2021 silly season - who's going where ?

[MichaelB]

Some signings and moves have already been mentioned and some rumoured. Some surprising and some not.

Was surprised by Chaves going, especially that he's picking up some form, but wish him all the best.

Ineos is hanging out the under-performing washing, with GT's next move being interetsing - go with some decent money, or stay settled for a bit less money that matches his results and age. Will bad boy Moscon finally be let go despite his riding capabilities ....

Sagan and what seesm like 1/2 the team leaving and heading to Total Energies, odd move, but obviously handing out the money.

Bennet, Hindley, Huguita and Vlasov joining in the salary vaccuum, so good moves for some and some good climbing talent now there.

Not a lot of other info yet, but will be interesting to see what happens with DSM and the constant backroom talk of excessive control ?

Rohan D to TJV - talk about TT strengths there !

UAE bolstering the mtn doms with George Bennet, Joao Almeida and Marc Soler

Plenty happening !!

[find_bruce]

Yeah on current form Thomas is going nowhere, will have to suck it up & return to super domestique.

Sagan is an interesting move - would love to know how much money's involved, surely his results over the last 3 years don't justify the sort of money he was paid by Bora

Looks like there will be a few changes in the sprinting ranks

[MichaelB]

LeFevre is an a$$.

Who’d want to sign for him ? What he spews out is almost institutional bullying and harassment.

Needs some form of intervention for sure

[fat and old]

LeFevre is an a$$.

Who’d want to sign for him ? What he spews out is almost institutional bullying and harassment.

Needs some form of intervention for sure

Yeah, but I like a person that speaks their mind. You know where you stand.

[fat and old]

Yeah on current form Thomas is going nowhere, will have to suck it up & return to super domestique.

I don't think his abilities ever left that possie. His luck may have, but that's just that. Luck.

[MichaelB]

LeFevre is an a$$.

Who’d want to sign for him ? What he spews out is almost institutional bullying and harassment.

Needs some form of intervention for sure

Yeah, but I like a person that speaks their mind. You know where you stand.

I guess we’ll have to disagree.

There is speaking your mind and being abusive. Big difference.

[fat and old]

LeFevre is an a$$.

Who’d want to sign for him ? What he spews out is almost institutional bullying and harassment.

Needs some form of intervention for sure

Yeah, but I like a person that speaks their mind. You know where you stand.

I guess we’ll have to disagree.

There is speaking your mind and being abusive. Big difference.

You missed the nuance there mate. I like him being the way he is. I didn't say I like the way he is.

[find_bruce]

Pascal Ackermann moves to UAE Team Emirates from Bora-Hansgrohe.

Seems to me like a bit of an odd move as he is going to find it tough to get a spot in Pogacar's Tour de France team.

[MichaelB]

Well, no point in staying at Bora as Bennet is back and in better form (save his knee op), and will prob have other chances in races other than some of the GT’s ?

And then, maybe same as others, too good a deal to refuse ?

[MichaelB]

Rohan now confirmed as going to JV, so hopefully he'll settle well there.

Wonder if Lopez will find somewhere new given the Vuelta saga and the unsubstantiated rumours and stories floating around.

[MichaelB]

Odd Erik signs with EF https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/eiking ... ion-nippo/

They've done some interesting recruiting, wonder who's going from the team ?


Also, Viviani is heading back to Ineos - that was an interesting one

[find_bruce]

Odd is not lacking in self belief - declining to sign with EF before the Vuelta was a brave step, presumably paying off after his time in red. Shame we will never know how much better a deal he got as a result.

EF have lost Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe) Mitch Docker (retires), Tejay van Garderen (retires) but suspect there may be more to go.

Sky / Ineos don't have a good history of supporting sprinters so you would have to think he is planning on refocusing on the classics

Have to think Lopez' agent is busy sounding out opportunities.

The music is still playing but the chairs are thinning out

[MichaelB]

....
The music is still playing but the chairs are thinning out

As are the budgets too.

[find_bruce]

Jakob Fuglsang joins BikeExchange from Astana - sounds like it may be part of a general move with Premier Tech.

Rob Stannard meanwhile leaves BikeExchange to join Alpecin-Fenix

Speaking of musical chairs & budgets thinning out, it seems Geraint Thomas is yet to sign

[MichaelB]

Moscon finally ditched by Ineos, or did he leave 1st - meh. He's off to Astana for 2 years

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gianni ... or-astana/

[AUbicycles]

Unfortunatelly, Qhubeka apoear to have problems getting payments from their title sponsor NextHash and while riders are still on contract, have suggested they look elsewhere for teams for 2022.

This means that Simon Clarke is affected and considers many of the key announcements were made, it makes it pretty late so wish all the riders well. Bit of a shame.

[foo on patrol]

Will be following this with interest. I have know Allan since he was in nappies.

https://www.lottosoudal.be/en/news/deta ... tto-soudal

Foo

[AUbicycles]

Got ride of the facebook BS and put the direct link in for the Allan Davis news.

[find_bruce]

No deal between Premier Tech & bike exchange, so no Jakob Fuglsang nor Hugo Houle.

Fuglsang or Houle going to Israel Start-Up Nation - gee I wonder which team Premier Tech is going to sponsor

[MichaelB]

More changes at Ineos https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ineos- ... o-move-on/

Sosa moving to Movistar (MAL replacement ?), and Henao & Basso going to Astana to join Moscon

[MichaelB]

No deal between Premier Tech & bike exchange, so no Jakob Fuglsang nor Hugo Houle.

Fuglsang or Houle going to Israel Start-Up Nation - gee I wonder which team Premier Tech is going to sponsor

Confirmation of above

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fuglsa ... up-nation/

So will Factor stay as bike supplier, or Argon18 step in ?

[MichaelB]

Too many changes to keep track of, but here's a summary courtesy of CN

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/th ... transfers/

It's looking grim for Qhubeka, and some other smaller teams have folded, which is a real shame

[MichaelB]

There is obviously something up at DSM, with Tjes Benoot and now Van Wilder seeking early release.

Would love to know more detail, but for so many good riders to leave over the last few years, and many of them early is just a bit odd.