baseballlover312 wrote:
Still 8 roster spots open though, so it will be interesting to see who they resign from Garmin or get on the market.

CountArach wrote:
Van Asbroeck is in talks with BMC. I wanted him to go to Lotto but a pro contract is top priority.

Anderis wrote:
I don't think Vansummeren is outdated, he was really strong on this year's TdF, especially on that cobbled stage, but not only.

About Wegmann and Nuyens, I agree. Could also add Dekker, although he is not that old, I can rarely see him doing some useful work for the team, let alone securing results and he is probably not going to ever improve much.


Only 5 spots open. The team will have 27 riders next year from what I've read. I hope they will keep Howes.
They'll also need some cobble guys, because there are not many among riders with already secured contracts. Only 5 or 6 of them I can imagine doing Roubaix, Flanders etc. on a regular basis.

Likely more Italians than Americans next year in the team. It will also contribute to loss of some of the climate.

I'm really sad because another of my favourite teams- Williams F1, has also changed to something I like much less this year, with Martini title sponsorship and livery. I was really passionate about both of them, but I already lost interest in F1. That Canondale change looks a bit more acceptable to me, but it's definetely not an improvement. I would rather have a Garmin-Canondale team with blue and green colours and Marangoni making a space for an American talent than what we will likely end up with.

baseballlover312 wrote:
Why the hell would they not fill up the 30 spots as a WT team?

Anderis wrote:

Why didn't they this year?

Additional riders cost. If they feel they don't need to have the 30 riders, better to have less and spend money in other areas. Many of WT teams don't have 30 riders.

Moreover, some changes in the WT rules are scheduled and WT teams are going to have less riders each in the future (22 form 2016 onwards AFAIK). So they need to start preparing themselves for that.

baseballlover312 wrote:
And you would think they would have more money with the merger.

Anderis wrote:

Garmin is clearly stepping down as a sponsor and Vaughters himself said the budget secured for next year is around as big as it was for this year.

Alakagom wrote:
Yep. Vaughters himself stated Sagan's yearly salary at Tinkov would fund more than half of his new team. So yeah...

searmh wrote:
excited by Formolo at garmin next year

depeche92 wrote:
Groenewegen is a big talent

Is there a limit to the numbers of ProConti teams? A lot of teams want that status next year: Roompot Orange, Cyclingteam De Rijke, 4-72 Colombia, Team Stolting, Vini Fantini Nippo...
most of them are not strong enough right now

Anderis wrote:

Yeah, my favourite signing from that Canondale merge. It appears that he will ride Giro next year. A guy, who is 21 and his first year as a pro, finishes 7th in Tour de Suisse and has plenty of top10 results in lesser races. That's a sign of exceptional talent and he can be securing results already, what is not common for such a young rider.

If it is me to decide, I would fill the remaining 5 spots in the team with Acevedo, Bauer, Howes, Morton and Vansummeren (though I'm not sure about Morton, I'm baffled by his results this year). But if they are to sign anybody from outside, some of them will have to go what makes me sad. I was also hoping they would give someone like Gavin Mannion or Carter Jones a chance, but it's becoming less likely.

Vaughters said that the only Canondale rider that has already signed a deal for 2015 is Formolo. The rest got an offer but are free to leave elsewhere if they want. There's hope Marangon (I look like his hater now, LOL)i signs elsewhere, but honestly I can't believe he will get any better offer.

Anderis wrote:

Yeah, my favourite signing from that Canondale merge. It appears that he will ride Giro next year. A guy, who is 21 and his first year as a pro, finishes 7th in Tour de Suisse and has plenty of top10 results in lesser races. That's a sign of exceptional talent and he can be securing results already, what is not common for such a young rider.

If it is me to decide, I would fill the remaining 5 spots in the team with Acevedo, Bauer, Howes, Morton and Vansummeren (though I'm not sure about Morton, I'm baffled by his results this year). But if they are to sign anybody from outside, some of them will have to go what makes me sad. I was also hoping they would give someone like Gavin Mannion or Carter Jones a chance, but it's becoming less likely.

Vaughters said that the only Canondale rider that has already signed a deal for 2015 is Formolo. The rest got an offer but are free to leave elsewhere if they want. There's hope Marangon (I look like his hater now, LOL)i signs elsewhere, but honestly I can't believe he will get any better offer.

Anderis wrote:
You mean that Canondale's Edward King? Ben King has already secured a contract for 2015. He signed for two years last year. Edward King is possibly the last American WT rider I would like to see in this team.

George Bennett is a Canondale rider I would consider apart from the eight that had a contract for 2015. I would love them to sign someone like Konig, but I don't think they have enough money.

Dombrowski would be a cool signing. I have nothing against.

Only 7 native English speaking riders have a contract so far. Far the least in the team's history. Too bad, because I really have a soft spot for Anglophone riders. I really hope at least 2 or 3 of those guys will join.

What kind of rider (speciality) is Bettiol? It's hard to read too much from his results.