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Changing Al Jazeera's Image - PCM 2010 Story
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 21-07-2012 22:40
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Squire wrote:
You write well. Exciting idea for a story, but I'm eager to see some racing soon 
Don't worry, next update will be the next group of riders announced.
Including One MASSIVE signing for reasons both on and off the bike.
EDIT: However, another reason I left out is that I am working as a reporter at the Olympics for the next couple of weeks and it means I can build up to attempt to start the actual racing after I finish. Meaning I can write a rider signing/speculation piece in 20-30 mins after a hard day's work as opposed to having to do a race report which takes just as long yet involves nigh-on an hour of playing the stage beforehand.
Edited by Welwyn on 21-07-2012 23:03
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 22-07-2012 22:00
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Neo-Pro
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1st December
Team CEO, STEVE MOORE: "Thanks for joining us for what is a very important day for us, as we will be announcing one of the main posterboys for our teams opening year. However, first we have two more riders to announce...Scott."
SCOTT SUNDERLAND: "Thanks Steve. As much as he is giving this the big hype, I don't think it would be right to overlook these next two signings either. First up is 23-year old Russian Time-Trial Champion, Artem Ovechkin."
SUNDERLAND: "Ovechkin came pretty much out of nowhere to win the National Time-Trial Championships this year. Yet, while the move from Lokomotiv is a big step up for him, we believe he has proven his credentials in that Time-Trial win. As a result of his unheralded background, we also believe that despite already being 23, he can learn a huge amount in terms of race tactics by making the step up."
"Meanwhile, our second signing today has everything that our team lacks up until now and that is age and experience. May I introduce to you, the 2008 Great British National Road Race Champion, Rob Hayles."
SUNDERLAND: "Hayles may be more famous for his exploits on the track but he has always mixed his road and track careers well, as proven when he won the 2008 British title ahead of the likes of Mark Cavendish and David Millar. At 36, Hayles knows that his time left in the saddle is short but he will be able to help coach our younger, more talented cyclists while out racing in a way that coaches just can't."
MOORE: "Thanks Scott. Now, we appreciate that to winning on the flat will be important for us if we are to have any success in our home tour. Therefore, we need a sprinter, a goal-getter if you would. However, sometimes a possibility opens up that is about a lot than just the mechanics of bike riding. "
"We believe this guy can not only win bike races, but in doing so, do for the perception of Cycling what Tiger Woods did for Golf, or the Williams sisters did for Tennis. Can I introduce you to the Al-Jazeera-Gulf Air 'goal-getter', Olympic silver medallist and the 5- time and reigning double World Champion Track Sprinter, France's Grégory Baugé."
SUNDERLAND: "Some of you may see this as a publicity stunt, something for the sponsors image. 'How can a 24-year old Track Sprinter go out of that arena and move to the road.' or 'That is an impossible leap to make, it's never been done before.' While we admit that even the likes of Mark Cavendish came out of more endurance events on the track, I have two words for you all. Theo Bos,"
"If Bos can do it, so can Bauge, and to a greater degree as well. Our guy is more powerful than Bos, he has proven that on the track, he has a greater sprint instinct and with time may well be better suited to the road than Bos."
"Time will show us whether we are right or wrong. But if he comes to us with the willingness and understanding to learn that he proved to us in contract talks, we have a absolute exocet in our team."
Edited by Welwyn on 22-07-2012 22:07
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 22-07-2012 23:08
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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Nice to see that you have signed Rob Hayles, very strong rider indeed  |
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 01:28
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 23-07-2012 08:51
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 375
Joined: 16-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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5th December 2009
LANDIS PLEAS FOR TEAM PLACE
Doping cheat Landis is desperate for one last contract
2006 Tour de France winner, Floyd Landis, overshadowed proceedings for the new Al-Jazeera-Gulf Air team by announcing on Pennsylvania television that he would love to rider for the Middle-East start-up squad.
Disgraced Landis, who had his title taken away when he tested positive during the tour, still maintains his innocence but served a two and a half year ban as a result, missing the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
2009 saw Landis come back to ride for American team, OUCH, but with little success, with his best finish being 23rd in the Tour of California.
His plea to the team, who are based in Qatar, overshadowed their earlier announcement that they had secured two more riders for their squad.
Those riders are Tunisian, Rafaa Chitioui who moves across the city from the Doha Team and Malaysian 19-year old, Muhammad Othman, who will sign his first pro contract with the team and likely form part of their leadout train.
Edited by Welwyn on 23-07-2012 11:19
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 23-07-2012 11:50
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 375
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PCM$: 200.00
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7th December 2009
A MEETING ROOM IN AL JAZEERA-GULF AIR HQ IN DOHA
Present:Director Sportif, Scott Sunderland; Unnamed Chief Financial Backer; Team CEO, Steve Moore.
BACKER: "We have to sign him, it's a big name it will keep us in the world press all year and not only that, he is a third of the price of this unnproven Slovakian you want that nobody knows for sure will come off."
SUNDERLAND: "He has at least four times as more chance of winning a race this year than Landis. Trust me, if Landis wins a single race ever again, I will resign on the spot."
MOORE: "He has a point, Landis looks past it and out of shape, plus, is the Landis situation really the P.R. we want?"
BACKER: "We just don't have the funds that the press think we have Sunderland, we are not that stupid. We simply can't afford this unnamed Slovakian when we already have a sprinter. Well not if you want both these young Frenchman, Sergey Lagutin and the fact you want to try and find a bigger name time-trialist than the one we already have. Landis keeps us in the Press this year and allows the rest of those things to happen."
SUNDERLAND: "Ok, we can drop Lagutin, I'm not 100% sold on him anyway. I can live with just one of the two Frenchman too. However, I really need Sagan and I demand not to have Landis because he will simply win nothing and offer nothing but discord."
MOORE: "Right I understand both sides here. However, if you are willing to give up on signing Sagan, I have one name who may have enough impact on both sides to be more than acceptable and win several races this year. Besides, if you agree we have no need to tell Liquigas and we can get something in return, using Sagan as a bargaining chip. He may even give you the freedom to bring in a better American with more potential than Bjorn Selander."
BACKER: "Let's see this name then."
*MOORE slides piece of paper across the table as there is a knock on the door*
MOORE: "Come on in."
*Intern enters the room*
INTERN: "Good news, we have officially signed the Team Sky target we wanted to beat them too. We can unveil him tomorrow."
SUNDERLAND: "Great!"
MOORE: "So guys?" |
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| markene2 |
Posted on 23-07-2012 14:53
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Domestique
Posts: 419
Joined: 22-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great writing, it makes the story a good read, and fun to follow. Looking forward to the next update
Venga Vino
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 23-07-2012 18:41
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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When is the racing going to start |
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| markene2 |
Posted on 23-07-2012 19:37
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Domestique
Posts: 419
Joined: 22-06-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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sutty68 wrote:
When is the racing going to start
Forget about the racing right now , this writing is superb, it makes it unique, I want to see what happens with Landis also. And the track riders you signed will make this more interesting to follow.
Venga Vino
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| cuddlycroc |
Posted on 23-07-2012 19:45
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Amateur
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This is damn good |
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 24-07-2012 00:58
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 375
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Any predictions as to who the rider on Moore's slip of paper is?
sutty68 wrote:
When is the racing going to start
I'll try and start at some point during my Olympics downtime. Do have to say after tonight though that the Opening Ceremony will be awesome! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 24-07-2012 14:27
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Can't wait to see how Sir Chris Hoy performs on the road |
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 24-07-2012 15:08
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sutty68 wrote:
Can't wait to see how Sir Chris Hoy performs on the road
Who said I was signing him The Sun get something right about once a year lol |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 24-07-2012 15:12
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Welwyn wrote:
sutty68 wrote:
Can't wait to see how Sir Chris Hoy performs on the road
Who said I was signing him The Sun get something right about once a year lol
Damn , I was really looking forward to seeing that happen  |
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 24-07-2012 15:58
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 375
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sutty68 wrote:
Welwyn wrote:
sutty68 wrote:
Can't wait to see how Sir Chris Hoy performs on the road
Who said I was signing him The Sun get something right about once a year lol
Damn , I was really looking forward to seeing that happen
They haven't been right even the once yet though |
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 24-07-2012 18:11
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Posts: 375
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9th December 2009
AL-JAZEERA-GULF AIR CHASE BIG NAME LEADER
The new continental Qatari-based squad of Al-Jazeera-Gulf Air are chasing a big name signing, Cyclingnews.com understands. We have some ideas as to whom that signing will be and here are the 10 most likely candidates.
Juan Antonio Flecha
We start with the man who is likely the most expensive on this list. 'Van der Flecha' would give the entire team an identity outside of their home tour. Not only will they be able to plan their season around excelling the Northern Classics but the signing of probably the best-loved foreign cyclist in the Flanders region would guarantee wild-card places in most of the biggest events that suit the 32-year old Spaniard. It is also well known that Al-Jazeera are chasing Team Sky targets and he would not be the number one at Sky who want to win the big Tour's.
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Everyone knows that the Swedish former Mountain-biker is tremendously talented. But plenty thought he was better on staying with mountain-bikes rather than coming to the road. That changed when he finished 9th in the Tour of Romandie with his Fuji-Servetto team. That has created an off-season buzz that has seen Pro Tour interest with Garmin-Transitions rumoured to have put in a firm offer. A sideways move to be team leader at the same level might be preferable to 29-year old than a Domestique at the Pro level to the likes of Bradley Wiggins, Ryder Hesjedal, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie.
Michele Scarponi
Scarponi may be perfect on the face of it. Not only is he a winner of Tirreno-Adriatico and 2 stages of the Giro d-Italia this year, but due to his doping past, is still at a continental team while doing so. The biggest problem, other than bad P.R., in signing the Italian is that he still has a year on his contract and Scarponi may prefer to wait it out for Pro Tour offers then as opposed to committing long-term to a team may not get onto the Pro Tour for several years.
Nicholas Roche
Roche was only 144th in the UCI rankings last year but it is almost a case of who is father is than who he is that makes him a possibly marquee team captain for the side. It may be a good move for Roche too as the 13th in the 2008 Vuelta and 22nd in this years Tour de France show ability but he seems to have stagnated at that level as a rider. A return to smaller races and the added responsibility he would have as bona fide team leader might just add a maturity and confidence back into his riding that might kick him up to the top level.
Jens Voigt
One of the most likeable men in any peloton, big Jens has openly been worried about where he stands with his Saxo Bank team in recent weeks. The 38-year old still believes he has several years riding in him, something which his three-year domination of the Criterium International shows, and wants an extension beyond 2010. However, with the Schleck and Haedo brothers, Spartacus, Matti Breschel and the much publicised chase of the talented and young Richie Porte, Voigt may well wonder whether he is the odd man out and look to regenerate the backend of his career in a new venture.
Richie Porte
Of course, the concerns that Voigt has about Saxo Bank will be the same ones that the Tasmanian has. The 24-year old has been tipped as a possible Grand Tour winner in Australia but with the power in the Saxo Bank team, he may consider taking the smaller step of going from Amateur racing to leading a continental team as opposed to potentially getting lost as a domestique for the likes of the Schlecks.
Laurens Ten Dam
Climbing specialist Ten Dam has been a loyal servant to the Rabobank team cause throughout the last two years, but his Mountains jersey at the Tour of Romandie may well make this his one and only chance to try to become a team leader at a decent level.
Juan Jose Cobo
Another former Fuji-Servetto rider, the stage win and 10th place in GC at the Vuelta has made Cobo a marketable commodity. Caisse d'Epargne is his likely destination but with Luis Leon Sanchez and Alejandro Valverde already there, the chance of being team leader at a Grand Tour would be unlikely. A move to Al-Jazeera may see him unable to race in the Grand Tours at all.
Michael Albasini
The HTC-Columbia rider impressed in his first season with the team, winning the Tour of Austria and 9th in the La Fleche Wallonne. However the Swiss rider, who is 30 this month, may feel he has hit a glass ceiling at a team that will always obsess itself with sprinting.
And Finally...
Floyd Landis
The biggest name on the list may well be the cheapest to boot with his outspokenness and his desperation to return to a decent level of signing. It may be the one with the most risk too. Nobody knows what sort of shape, form or fitness that Landis is in or even can ever get back into. How serious he would be about the venture is another concern. But, for all that, he is a sponsor's dream, a Tour de France winner, albeit a disgraced one and the team that decided to sign him would never be out the media. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 24-07-2012 19:07
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Welwyn wrote:
sutty68 wrote:
Welwyn wrote:
sutty68 wrote:
Can't wait to see how Sir Chris Hoy performs on the road
Who said I was signing him The Sun get something right about once a year lol
Damn , I was really looking forward to seeing that happen
They haven't been right even the once yet though
There is always a first time |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 24-07-2012 19:08
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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The ten riders on the wanted list will make the team totally awesome |
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 24-07-2012 21:50
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 375
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I've already decided which one I want/most realistic/is right for team but writing that article make me double think myself! |
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 24-07-2012 22:23
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 375
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Just updated the first post for people to keep track of our confirmed rider roster as the story progress. |
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| Welwyn |
Posted on 25-07-2012 21:44
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Neo-Pro
Posts: 375
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10th December 2009
BRADLEY WIGGINS SIGNS FOR SKY
Three-Time Olympic Gold Medal winner, Bradley Wiggins finally signed for Team Sky from Garmin-Transitions after a protracted negotiation period.
Sky were desperate to sign Wiggins, who finished fourth in the Tour de France, to be team leader of the new British team. Something that was all the more vital after the other prospective team-leader, Mark Cavendish re-signed with American team HTC-Columbia.
The prospect of setting up a new British Professional Road Cycling Team without either of the two British Road stars would have been unthinkably embarrassing for David Brailsford and all at Team Sky.
However, while Cavendish's fellow Manx-man, Peter Kennaugh chose today to also signal that he has signed elsewhere than Sky, in his case with Al-Jazeera-Gulf Air, the signing of Wiggins turned it into a very good day for all connected with the team.
Millar contract voided by Garmin
Wiggins was not the only Brit to leave Garmin today though. David Millar, who has been very vocal about how it would be 'a dream to be involved in a British team' and made several overtures to Team Sky about his want to join the squad, was relieved of his responsibilities at Garmin.
A spokesman for Garmin said:
"We felt recent statements made by Millar about his future are completely unprofessional for a guy who is still under contract. As a result, we have taken the decision that it would be in the best interest of all parties if his contract was voided and allowed Millar free to look for employment elsewhere." |
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