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Froome thinking about leaving Ineos

rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
in Pro race
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chris-froome-in-discussions-over-a-mid-season-transfer/

Oh ma gawd!

Froome thinking about a mid-season transfer out of Ineos.


With speculation mounting over Team Ineos’ pecking order at this year’s Tour de France, Cyclingnews understands that four-time Tour winner Chris Froome is in discussions over a possible mid-season transfer.

The Ineos leader has not yet signed a contract extension, with his current three-year deal concluding at the end of the calendar year.

The 34-year-old has stated several times that he sees a possible fifth Tour de France title as his main objective for the year and that he plans to race for at least another four years. However, with leadership for the Tour de France still undecided and last year’s winner Egan Bernal last week stating that he will not sacrifice his chances for those of a teammate, Ineos have a number of difficult decisions to make.
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Posts

  • TheBigBeanTheBigBean Posts: 18,150
    That's a positive development. Good to see the best riders on different teams.
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 26,539
    It's just an internal power play. Cycling News is where you leak BS stories so they get seen.

    Where would he be comfortable going at the 11th hour? Bahrain? And they're apparently financially unstable.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
    Please be movistar, please please please.
    _
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 26,539
    rick_chasey said:

    Please be movistar, please please please.

    That would be amusing
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
    Does he have an entourage, Nibali style?
    _
  • DeVlaeminckDeVlaeminck Posts: 8,353
    Be good news for the race if true.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 26,539
    edited May 2020
    rick_chasey said:

    Does he have an entourage, Nibali style?


    Not really. Tim Kerrison is important obviously, but he won't leave unless he feels threatened by Artxte (sp?). Gary Blem as mechanic perhaps, maybe a favourite soigneur (the one that called his son Chris). No riders to look after. That's why Bahrain is the only viable team - Ellingworth, Landa, Poels

    He may move on at the end of the season. But mid season? Ineos haven't paid him eight months salary for 70th place in the Tour of UAE. Why would they release him? I think Brailsford still thinks he's the top guy. Froome just wants Bernal put back in his box.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
    RichN95. said:

    rick_chasey said:

    Does he have an entourage, Nibali style?


    Not really. Tim Kerrison is important obviously, but he won't leave unless he feels threatened by Artxte (sp?). Gary Blem as mechanic perhaps, maybe a favourite soigneur (the one that called his son Chris). No riders to look after.

    He may move on at the end of the season. But mid season? Ineos haven't paid him eight months salary for 70th place in the Tour of UAE. Why would they release him? I think Brailsford still thinks he's the top guy. Froome just wants Bernal put back in his box.
    Thing with these threats are you have to follow through with them if they don't blink and Froome, of all people, will know that.
    _
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 26,539
    edited May 2020
    rick_chasey said:



    Thing with these threats are you have to follow through with them if they don't blink and Froome, of all people, will know that.


    That's why you leak it via a third party to Cycling News. They'll print it without any confirmation. It gets the attention of the right people. Froome can deny all knowledge.

    A mid season switch needs the consent of both parties. I don't think he can't just hand in his notice.

    His agent will ask around for next season - that's normal. If only to ascertain your market value.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • gsk82gsk82 Posts: 3,251
    He's still number 1.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • kingstongrahamkingstongraham Posts: 23,427
    gsk82 said:

    He's still number 1.

    He'll only be number 1 if he's actually the best. No idea if that's still the case, Bernal is pretty good.
  • jimmythecuckoojimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,677
    He's going to Newcastle United. They are being linked with signing anyone and everyone at the moment !! :)
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 26,539
    edited May 2020
    Bernal will literally be number 1 (as in his dossard), but I think the riders will favour Froome. They're from the Cote d'Azur/Kerrison training group. Bernal needs to get more of the Spain/Artxte group in.

    Unlike the times with Landa and Thomas this genuinely could divide a team which does have two clear factions
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • amrushtonamrushton Posts: 1,188
    Those who have had dealings with brailsford know he loves this stuff. 2 or 3 riders vying for attention just keeps them hungry. Given current conditions only a couple of teams could afford Froome. Let the road decide.
  • 50x1150x11 Posts: 408
    RichN95. said:

    Bernal will literally be number 1 (as in his dossard), but I think the riders will favour Froome. They're from the Cote d'Azur/Kerrison training group. Bernal needs to get more of the Spain/Artxte group in.

    Unlike the times with Landa and Thomas this genuinely could divide a team which does have two clear factions

    Yeah the factions were clear, when Thomas basically said in his documentary he didn't know Bernal. A few years ago it wasn't even thought that a rider could do the tour for Sky without being in that core group.
  • DeVlaeminckDeVlaeminck Posts: 8,353
    RichN95. said:

    rick_chasey said:

    Does he have an entourage, Nibali style?


    Not really. Tim Kerrison is important obviously, but he won't leave unless he feels threatened by Artxte (sp?). Gary Blem as mechanic perhaps, maybe a favourite soigneur (the one that called his son Chris). No riders to look after. That's why Bahrain is the only viable team - Ellingworth, Landa, Poels

    He may move on at the end of the season. But mid season? Ineos haven't paid him eight months salary for 70th place in the Tour of UAE. Why would they release him? I think Brailsford still thinks he's the top guy. Froome just wants Bernal put back in his box.
    Agree with that but I suppose IF it involved a transfer fee - who knows what kind of numbers he's been putting out ?
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • andypandyp Posts: 9,258
    RichN95. said:

    rick_chasey said:

    Does he have an entourage, Nibali style?


    Not really. Tim Kerrison is important obviously, but he won't leave unless he feels threatened by Artxte (sp?). Gary Blem as mechanic perhaps, maybe a favourite soigneur (the one that called his son Chris). No riders to look after. That's why Bahrain is the only viable team - Ellingworth, Landa, Poels
    I doubt Bahrain can afford him.
  • TheBigBeanTheBigBean Posts: 18,150
    A bit of wild speculation, but if Froome didn't care about the money and Ineos was looking to cut costs, they could come to some form of mutual agreement.

    I imagine though that he wants to win and to be paid well for his troubles.
  • twotoebennytwotoebenny Posts: 1,276
    I'd doubt the money is as important now as the number 5. He surely be an asset to any team and would pull sponsors... I'd rahther see all the top guys racing each other so would be happy to see him move. I don't think it's going to happen though.
  • DeVlaeminckDeVlaeminck Posts: 8,353
    Thing is he has to be better (or luckier) than Bernal whether he stays or not. It's not as if Brailsford is likely to order Froome to work for his younger team mate unless maybe it's already game over as far as winning goes.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 26,539
    Two things I am certain of:

    1. Froome will ride the Tour (if it happens). It's probably in his contract

    2. Brailsford won't let Froome ride it for another team. The prospect of him winning would too much for Brailsford to contemplate.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
    RichN95. said:

    Two things I am certain of:

    1. Froome will ride the Tour (if it happens). It's probably in his contract

    2. Brailsford won't let Froome ride it for another team. The prospect of him winning would too much for Brailsford to contemplate.

    What odds would you give Bernal v Froome head to head?
    _
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 26,539
    edited May 2020
    rick_chasey said:

    RichN95. said:

    Two things I am certain of:

    1. Froome will ride the Tour (if it happens). It's probably in his contract

    2. Brailsford won't let Froome ride it for another team. The prospect of him winning would too much for Brailsford to contemplate.

    What odds would you give Bernal v Froome head to head?

    No idea in the current situation and with Froome's injury. 2018 Late Giro Froome v 2019 Tour Bernal - Froome. I'd back Froome to win that final TT regardless though

    Had Froome been at the 2019 Tour I don't think Alaphilippe would have played as much of a part. Bernal was hardly dominant. Without the mudslide Thomas may have won again. Pinot may have won if he didn't find a new inventive third week booby trap.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • sherersherer Posts: 2,456
    While Froome and Bernal mark each other out, Thomas takes off and wins Le Tour :D
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 22,372
    sherer said:

    While Froome and Bernal mark each other out, Thomas takes off and wins Le Tour :D

    Ineos & DB are still happy.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • dannbodgedannbodge Posts: 1,110
    pblakeney said:

    sherer said:

    While Froome and Bernal mark each other out, Thomas takes off and wins Le Tour :D

    Ineos & DB are still happy.
    And all 3 riders on the podium are ineos
  • jimmythecuckoojimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,677
    If Ineos let him leave mid season I would suggest he is finished.

    They don't tend to make those mistakes.
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • takethehighroadtakethehighroad Posts: 6,236
    Can't see Froome moving mid-season, but can see him leaving at the end of the year. Bernal is the future for Ineos hence signing the likes of Sosa etc.

    Also, it massively plays into Ineos' hands to have people guessing who the leader is. It's been the same way since at least about 2017 "the road will decide"
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 26,539
    edited May 2020
    Live footage of Froome sharing leadership with Bernal and Thomas

    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
    RichN95. said:

    rick_chasey said:

    RichN95. said:

    Two things I am certain of:

    1. Froome will ride the Tour (if it happens). It's probably in his contract

    2. Brailsford won't let Froome ride it for another team. The prospect of him winning would too much for Brailsford to contemplate.

    What odds would you give Bernal v Froome head to head?

    No idea in the current situation and with Froome's injury. 2018 Late Giro Froome v 2019 Tour Bernal - Froome. I'd back Froome to win that final TT regardless though

    Had Froome been at the 2019 Tour I don't think Alaphilippe would have played as much of a part. Bernal was hardly dominant. Without the mudslide Thomas may have won again. Pinot may have won if he didn't find a new inventive third week booby trap.
    So point 1: I am sceptical.

    Point 2: mind elaborating why Alaphilippe would have played a smaller role? Is it because with Froome around he would have had an extra pair of good legs to control the race more easily, and Froome typically (though obviously not always) like to take earlier leads?
    _
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