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2014 world tour teams

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  • September 30, 2013 at 6:59 pm #19986
    stevemarks

    Just thinking ahead, We are losing two teams next year Euskatel and Vacansoliel, but started this year with 19, so who is prepared to step up a level? I noticed IAM making some big signings, particularly Chavanel, anyone else heard what might be happening?

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  • September 30, 2013 at 8:10 pm #758595
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    drheaton

    Gkam84 wrote:Don’t forget

    Gkam84 wrote:
    Don’t forget that Saxo have split from Tinkoff and are looking for another sponsor and with only a handful of points here and there might have trouble.

    So with Euskaltel and Vaconsoliel gone Saxo and Katusha on dodgy ground

    Trek are taking on Radioshack but their license runs out this season I believe, along with FDJ and Lotto

    It currently it looks like this

    License for 2014
    Orica-GreenEDGE
    Argos-Shimano
    Belkin
    Garmin
    Saxo

    License beyond 2014
    Cannondale
    AG2R
    Sky
    BMC
    Movistar
    Astana

    So it leaves 11 who are there for sure. I think its going to be a struggle to get 18 teams. It may be cut to 16

    The only team I can see who are fit to move up right now are IAM Cycling.

    Europcar have ruled it out, Cofidis? Net-App? or Sojasun (who are also in financial trouble)

    Cyclingnews are reporting that Sojasun are officially done.

    If you can’t even give away the licenses to enter into the top level of the sport you know something is seriously wrong with the system. The problem is the current system is all that keeps some races afloat. Would the likes of San Sebastian survive if they didn’t haven all of the top teams guaranteed to attend?

    Personally, I think perhaps the World Tour calendar needs to be either trimmed down to cut out some of the crap or needs breaking up into two levels, the top including the grand tours and monuments that ALL of the top team’s have to attend and then a lower tier which includes races where they are guaranteed a certain number of top teams but where all the top teams don’t have to attend giving some flexibility and slightly less intensive calendars.

    Whatever happens, something needs to change.

    September 30, 2013 at 7:51 pm #758593
    0
    stevemarks

    drheaton wrote:Euskatel and

    drheaton wrote:
    Euskatel and Vaconsoleil are both shutting down I think. Vaconsoleil couldn’t get a sponsor and the deal between Euskatel and Fernando Alonso fell through apparently because who ever was selling the Euskatel license wanted Alonso to take on all the staff contracts and he refused.

    Saur-Sojasun are also going at the end of the year (unable to get a sponsor).

    I think IAM will stay at Pro-Conti level for another year then look to move up unless the UCI throw some money their way but if IAM can get a Tour invite (which they should with Chavanel) I don’t think they’d want the extra cost of having to field a team in all the crappy World Tour races. I mean, what’s the benefit to IAM or racing in Qatar, Beijing, Australia, Poland etc etc, all they want is the TdF invite.

    Europcar are nailed on for a Tour invite and that’s all they care about so I doubt they’ll move up which basically leaves a free spot in the World Tour next year making a mockery of the whole system.

    That’s what I was thinking, and if Saxo cannot find a co sponsor it could be even worse!

    September 30, 2013 at 7:47 pm #758591
    0
    Gkam84

    Also, from my other thread,
    Also, from my other thread, discussing teams disappearing

    Champion Systems
    Crelan-Euphony

    They are also gone

    September 30, 2013 at 7:44 pm #758589
    0
    Gkam84

    Here you are, go work out who
    Here you are, go work out who has enough points and who doesn’t…… http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=ODYwOTU&LangId=1

    ALSO, remember that WT races are supposed to be featuring teams of 6 next year, instead of the normal 8 riders.

    So that will leave more room for invites

    September 30, 2013 at 7:40 pm #758587
    0
    Gkam84

    Don’t forget that Saxo have
    Don’t forget that Saxo have split from Tinkoff and are looking for another sponsor and with only a handful of points here and there might have trouble.

    So with Euskaltel and Vaconsoliel gone Saxo and Katusha on dodgy ground

    Trek are taking on Radioshack but their license runs out this season I believe, along with FDJ and Lotto

    It currently it looks like this

    License for 2014
    Orica-GreenEDGE
    Argos-Shimano
    Belkin
    Garmin
    Saxo

    License beyond 2014
    Cannondale
    AG2R
    Sky
    BMC
    Movistar
    Astana

    So it leaves 11 who are there for sure. I think its going to be a struggle to get 18 teams. It may be cut to 16

    The only team I can see who are fit to move up right now are IAM Cycling.

    Europcar have ruled it out, Cofidis? Net-App? or Sojasun (who are also in financial trouble)

    September 30, 2013 at 7:14 pm #758585
    0
    drheaton

    Euskatel and Vaconsoleil are
    Euskatel and Vaconsoleil are both shutting down I think. Vaconsoleil couldn’t get a sponsor and the deal between Euskatel and Fernando Alonso fell through apparently because who ever was selling the Euskatel license wanted Alonso to take on all the staff contracts and he refused.

    Saur-Sojasun are also going at the end of the year (unable to get a sponsor).

    I think IAM will stay at Pro-Conti level for another year then look to move up unless the UCI throw some money their way but if IAM can get a Tour invite (which they should with Chavanel) I don’t think they’d want the extra cost of having to field a team in all the crappy World Tour races. I mean, what’s the benefit to IAM or racing in Qatar, Beijing, Australia, Poland etc etc, all they want is the TdF invite.

    Europcar are nailed on for a Tour invite and that’s all they care about so I doubt they’ll move up which basically leaves a free spot in the World Tour next year making a mockery of the whole system.

    September 30, 2013 at 7:04 pm #758583
    0
    Stumps

    I thought Euskaltel had been
    I thought Euskaltel had been saved or are they dropping to Conti level ?

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