@mb2612 - Valverde was after well in excess of 1m - that may have been down to my opening offer of 750k. I offered Gomez Marchante 340k which was more than I wanted to pay him. My guess is he may have accepted between 400-450k.
@alexkr00 - Yes, the best three are leaving, but plenty of cash and budget space to bring in better replacements more suited to the teams goals. I hope.
@SotD - Well, I do have the 1m plus that didn't go on Vavlerde to potentially take a punt on Cunego. I'd like to give him a shot at the Tour. I'm sure I'm not the only one though.....
During contract negotiations my two senior Colombian climbers Julian Rodas and Edwin Parra Bustamante wished to make public their desire to join the long term Cafe de Colombia project.
These two riders are currently contracted with Jayco Red Bull at a fairly competitive wage and I am open to possible negotiations regarding their talent.
I am certainly open to possible talent swap deals or indeed appropriate cash offers.
They are Colombian and keen so we are more than interested in having them join the project.
Representatives of the team will seek you out once the transfer season begins. Do not be alarmed - the approach will be in a spirit of friendship and mutual gain.
Reports claim Danny Summerhill unsettled after being thrown around in transfer rumors and seems open to joining the upstart American Wikipedia project, allowing Cafe de Colombia more firepower to pursue their Colombian targets. Is there any truth to the rumor?
Management have tried to contact Danny Summerhill to assure him he is very much part of the team plans. It appears his phone is switched off and he is not answering his emails. The team conceed Danny would no doubt love to join a team like Wikipedia (or Vesuvio-Accumalux), but it would take a very special deal to let him go. He is the cobbled classics squad and must be considered a potential winner of TONE.
Incidentally, the journalist who broke the story of the possible swap with Rigoberto Uran has still not been seen. Relatives are furious that police are refusing to deal with it as a 'missing persons' case.
The experiment with loan signings was a great success so once again Cafe de Colombia will be throwing open our hands in welcome to CT riders who need PT experience regardless of nationality. All proposals will be considered, so do not hesitate to contact us if you have a rider who fits this profile.
The Spaniard proved himself a good rider in the Continental Tour. The team believe he will improve in the mountains given training at altitude in the off season. He will look to challenge for the podium at the Vuelta a Espana.
The team have agreed to take Sam on loan. He has a good turn of speed and will have the opportunity to prove himself as a rider in the unforgiving Pro Tour this year.
The Venezuelan sprints well but has trouble when the road is bumpy. The team will be pleased with anything Anthony is able to contribute, be that as lead out or sprinter.
Damiano Cunego
Is Damiano the world's best rider? This season he will be given the opportunity to answer the question as he tackles the Tour de France.
Leonardo Duque
He may be ageing and past his best, but Leonardo still has the strength and recovery to compete at his very best late in stage races.
The Frenchman is a very useful chrono man and can climb the mountains. He will be an important helper for Cunego at the Tour de France.
Francisco Perez Sanchez
Like Duque, he is probably past his best but will have an important role to play in both the Tour and Vuelta as a chief leiutenant to Cunego and Abal.
Michael Rogers
Rogers will be looking to pick up stage wins and days at the head of races for the team. He will be vital in the team avoiding relegation and some big performances could push the team closer to a Top 10 position.
Jesus Tendero
Jesus rides well on the flat, is good against the clock and could be the type of rider to pick things up from the breaks for the team.
The start of the Pro Tour in Qatar is edging closing and the team takes great pleasure in announcing that top jersey designer Will007 has updated the team jersey for the coming season.
Team Jersey for 2012 Season
Horacio Gallardo's Bolivian Road Race Champion Jersey
Castañeda took a stage win in Qatar last year and the team would like nothing better than for the leader's jersey to inspire him to at least another stage win this time out.
Castañeda wins Stage 5 of last year's Tour of Qatar.
