Omega Pharma Quickstep to ride Specialized? Plus Cav to OPQS

Pokerface
Pokerface Posts: 7,960
edited October 2011 in Pro race
Tony Martin will continue to ride that super-fast Shiv next year. 'Apparently'.


Inrng reporting that there's a press release from Specialized saying they have partnered with Omega Pharma Quickstep for next year - but it was then removed from their site!

Cached version below:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... clnk&gl=uk



Also - speculation that Cav will also ride with OPQS:

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9972/ ... -Step.aspx


Both World Champions in the same squad on the same bikes...
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Comments

  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    I bet Tony Martin won't be happy if they sign Cav, I think he had other plans for July :wink:
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • Todd Sweeney
    Todd Sweeney Posts: 117
    Richard Moore, who broke the original story of Cav to Sky months ago, is also saying on Twitter that Cav to Quick Step could happen. He says that there is frustration at Sky and quotes Brailsford as saying that "There's more going on than people think".

    It seems Specialized have very deep pockets and are prepared to pay whatever it takes to ensure that he continues to ride their bikes. Sky are tied into a long-term deal with Pinarello so it won't happen there.
  • oscarbudgie
    oscarbudgie Posts: 850
    Cav and Greipel in the same team!?
    Cannondale Supersix / CAAD9 / Boardman 9.0 / Benotto 3000
  • LeicesterLad
    LeicesterLad Posts: 3,908
    oscarbudgie wrote:
    Cav and Greipel in the same team!?

    Greipel will be fuming...
    http://www.twitter.com/InTheGC http://www.InTheGC.com http://www.facebook.com/intheGC
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    OPQS is the other half of the confusing new Belgian teams. The one that signed Tony Martin, Leipheimer, the Velits brothers, Rabon, Grabsch, Brammier, not the Greipel. Gilbert, VdB team.
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    Turfle wrote:
    OPQS is the other half of the confusing new Belgian teams. The one that signed Tony Martin, Leipheimer, the Velits brothers, Rabon, Grabsch, Brammier, not the Greipel. Gilbert, VdB team.

    Gilbert to BMC. I think the Lotto-Ridley half gets Vanendert, Van den Broek and Greipel. The Omega half gets Quickstep and half of HTC. So no Cav / Greipel shocker, but Cav / Boonen almost as bad...
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • Turfle
    Turfle Posts: 3,762
    BigMat wrote:
    Turfle wrote:
    OPQS is the other half of the confusing new Belgian teams. The one that signed Tony Martin, Leipheimer, the Velits brothers, Rabon, Grabsch, Brammier, not the Greipel. Gilbert, VdB team.

    Gilbert to BMC. I think the Lotto-Ridley half gets Vanendert, Van den Broek and Greipel. The Omega half gets Quickstep and half of HTC. So no Cav / Greipel shocker, but Cav / Boonen almost as bad...

    Yeah, brain-freeze on Gilbert.
  • pat1cp
    pat1cp Posts: 766
    seems to be gathering momentum.

    Most valuable English speaking rider wanted by an American bike maker.
    http://tinyurl.com/332edp
    http://tinyurl.com/2nu7r3
  • Tusher
    Tusher Posts: 2,762
    Makes sense and would explain The Silence.
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Hate to say but Cav to Omega Pharma Quickstep does make some sense.

    Word is Eisel has NOT signed wit Sky as yet.
  • pat1cp
    pat1cp Posts: 766
    edited October 2011
    As a side note from his twitter the other day:-

    @Mark Cavendish
    I discovered yesterday & am currently introducing my taste-buds to Kellogg's Krave. It should receive a cereal knighthood #yum

    I fully expect a "Beefy Botham/Chris Hoy" style advert by Xmas..... Mr Cavendish really is quite marketable.
    http://tinyurl.com/332edp
    http://tinyurl.com/2nu7r3
  • MaxwellBygraves
    MaxwellBygraves Posts: 1,353
    Blimey. Wasn't expecting this. Thought the Sky deal was as good as done...
    "That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college! " - Homer
  • Tusher
    Tusher Posts: 2,762
    Can OPQ afford the therapy bill Greipel and Martin will generate?
  • LeicesterLad
    LeicesterLad Posts: 3,908
    BigMat wrote:
    Turfle wrote:
    OPQS is the other half of the confusing new Belgian teams. The one that signed Tony Martin, Leipheimer, the Velits brothers, Rabon, Grabsch, Brammier, not the Greipel. Gilbert, VdB team.

    Gilbert to BMC. I think the Lotto-Ridley half gets Vanendert, Van den Broek and Greipel. The Omega half gets Quickstep and half of HTC. So no Cav / Greipel shocker, but Cav / Boonen almost as bad...

    My Bad!

    Cav / Boonen - Don't tell rick chasey.
    http://www.twitter.com/InTheGC http://www.InTheGC.com http://www.facebook.com/intheGC
  • Tusher
    Tusher Posts: 2,762
    Dumb question, but I've always assumed that pro-bikes were pretty much of a muchness.
    Granted, a racing bike from Argos isn't going to cut it with the Shiv, but does it really make THAT much of a difference?

    Or is this all about bucket loads of sponsorship money?

    From everything he's always said, the delectable one has always said that he'll ride with whatever the best team is for him, and he's also always been open about his love for Belgium.
  • Todd Sweeney
    Todd Sweeney Posts: 117
    Tusher wrote:
    Dumb question, but I've always assumed that pro-bikes were pretty much of a muchness.
    Granted, a racing bike from Argos isn't going to cut it with the Shiv, but does it really make THAT much of a difference?

    Or is this all about bucket loads of sponsorship money?

    From everything he's always said, the delectable one has always said that he'll ride with whatever the best team is for him, and he's also always been open about his love for Belgium.

    It's got to be completely down to sponsorship money. The differences between top level bikes will be minimal and they will be set up to exactly match a pro-cyclists specifications anyway.

    Although he may like Belgium, I can't see Cav and his page 3 stunna girlfriend relocating to Antwerp anytime soon (though it is a beautiful place!) Money again is key, and whatever team he signs for won't be because of his love for the country they are from I wouldn't have thought.
  • pat1cp
    pat1cp Posts: 766
    Todd Sweeney wrote:
    Tusher wrote:
    Dumb question, but I've always assumed that pro-bikes were pretty much of a muchness.
    Granted, a racing bike from Argos isn't going to cut it with the Shiv, but does it really make THAT much of a difference?

    Or is this all about bucket loads of sponsorship money?

    From everything he's always said, the delectable one has always said that he'll ride with whatever the best team is for him, and he's also always been open about his love for Belgium.

    It's got to be completely down to sponsorship money. The differences between top level bikes will be minimal and they will be set up to exactly match a pro-cyclists specifications anyway.

    Although he may like Belgium, I can't see Cav and his page 3 stunna girlfriend relocating to Antwerp anytime soon (though it is a beautiful place!) Money again is key, and whatever team he signs for won't be because of his love for the country they are from I wouldn't have thought.

    Essex to Antwerp is no different from Essex to Manchester..
    http://tinyurl.com/332edp
    http://tinyurl.com/2nu7r3
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Patrick has basically confirmed it's true

    Lefevere denied to the newspaper that Cavendish would be joining his squad. "If Cavendish is on my cycling team next year? I wish. But I have thirty riders under contract."
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    I find this latest development very concerning. Kellogg's Krave is the crack cocaine of cereals. You can easily eat a whole box in a day. Next season he'll have the waistline of a hippo.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • LeicesterLad
    LeicesterLad Posts: 3,908
    RichN95 wrote:
    I find this latest development very concerning. Kellogg's Krave is the crack cocaine of cereals. You can easily eat a whole box in a day. Next season he'll have the waistline of a hippo.

    Lets just pray that he doesn't discover Crunchy Nut...
    http://www.twitter.com/InTheGC http://www.InTheGC.com http://www.facebook.com/intheGC
  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    I seem to remember reading in his book that while in the GB Academy squad his diet mostly consisted of crisps.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    inkyfingers wrote:
    I seem to remember reading in his book that while in the GB Academy squad his diet mostly consisted of crisps.

    Which might explain why he was a little more "substantial" when he first signed with Cuddly Bob
    cavendish.jpg

    A winter with Lefevre will probably have him looking like an extra from "Schindlers List"
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • rebs
    rebs Posts: 891
    edited October 2011
    Good to see Wiggins having some fun with the story :P

    @bradwiggins Bradley Wiggins

    Well I love my Pinarello so much I bought it #apinarelloisforlifenotjustforchristmas
    http://twitter.com/#!/bradwiggins/statu ... 5256848384
  • cavcan
    cavcan Posts: 31
    rebs wrote:
    Good to see Wiggins having some fun with the story :P

    http://twitter.com/#!/bradwiggins/statu ... 5256848384

    Sorry, i cant access twitter - what does it say?
  • WisePranker
    WisePranker Posts: 823
    cavcan wrote:
    rebs wrote:
    Good to see Wiggins having some fun with the story :P

    http://twitter.com/#!/bradwiggins/statu ... 5256848384

    Sorry, i cant access twitter - what does it say?

    @bradwiggins
    Well I love my Pinarello so much I bought it #apinarelloisforlifenotjustforchristmas
  • Tusher
    Tusher Posts: 2,762
    Any-one know what Belgian message boards are saying about this rumour?
  • ermintrude
    ermintrude Posts: 514
    Got to hand it to Wiggins he is funny sometimes. You do hear bad reports about Pinarello, but as you say all pro bikes must be excellent, can't imagine Sky, marginal gains (sorry!) going for anything inferior.
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Hmm maybe more to Wiggo's tweet than meets the eye.

    We could yet see Sky riding Specialized.
  • LeicesterLad
    LeicesterLad Posts: 3,908
    Gazzaputt wrote:
    Hmm maybe more to Wiggo's tweet than meets the eye.

    We could yet see Sky riding Specialized.

    I doubt it, Sky are still contracted to ride Pinarello bikes, if they ditch them, it'll cost them, and anyway, they sound chummy...
    "We are very happy with this new partnership," said Fausto Pinarello. "Team Sky's goal of becoming one of the world's leading cycling teams fits with our objective of continuing and growing our presence as one of the world's leading bicycle manufacturers. We have signed a three-year agreement and we look forward to a long, prosperous and successful collaboration."




    Dave Brailsford, Team Principal for Team Sky, said: "We are thrilled to be riding Pinarello bikes. Joining up with this great producer is a crucial step for Team Sky. With Pinarello we have found the perfect partner to supply and develop an extraordinary line of bikes for our riders.




    Brailsford continued: "The choice of bike has been a key decision. From the first talks, we found an immediate understanding with Pinarello on what this team is about: performance and perfection. The ways that Pinarello combine their life-long passion for the bike with the latest technology are genuinely inspired. Pinarello are now a fundamental part of the team and will help our relentless efforts to have the best possible tools for Team Sky."
    http://www.twitter.com/InTheGC http://www.InTheGC.com http://www.facebook.com/intheGC
  • Todd Sweeney
    Todd Sweeney Posts: 117
    Gazzaputt wrote:
    Hmm maybe more to Wiggo's tweet than meets the eye.

    We could yet see Sky riding Specialized.

    I hadn't thought of that. There's only 1-year left on the contract with Pinarello. If they want him to ride their bikes that much maybe they would stump up the cash to buy out the contract? Maybe haggling over this is why the Cav to Sky deal is taking so long?

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