Team: Argos is a Dutch PCT team which exists mostly our of sprinters. Degenkolb and Kittel are the two biggest names. They have a strong sprinting-base, but lack strength in other areas. Argos is almost certain to promote to a Pro Tour status next year.

Future Situation: Being almost certain of Pro Tour status next season, Argos is looking to strengthen the team with young talent from The Netherlands and Belgium. Stijn would be free in the cobbled season and might be a lead-out for stronger sprinters such as Degenkolb and Kittel in other races. Willy would mostly have a free role, since Argos lacks climbers. He would be on his own, though.

Contract Offer: Argos hasn't offered an official contract yet, but unofficialy we would both sign for 1 (trial) year. Stijn at a salary of €3.500, Willy at a €3.000 salary.

Willy's Opinion: Team Argos - Shimano has a lot to offer. The wage is good, compared to the €2.000 now, and we would be part of the World Tour. I would be pretty much on my own in the mountains, but that might be good for my development. I would be able to learn something, leading a stage race.

Stijn's Opinion: First of all, I think it's a wonderful team, with great people. It would certainly be nice to make the move to a Dutch team, where we speak the language fluently. I would be leading the cobbled season almost certainly, based on this year's results. I'm not sure if I could go to a stage race as the main sprinter, though.

Team: Acqua & Sapone is an Italian-based PCT team. It has some strong climbers and some excellent sprinters, such as Napolitano. Acqua has no riders who can handle cobblestones. They only count half the riders a PCT team is allowed to.

Future Situation: Acqua & Sapone is riding their best season yet and are in direction of promotion to the World Tour. They would love a Pro Tour status and are willing to do almost anything for the chance. So now they're looking intensively for new, international riders. They are mostly interested in Stijn, as their cobbles leader, but are more than prepared to take Willy in the team, to potentially lead some stage races. Besides us, they have showed interest in several Belgian, Dutch, Spanish and German riders.

Contract Offer: Nothing is certain yet, but the offer would be something like this: Both would receive a three-year contract, with a clause that would make us free in case they would lose their Pro Tour status. We would both get a €3.000 salary.

Willy's Opinion: I think Acqua & Sapone is a nice team. There's a lot of talent on the team and I think it's nice that they're prepared to attract international riders because of a promotion to World Tour. I could start in some big races as a free rider, or maybe even a leader.

Stijn's Opinion: Acqua will probably promote, though nothing's sure yet. If they don't promote after all, the contract is tore up. If they would promote, however, I would be able to lead all cobbled races and the Eneco Tour, which would be a major breakthrough for my career.

Team: Team Europcar is our favorite French team, without a doubt. Riders as Rolland and Voeckler are top-riders. Usually they decline a Pro Tour license. However, they are interested in the both of us.

Future Situation: Team Europcar is unlikely to promote, since they don't have the ambition. They're still in doubt, so there's a good chance we'd end up in Pro Continental Tour. However, Team Europcar get most wildcards they request.

Contract Offer: Nothing is confirmed in any way. They have only expressed a mild interest so far. We guess the contract would be short-length and a pretty fair pay.

Willy's Opinion: I would like to ride for Team Europcar, but with riders as Rolland and Voeckler, I'd probably end up in very small races or as a domestique for Rolland.

Stijn's Opinion: It would be great riding alongside Turgot in the cobbled races. I prefer a Pro Tour team, though. But we have to keep our options open.

Team: Topsport Vlaanderen is a team that takes young Belgian talents under its wings. It invests a lot in good equipment and trainers to give the riders a good start in their careers.

Future Situation: Topsport Vlaanderen will probably always be a PCT team. They have confirmed publicly that they would be happy to receive us both for a year, so we can process everything that's happened, catch our breath and concentrate on cycling again.

Contract Offer: A very concrete offer has already come through, and they gave us a lot of time to think about it. It would be a 1 year contract, with the option to prolong, both at a €2.000 salary.

Willy's Opinion: It's just great that they took the initiative to take us in the team, if we'd like. After all the shit that went down with my "doping", they offered their contract during the investigation, telling me they believe I'm innocent and they wanted to bring me to their team after it all blew over. However, it's unlikely I would enter in a Grand Tour in Topsport Vlaanderen.

Stijn's Opinion: Topsport Vlaanderen would be a great chance to develop our qualitites a year. We would receive wildcards for most of the cobbled races. For me it would be great. The pay isn't as high as other clubs, but we're willing to make the transfer anyway. I'm not in it for the money.

SSJ2Luigi wrote:
you are only saying that because you want them to ride for a dutch team

Jesleyh wrote:

Oh really? I thought I was saying that because I want the best for Stijn & Willy
And that the best for them is riding for a Dutch team, is just uhm.. A coincedence

SSJ2Luigi wrote:

yeah right ...