Trek Segafredo

[ScottCM]

Thanks for the link 'Dale. Contract talks are going to be interesting at the end of the season.

But if what Guercilena says is true then i should PVR the weekends race while i'm at the Dusi2C, as Andy will be forced to do something in the mountains.

[ScottCM]

Tour de France Preview: A Tour for Climbers

 

 

 

Trek Factory Racing has released the nine names that will take the ‘Grand Départ’ in Yorkshire for the 2014 Tour de France. The team’s two main goals: finishing top 10 in the general classification and pocketing a stage win.

 

 

 

The roster: Fabian Cancellara, Fränk Schleck, Andy Schleck, Haimar Zubeldia, Jens Voigt, Matthew Busche, Markel Irizar, Gregory Rast, and Danny van Poppel.

“This edition of the Tour de France is characterized as one for the mountain goats, even the parcours of the TT has lots of climbing. Fränk and Haimar are two riders with experience in GC; they have shown what they are worth and they have our trust. Climbers who are in good shape can hold a GC. We will support them with the best possible. With Andy and Matthew to help out in the mountain stages and strong rouleurs like Jens, Markel and Rasty, they are well surrounded.

- GM Luca Guercilena

 

One stage that Trek Factory Racing will highlight is stage five, a made-to-order parcours for the Spring Classics specialists with its nine cobbled sectors. It is a day feared by the GC contenders - where the Tour will not be won, but could be lost – and a day welcomed by the pavé purists. However, General Manager Luca Guercilena cautions, it may suit three time Paris-Roubaix winner Fabian Cancellara’s strengths, but it is not the sole focus of the team as the cobbled stage five is not the same as racing a true Spring Classic.

“

Fabian is a favorite for the cobblestone stage, but like many other riders he’s in the Tour to be competitive every day, not only for one stage. Sure it’s a good day for him because it’s pavé, but it’s not a “Classic during a Grand Tour” - it’s a lot shorter, so the scenario will be very different than in April!”

- GM Luca Guercilena

 

Depending on how the flatter stages play out there could be up to nine opportunities for the sprinters. For Danny van Poppel, 20, it’s a titanic challenge, but last year - in his first Tour ever - he sprinted to a stunning third place in the opening road stage. One year later the budding young sprinter, already a few victories taller, will try to repeat this feat and measure his fast legs against the world’s best sprinters.

“Danny could be the ‘joker’ in the first week, he will not have a lead out train, but we saw last year he did not have any help with his team and he made third in the first stage. We know it’s a big stage for him, but he can do it, he has no pressure. I saw in Switzerland, with only Fabian and ‘Greggy’ helping him, that it worked out well. He is able to find his way without a train.”

- GM Luca Guercilena

 

Andy Schleck and Matthew Busche will be the key support riders for the team’s GC riders in the high mountains.

“Andy will ride in support of Fränk and Haimar in the climbs. He will not have a personal focus on the GC. It shouldn’t be a surprise that we’re lining him up as a support rider for his brother and for Haimar: Andy may not have won a stage in the Tour de Suisse, but he raced well. His prologue wasn’t bad and he was racing aggressively in the last stage. He showed a lot of desire, and he has progressed since the Classics. Riders of his stature should have the opportunity to compete in the race that made them great.”

- GM Luca Guercilena

 

American Matthew Busche is the sole rider of the nine-man team who has never raced the most distinguished of the Grand Tours. Taking the start will be one of his biggest goals checked off the bucket list of the former college running star.

“Matthew has deserved his spot. He suffered the hamstring injury at the end of the Dauphiné but he has no National Championships this week and still has 12 days to prepare. He’s a strong guy, he’s smart, we have to remember he almost won a stage last year in the Dauphiné - he can be a dark-horse to win a stage from a breakaway.”

- GM Luca Guercilena

 

In the other extreme, Jens Voigt will be lining up in his 17th Tour de France, tying the record for the most appearances. Always the opportunist, ‘Jensie’ will certainly pick a day or two that suit his breakaway expertise, and make sure his last Tour is as thrilling as his first.

[gummibear]

Frank is Luxembourg road Champ

 

[ScottCM]

Trek Factory displays solid teamwork as Fränk Schleck wins his fifth Championship title, and Andy Schleck finishes in third.

Fränk Schleck capped off great teamwork by Trek Factory Racing to win his first National Championship since 2011, his fifth total, as he soloed to a last lap win in Luxembourg on Sunday. Trek Factory Racing also claimed four of the top five spots with Andy Schleck finishing in third, Bob Jungels fourth, and Laurent Didier fifth.

“The four of us were really strong today; it was a full gas race until the end. Only Ben Gastauser was capable of staying with us. Andy was really strong today; he’s ready for the Tour [de France]. For me, after all what happened last year, and to be able to return to the WorldTour, this is just great! For my family, I never stopped training, they have always been my motivation. It is fantastic to be champion again - it’s a real honor. Also for Trek Factory Racing it is good that the jersey stays in the team. Laurent, Bob and Andy all worked super hard today, and we deserved to take it home.”

- Fränk Schleck

It was Trek Factory Racing’s championship to lose as they lined up with four riders for the 160-kilometer race that was comprised of 10 laps of typical hilly Luxembourg terrain. Andy Schleck went straight from the gun - knowing it was up to Trek Factory Racing to make the race difficult - and was solo for two laps before the peloton chased him back.

In the second half of the race Andy attacked again and once more found himself alone out front. Fränk Schleck jumped out of the bunch, drawing out Ben Gastauer (AG2R La Mondiale) who was quickly followed by Laurent Didier and Bob Jungels; together the four caught Andy Schleck and never looked back. The quintet pulled away, and despite numerous attacks from behind, for the peloton the race was over.

In the final few laps the five were pared to three; Didier and Jungels fell back after pushing the pace for Fränk and Andy Schleck. Outnumbered, Ben Gastauer continued to follow the wheels of the pinstriped team, but when Fränk made his move on the last lap there was little he could do: Fränk crossed the line alone to win the National road title and only a fistful of seconds later Gastauer outkicked Andy for second place.

“That was a hard one! I liked it! I am always motivated for this race. I had 310 average watts, and that’s more than a Classic. I was very active, I felt really good. We knew that we had to make the race, and actually everything went as planned. We wanted to decimate the field and then try have one of the four of us win. When we had all four out front with only Ben Gastauser, we kind of had to win. It would not have looked good if we didn’t! I am so happy for Fränk. And now it’s on to the Tour!”

- Andy Schleck

Since 2008 the Luxembourg National Champion jersey has always rested on the shoulders of teammates Fränk Schleck, Andy Schleck, Laurent Didier or Bob Jungels – a streak the team kept alive Sunday.

[ScottCM]

Andy Schleck underwent surgery on his injured knee Wednesday morning after the damage was found to be worse than originally thought. The Trek Factory Racing rider crashed near the end of the third stage of the Tour de France, and was able to finish the stage, although obviously in pain.

Tuesday morning it was announced that the knee injury was severe enough to cause him to abandon the race. The team announced that Schleck would travel to Basel, Switzerland, for further examinations to determine whether surgery would be needed.

It was indeed necessary, and on Wednesday morning, Trek tweeted that Schleck had suffered "rupture of both the collateral and cruciate ligaments of the knee plus a tear in the meniscus and a lot of bone bruises."

"Besides the ligaments and the meniscus, we can also confirm that the cartilage behind the knee cap is damaged, which is the worst and most painful part of Andy’s injury," team doctor Andreas Gösele said after surgery on the Trek website. "The surgeons have removed a part of the meniscus and have arthroscopically shaved the damaged cartilage. In terms of rehab he cannot put load on his knee for at least two weeks, so crutches will be necessary."

"I'm feeling pretty bad, to understate it," Schleck said. "I'm gutted. My knee looks like there's been an explosion inside. I'll be on crutches for at least two week and from there on we will see. I cannot ask for a detailed time line right now, and that is hard to deal with.

"There's nothing else I can do. Acceptance is the first step of my rehab and I'm working on that now. There's lots of work to be done before I’ll be back, but I'm used to fighting back."

[ScottCM]

[ScottCM]

Andy Schleck: "I don't want to retire. Not like this"

 

 

In his first interview since knee surgery on Wednesday, Andy Schleck has told Cyclingnews that he will spend several weeks off the bike but that he will fight to rebuild his career.

Schleck crashed on stage three of the Tour de France and although he finished the stage, he failed to start the next morning, calling it 'the worst moment of my career'. Speaking to Cyclingnews from his hospital bed, Schleck described the moment he knew his Tour was over.

"In the morning after the crash I went on the rollers and I couldn't push more than 80 watts. The doctor came and he asked me if I could push more but I couldn't because it was so painful. I got on the bus and we made the call to not start," he said.

"It goes without saying that the morning I pulled out of the race was the worst moment I've ever had in cycling. To give up in the Tour de France like that was crushing. It was heartbreaking. I was on the bus with tears in my eyes because I knew that I couldn't ride my bike anymore," said an emotional Schleck.

"Maybe I could see it coming. The night I abandoned I was up until midnight with the physio. They were very good and tried to reassure me but I could see in their eyes that they knew I was out of the race."

After pulling out of the race, Schleck travelled to Basle, Switzerland. An MRI scan and test revealed the full extent to his damaged knee with a rupture of both the collateral and cruciate ligaments plus a tear in the meniscus and bruising.

On top of that was damage to the cartilage behind the knee cap. Schleck underwent surgery almost immediately but understands that he faces another long road back to full fitness. The 2010 Tour de France winner has struggled for form and fitness since a serious crash in the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné but seemed to enter this Tour with renewed optimism and improving form.

Schleck has an added complication in that his current deal with Trek expires at the end of the season. The 29-year-old vowed to carry on, although he admits that for a moment he thought that his career could have been over.

"I was happy at the Tour and my form was on the up but I have to accept the situation and I have to look forward," he told Cyclingnews. "But I want to carry on. I feel like I still belong in cycling. I don't want to stop because of a crash.

"You know though, I thought for a moment that it might all be over but I don't want to give up like this. I crashed out of the Tour and that's not how I want people to remember me. So as soon as I can start again I will ride. I love to ride my bike so I'll start out small and then I can think about racing but it's important not to rush. The doctors say 'please Andy, be careful and don't put pressure on your knee' and they repeat it every day."

"I was unlucky at the Tour but I've been unlucky for the last three years," he continued.

"But I take responsibility for my fall though, it's no one's fault, but I'm lying in the hospital and I have to think that it could have been worse. I was riding at 60 kph when I fell. I could have hit my head really hard because that was the first thing to touch the ground. I knew straight away that something wasn't right though. My knee was the second part of me to hit the tarmac and although I could see and feel the road rash it was the knee that immediately had me worried. I couldn't bend it, I needed help to get on the bike and that I just crawled to the finish."

While his brother Fränk battles on at the Tour de France, Andy must take on his own and more personal mission as he looks to rebuild is career one more time. Patience and desire will be key and the latter it seems is something Schleck still has in abundance.

"I believe I can come back. I have to believe that."

[ScottCM]

Nizzolo extends with Trek Factory Racing

 

 

 

Italian sprinting talent extends contract through 2016

 

 

 

25-year-old Giacomo Nizzolo has extended his contract with the team through the end of 2016. The Italian rider, who sprinted no less than four times to second place in this year’s Giro d’Italia, has been a professional since 2011 and has shown solid progression every year.

Giacomo Nizzolo: “I’m really happy with this contract extension. There’s a lot of trust between the team and myself and it’s logical that I stay with this group of people. When I broke my collarbone in February, the team has been very supportive. The Giro was a great ride for both parties, although I would probably trade my four second places for one victory, but that’s life.”

“Now we look ahead. I’m taking steps every season and I feel there’s still a lot of margin for me,” says Nizzolo. “I’d like to grow more and rival the big sprinters more. With some dedicated riders on my side it should be possible.”

General Manager Luca Guercilena: “I strongly believe that Giacomo is on the verge of a career breakthrough. His numbers in terms of speed and endurance are really good and he’s really in the wheel of the big sprinters.

“I’m very happy that we found an agreement in such good terms. Giacomo’s success is the fruit of our development program and we are looking forward to continuing to work with him. He’s one of the most constant sprinters in the bunch and he can challenge for the win with or without a sprint train.”

“Growing talent is one of the most exciting projects in our sport,” says Guercilena. “I remember very well the Giacomo that arrived at the first training camp for the 2011 season. He was somewhat shy and didn’t speak so much English. Now he is a confident young man that has clear goals in his mind. We’re happy that we can work on those together.”

Nizzolo’s first win was a stage in the 2011 Bayern Rundfahrt, aged 22. He then went on to win stages in the Eneco Tour, the Tour de Wallonie (including overall), the Tour du Poitou Charentes, the Tour of Luxembourg and then Tour de San Luis.

[Ispeed_V]

Not that I dislike Spartacus, but why did they let him start the tour knowing that he will abandon after week 1 to concentrate on the road champs in Sept. Trek are now with a depleted team of 6.

[ScottCM]

Not that I dislike Spartacus, but why did they let him start the tour knowing that he will abandon after week 1 to concentrate on the road champs in Sept. Trek are now with a depleted team of 6.

 

 

 

 

Cancellara: “I will travel home now and take a little break. The season has been long for me, starting back in Dubai. I have done 59 days of competition this season so far and I have another big goal at the end of this season: the World Championships. It’s not a secret that I’d like to be in my best shape there, so it’s important that I take some rest.”

 

Cancellara came to the Tour to be competitive. He came close to the victory and his 29th yellow jersey with a late attack in stage 1, finished fifth in stage 5 in Arenberg, defended his fifth place in the overall until an untimely puncture in the final of stage 7 and sprinted to second place in stage 9 to Mulhouse.

 

Cancellara: “It was not only about the cobblestones stage for me. The course for this year’s Tour is very attractive for a rider of my profile, I liked it. There were many opportunities and with a little more luck, I could have gone home with a result in the pocket. It’s been good to be back in the Tour. We lost Andy (Schleck) and Danny (Van Poppel) early on, but the team is strong and will keep on looking for opportunities.”

 

General Manager Luca Guercilena: “We brought Fabian to the Tour to be a factor where his skills allowed it and he didn’t disappoint. He’s a rider that always comes to a race to give everything - if you just look at how he was working for Fränk (Schleck) yesterday at 20 km from the finish in a mountain stage. Now he gets a short break and then we will build up his condition again to be at his best in Ponferrada.

 

 

Personally i also think that now that Danny has gone home, there is no need for Fabian anymore as TFR dont have a sprinter that needs a strong lead out. So resting for the Worlds makes more sense, to me at least.

[ScottCM]

Bauke Mollema to Trek Factory Racing

 

 

Belkin still looking for a new sponsor

Bauke Mollema has reached an agreement with Trek Factory Racing, according to a report in De Telegraaf. The Dutch rider who currently sits tenth in the overall at the Tour de France, is said to have signed a two-year deal.

According to the De Telegraaf Trek manager Luca Guercilena was looking for a new GC-rider. Both Andy and Fränk Schleck are at the end of their contracts this season, as is the 37-year-old Haimar Zubeldia. Guercilena reportedly looked at Dauphiné-winner Andrew Talansky and at the 27-year-old Mollema. Talansky signed a new deal with Garmin-Sharp for 2015 and 2016 leaving Mollema. The Dutchman's management would not comment on the story in the Telegraaf today.

Mollema turned pro with Rabobank in 2008. He has won stages in the Vuelta, Tour de Suisse and Tour de Pologne, In 2011 he finished fourth in the Vuelta and last year he was sixth in the overall at the Tour de France.

Trek already has the Dutch brothers Danny and Boy van Poppel in the team and recently extended the contract with Giacomo Nizzolo. Jens Voigt and Danilo Hondo are both retiring at the end of the year.

Belkin is still looking for a new sponsor after the American company used a clause in the contract not to sponsor the team in 2015 as was agreed initially. General manager Richard Plugge is talking to several companies at the moment but has no deal.

Out of the 30 riders that currently ride with Belkin, 23 riders have a contract that ends this year. All of these contracts were signed when Rabobank was the sponsor of the team. The Dutch bank still pays for the salaries of these riders under the terms agreed when they were signed.

Sep Vanmarcke and Moreno Hofland signed new agreements this Spring for 2015 and 2016. New signings Nick van der Lijke, Jonathan Hivert and Barry Markus plus Laurens ten Dam, Paul Martens and Tom Leezer also have a contract for 2015.

[ScottCM]

Frank Schleck signs two-year extension with Trek; no word yet on Andy

Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/09/news/frank-schleck-signs-two-year-extension-trek-word-yet-andy_343728#wSaWPJJqtRDAKKcc.99

[gummibear]

Frank Schleck signs two-year extension with Trek; no word yet on Andy

Read more at http://velonews.comp...PJJqtRDAKKcc.99

 

Andy could be riding for Cult Engergy in 2015

['Dale]

 

 

Andy could be riding for Cult Engergy in 2015

 

Pro Conti level, gummi'?

[gummibear]

Pro Conti level, gummi'?

 

Danish Continental team

['Dale]

 

 

Danish Continental team

 

Okay

 

From maillot jaune

:-(