Pre-September Transfer Rumours

August 24, 2010

Every year after the Tour de France the PRO team transfer talk fires up and speculation runs rampid. UCI regulations forbid teams and riders to discuss transfers until September 1. Rule 2.15.125 states "Riders and UCI ProTeams may not, before 1 September, reveal that they are involved in negotiations about renewal of their contracts or transfers." I don't know why they even bother with this silly rule because we already have it all figured out. The only rule everyone should obey is CT 2.4.12: "never believe anything you hear until after September".

Below Jamie Jowett cuts to the chase, gives us his TIPS, and tells us everything we need to know.

Cycling Pro Team’s Trades – What Do I Do With My Saxo Bank Jersey Now?!

by Jamie Jowett

There’s more to-ing and fro-ing amongst the Pro Tour teams right now than a Swingers’ party. It’s almost easier to say who hasn’t left their team already.

Anyway, here’s what I know, what you may already know, and what even the riders don’t know…

The Schlecks have officially left Saxo Bank for Team Luxembourg. Details about the new team are sketchy, but seeing as Luxembourg’s national exports consist largely of untraceable companies and even less traceable bank accounts, that’s not unusual.

It is rumoured Andy and Frank have ‘back-up’ contracts signed with Radio Shack if Team Luxembourg doesn’t get a Pro Tour Licence. Kind of like the way Andy chats up the better looking podium girl first, then the other one just in case…

Italian shoe company Geox has taken over Footon Servetto. Their first big signing is Carlos Sastre, who said, “At the moment I’m enjoying riding more than ever, as I’ve discovered the fighting rider cyclist that’s always been inside me”. Yeh, whatever Tyson.

Teammate Thor Hoshovd meanwhile gave Sastre a nice slap on Velonation saying, “He hasn’t really done crap for the last two years”. Ouch.

Thankfully Geox are kicking in (sorry) most of the €6million a year budget, because the team’s total prize money from the Tour was €1,499. Let’s hope they use that budget to get new kit, because Footon’s is the world’s worst sporting kit since the 1980’s Brisbane Bears growling koala jumper.

Andre Greipel has left HTC Columbia, and in a nice gesture Mark Cavendish offered to pack his bags and call him a taxi. Joining Omega Pharma Lotto, Greipel said, “I’m looking forward to winning some more sheiss-small races and watching the big ones on TV again”.

Damiano Cunego is supposedly a target of either Geox or Liquigas, assuming Lampre can’t keep him. Lampre have signed Michele Scarponi, who sounds like a mafia Wise Guy, maybe that’s what they’re hoping will keep ‘The Little Prince’?

Bjarne Riis won the quinella by landing the Specialized Sunguard sponsorship and signing Contador. I really hope Contador has a clause in his contract banning him from doing You Tube clips mid-Tour. I think I vomited in my mouth watching that ‘apology’ to Andy Schleck. As a sign-on bonus Contador received a Paris Hilton handbag to carry around his two little puppies Hernandez and Navarro, who left Astana to follow him.

With the demise of Saxo Bank as team sponsor, Fabian Cancellara is none too happy with the cold shoulder from Riis, he could do lot worse than heading to BMC as Hincapie departs. Someone, who may or may not have been Cancellara, said to Cycling Tips, “For sure, Spartacus’ legs do all talking, but Bjarne give Spartacus donut. Spartacus no like donuts, but Spartacus no like BMC either, frame too small for battery”.

Rabobank signed Matti Breschel from Saxo Bank, who said, ”I feel it is time to try something new, to get some hair on the chest”. You just can’t make this stuff up, I tell you.

Just like this year’s Tour when he took 3^rd without making a move, Denis Menchov is waiting for offers to join Katusha, or Geox, or Astana. If I hear Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen call him the ‘silent assassin’ one more time l’ll throw up. Care factor zero for me wherever he goes.

36 year old Alexander Vinokourov showed Astana his commitment by signing a new contract in blood, well he had in a bag in his pocket so why not? Joining Astana from Liquigas is Roman Kreuziger, a future Tour winner I reckon.

Euskatel-Euskadi re-signed Sammy Sanchez but axed some guy whose name is a triple word score. I can’t type their Basque riders’ names here anyway because they crash my spell-check.

Wanna-be Pro team Vacansoleil signed Stijn Devolder from Quickstep as well as drug cheat Riccardo Ricco. I thought we’d seen the back of his “oohh, look at me I’m a Cobra..ssss” victory salute when he won stages in the 2008 Giro and Tour with his veins full of CERA/EPO. The hyper-arrogant Italian climber is the Kyle Sandilands of Pro cycling, maybe the UCI can stamp his biological passport ‘invalid for entry’?

Skil Shimano signed Thomas Frohlinger, not on the basis of his previous 3^rd in a Tour stage, but because he promised them all Milky Bars from Team Milram, which has folded. Skil re-signed Koen de Kort and Mitch Docker, unfortunately they get paid in Bunnings vouchers and Koen has resorted to appearing in videos for Cycling Tips. Hey, he’s young and needed the money, ok?!

AG2R re-signed Nicholas Roche, and also signed Sebastian Hinault. I assume they are now also offering contracts to anyone vaguely related to Miguel Indurain and Greg LeMond too.

So, with all this trading amongst the Pro Teams, tell us which 9 riders would you pick in your Tour Dream Team?

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http://www.velopaint.com Velopaint

real shame that Vacansoleil signed Ricco. They looked to be a team on the rise, now they will have to struggle with Ricco’s history and the cold shoulder from the big races
Anonymous

Someone get this guy his own blog already.
Nigel-speaking

Will Riccò be wearing a “Silence of the lambs” headpiece? Please sir can I have more blog? Better than most and funny to bont (boot). My spell-check is called “Nigel”(no friends) it’s a battle everyday to keep him under control too.
Deryck Walker

No mention of vichot?
Deryck Walker

No mention of vichot?
http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips

Where is Arthur Vichot going? The world wants to know!!!
CBA Cycling

Where is that young South Australian Stuart O’Grady heading, post Saxo implosion – and for that matter Porte?
Anonymous

I wanna know about Fly V, or whatever they turn into if they go ProTour. Who’s got the good word on the Aussies they’re lining up?
Anonymous

Team Norris, with Chuck. Jens too.
Xponti

Love it. Great write up, and yes you cannot make that stuff up. Jens is the king of comments.
Toby@ride

Was this written two months ago…? Few bits are very out of date
“With the demise of Saxo Bank as team sponsor” – they resigned
“Damiano Cunego is supposedly a target of either Geox or Liquigas” – he resigned
Toby@ride

“Bjarne Riis won the quinella by landing the Specialized Sunguard sponsorship” – actually they were already sponsors…
Toby@ride

oh yeah.. i mean re-signed not resigned as in quit!
Toby@ride

…and actually they changed the transfer rules back in July this year… now rule 2.15.120 says transfer period extends from 1 August to 20 October. Hence why we have so many announcements.

This means you can only announce transfers in this period.. unless you aren’t contracted.

Ok I will stop now. :)
Anonymous

Cheers Toby.
Demise, resign, what’s the difference? This parrot is dead.
Cunego officially announced as re-signed to Lampre on Monday:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/496706/cunego-renews-with-lampre-as-damiani-and-isd-join-team.html
It was intended to be humorous. Sorry you took it so seriously.
Hope some others got a laugh though.

JJ
Toby@ride

Hey.. no offence intended. Just wanted to point out that maybe you could have done a more up to date funny. With the correct resigned and re-signed. Saxo is still the sponsor etc….
Dee Dub

I haven’t laughed so hard for a while. Great post!

Yep, I can’t wait so see what Stuart O’Grady will do next year? Ride for Alberto? Take more spanish lessons? Learn to like the taste of paella?
http://www.BrandWorld.com.au/ Priestie

Look out for Cancellara breaking contract with Riis for the new Luxembourg team in 2011.

Stuey and Jens are givens (if not retiring).
The Critic’s Critic ;)

yes, stop now – before you look like a smart alec tool… oh wait…

BTW toby, on page 239 of my Tour Official Guide Ride states that Stage 13 of the Tour will take place on Monday the 19th July. No offence but when you try and do a comprehensive tour guide could you just make sure it’s correct…

Great article.
Notso Swift

I thought the rule had changes and now they could be announced from August 1 (I thought I saw this on CN)

BTW Did you write this a few days ago CT? Cunego staying with Lampre and Menchov is with Geox
Notso Swift

I should have read the other comments first, Toby beat me on 2 of my 3 points… by 3 hours!
Notso Swift

well Robbie is looking for a team!
Jii

Yeah SupermanSam take your slightly out of date funny and walk. WTF Toby@ride?
pmark1bike

Not CT’s writing it was by Jamie Jowett, Wade only posted it. We cyclists are pedantic lot, just read it and have a laugh!
http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips

Yeah, my old UCI rulebook was out of date. Sorry about that.

And yes, it was written a few days ago and I just got around to posting it today. I was in a rush today and didn’t pick out those details.
Jii

My acronymic question was edited by the moderator. So I’ll say again politely: Toby@ride why are you being an obnoxious pedant?
http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips

Hey guys,

I know both Toby (from RIDE cycling review magazine) and Jamie (the author of thie post) and I think the lines got crossed with each of their sense of humour. No need for anyone to take offence.

Cheers,
WW
Toby@ride

Ouch… well you know our team works pretty bloody hard to make a 300 page TdF guide in our little office and we were all gutted that this was the one mistake in there. Our proofing system is pretty comprehensive and I can assure you the two people who do this job were as upset as me. I’m happy to take your jibe on board Justin as a fair cop.

Apologies to the original poster for my comments, yeah I was having some issues with the sport yesterday and maybe this post tipped me over the edge.
I’ll go back to being a silent observer. Peace.
Blogs, eh?

Stopped reading when the article went from mediocre to actually racist. Triple word score names and ‘me-so-stoopid’ expression from multi-lingual athletes (cancellara)? News flash. They are from different cultures and English is not their first language. Why is this a source for comedy? No jokes about Aussies either. Looking forward to seeing White Hooded Pro Team Kit in CTs sponsors windows soon.
Amets Txurruka

someone needs to lighten up..
http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips

Interesting how this post polarized everyone. Some people loved it and thought it was hilarious, and others completely hated it. I think we’ll tone down the humor on stuff like this to prevent any mixed messages coming through.
Dee Dub

That would be a shame. The humour is great – more of it please! Just because a few people can’t take a joke, don’t let this spoil it for the rest of us! Just my thoughts…
aussieR3SL

maybe this could have been the April 1 post….
Hitcherelli

Agree- this was a highlight from me, would be a shame to see your blog lose some of the irreverence which is part of what makes it so erjoyable. CT…it’s your blog, if you like it, leave it in!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tim-Chadwick/604555001 Tim Chadwick

“Footon’s is the world’s worst sporting kit since the 1980’s Brisbane Bears growling koala jumper.”

That sentence kinda makes no sense. Just saying.

Though i do <3 rumors they make the world go round =P
The Critic’s Critic ;)

I know your team works hard – and don’t take offence, was just trying to make a point to get the comments back onto the article itself! Love Ride – love the work of your team. In the world of cycling which frankly is slightly overwhelmed sometimes by Type A Males, I also like a bit of humor – hence my defence of the original article ;)
Anonymous

Cheers Tim, I dunno what I’m trying to say myself half the time so can understand if my ‘jokes’ don’t make sense.

The key to great comedy is……………..timing. So explaining my joke isn’t going to make you laugh, but…the Footon Servetto kit has to be the worst sporting outfit for a long long time. If you remember the Brisbane Bears (AFL team) jumper, it was maroon with a snarling cartoon Koala on the front.

I’m not the only one though, check out this blog about the Footon kit: http://www.pbkblog.com/?p=2765

On second thought, there are some classic jerseys in cycling some may remember – the Carrera Jeans team’s denim of Claudio Chiappucci (loved the guy, but sheesh acid wash denim jersey?, sorry Fyx), but Tonton Tapis takes the cake. The jersey is a bit like Cycling Tips’ with the black and white stripes…except this one has a picture of a guy in a suit with a big man-mo, with a large bit of lumber on his shoulder. It looks like Brian Taylor shopping at Bunnings after work. WTF?!
Click on the pic of Laurent Pillon – http://www.cyclingarchives.com/ploegfiche.php?id=8348

This is another favourite though – Gorilla on the front laways looks good…
http://velocitynation.com/content/features/2010/kit-watch-bvfgorilla-coffee
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tim-Chadwick/604555001 Tim Chadwick

I actually kinda like the Footon jersey i mean i did at the Tour Down Under it just camouflaged itself in with the background it was fair stealth =D But once it got to Europe it did get more terrible especially when it got wet…..=S But i mean i guess if we are saying the Kit looked bad it was designed properly it got noticed and we know the teams name but it still bad i agree.

But thanks for replying it didnt make sense to me but sometimes things just go *woosh* over my head i must be pretty Aero =P
AaronG

No offers for a guy called Wade Wallace??