The norwegian billionaire founds a norwegian cycling team!
It is with pleasure we can announce that Aker Solutions Chairman, Kjell Inge Røkke, came to an agreement with Ember today. Ember has talked several times to Røkke on the idea of founding an international cycling team, based in Norway. Today they finally found common ground, and the billionaire has promised Ember to support his project 100%, he also added that money won't be a problem for Ember. Røkke stated that this is a great opportunity to promote his buisness worldwide, and he hopes to be part of a fairytale in norwegian cycling, therefore Aker Solutions will be main sponsor of Ember's team the next 3 years.
Ember also revealed what Aker Solutions - Bergans' jersey will look like in the coming season. And the design of the jersey stunned those who were present. The great jerseymaker ANFreeman managed to produce an unique jersey, which will be easy to spot in the peloton. Aker Solutions - Bergans appreciates ANFreeman's great effort, and we will use the jersey with pride in the races we participate in.
Bergans will be the teams secondary sponsor. Their director, Mr. Jensen, didn't need to think long when he was asked to join the team when he heard Røkke was in. Bergans produces winter clothes of high quality, but also equipment for outdoor activities in general. They celebrated their 100 years of existence in 2008, and they are stronger then ever. They hope to get promoted in Europe through Aker Solutions - Bergans' performances on the bikes.
The last sponsor is the norwegian milkcompany TINE, who serves milk to norwegians. They hope they will get an advantage over the other big milkcompany in norway, Q-Melk, with sponsoring Aker Solutions - Bergans. And of course, the norwegians in our team will drink milk from TINE, milk of finest quality.
Bianchi will provide Aker Solutions - Bergans with bikes, the Italian company believe in Ember, and they hope this deal is their final breakthrough on the market in Scandinavia. The manager of Team Bianchi, Rin, has also accepted that Aker Solutions - Bergans will ride the Bianchi bikes.
That was all for now, Aker Solutions - Bergans wishes all participants of the cycling season 2012 good luck!
Edited by ember on 24-03-2011 09:16
Finish in the top 5 in the overall team standing Finish in the top 5 in Corsica International Win Tour de Slovenie Win Brixia Tour Finish in the top 5 in Transfagarasan GP
Races Aker Solutions - Bergans wants to perform in as well:
GP of Wales
Tour of America
Giro dell'Emilia
Tour de San Luis
Tour of Taiwan
-----------------------------------------------Edited by ember on 12-06-2012 17:56
Wilmer Vasquez
Stage 3, Vuelta a Guatemala Jaume Rovira
Stage 2, Giro del Capo Gustav Larsson
Isle of Man TT
Stage 10, Volta a Portugal Jairo Agudelo
Mountain jersey, Tour of Slovenie Lars Petter Nordhaug
Stage 2, Vuelta a Burgos
Edited by ember on 30-09-2012 15:10
After the presentation of Aker Solutions - Bergans there where time for questions, interviews, and more. We will bring you the interview done by the norwegian TVchannel TV2, which has been the channel to broadcast Tour de France to Norway for several years now.
Congratulations on finding the money needed for a professional norwegian cycling team, what's the long-term goal for the team? Our main goal is, very ambitous, to be part of the ProTour within the next 4 years. Kjell Inge Røkke has guaranteed me the money needed, there's simply no excuse. As a part of our project we want to make cycling even more popular in Norway.
You've been guaranteed the necessary money, but how will you build your team? Kjell Inge Røkke is an international buisnessman, he understands very well that we need riders from all over the world to make success. However, we are proud to be norwegians, therefore we will base our squad on riders understanding norwegian (norwegians, swedes and danes). Unfortunately there's not an overflow of Scandinavian qualityriders, so we won't hesitate signing a great or promising rider from other countries.
Both Telenor and SAS tried their luck in cycling last year, sponsoring the norwegian team "Team Telenor-SAS" last year, what makes you think that Aker Solutions and Bergans will keep their deals, and sponsor you the next 3 years? Aker Solutions has signed on a 3 years contract, they simply have to sponsor us the next 3 years, and they are also happy to it. They have faith in our project. Bergans hasn't signed for 3 years, they will sponsor us the coming season, when the season is done we will negotiate the coming years.
As mentioned, Team Telenor-SAS was a norwegian team in the continental tour last year, their team has changed name to Volkswagen-Siemens, but still contains lots of Scandinavian riders, will you try to negotiate with some of their riders? Volkswagen-Siemens has a lot of Scandinavian riders in their squad. I'm not sure what their team manager, Heine, thinks about their situation. And I will definately talk to him, as a fellow norwegians we surely has much to talk about. It would be strange if I wasn't interested in some of his Scandinavian riders, but as said, I hope that we can talk together. He has also been into cycling longer than me, hopefully he can learn me a trick or two over a lunch or something.
Are there specific rider types you will target in the transfer season? There definately is, but I won't comment too much on that though. Hopefully we can have a team built on offensive riders, but I won't mind adding a mountain goat to our roster.
Aker Solutions - Bergans is delighted to be well received by other teams.
In a short press release Ember said he was delighted to hear the response from other team managers. He continued saying he is looking forward to the season, and he hopes the good dialogue with other teams can continue, especially when the transfer season comes, as he is new in the game, and needs all the tips he can get from other team managers.
Edited by ember on 26-03-2011 15:54
Aker Solutions - Bergans aims for the Scandinavians.
On todays press conference, Ember shared a few thoughts on the upcoming transfer season. He opened the press conference announcing his own vacation, from Sunday to Friday, he didn't say where he was going, but rumours are saying he will be joined by a couple of riders, aiming to dope potential Aker Solutions - Bergans riders to a new level.
On a more serious note though, there were lots of interesting stuff on todays press conference.
Ember surprised many of the journalists, opening the press conference saying that Guldhammer is a potential target for Aker Solutions - Bergans. According to the rumour, Guldhammer is promised a leader role in Aker Solutions - Bergans if he joins. However, his great manager A_Schleck has already stated that he has no intention of letting Guldhammer leave the team. If that's the case, Ember hopes to loan Guldhammer.
Another Team B&O rider, and another rider Ember showed interest in, was Sten Stenersen. Ember stated that Stenersen was one of the most talented norwegians in the peloton, and he hoped A_Schleck at least wants to negotiate Stenersen's future. Ember and Stenersen already knows each other, through a training camp a couple of years ago, when they both aimed for success in Joker Bianchi. But where Ember failed to convince Jokers manager, Oudenhove, Stenersen succeded. That turned out to be a smart decision from Oudenhove, and Ember hopes he can exploit the rider that Oudenhove once started to develop.
Ole Haavardsholm was the last name Ember mentioned on todays press conference. Ember and Haavardsholm are from the same county in Norway, and they've been training a lot together. On one of many of their common trainings, Ember mentioned a possible transfer for Haavardsholm. Ole was tempted, especially because his future in Volkswagen-Siemens is unclear, as their famous manager, Heine, hasn't told him his position in Volkswagen-Siemens the next season. Heine has however stated their focus will be on riders from Central Europe in the upcoming transfer season. Therefore, Haavardsholm will strongly consider a possible transfer to Aker Solutions - Bergans, where he's been promised to be focused on.
Edited by ember on 31-03-2011 09:31
Aker Solutions - Bergans reveals their goals for the 2012 season.
Today, Ember finally spoke out about Aker Solutions - Bergans goals for the coming season. They were indeed very interesting, and the goals suggests that there will be a lot of climbers in the team. Ember has been through tough negotiations with Kjell Inge Røkke, but they found common ground in the end. That resulted in some very ambitious goals, in fact, they are so ambitious that Røkke most likely will hand one of the biggest budget of the new teams on the Continental Tour to Aker Solutions - Bergans.
-----------------------------------------------
Goals 2012:
Finish in the top 5 in the overall team standing
Finish in the top 5 in Corsica International
Win Tour de Slovenie
Win Brixia Tour
Finish in top 5 in Transfagarasan GP
Races Aker Solutions - Bergans wants to perform in as well:
GP of Wales
Tour of America
Giro dell'Emilia
Tour de San Luis
Tour of Taiwan
-----------------------------------------------
The goals are indeed very hard, but Røkke, who is used to gamble, said there is no point in racing for fun. If we race, we want to race good. When that was said, Ember immediately responded that the team can't be a team for Scandinavian riders only, and Røkke agreed fully. Røkke also informed Ember that his private planes and boats will be available for Aker Solutions - Bergans, so the geographical placing of races doesn't matter.
Ember stated that top 5 in Corsica International should be doable; "We hope to bring some quality climbers to our team, then I mean real quality, therefore we also have ambitious goals, which hopefully shall suit the climber(s) we can obtain. If we get a quality climber to our squad, this goal is probably the easiest to achieve, that says it all, because top 5 in a HC race will never be easy."
"To win Tour of Slovenie is also a goal which is designed for a climber. To win the race will be hard, anything can happen on 4 days of racing, if a crash or puncture strikes, our dream will just be a dream, but hopefully we will have the necessary luck, and be up in the mix for the overall win in Tour of Slovenie."
"Brixia Tour is a similar race to Tour of Slovenie, if we are able to win of them, we should also be capable to win the other one, at least we hope so."
"Finishing top 5 in Transfagarasan GP will also be hard, a one-day race is never easy, the racing is always hard."
"How the team will be composed is still a questionmark, but judging by the goals we've made, it's obvious we need climbers. Not only climbers, but we need qualityclimbers, their nationality won't matter, the quality does."
Edited by ember on 01-04-2011 16:46
The biggest budget of CT is only partially true though. Of the new teams, probably yes. The old teams (most) will have a bigger budget though, even if their goals will be easier.
Edited by Kami on 01-04-2011 16:38
Aker Solutions - Bergans surprised the norwegians, where was Rogaland GP?
It didn't take many hours from Ember's controversial press conference, where he unveiled the teams goals for the upcoming season, to the point where all norwegian medias wanted a piece of him, asking him critical questions. How could he not mention Rogaland GP? Ember didn't even mention Rogaland GP on his last press conference, the only norwegian continental race. Many norwegian fans states that he should be shamed. However, they all calmed down after another press conference from Ember, just a couple of minutes ago, where Ember extinguished the fire he made earlier today. Below follows quotes from the latest press conference.
I understand your anger very well; being the only professional cycling team from Norway, we should obviously have high expectations for the only professional cycling race in Norway. However, if we are going to establish us on the Continental Tour, we have to create results all the way through. Rogaland GP is kind of a bingo race, where absolutely everything can happen, and we will most likely not have a sprinter capable of taking Rogaland GP on the line, nor the fighter who can win a flat race from a breakaway. I also need to face the reality; being honest with you, there are only two norwegian riders in the peloton who are top class on the flats; Hagen and Hushovd. We won't have the economy to get them riding for Aker Solutions - Bergans in the 2012 season, therefore the chances of creating a norwegian winner, from Aker Solutions - Bergans, of Rogaland GP is minimal. Therefore I'm simply facing the facts, and taking the consequences of the facts, meaning we won't focus on flat races, including Rogaland GP.
I hope to create a team which can deliver solid efforts in the mountains. That means we will focus our transfer season on mountain goats, I've already mentioned Guldhammer and Haavardsholm, all I can say is that I'm hoping to bring in a couple of climbers who are even more talented than them. We are looking southwest, and we might give the South American market a shot. I won't comment any rumours, nor any names today, but there might be a surprise for you tomorrow.
Ember left the room to standing ovations from those who showed up on his press conference. There was even a lot of positive yelling: "Finally a man who has understood that success isn't based on nationality." No doubt the norwegian people were excited of Røkke and Ember's project, and no doubt Ember smiled on his way out, crossing his fingers for his targets for the transfer season to join Aker Solutions - Bergans.
Ember held what he promised yesterday, another press conference today, and it contained a couple of revelations. Ember did state that Jose Alarcon will, with no doubt, be target #1 for Aker Solutions - Bergans in the upcoming transfer season. Ember statet that "the venezuelan is one of the best climbers in the world, he is simply top class, and he is capable to leave anyone behind him on the high mountains." Alarcon finishing on the podium in Urkiola Igoera.
Ember is aware there will be massive bidding for Alarcon's signature, but he says that Aker Solutions - Bergans main goal this transfer season is to bring Alarcon to the team, and give him the role as a sole leader. Ember has already talked to Alarcon about the next season, through telephones, and the conversations has been going good, in fact they've been so good that Ember will travel to Venezuela tomorrow, and he won't be back before Friday next week. He simply means Alarcon's signature is worth 5 days in the high mountains in Venezuela.
There will surely be lots of ProTour teams interested in Alarcon, Cafe de Colombia is likely to have an interest in Alarcon's signature, as they are a South American team. Also, a lot of other teams, both with or without climbers, may take part in the fight for Alarcon's signature. Ember's Ace, which Alarcon has told him he is tempted of, is that Alarcon is a guaranteed captain of Aker Solutions - Bergans, and the whole team will be built around Alarcon, both for the upcoming season, to not mention the seasons after the 2012season.
We haven't managed to get a comment from Alarcon today, however, it is reasonable to think he is tempted of the idea to join Aker Solutions - Bergans. They've got goals that looks designed for him, he has actually won a stage in a previous year in Tour de Slovenie, and the norwegian press thinks he would love to do it again. Alarcon winning the queen stage of Tour de Slovenie.
Furthermore, Ember stated that he has problems understanding other team managers transfer tactics. Ember wants to play with open cards, therefore he has announced Alarcon as Aker Solutions - Bergans priority #1 for the upcoming season, as he said; "keeping secrets in cycling doesn't work, those who has tried has failed. Therefore we will play it fair, both on the roads and outside, we won't have any secrets, Alarcon is our main target for the season."
Kami wrote:
Mountainous goals + South America = Alarcon?
You were spot on
Though, it will be tough to get his signature, at least I can hope
He'll be highly contested, but he's a great addition to any team, be it CT or PT due to his high amount of race days. You'll need a top climber though to achieve those goals and of the available climbers next year, he looks to be the best and most likely choice.
Ember has finally turned home from his vacation in the South American mountains, though, it was more than a vacation, rumours says he has been talking a lot with possible targets for the transfer season.
Ember gave a short press conference earlier this morning, below are some of the highlights from the press conference.
I'm pleased to say my vacation was great, there was a lot of sun, and the experience was great. At the top of it, I also managed to meet several of the riders our team, Aker Solutions - Bergans might target in the transfer season.
Obviously, I had a meeting with Alarcon, I've already stated that he is our prime goal of the transfer season. We talked about everything, and found the possibility of moving to Norway exciting, however, if he signs, he demanded to bring a couple of his fellow venezuelan girls with him. He also demanded to live his entire "norwegian life" in the Grand Suite, the same suite Obama used when he received Nobels Peace Prize in 2009. Fair enough, but first he has to sign
Alarcon wasn't the only rider I met in South America. I also talked to the colombian climber, Jaime Suaza, riding for Crommy's team. He said he would consider a possible transfer to our team, however, he wanted to be loyal to Crommy, and therefore talk to him first. I met another colombian, Jairo Agudelo (former La Gazzetta dello Sport), he was unsure what to do next season, as his team won't continue. If he was to join Aker Solutions - Bergans, he wanted to be something more than a helper, I couldn't promise him that, but I promised him a team where he would get his opportunities to ride for wins. But obviously, he wanted to wait before he decided where to ride next season, he hoped that other teams will show interest in him the upcoming weeks.
It was surprising to meet the former Sport Lisboa e Benfica duo, Nazaret and Marquez, in Brazil. They had a common vacation in Nazaret's home country. They were unsure what to do next season, a norwegian team wasn't very tempting for any of them, but Nazaret said he would consider it if I could bring in more brazilian blood to our roster. That is unlikely though, so we will probably not make a move on the former Benfica duo.
When I finally made it back to Norway and my house, I found Jonas Bjelkmark knocking on my door. I invited him inside, and he expressed his joy of another Scandinavian Continental Team, and he said he wanted to ride for our team. I answered him that I will be very glad to see him in our blue, white and orange colours, but I couldn't promise him anyting this early.
