There is a sort of tradition I think that the incumbent World Champion has a crap season then sinks into obscurity or ignominy. There have been exceptions (Museeuw, Freire) but Cuddles is unlikely to wear the jersey with panache or even pride so is right to cash in as best he can.
He might just as well fuck off to the States with the rest of the sport.
Good riddance to bad rubbish. Still Harmon will always have Frodo and Lance to wank over.
Not the obvious choice for Evans, but he's probably cashing in one his increased market value.
BMC are a new team on the European scene, but have had a long history on the US circuit, so should be ready to step up.
They have a decent foundation of US and Swiss riders, Ballen and Burghardt can win races, Hincapie & Kroon will add depth to their one-day outfit and, with Evans, they'll have a presence in the lead group in the stage races.
They'll get invites from Feb-Oct, that I have no doubt.
they did ride the dauphine this year while in 2008, they rode also switzerland and romandy (they rode those two also this year)
though obviously cadel is less expensive then cancellarra as in the procycling issue witht he schleck's on cover,t he bmc boss saiod cancellara is too expensive for his team _________________ Hi
What I think is clear, though, is the desire to have a more permanent presence. One off races are fine, but when a sponsor puts big money in, they want decent coverage the entire season.
My guess would be that Cadel would be on million euros a year, give or take. Valverde and Contador are rumoured to pull in a couple of million. Cancellara probably pulls in a million (minimum) but comes with a hefty buy out clause. All speculation, of course. On balance Evans', in the rainbow jersey & with an okay Classics/GT record, probably offers the biggest bang per buck.
This might well slightly complicate the invitaations for the Tour, as the current notion of having only 20 teams means that pretty much all the places are taken by obvious choices. This means that if BMC becomes an "obvious choice" on account of Evans, someone else will become a less obvious choice, like Cervelo or Katusha. And unless they increase the teams to 22, the Vacansolleil or Skil are definitely out. And the season has not even begun.
Good point FF.
I have read some complaints about BMC trying to queue jump those squads you mention, for a tour wildcard.
Obviously, BMC are heading in the right direction, but the sport is now all about those who can splash the cash, while teams that build steadily, end up getting relegated in the pecking order.
They still need to buy in some serious GT support riders, though.
Hope nobody folds over this.
As for the Pro Tour, with both the current and previous W champ riding for a "lesser" team, it's dead in the water.
Cadel was on a reported 1.1 mill, at Lotto.
As for the US taking over the sport, it's only in sponsorship terms. We all know only one team is considered Team America.
Garmin and Columbia are solid sponsors, as I suspect, are BMC.
As long as they are committed, I don't care where the come from.
Queue jump, Huw? I was unaware there was a hierarchy in cycling.
For what it's worth, BMC have served their 'apprenticeship' - on the US circuit.
Unlike the bandwagoners in Europe, poisoned by the sense of entitlement that says invites are theirs by 'right', BMC have been at the forefront of spreading the sport.
They've done something about it, rather than loitering around the top table begging for favours, BMC - like Katusha - have got their sponsor to put the money where the mouth is.
Since the introduction of trade teams, money has always defined his sport.
But as I said, they're a US PC team, they rarely race in Europe. They win periodically in the States, but the standard is nowhere near comparable.
They haven't got a PT license so any ride they get will be by invite. I suspect they'll be kept busy, but will miss out on at least half of the biggest races.
Evans accepts that they'll have to earn their place amongst the elite.
All they've done, so far, is gone from a lowly PC squad to a decent PC squad, nothing else.
Investing in one major GT rider, when you haven't got solid support for that rider, suggests that he will bring with him, a good 'ol dose of that sense of entitlement poison.
However, it's quite clear to me, that you have only read part of my post. The bit that was brought from elsewhere.
Quote:
Garmin and Columbia are solid sponsors, as I suspect, are BMC.
As long as they are committed, I don't care where the come from.
It is about cash and BMC seem to have plenty to chuck about, Cuddles, Big George probably didn't come cheap. I doubt they'll see the Tour but I expect we'll see them popping up regularly in the big races _________________ S Marauder Memorial Trophy Winner 2009
It's just my opinion, if you don't like it....TOUGH
Look, I keep telling you I'm in shape...Round is a shape
Or it's giving an opportuniy to the riders who got them to the position they are now.
Out of the current squad, Jeff Louder and Brent Bookwalter aren't donkeys, they earn their chance to ride against the pros full time. Chris Barton is on the US dev squad. Mathias Frank finished 6th in the Tour of Ireland. In 2008 Thomas Frei finished 10th in Osterreich-Rundfahr; this year he was 3rd in the Swiss RR.
For all we know, they're trying to collect talent on the quiet, too. They've got their five 'name' riders, sure, but they've also signed a couple of Astana's Swiss riders and Simon Zahner, who won Fleche du Sud this year. Mauro Santambrogio, who Tre Valli Varesine was also rumoured to be signing. Big names? Not really, but then few second tier teams can afford to be stacked top to bottom.
When the world champion comes out of says that it'll be a long road to the top, it suggests the management know their place in the pecking order.
Hmm, it's not use having a team that's 100% behind you if you don't get an invite to the GT's in the first place. _________________ "You can't win races with passion alone."
Evans has had a team 100% behind him for the last 3 years. All this bullshit about lack of support is him trying to cover up for the fact that he just isn't good enough.
Couldn't resist, have to love the last frame......
Who's the shadowy figure in the background of the second last frame - looks familiar but I can't place him. Given that it's George from Seinfeld in the first, it might not be cycling related.
Anyway - Evans would have won the Vuelta if it were not for the puncture
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