Bianchisti Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 As it stands, there is no GC support at MTN. They go for stage wins, and for that you need a sprinter.Not sure the current squad is strong enough to hold their own as a TDF sprint train. EBH had to operate as a free agent of late. No support.
Bianchisti Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 If any of the rumours are true that Cav has to bring his own sponsor that will give him all the power in that marriage of convenience. And it will most likely be a European sponsor. So say farewell to the Africaness of this team. Would look like our boys is part of a Euro squad rather than an African team with a few Euro pros. But then again, I don't believe a word of these Cav rumours. That's like scraping the bottom of the barrel. The man is clearly past his sell by date.
Patchelicious Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 Not sure the current squad is strong enough to hold their own as a TDF sprint train. EBH had to operate as a free agent of late. No support.Ciolek, EBH and Sbaragli could turn into a good train?
'Dale Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 “I’m really excited to be taking this step up to the WorldTour level with team Lampre-Merida for the next two seasons...I think it will bring with it lots of new opportunities and the possibility to learn from a very experienced team. One of the reasons I decided on going to an Italian based team is because Italy has become my home away from home.” Louis MineCheeeze
Wannabe Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 Even as a "young man" (school going kid) Louis spent a few months per year in Europe. He learnt French and Italian during that time. He told me that is the only / best way to improve his cycling and realise his cycling aspirations to race overseas.He is a very bright young man, and I'm sure he would not have taken this step without very good reason. GO KING LOUIS, I'M VERY VERY PROUD OF YOU!!
Jaco-fiets Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 On the back of my previous post I might add that seeing him sign at BMC or Cannondale would have been great (Saxo Tinkoff at later stage). Goodness knows Cannondale can do with someone like Louis
xcd Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Even as a "young man" (school going kid) Louis spent a few months per year in Europe. He learnt French and Italian during that time. He told me that is the only / best way to improve his cycling and realise his cycling aspirations to race overseas.He is a very bright young man, and I'm sure he would not have taken this step without very good reason. GO KING LOUIS, I'M VERY VERY PROUD OF YOU!! I'm sorry to say but I think the only reason he signed with Lampre is for the money. They were prepared to pay him more than Sky and Garmin.€450 000. Is a lot of money. Trying to meet that payment in R's is very difficult especially with the exchange rate being so volatile.I also don't believe they can give him better support in GC category.
urbanroyal Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 I'm sorry to say but I think the only reason he signed with Lampre is for the money. They were prepared to pay him more than Sky and Garmin.€450 000. Is a lot of money. Trying to meet that payment in R's is very difficult especially with the exchange rate being so volatile.I also don't believe they can give him better support in GC category.Nothing wrong with that....the man has a talent and somebody is prepared to pay for it...I say take it...plus loads of experiance his way.....well done ☺
Falco Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 I think the only reason he signed with Lampre is for the money. Good for him. There is no reason why he should stay with Qhubeka if there are better offers on the table. To suggest, as some have, that he must stay with Qhubeka just because he is a saffa, is ridiculous. Like all other pro riders, he has a marketable talent, and a relatively short career. He must follow the money while he can.
xcd Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Good for him. There is no reason why he should stay with Qhubeka if there are better offers on the table.To suggest, as some have, that he must stay with Qhubeka just because he is a saffa, is ridiculous. Like all other pro riders, he has a marketable talent, and a relatively short career. He must follow the money while he can.I agree with you 100 % . At no point did I say he should not go for the money. My point is - if you have numerous offers from pro Tour teams (there were numerous not just the 2 mentioned above ) some of them bigger than Lampre and others with more to offer than just money. Why go for Lampre ? If it's not for the money? He then gives an excuse that he likes living in Italy. So many of the pro tour teams are based in that region anyway. Surely you should look at more important reasons than just living in Italy. All the other successful English speaking cyclist of the modern day have ridden for American or English teams.- namely Armstrong,Evans,Wiggins and Froome. I personally don't think an Italian team or the Italian supporters will get fully behind him. -Happiness breeds success. -Money does not buy happiness I am a big LM fan and wish him all the success. I am sad that he is not riding for MtnQ but realize that the situation of our country and the Rand make it difficult to compete with international teams ans sponsors. Good luck Louis I will support you no matter who you ride for. Just like a father - I hope you have made the right dession.
Chro Mo Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Best of luck to the guy. I think he is a huge talent and deserves the exposure and salary he will get. MTN is going to go the way of Barloworld. As someone else said: it's going to become a European team with a slight African flavour.
Jewbacca Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 I agree with you 100 % . At no point did I say he should not go for the money.My point is - if you have numerous offers from pro Tour teams (there were numerous not just the 2 mentioned above ) some of them bigger than Lampre and others with more to offer than just money.Why go for Lampre ?If it's not for the money?He then gives an excuse that he likes living in Italy. So many of the pro tour teams are based in that region anyway. Surely you should look at more important reasons than just living in Italy. All the other successful English speaking cyclist of the modern day have ridden for American or English teams.- namely Armstrong,Evans,Wiggins and Froome. I personally don't think an Italian team or the Italian supporters will get fully behind him. -Happiness breeds success. -Money does not buy happiness I am a big LM fan and wish him all the success. I am sad that he is not riding for MtnQ but realize that the situation of our country and the Rand make it difficult to compete with international teams ans sponsors. Good luck Louis I will support you no matter who you ride for.Just like a father - I hope you have made the right dession.But I think all this is speculation anyway.. How do you know what team A offered him versus team B and C. Not money, that is documented, but more in the terms of his support, his place in the team and his ability to be a professional in HIS best interest. Yes the money is one aspect, but going to team Sky to be an out and out biatch (read domestique) or signing with a team with a view to support his best interests? I dunno. People speculating and bashing a guys decisions without any actual sound knowledge seems to me to pang of my favourite 'hub' infliction... my opinion is right and yours is wrong... Truth is we don't know the facts nor anything below the base line. Good on you Louis, I salute you and support you. I hope you grow into a fine glowing light that we can proudly see flying our Saffa flag around the world. Booyakasha
Butterbean Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Yeah I'm pretty sure no one on the hub knows all the circumstances of this move. And we certainly know sweet **** all about being a professional cyclist in this day and age. I'm no fan of lampre. My wife loves their colour scheme of their kit. They're normally quite anonymous in races but hey, I'm sure Louis is no idiot and all those around him that matter, including mentors, parents, agents, and fellow professionals, have offered the most current and informative advice, and he's chosen for his own reasons. It's sad to see Qubekha lose such a great talent, but let's be honest. He's had absolutely no help in the mountains and still delivers close finishes. I think a lot of us are getting upset or questioning a decision we know nothing about, except the name of his current team, new team, and his name. Louis! Good luck China. Give those seasoned pros some serious gears in the years to come! I reckon you'll be a serious GC competitor in no time!
Chris NewbyFraser Posted September 7, 2015 Posted September 7, 2015 Perhaps I am old school, but I feel Louis owes Doug a debt of gratitude and his move to Lampre is a slap in the face. Louis is still young, still developing, still learning and still maturing physically. He has enormous time in hand (accepted accidents can shut him down fast so there is always risk). He is a fantastic talent. Doug acknowledged this and spent a fortune developing him. Louis is only now (2016) coming to the point where he can reward the investment. To dump his team like this without considering the greater importance of ties, trust and reputation places, in my books, a question mark against his moral values.I am very disappointed in the boy.
Oxter Posted September 7, 2015 Posted September 7, 2015 Perhaps I am old school, but I feel Louis owes Doug a debt of gratitude and his move to Lampre is a slap in the face. Louis is still young, still developing, still learning and still maturing physically. He has enormous time in hand (accepted accidents can shut him down fast so there is always risk). He is a fantastic talent. Doug acknowledged this and spent a fortune developing him. Louis is only now (2016) coming to the point where he can reward the investment. To dump his team like this without considering the greater importance of ties, trust and reputation places, in my books, a question mark against his moral values.I am very disappointed in the boy.We are just speculating at this stage, did i miss something or did doug come out and say he is dissapointed. Maybe he incouraged louis to take it bcause No sponsorship has been confirmed
Shebeen Posted September 7, 2015 Posted September 7, 2015 LM goes to LM.next thing I hear they based in maputo
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.