Some availabilities that intrigue me a bit and some riders I might have to come with some more convincing arguments for, we will probably talk at some point
Was expecting more of the top stars to be available given how you wanted to rebuild, but I guess it will still be busy for you with the availabilities.
Not exactly the availabilities I had hoped for, but I assume we'll talk regardless I also remain convinced that fighter would have been a more fun path for Mansouri than stage racer, but I guess that's personal preference
Elosegui is an interesting one - the question is really whether the high RES cancels out the low FL, and what the scoring potential is for a rider of that type who doesn't get into breaks very often.
If you can't answer this question, I'm sure he'll be happy to come back home in Bilbao
As others have said, nice to see you with a nice jersey! I won't confuse your team with Binance anymore!
I'll be listening when transfers start then, as I still don't know the answer
knockout wrote:
LIDL as a main sponsor of a cycling team just looks wrong to me. I know this is inspired by the real life cycling team but it remains odd to me.
Looking forward to an availability list. Several potentially interesting riders for me here so we'll surely talk again a bit. Glad to see you continuing!
Thanks! Look forward to hearing what you make of the availability list...
I think once again it's a function of the OVL formulas needing a few small changes. Ultimately Wouters would never be more than a leadout man, unless in a weak field or the final few stages of a GT where top sprinters have missed the time limit. But his OVL makes him equal to much stronger sprinters (though weaker riders all round) so his wage demands seem ridiculously high. Would have been looking to sell him anyway in all likelihood, so perhaps not the worst thing to happen.
jandal7 wrote:
As always love the squad the talents et cetera blah blah blah A tough renewals for sure, would have thought there could have been more done with Mansouri - but it means if you let me have him then it's just even more cap space you're clearing
I'm sure we'll talk, seeing as generally we work from the same list of targets Mansouri was one of the R1 acceptances so definitely could have pushed a bit further, but wanted to avoid any complications if possible so was a bit more risk averse than usual.
SotD wrote:
How in earths name did you get Soulious to cost that much? Couldn't you atleast have put him on the FA list for me?
You made a mistake next to Boutopoulos. You forgot 4 dots.
See previous comment about OVL system - I think there are riders with 79/80 HIL on similar wages due to having similar OVLs. Soulious even turned down an offer of 10k less, so probably not much more that could be done. Anticipating that I'll start hearing questions about the two Greek riders within the first 30 seconds of transfers, ultimately everyone has a price
Luis Leon Sanchez wrote:
A team full of riders who I have an interest in. We’ll definitely be in contact at some point during transfers. Will be interesting to see how your window shapes up and the team you take into the season.
Look forward to the discussions!
redordead wrote:
I don't think you'll struggle selling this time around. Maybe we have a chat or two
I'm sure I'll find a way - at least I should hopefully avoid another Velasco situation
kandesbunzler26 wrote:
Seems like a busy transfer season's ahead of you. But I don't think your riders are my price category though
Feel free to get in touch anyway, sometimes there are unexpected bargains to be had and creative deals to be made
whitejersey wrote:
Some availabilities that intrigue me a bit and some riders I might have to come with some more convincing arguments for, we will probably talk at some point
I'm ready to listen - not planning on a full teardown, but interested to see what the market value of some of my leaders is, especially given the weak FA pool
AbhishekLFC wrote:
Was expecting more of the top stars to be available given how you wanted to rebuild, but I guess it will still be busy for you with the availabilities.
Availabilities will probably change as transfers go on, for now these are just the moves I either need to make, or expect to make to give me some more flexibility. None of the top stars are guaranteed not to leave, but it depends on how the market for top tier riders shakes out - don't expect to have a lot of cash or cap space, so it's whether I can find a way to get involved in those discussions, which would require a bigger name or two to leave.
cunego59 wrote:
Not exactly the availabilities I had hoped for, but I assume we'll talk regardless I also remain convinced that fighter would have been a more fun path for Mansouri than stage racer, but I guess that's personal preference
As stated above, I'll listen to ideas even if they don't necessarily end in sales Mansouri was originally going to be a puncheur, then a sprinter/fighter, and then I ended up on stage racer - largely because I lack stage racers who can TT. But who knows if that'll change again
Ending above cap space despite not relegating should be good news from the development department I guess ^^
Let's see if I can help you getting below that required number - although none of the available riders are perfect fits for my focus regions, I can see several really intriguing names there, especially given this year's ugly FA market
Fabianski wrote:
Ending above cap space despite not relegating should be good news from the development department I guess ^^
Let's see if I can help you getting below that required number - although none of the available riders are perfect fits for my focus regions, I can see several really intriguing names there, especially given this year's ugly FA market
I hope so - it's either that or I didn't do a very good job in renewals look forward to discussing further in transfers!
After a busy first few days of free agency, our first four new signings have been secured. All four are riders for the future, though Scott Davies and Tilen Finkst are a bit different from our usual talent signings, being a bit older than riders at a similar stage in their development - but no less talented.
Joining them are David Dekker, a long term target and key leadout man for Salem Kemboi going forward, and Stavros Theorpanous, a young Cypriot who will be the youngest contracted rider this season. Davies, Finkst and Theorpanous will be loaned out to develop this year, and we look forward to their future development.
Love it! Finkst has been a rider i have wanted to see signed for long and Davies also was one of the best talents not getting a contract last year. Cool to see them getting opportunities!
If Dekker had been one year younger and thus more training-friendly, I might've focused hard on him, gone cobbles and turned him into a new Pedersen with those secondary stats.
Alas, it wasn't meant to be, and yet he indeed is still a great signing! Looks like you want him to stay super cheap with that final level, would be great value.
No idea how you grabbed a Cypriot for 50k either.
Theorpanous can be 76MO if you use CLv2 on level 1-2, I think.
I am obviously interested, but he’s only 21 and will take forever to develop, so the next couple of years it’s nothing but expendures for a - let’s be honest - domestique.
But once he get’s closer to fully developped I’ll probably be regretting it
Another busy 24 hours has seen seven more riders join the team. Firstly, Patompob Phonarjthan and Derek Gee join us from free agency and we hope they'll develop into useful riders in a few seasons time. They're joined in our talent pool by Jay Vine, who cost us 600k from ELCO - ABEA. We plan to train him into a stage hunter, as well as a key part of our future hills squad.
We also signed our first fully developed riders of the transfer window. Gianni Vermeersch came as part of a swap deal that saw Inigo Elosegui leave (and us bring in 275k). He replaces Rasmus Tiller, who we didn't intend to sell - but swapped for a deal that was too good to turn down in the form of the versatile Mathieu van der Poel.
Then, to facilitate a sale of Louis Meintjes, we ended up bringing in a rider we've long admired in Warren Barguil. At 1.1m we think he may prove to be somewhat of a bargain, despite his advancing years. And then to cap off our business, the deal that saw Ruben Guerreiro depart saw us bring in Nikita Razumov to give us a second strong TTer, after adding 250k into the deal. Xhuliano Kamberaj has also departed, for the sum of 550k.
knockout wrote:
Love it! Finkst has been a rider i have wanted to see signed for long and Davies also was one of the best talents not getting a contract last year. Cool to see them getting opportunities!
Thanks! It's a shame I couldn't make moves happen for them until now, but will hopefully still get two or three useful seasons from them once maxed.
I looked at him so many times, but ran our of room then he got older and I skipped him. Big thumbs up!!
Was surprised he never ended up with one of the Slovenian teams, but worked out well for me in the end!
alexkr00 wrote:
Really jealous of that Dekker signing. Didn't expect him to be that cheap. Quite a steal.
Neither did I - after trying to sign him previously I expected much higher, particularly at 4.99xp. So a nice surprise, and a good leadout for Kemboi going forward.
cio93 wrote:
If Dekker had been one year younger and thus more training-friendly, I might've focused hard on him, gone cobbles and turned him into a new Pedersen with those secondary stats.
Alas, it wasn't meant to be, and yet he indeed is still a great signing! Looks like you want him to stay super cheap with that final level, would be great value.
No idea how you grabbed a Cypriot for 50k either.
Unfortunately I lack the imagination and ability to generate cash needed for that
Cap control is definitely key with my plans, as well as making him the most useful leadout he can be. I'm as shocked about Theorpanous as you are!
SotD wrote:
Theorpanous can be 76MO if you use CLv2 on level 1-2, I think.
I am obviously interested, but he’s only 21 and will take forever to develop, so the next couple of years it’s nothing but expendures for a - let’s be honest - domestique.
But once he get’s closer to fully developped I’ll probably be regretting it
True, but think I prefer the extra HIL and TT. Look forward to your bid in two to three seasons though
Nemolito wrote:
Dekker indeed has some potential! Fun to see that you're giving some older yet very interesting riders a chance.
I figured why not try something different - can't compete for the best "new" talents anyway, and hopefully I found some bargains this way.
After yesterday's announcements which failed to grab any attention - blame that on me posting responses to comments directly below it - today saw another three riders join the team. Firstly, Jhonatan Casillas joined from free agency on a 50k wage. In a similar fashion to Davies and Finkst, he's an older rider with plenty of room for development - and we hope to give him that opportunity.
Then, in a deal that saw Georgios Boutopoulos and Zisis Soulious join ELCO - ABEA, Jake Stewart joined our ranks. A talented hybrid rider, we see him developing into our future leader on the cobbles, as well as a useful part of our leadout train.
Finally, we wrapped up the day's business with the signing of a rider we'd long admired, but never expected to see in our colours - Barnabas Peak. At just 25 he is already one of the best flat powerhouses you'll find, and we think he will be a perfect leadout for Salem Kemboi as well as getting his own opportunities, with an eye to him being our main sprinter in the not too distant future. A wage of 210k may seem a little on the high side, but we're confident it'll be worth it!
Happy to help you finally aquiring Jake Stewart. He is indeed a brilliant fit to your setup. Barnabas Peak too is something else! Would be a fun rider to train in the following years, although it would have been even more potent had he had 80ACC from the gun.
Casillas is - Casillas... Like we discussed it's strange that no one has picked him up before, but I'm happy that someone is finally developping him - albeit for a brief period of time
