J Wakefield

Regardless of what Riis has or hasn't done and what anyone thinks of him overall, I will say that he will bring a big missing piece of the puzzle to the Team. His history of being a good manager, tactically good on the road and someone who really connects with riders as unit is commonly known and seen. That is a big benefit to any team, riders and staff. Does that come over with him now? Who knows but Riis is good at what he does in managing a team and riders.

Continental Team. In order its: Continental Pro Continental World Tour

Hi All Just as a reference please with the questions so far: 1 - I am not here to judge or critique your current coach you working with. If you not happy with him or her, make the personal decision to move. I cannot say he or she is good or not. Its not professional on my behalf. As reference, if you feel you not progressing or have stagnated, then that should be addressed. 2 - I cannot prescribe you training for weeks leading to a race based off a question on what you need to do. I am more than happy and have given advice and suggestions going forward. Other than that - all good. Cheers.

Lars Michaelsen replaces Rolf.

Would personally take Rohan over Campenaerts any day He gets results not media Not to sure the team is strong enough to support a rider like Rohan in his goals Not sure BMC is there next year but I may be wrong on that.

Go see a specialist for the best advice. if you in GP see someone like Dr Van Zuydem, if you in CT see Dr swart or Rotunno. No one here is a Dr on here to give you qualified info on this. However, just cause you have contracted it, its by no means the end, people make a perfect recovery and resume playing bikes. Its just a process to get there.

He is still in the Tour so I presume he is making the cut off times?

2yr deal which ran out this year and signed for 2020 which is a new deal compared to previous 2yrs.

He has signed with TDD again.

Thanks, Ive said it before to people but the kid is an enigma. Physiology / race craft etc he is incredible.

Spoke yesterday and yes something on the cards but is waiting for a offer from another team hopefully before making a final call.

Its actually going ok, the Tours for him are good as he thrives in those conditions. He got his 1st experience of Belgium classics this weekend and thew 1st one was a eye opener and the 2nd he really performed well as asked and expected. Will this give him a ride for next year and beyond? I have honestly no idea. I don't make those calls at all and dont have any influence. He Tour Slovakia starting now and then a series of 1 important 1 days and hopefully during that he will have a answer. I speak obviously to him basically daily and as per Matt, he is super chilled. Loving the moment, learning, making mates and realizing how much of a different level these guys are on to anything else. What happens happens I guess but if you dont try, you dont know.

Bud, if I had to tell you the process from the Monday post Tour that went on to make sure we bounce back would give you nightmares. But to me, it showed how serious this team is, how they weren't resting on their results from Tour and got the small working group of people together to make sure we come out swinging at Vuelta. Agree whole heartedly on Willie, yes, we are really close mates but even if we weren't and I saw from the outside what he is doing, I would still say the same.

World Tour - Min 27 - Max 30 Pro Continental - Min 20 - Max 30 Continental - Min 10 - Max 16 The level in SA overall isn't good enough to have a near full compliment of riders, even in a PC team but there are riders in SA that if guided correctly have a chance at PC level which after some time can go to WT. When I say some riders I mean a handful, at best, but you have to start somewhere.

Like most riders at the present he is busy sorting that part of his year at present. He had a 1 yr deal and was extended for 2019.

So basically the only reason he gets a ride is due to who he knows (has a reputation for going over team Managers heads and going direct to sponsors when he doesn't get a ride or what he wants), the noise he creates on social media and the likes but still has ZERO results. For whatever his salary is, I would rather take 4 other riders who will give me more than that and get on with their team mates.

As a "SA or African Team" one would think they would be looking for local talent. Right now, the only SA rider getting coverage and racing his bike with conviction is Willie. You would think he would be their #1 home grown pick and I believe he would change the theme of this thread if he was on that team and racing his bike. We would have something positive to scream for. An open letter should be sent to them from their fan base back home. My 2c on this as I actually want this team and Doug R to get back to where they were and more, a few years ago.

I didn't forget him, I added a list of riders who I believe deserve a ride at WT.

Nizollo Gibbons Reinhard Vermote Slegter Valgren Wyss Gasparoto Kreuziger The problem comes in that there more riders looking for jobs than teams have available.

We were doing anthropometry this evening and the one rider and I were talking and joked if he was married yet, he is early-mid 20's, he said no he is now single and I asked why. Since 1 January he has been at home for 1 1/2 in total, the rest of the time he is away racing. Says his chick was over it. Its rough and this is little of a extreme case but for example go to altitude for 3 week prior to Tour, come home a week to adapt and off again for 3. Its not as glamorous as they make out

No idea how cemented this line up is but if true my post still stays the same then Team Dimension Data .. KING Ben.. JANSE VAN RENSBURGJacques .. CAVENDISH Mark .. MEINTJES Louis .. VENTER Jaco .. BOASSON HAGEN Edvald .. TILLER Rasmus

Should of sent Gibbons over Cav with a quality lead out train. You will get results with that.

The hard thing I learnt being my own mechanic is that bike shops workmanship attention to detail and listening to a customers bike problems are none existent and that I don't have to keep driving back to shop for them to fix what I asked the 1st time.

Correct his results are nothing to be scoffed at and not something any SA rider will achieve in the near future. Louis is a special rider. All riders have ups and downs. He is on the up though now which is positive going into Vuelta.

Not overall no. There was good and bad with the move.