Road Bike Racing - Tyler and Beloki to Phonak?

www.procycling.com/news_main.asp?newsid=4638

I wonder how that would work out since both Beloki and Hamilton have aspirations of winning the TdF.

I think that Phonak is making overtures to both in hopes of getting one. Either rider would get them the TdF invite that they desire. Having both would create an expensive mess. If one signs look for the other to go elsewhere.

There's also talk that Zuelle may not complete his term with Phonak and may simply retire. It depends on how he feels in the next few weeks.

So, if you're Phonak, who do you really want? Hamilton or Beloki?

Originally posted by Laggard
So, if you're Phonak, who do you really want? Hamilton or Beloki?

Good question.

I'd really liked to have seen both Beloki and Hamilton unhurt in the tour to see how they stacked up against each other. I have a feeling Beloki would have been on the podium again.

If I were the Dir Sportif, I'd lean toward Beloki as he's two years younger and could possibly cost less (just a guess on the cost).

From cyclingnews.com:
<<
There are indications that ONCE manager Manolo Saiz has secured a new sponsor for 2004, after major sponsor ONCE announced its withdrawal recently. The name of the company has not yet been announced, however many of ONCE's riders are choosing to stay with Saiz rather than transferring to new teams, even those in demand.

Joseba Beloki, who has offers from Phonak and Euskaltel among others, has decided to wait a little longer to see whether Saiz comes up with something. In addition, Jörg Jaksche, who has a preliminary agreement with Gerolsteiner, would be able to stay with Saiz if the deal comes off. Jaksche was one of the few ONCE riders with a contract until the end of 2004. >>

If Saiz can keep his team largely intact, I would think Beloki would like to stay with them, especially knowing he is the go-to guy. Manolo Saiz may have a weird management style and is pretty outspoken on many issues, but I can't deny the fact that he's been improving his team over time and they would have won the Tour a couple of times if it wasn't for Lance.

Tyler has said several times in interviews that Bjarne Riis has changed the way he sees himself and that has allowed him to come up to the level where he is now. He almost made him look like a father figure.
In addition, Lance (who is still respected by Tyler and his opinions mean something) believed Ullrich would have gained a lot by going to CSC instead of Coast last year, where he could have been prepared by Riis. To me this means Tyler probably knows he is getting the best preparation, tactics and setup he can as a team leader in his position.

Maybe I don't get the bigger picture, but I can't see why Tyler would leave CSC right now (except purely for money, which would be strange)...

Originally posted by Alex33
Tyler has said several times in interviews that Bjarne Riis has changed the way he sees himself and that has allowed him to come up to the level where he is now.
I've read similar things... that Hamilton credits Riis's training techniques in large part for the success he has been experiencing this season. Plus, Tyler is already the CSC team leader, at least for the major tours, and he doesn't come across as the type to be looking huge bucks or ego gratification by moving to a "bigger" team.

And for that matter, wasn't Tyler's long breakaway that concluded in the storybook win Riis's idea? IMO, Tyler would be pretty to leave the situation he has now. 'Course, we don't know who all CSC might be recruiting, etc.

It's impossible to know anything other than what we read in the media, but to me, I agree, I thought Tyler had it made at CSC. It's a good, well rounded team for all kinds of racing and Bjarney has shown he's a winner. But, procycling is reporting that Tyler is being offered over $3m for 2 yrs. If that's true, he will be made by the deal. That can be hard to turn down. When Tyler left USPS, who didn't think that had a high probability of turning into a Kevin Jullick scenario. Interview with Kevin Jullick:

(www.cycling4fans.com/e/entertainment/teamc4f/e1e_teamc4f01_interview01.php)

:D :roflmao: :D

don d.

I'm not familiar with the cycling4fans.com web site. Please tell me that interview was just a lampoon!

Rob

Originally posted by RobRyb
don d.

I'm not familiar with the cycling4fans.com web site. Please tell me that interview was just a lampoon!

Rob

Well lets see, take Kevin Livingston's(from Austin by the way) first name, Bobby Julich's last name, make the last name sound like "you lick", poke fun at his grandiose plans, allude to his departure from the USPS team, hint at rumors of animosity, lampoon his euro girlfriend, well I guess you get the pic.

My point was, without taking anything away from Kevin and Bobby's accomplishments, alot of people thought Tyler would end up just like them when he left USPS. I don't think we should assume that if he leaves CSC and Bjarne he will stop being successful. Bjarne's important, but Tyler rides the bike, and He is a winner.

Cycling4fans.com is a lot of fun.(where is walter godefroot when you need him?!):roflmao:

I also heard that Phonak is interested in Hamilton and Beloki.
But Gerolsteiner was also getting in touch with Beloki.
Will be interesting where the rest of ONCE ill go.

Originally posted by Alex33
Tyler has said several times in interviews that Bjarne Riis has changed the way he sees himself and that has allowed him to come up to the level where he is now. He almost made him look like a father figure.
In addition, Lance (who is still respected by Tyler and his opinions mean something) believed Ullrich would have gained a lot by going to CSC instead of Coast last year, where he could have been prepared by Riis. To me this means Tyler probably knows he is getting the best preparation, tactics and setup he can as a team leader in his position.

Maybe I don't get the bigger picture, but I can't see why Tyler would leave CSC right now (except purely for money, which would be strange)...

I guess your speculation was right on target... all about the money, since Tyler's left anyway and went to Phonak. :( I'm really disappointed.

Maybe Beloki will go to CSC or Ullrich will go to CSC and benefit from CSC's loss?

Koffee

Don't feel too bad for CSC. They're getting Basso and Voigt. They should be a better team next year.

And Phonak appears to be making a run for it. Daniele Bennati in particular is a nice pickup.

Apparently it's a done deal. These guys are pro athletes, they race for money so I can't blame Hamilton any more than I'd blame any other athlete for signing a lucrative contract. Phonak should be strong next year though like others I don't see Hamilton and Beloki on the same team. They both want to and, possibly, are capable of winning next year's Tour. Alot of that depends on LA and Ullrich though. I see them as the "Big 2" with the others chasing.

Initially I thought CSC would fade away after missing out on Ullrich last year and giving up Tyler, but I must admit I was wrong. Not only did they keep Sastre, but they signed Basso for 3 years, Voight and Jaksche (who initially wanted Gerolsteiner but changed his mind and picked CSC).
I don't know how he's doing it (maybe it has something to do with the respect he gets), but Bjarne Riis keep signing a lot of new impressive talent...

Once is a good fit for Beloki, if they can get funding. If they dont,,, CSC could be a good fit too. :D

I don't see Beloki going to CSC now, they already have
too many Grand Tour riders (Basso, Sastre).
CSC sounds like its going to be an impressive team and
the loss of Tyler isn't going to affect them much.

Marty