Transfers and contracts thread

frenchfighter

I agree with Riis, these people are slimy and low.


"It just goes too far here. He has a contract, and he will not get out of it. He will not be allowed to go. It is as simple as that, and he knows that too. I cannot understand why he continues [like this]."

"Richie's manager continues to provoke and push us. We have told them that it cannot be changed. He cannot be bought out of his contract. Yet they continue. It's fair enough - a manager asks, but when he's told no, it must stop. He threatens lawyers and everything at us, but the rules are such that you do not come out of a contract unless both parties agree: rider, current team, and new team."

"It's a huge problem in the sport, and this year it has gone berserk. The agents are running around and shop with all sorts or teams, and it's not just us who have these problems. It must stop now, it's unacceptable. The agents bring ideas into the minds of young riders by putting figures in their minds that are completely unrealistic."

"The problem is that their managers and agents are pushing the limits and are advising their riders wrong. Contracts must be respected."

inkyfingers

I agree with Riis, people should respect contracts. However, Mr Riis is never going to be taken seriously when he gets on his ethical high horse, and especially when he has just allowed Cancellara to buy himself out of his contract (so i've read).

Bronzie

inkyfingers wrote:

especially when he has just allowed Cancellara to buy himself out of his contract (so i've read).

What was he supposed to do? Force him to stay at Saxo Bank against his will? That never works out well for anyone. Might as well get some cash for him and buy some up and coming talent with the proceeds.

inkyfingers

Bronzie wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

especially when he has just allowed Cancellara to buy himself out of his contract (so i've read).

What was he supposed to do? Force him to stay at Saxo Bank against his will? That never works out well for anyone. Might as well get some cash for him and buy some up and coming talent with the proceeds.

I agree with you, but if Porte really wants to leave (rather than is just get touted around by his agent) then surely he should let him go as well as he's set a precedent?

RichN95.

frenchfighter wrote:

I agree with Riis, these people are slimy and low.


"It just goes too far here. He has a contract, and he will not get out of it. He will not be allowed to go. It is as simple as that, and he knows that too. I cannot understand why he continues [like this]."

"Richie's manager continues to provoke and push us. We have told them that it cannot be changed. He cannot be bought out of his contract. Yet they continue. It's fair enough - a manager asks, but when he's told no, it must stop. He threatens lawyers and everything at us, but the rules are such that you do not come out of a contract unless both parties agree: rider, current team, and new team."

"It's a huge problem in the sport, and this year it has gone berserk. The agents are running around and shop with all sorts or teams, and it's not just us who have these problems. It must stop now, it's unacceptable. The agents bring ideas into the minds of young riders by putting figures in their minds that are completely unrealistic."

"The problem is that their managers and agents are pushing the limits and are advising their riders wrong. Contracts must be respected."

Riis just wants a top ten GT rider on neo-pro wages. He should have offered Porte a new, improved contract after the Giro. He hasn't and now Porte wants to earn what he's worth. Riis is the one at fault, if you ask me

frenchfighter

Mr McQuaid is the agent - explains a lot; no doubt scumbag runs in the family

Kléber

RichN95 wrote:

Riis just wants a top ten GT rider on neo-pro wages. He should have offered Porte a new, improved contract after the Giro. He hasn't and now Porte wants to earn what he's worth. Riis is the one at fault, if you ask me

I'm not sure this would have been possible given Riis was struggling for sponsors

frenchfighter wrote:

Mr McQuaid is the agent - explains a lot; no doubt scumbag runs in the family

Agents will do what agents do. His dad needs to put his foot down and get some rules in place... to stop his son destabilising things.

RichN95.

Kléber wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Riis just wants a top ten GT rider on neo-pro wages. He should have offered Porte a new, improved contract after the Giro. He hasn't and now Porte wants to earn what he's worth. Riis is the one at fault, if you ask me

I'm not sure this would have been possible given Riis was struggling for sponsors

No doubt. And had Saxo folded, would Riis have paid Porte in 2011? Are Milram riders under contract still getting paid next year?

iainf72

RichN95 wrote:

No doubt. And had Saxo folded, would Riis have paid Porte in 2011? Are Milram riders under contract still getting paid next year?

He's got a contract for 2 years because he's a neo-pro. The 2 years to protect him. It should protect the sponsor too.

Just make all contracts single year and be done with it. Renogotiate on an annual basis.

robert-sb

iainf72 wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

No doubt. And had Saxo folded, would Riis have paid Porte in 2011? Are Milram riders under contract still getting paid next year?

He's got a contract for 2 years because he's a neo-pro. The 2 years to protect him. It should protect the sponsor too.

Just make all contracts single year and be done with it. Renogotiate on an annual basis.

Alternatively, make all contracts 2 years with a buy out clause after one year specifying the amount. Then a team will still have an incentive to take on a neo-pro knowing that if he is any good he will get either 2 good years, a decent sum after one year or is free to renegotiate the contract with the rider.

frenchfighter

Cozza to Team NetApp (GER) who plan to try and PT in 2012

HOSTE and MORENO from Lotto to Katusha

LOSADA from Caisse to Lotto

LORENZETTO from Lampre to Astana

SARAMOTINS from HTC to Cofidis (winner of last week's GP d'Isbergues)

RichN95.

Apparently Rigobert Uran is signing for Sky for three years. Along with Xabier Zandio, who I know next to nothing about.

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/wai/noticias-ficha.asp?id=30745

afx237vi

^ Interesting. I thought those Spanish and South American types weren't cut out to be happy ants.

FJS

Interesting - I hope Uran is a good buy for Sky. He's very talented, and still only 23 years old. But, he's been a pro for 5 years, and his progress isn't that fast - let's hope he's not the eternal talent that never delivers.

Zandio is a Caisse domestique in his 30s - I can't see another reason for Sky to buy him than that he was cheap.

frenchfighter

Peraud to AG2R

Bernardus

Impey, Hunt, Hunter and Traksel to Pegasus according to Biciciclismo.

Their new DS is possibly Servais Knaven.

ms_tree

FJS wrote:

Interesting - I hope Uran is a good buy for Sky. He's very talented, and still only 23 years old. But, he's been a pro for 5 years, and his progress isn't that fast - let's hope he's not the eternal talent that never delivers.

Zandio is a Caisse domestique in his 30s - I can't see another reason for Sky to buy him than that he was cheap.

Erm. Uran came 3rd in Giro di Lombardia 2/3 yrs ago. So Zandio is a domestique? Worth their weight in gold for Sky I would have thought; IMHO have too many prima donnas. (I like his plaits too!)

FJS

Ms Tree wrote:

FJS wrote:

Interesting - I hope Uran is a good buy for Sky. He's very talented, and still only 23 years old. But, he's been a pro for 5 years, and his progress isn't that fast - let's hope he's not the eternal talent that never delivers.

Zandio is a Caisse domestique in his 30s - I can't see another reason for Sky to buy him than that he was cheap.

Erm. Uran came 3rd in Giro di Lombardia 2/3 yrs ago. So Zandio is a domestique? Worth their weight in gold for Sky I would have thought; IMHO have too many prima donnas. (I like his plaits too!)

Uran coming 3rd is exactly what I mean - he was only 21 years old then, and it's still his biggest feat. Last year he finished 5th in Romandie and this year 7th in Suisse; improvements? perhaps, but not the clear year on year improvement you expect of someone so very young. But perhaps he's just taken a deliberately careful approach. He's clearly talented, and we'll see.

About Zandio, I'm sure he'll be useful - it just isn't immediately clear why they picked him, specifically.

rick_chasey

Hoste to Katusha?

Presumably help for Pozzato?

Pross

FJS wrote:

About Zandio, I'm sure he'll be useful - it just isn't immediately clear why they picked him, specifically.

Presumably one of Uran's conditions for joining?

NicFrance

Wouter Weylandt to Team Lux

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-transfert_bennati__annonce__weylandt_au_lux-9341.html

stagehopper

Team Sky confirm signings of Uran, Zandio and Dowsett:

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290, ... 72,00.html

robert-sb

Voeckler to Cofidis if BBox isn't saved by 5pm on Friday

hommelbier

It seems that Thomas Voeckler has agreed to join Cofidis, if and when BBox finally disappears (as seems very likely now)

http://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/dma_cyclisme_-Thomas-Voeckler-choisit-Cofidis_44096-1531966-fils-80_filDMA.Htm

ratherbeintobago

if and when BBox finally disappears (as seems very likely now)

Or not, though they will be a Pro Continental team next season.

Andy

pedro118118

Bronzie wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

especially when he has just allowed Cancellara to buy himself out of his contract (so i've read).

What was he supposed to do? Force him to stay at Saxo Bank against his will? That never works out well for anyone. Might as well get some cash for him and buy some up and coming talent with the proceeds.

Surely the difference here is that an agreement was reached between employer and employee - ie Canc wanted to go and Riis was happy to allow him to terminate his contract, subject to a payment.

If there is no agreement between Riis and Porte, then the contract remains valid. If Porte sulks and doesn't put the effort in, then don't pay him. Presumably, if he'd done nothing last year (perhaps due to injury or illness), he wouldn't be crying for his contract to be cancelled? The 2-year neo-pro contact is there for a reason - to protect the rider and give him 2 years to prove himself/make an impression. Some do (Porte, Swift, Sagan etc) and some don't.

Porte is still very young and has plenty of time to build up his reputation/palmares to justify a good contract, when he's up for renewal.

iainf72

Sylvain Calzati to Bretagne-Schuller

That's the first official leaver from team happy, isn't it?

RichN95.

pedro118118 wrote:

Porte is still very young and has plenty of time to build up his reputation/palmares to justify a good contract, when he's up for renewal.

He's not that young. He's older than Schleck, Nibali and Cavendish, not to mention the likes of Kreuziger and Gesink.

frenchfighter

“I think Roman Kreuziger is the strongest addition,” he said, speaking about the new signings. “He is young but a very promising racer. Perhaps Roman will be the main striking force of Astana in the Giro and will be my principal assistant in the Tour.”

dave_1

Milram gone.