Bouygues Telecom 2007: Christophe Moreau stuns France, and the World Part 1: In the Beginning
In 2007, the management game begun, and was run by newly appointed (and now former) UCI head Crommy. This was a time of blatant corruption, inept management and alcoholism, so no change in UCI management there then. In a bizarre and blatant case of conflict of interests, Crommy also became manager of Bouygues Telecom, and was tasked with fulfilling the hopes and dreams of French cycling.
The teams were created oddly at that time. Each team got a bunch of domestiques (no surprise Bouygues were the worst), but the top 100 riders were "drafted" to each team, each team getting 5 riders. In the rider draft, Bouygues scored their first five signings: Ruben Plaza (he lasted a season), Christophe Moreau (also lasted a season), Juan Antonio Flecha (who lasted precisely 2 days with the team), Jose Rujano (hurrah, he managed two whole seasons!) and Fabian Cancellara.
The team then got to "swap" 3 riders, bringing in Bart Wellens, Oscar Solis and Theo Bos, with 3 riders leaving the team. The team also traded Juan Antonio Flecha with Patrik Sinkewitz of Liquigas fame (setzel's team), the squad's first proper transfer!
Part 2: The Racing Coming SoonEdited by Crommy on 24-01-2015 11:56
Top 10's:
-- Fabian Cancellara, Paris - Roubaix, 5th;
-- Christophe Moreau, Giro di Lombardia, 5th;
-- Patrik Sinkewitz, Liege - Bastogne - Liege, 6th;
-- Ruben Plaza, Giro d'Italia, 8th Overall;
-- Patrik Sinkewitz, Milano - Sanremo, 8th;
-- Jose Rujano, Vuelta a Espana, 10th Overall;
2008 (Cycling24 - Honda, ProTour, 16th)
Victories:
-- None;
Podiums:
-- Pierrick Fedrigo, Vuelta al Pais Vasco, 3rd Overall;
Top 10's:
-- Leonardo Piepoli, Giro d'Italia, 4th Overall;
-- Jose Rujano, Vuelta a Espana, 7th Overall;
-- Magnus Backstedt, Paris - Roubaix, 10th;
-- Magnus Backstedt, Ronde van Vlaanderen, 10th;
2009 (Nintendo - Honda, ProTour, 16th)
Victories:
-- Clement Lhotellerie, Monte Paschi Eroica;
-- Koldo Gil, Vuelta a Espana, King of the Mountains;
Podiums:
-- Juan Jose Cobo, Tirreno - Adriatico, 2nd;
Top 10's:
-- Bart Wellens, Tour Down Under, 4th Overall;
-- Koldo Gil, Vuelta Ciclista a Catalunya, 5th Overall;
-- Jairo Agudelo, Criterium du Dauphine Libere, 7th Overall;
-- Koldo Gil, Vuelta a Burgos, 7th Overall;
-- Christophe Brandt, Japan Cup, 8th;
-- Christophe Brandt, La Fleche Wallone, 9th;
-- Koldo Gil, Paris - Nice, 10th Overall;
-- Juan Jose Cobo, La Fleche Wallone, 10th;
-- David de la Fuente, Clasica a San Sebastian, 10th;
-- David de la Fuente, Japan Cup, 10th;
2010 (Unicef Racing Team, ProTour, 14th)
Victories:
-- Fabian Cancellara, Gent - Wevelgem;
Podiums:
-- Jaroslav Popovych, Paris - Nice, 3rd Overall;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Omloop Het Volk, 3rd;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Chrono des Herbiers, 3rd;
Top 10's:
-- Jaroslav Popovych, Liege - Bastogne - Liege, 4th;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Paris - Roubaix, 6th;
-- Jaroslav Popovych, Tour de France, 10th Overall;
-- Juan Jose Cobo, Vuelta a Espana, 10th Overall;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Milano - Sanremo, 10th;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Ronde van Vlaanderen, 10th;
2011 (Carmeuse Cyclisme, ProTour, 14th)
Victories:
-- Fabian Cancellara, Tour of Northern Europe, Overall;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Tour of Northern Europe, Points;
-- Jurgen Roelandts, Vuelta a Espana, Points Classification;
Podiums:
-- Jaroslav Popovych, Tour de France, 3rd;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Omloop Het Nieuwsbald, 3rd;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Strade Bianche, 3rd;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Gent - Wevelgem, 3rd;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Paris - Roubaix, 3rd;
Top 10's:
-- Fabian Cancellara, Ronde van Vlaanderen, 6th;
-- Jaroslav Popovych, Deutschland Tour, 6th Overall;
-- Jurgen Roelandts, Tour of Qatar, 6th Overall;
-- Jaroslav Popovych, Paris - Nice, 6th Overall;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Chrono des Herbiers, 6th;
-- Jaroslav Popovych, Criterium du Dauphine Libere, 8th Overall;
-- Sandy Casar, FBD Eire Tour, 9th Overall;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Tour de Romandie, 10th Overall;
2012 (Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom, ProTour, 17th)
Victories:
-- Oscar Solis, Vuelta a Colombia, King of the Mountains;
Podiums:
-- Fabian Cancellara, Gent - Wevelgem, 3rd;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Ronde van Vlaanderen, 3rd;
-- Fabian Cancellara, Tour of Northern Europe, 3rd;
-- Jurgen Roelandts, GP de Fourmies, 3rd;
Victories:
-- Jurgen Roelandts, Hel van het Mergelland;
-- Rein Taaramae, Kenya Mountain Classic;
-- Rein Taaramae, Sibiu Tour;
-- Guillaume Levarlet, Ster ZLM Tour;
-- Rein Taaramae, Sibiu Tour, Points;
-- Jurgen Roelandts, Tour de Langkawi, Points;
-- Jurgen Roelandts, Tour du Faso, Points;
-- Rein Taaramae, Tour of Vancouver, King of the Mountains;
Podiums:
-- Jurgen Roelandts, GP of Moscow, 2nd;
-- Rein Taaramae, GP Sudkarnten, 2nd;
-- Guillaume Levarlet, Int. Osterreich Rundfahrt, 2nd;
-- Jurgen Roelandts, Paris - Tours, 2nd;
-- Rein Taaramae, Tour of Hellas, 2nd;
-- Rein Taaramae, Tour of Vancouver, 2nd;
-- Rein Taaramae, Corsica International, 3rd;
-- Tony Martin/Hugues Mottin, Duo Differdange, 3rd;
-- Jurgen Roelandts, Tour du Faso, 3rd;
Victories:
-- Jan Bakelants, Liege Bastogne Liege;
-- Rein Taaramae, Criterium du Dauphine Libere;
-- Julien El Fares, Vuelta al Pais Vasco, Mountains;
-- Tony Martin, Paris - Nice, Mountains
-- Rein Taaramae, Paris - Nice, Points
-- Rein Taaramae, Criterium du Dauphine Libere, Points
Podiums:
-- Jan Bakelants, Badaling International, 2nd;
-- Rein Taaramae, Paris - Nice, 2nd;
Top 10's:
-- Jan Bakelants, Tirreno Adriatico, 4th;
-- Jurgen Roelandts, Lisbon Classic, 4th;
-- Jan Bakelants, Amstel Gold Race, 6th;
-- Rein Taaramae, Tour de France, 6th;
-- Jan Bakelants. Giro di Lombardia, 6th;
-- Rein Taaramae, Vuelta al Pais Vasco, 7th;
-- Rein Taaramae, Tour of Tasmania, 9th;
-- Morgan Kneiskey, Praha - Karlovy Vary - Praha, 10th;
Edited by Crommy on 01-11-2015 11:30
In a statement released a couple of weeks ago, but only recently discovered because no journalist worthy of the title journalist cares in the slightest about manager Crommy and his continuing alcohol problems, the cycling world was shocked to discover that manager Crommy had not only somehow managed to keep the squad going, but had managed to retain Carmeuse as a sponsor. Not only that, but he'd (editor - surely it, not he) managed to resurrect 2007 sponsor Bouygues Telecom as a co-sponsor.
This was a huge surprise given the 2011 season had been the same as last season: full of pisspoor results, pisspoor management and a suspicious spike in crimes in the surrounding area wherever the team was.
Carmeuse and Bouygues Telecom released a joint statement stating their delight at sponsoring the team again, their complete admiration for the team's glorious leader, Crommy, and their wish that Crommy would return their families unharmed and as soon as possible.
Threats have been made. Families have been kidnapped. A million new ways have been discovered to torture someone with a soft cushion. Yes, Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom have completed their contract renewals.
The renewals were on the whole successful, with only Christophe Brandt being let go and is now free to pursue a life of religious fulfilment. Brandt stated, "It's great to finally have seen my kidnapping through. Now I just hope that tyrant Crommy can be brought to justice". Moving swiftly on.
We can divide the team up into 3 categories. Loyal comrades who will not be leaving, and will continue to see through the glorious uprising of the proletariat. We then have riders who are available for loan, who will attempt to spread the word of our noble quest to other teams. Finally, we have non-conformists, who will be leaving the team/sent to a mental correction facility.
Core Squad
Any offer these riders is likely to be rejected unless it's very attractive (i.e. Jan Bakelants)
Name
Age
Nationality
Speciality
Wage
Seasons with Team
Fabian Cancellara
31
Cobbles/TT
€875,000
3 (2007, 2010-11)
Jurgen Roelandts
27
Sprinter
€400,000
2 (2010-11)
Wouter Weylandt
28
Sprinter
€80,000
1 (2011)
Steven Caethoven
31
Sprinter
€82,750
1 (2011)
Oscar Solis
27
Climber
€85,000
5 (2007-11)
Pieter Jacobs
26
Cobbles
€53,000
2 (2010-11)
Alexandre Aulas
26
Sprinter/Cobbles
€60,000
1 (2011)
Clement Lhotellerie
26
Cobbles
€55,000
4 (2008-11)
Jaime Suaza
26
Stage Races
€50,500
4 (2008-11)
Remy Di Gregorio
27
Climber
€90,000
1 (2011)
Morgan Kneisky
25
Time Trial
€90,000
1 (2011)
Tony Gallopin
24
Sprinter
€50,000
1 (2011)
Theo Bos
29
Coming Last
€50,000
5 (2007-11)
Jean-Francois Camier
25
Climber
€50,000
1 (2011)
Julien El Fares
27
Hills
€50,000
1 (2011-loaned out)
Listed for Loan
Only Continental Team bids will be accepted. Only requirement to take a rider on loan is to pay their salary, so if this condition is met, it will be a first come first served policy.
Name
Age
Nationality
Speciality
Wage
Seasons with Team
Joeri Adams
23
Hills
€50,000
1 (2011)
Willem Van Den Eynde
22
All-Rounder
€50,000
1 (2011)
Jens Debusschere
23
Hills
€50,000
1 (2011)
Dries Beatse
22
Hills
€50,000
1 (2011)
Transfer Listed
Name
Nationality
Wage
Offer Wanted
Jaroslav Popovych
€680,000
Trade
Sandy Casar
€160,000
Trade/Money
Aurelien Clerc
€55,000
Trade/Money
Gorik Gardeyn
€50,000
Trade/Money
Kevin Ista
€50,000
Trade/Money
Any questions, comments or bribes (especially in the form of Jan Bakelants) are appreciated Edited by Crommy on 12-06-2011 12:26
Interesting fact that Yaroslav Popovych is almost 100.000 more expensive than Alberto Contador... If he was cheaper I could be interested in him. I could be interested in Aurelien Clerc though.
Team BPost would like to register interest in taking on Willem Van Den Eynde for the next season, as he fits in well with the young and agressive spirit that the team embodies. Would there be any other requirements that you would need for this loan?
We also wish to inquire as to what the asking price for Sandy Casar is likely to be.
CountArach wrote:
Team BPost would like to register interest in taking on Willem Van Den Eynde for the next season, as he fits in well with the young and agressive spirit that the team embodies. Would there be any other requirements that you would need for this loan?
Simply pay his wage, and at least give him a reasonable number of days racing
We also wish to inquire as to what the asking price for Sandy Casar is likely to be.
Today, The Sun says they have sources on Suaza leaving the team, despite being listed as a part of the "core squad" of Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom. It also says that Aker Solutions - Bergans, the norwegian contintental team, has Suaza as a high priority.
The inside source of The Sun says that Carmeuse's team manager want to get rid of all the climbers in the team, to free money for Bakelandts, or any other puncheur.
Is there any truth in The Suns rumours (which there usually is not) on Suaza?
Squad:
31. J. Roelandts
32. A. Aulas
33. S. Caethoven
34. T. Gallopin
35. M. Kneisky
36. K. Peeters
37. S. Vandousselaere
38. W. Weylandt
The opening of the ProTour saw a first outing for the new team, and a first (but by no means last) disappointment. Jurgen Roelandts came as the team leader, and despite some extremely good lead-out trains, to often failed to convert a final sprint into a win.
Squad:
171. J. Suaza
172. A. Aulas
173. B. Curfs
174. P. Jacobs
175. M. Kneisky
176. J. Libert
177. J. Roelandts
178. S. Vandousselaere
The team approached the Tour of Oman with Jurgen Roelandts a heavy favourite for the sprint stages. After his disappointment in Qatar, the team was looking for Jurgen to dominate a weak sprint field. Apart from one exception, he disappointed, failing to come away with the points jersey which he was more than capable of winning. Jaime Suaza's 15th place was a very good result from him.
