Sagan moving to Saxo-Tinkoff

ZiabR

Watching the TDF today and they were discussing contracts for the 2015 season. Seems Sagan is in detailed/final talks over a contract with Saxo-Tinkoff.

My thoughts on this is that as proven in this years TDF, they don't have a Plan B once Bertie gets injured so this would give them other options and stage wins.

Also talk that Cannondale is moving their sponsorship to a different team.

What are your thoughts on this move, surprising or not?

pelevin

Cavendish not working out with Sky comes to mind- that they very definitely chose to put their efforts into the GC & Wiggins, leaving Cav somewhat on his lonesome. Assuming Contador'd still be with them, it'd seem too much to expect the quiet days in terms of GC, half the team to be pushing themselves stupid for Sagan's stage hopes.

Darkglasses

What about Contador leaving to join Alonso's team, is that still on the cards?

ZiabR

Darkglasses wrote: »

What about Contador leaving to join Alonso's team, is that still on the cards?

Not sure actually but you would expect a rider like Contador to have very high demands when it would come to teammates. He would need people who can survive grand tours by his side. Would be be possible to attract that number of riders to a new team?

The Sagan move is an odd one, the way Cannondale work suits him perfectly, but as I have said, seems Cannondale are moving their sponsorship to a different team.

Brian?

It could work quite well actually. Sagan's season will be built around winning classics and the green jersey. He can win the green jersey with minimal support.

It'll be 2 different teams, 1 to support Contador in the grand tours and one to support Sagan in the classics.

letape

IIRC Sagan and Nibali didn't get on too well in the same team and there was definitely tension between them when racing in the same races as they has conflicting objectives and a team that couldn't support both.

That would be my worry if Sagan and Contador race together, which I believe is a done deal at this point.

In terms of Alonso's team, I'm not even sure this is still going ahead. Sagan had also been linked to this, but there has been little word on this for a few months now with no sign of Alonso or Bettini at races since early in the year.

Macy0161

logik wrote: »

What are your thoughts on this move, surprising or not?

Could work out well for Sagan. Whatever about other aspects of Riis' (not necessarily distant) past, he has tactical nous that Sagan needs to start turning the form into wins.

gordongekko

Rodgers would have worked has ass of for sagan yesterday if he was on the same team. Sagan can't beat everyone on his own.

ZiabR

gordongekko wrote: »

Rodgers would have worked has ass of for sagan yesterday if he was on the same team. Sagan can't beat everyone on his own.

Did you see how pissed Sagan was in his port race interview. He was saying that everyone knows how dangerous he is now and as a result, no one will work with him in a break because he is most likely going to win in the sprint at the finish.

Essentially he said it is now harder and harder to get stage wins because he is not good enough to beat the sprinters in a sprint and no one will go with him in a break because they know he will beat them.

Catch 22

MPFG

gordongekko wrote: »

Rodgers would have worked has ass of for sagan yesterday if he was on the same team. Sagan can't beat everyone on his own.

True Sagan does need someone good to work for him to win stages in Tour & to win other races

But if Contador still in race Rodgers, Roche & Majka ,Bennati could not chases breakaway and work for Sagan one day and the next be fresh for mountains for Contador.....Hard to win Tour with dedicated team ....nigh impossible if team is working everyday....Remember SKY & Movistar & Astana are dedicated to one GT leader

Of course Sagan is reputed to get 4 million in new job so he is not going ot say no but not sure it is best fit for him for GT .....and as for the classics ...would need some good helpers also to be there

Oleg Tinkoff wants Sagan as wants best team but best team may not be 2 superstars but maybe alot of very good riders instead

Borderfox

Satan is a good rider but on yesterday's stage he used up all his team and had nobody left in the final kms to chase down / lead out. The move to Tinkoff will make this worse till he learns to play it wise and stay off the front until he is moved up by the team, other than that if he does some track riding over the winter he can go from one km out on his own?

ZiabR

Borderfox wrote: »

Satan is a good rider but on yesterday's stage he used up all his team and had nobody left in the final kms to chase down / lead out.

That is how he rides though, always has. He burns his team out keeping the pace high. One of the few riders that can take wins without a teammate in the final 2km.

pelevin

Satan is a good rider?

GetWithIt

pelevin wrote: »

Satan is a good rider?

Exceptional. Though there have been question marks raised over his biological passport.

pelevin

GetWithIt wrote: »

Exceptional. Though there have been question marks raised over his biological passport.

I wouldn't believe a word of that stuff. I'd trust Satan with my life.

MPFG

pelevin wrote: »

Satan is a good rider?

He was on fire yesterday especially on the descent .....:pac:

(i'm here all week !!)

pelevin

A demon descender all right.

Borderfox

Dan you autocorrect :-)

GetWithIt

Dan?

CptMackey

Borderfox wrote: »

Dan you autocorrect :-)

I actually thought that you didn't like him and had nicknamed him Satan :pac: