Saxo Bank will never be a sprinting team! Riis don't like sprinters, they aren't worth much to him. Cooke is gonna be a helper in the cobble races.

Agreed. Saxo will never be a team of sprinters. The signing of Cooke is financially motivated. They got him for cheap and he gives them the opportunity to get some stage wins as a lead-out man, which will in turn earn them more money. They will always be a GC team though, especially next year with both the Schlecks there. If they are able to afford a renewal for the Schlecks then they will continue to rely on them and Cancellara. Possibly Fuglsang is the shorter stage races.

P.S.
Are there any rumors about who Riis is entertaining as a future co-sponsor?

He's not signed as a sprinter nor a lead-out-man. He's there to help out the classics team - keep in mind that they've lost Kroon, Bak, Goss and Arvesen, all riders from the classics team.

Does any body know if Soler is finally going to Caisse?
It is already known that Morou does, Franch sponsor...
And what about Contador, will he finally move from Astana?
What will Caisse do if finally Alejandro Valverde can't race in europe for two years?
just for bringing something new.

I'm pretty sure that Caisse has confirmed that they've signed Bruseghin, Moreau and Soler.

There's no news on Contador. He has a contract with Astana for one more season, but the word going around is that Garmin is trying to sign him. Astana is in financial problems, and that can be solved by getting rid of Contador. If Garmin manages to get him, Sky will get Wiggins, so there's several parts in this 'deal'

Klostergaard is better and cheaper




However Caisse has signed a new sponsor that will only join the team if Contador signs with them, and who will be there precisely to pay Contador's salary.

I personally am 100% sure Contador will ride for Garmin next year.

Maybe is only publicity but I think that Contadoor´s first option is Caisse.
After suffering so much in Astana he wants to go back to a team where he feels confortable and Caisse is. Spanish team, spanish riders, spanish director. He also have a good relation with Valverde.
in Octuber the TAS will decide if Valverde can race for the next year. I am pretty sure that if Valverde is not allow to run for a couple of years the will push for Contador real hard. The most dificult part of Contador is breaking his contract with Astana, and of course his stupid brother....

Yes, there's no doubt that Contador prefers that - he's said it himself. And Caisse definitely wants him, because they're afraid of CAS' decision (which will likely suspend Valverde for two years).

... but what it all comes down to is money.

Not really because I read somewhere that Astana offers Contador a contract for 4 years with a total amount of 32 million euros, which is 8 millions per year. So sometimes is not only money. By the way Astana had a money problem but it is already solved isn´t it? with Vinokurov back the Kazakhstan government is putting more money on Astanna, so there will not be any more problems. Also I am spanish and I really don´t understand why in the Puerto operation they just compare all the blood bags with all the dna of every rider. Now Valverde is going to loose 2 year in the time that usually a rider can do the best... is a petty!!
By the way do you think that Luis Leon Sanchez could be a potencial leader in the future?
Maybe not for Tour but for Vuelta?or smaller races?

I'm going to be laughing in both your faces when Contador signs with Garmin

And inside I'll be crying because it'll be the last lingering trust in Garmin disappearing and the realization that Garmin's just like most teams.

Nobody is a little bit suspicious with Garmin?
Specially on Wiggins?He is like 8 kilos lighter, and surprising well this year when he usually was MTB guy? there are several examples like that in this team...

Isso said this a week ago, and I agree:
https://pcmdaily.com/forum/viewthread....ost_239664



If that's pointed at me, I didn't say that Contador would join Caisse. As I said: It all comes down to money. Garmin's most likely to be able to pay, and they'll probably end up getting him. But I'm sure that Contador would prefer going to Caisse.

there is also Quick Step !

If it´s only for money I will not discard that he goes with Amstrong....

There are 3 choises. Garmin, the havent the money yet , because there is no news about Wiggins. Caisse need a second sponsor to offer a bid for Contador. Quick Step has a new sponsor and the main sponsor Quick Step dubbles their budget. In the dutch interview of sporza he smiled, they asked him: will you sign for a belgian team. he said: maybe with a smile!

It looks like Contador is smiling to that question in every country according to that country team... he is a good seller!!!

It hasn't been announced. Doesn't mean it's not happening

Good God son, where have you been? Under a rock?

no, I know it was long time ago, but the complexity needed is completely different, and now in top 5 of the TdF...Nobody expected that in his normal develop as a rider...

It's normal that he doesn't know Wiggins did track. He's not from england, australia or belgium, so it's quite normal if he's a cycling fan who doesn't even know that track cycling exists.



He was a track rider, not MTBer