaving roche to scrabble for scraps occasionally. better those scraps than some of the treatment roche has been given by his ag2r teammates over the years.

Yup. I think the new guy on a cell block quite often gets treated better than Roche has been by Ag2R.

Riis seems to have a way to get the most out of his riders. I'm excited to see if Roche can improve and how so. If nothing else, I think he'd learn something from Contador.

same here. roche has written that riis wants to get some wind tunnel time for roche. would be good to see roche improve that aspect of his racing. did always seem to be a bit of a drag on his efforts.

I've mentioned Capecchi as Liquigas' GT future. I was very wrong: cyclingnews.comcapecchi and szmyd sign for movistarOpen ↗
I have no idea what's their plan. One more season with Sagan and Basso, and then shutting down the business?
Only two years ago they looked like they'll have a problem to make a choice from all the talent they've had.

i see that cycling news has another bit on a possible defection from sky by cav. i admit that i find that specialized venge one beautiful bike, but i imagine that is not the only reason for this rumoured dissolution as brailsford has one tour victory to point at and a hope to capture more.

slovakguy said:

i see that cycling news has another bit on a possible defection from sky by cav.  i admit that i find that specialized venge one beautiful bike, but i imagine that is not the only reason for this rumoured dissolution as brailsford has one tour victory to point at and a hope to capture more.

I didn't think the TdF focus on Cavendish and Wiggins was viable strategy, and I imagine that Cavendish wasn't chuffed by it. The Venge is a nice looking machine, but I'll bet Cavendish would gladly give up such a machine in return for team more focused on one-day and stage victories, as opposed to pink, yellow, and red jerseys.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by alienator [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
I didn't think the TdF focus on Cavendish and Wiggins was viable strategy, and I imagine that Cavendish wasn't chuffed by it. The Venge is a nice looking machine, but I'll bet Cavendish would gladly give up such a machine in return for team more focused on one-day and stage victories, as opposed to pink, yellow, and red jerseys.

on the tdf, definitely a case of a man trying to sit on two stools, and to give cav his due, he still impressed. three things come to mind. first, it spells the end for p velits' hopes as a premier g c candidate (not that there was much effort in that direction this year for him or leipheimer), how will boonen's role change, and a certain curiosity as to how cav would mesh on a "non-english" speaking team.

tim duggan departs liquigas today. something is definitely rotten in the state of liquigas' affairs. thinking it must only be days ahead of the announcement that the team is shutting down operations.