Turkey Day Transfer Tidbit

by gavia on Nov 26, 2009 12:45 PM EST in News Comment 29 comments

Euro-bag_medium

Alexandr Kolobnev will leave Saxo Bank for an as-yet undisclosed Pro Tour team. Saxo Bank announced the news today on the team's official website. Though Kolobnev had one year remaining on his contract, the Danish team released him. The Russian will take on a leadership role at his new team. In a brief press statement Kolobnev said, "I have been very happy to be a part of Team Saxo Bank and the time on the team has developed my talent to a higher level. I am grateful that Bjarne gives me the opportunity to accept an offer from a team where I will have a leading role." In return, Riis wished the Russian luck for the future. All so friendly.

In the meantime, Saxo Bank has signed Sebastian Haedo, who took an early exit from his contract with Colavita. Haedo joins his brother J.J. Haedo at Saxo Bank. Sebastian Haedo finished second in the U.S. national rankings this year. He will ride for Saxo Bank for two years. Jaroslaw Marycz, a 22 year old Polish rider, will also join Saxo Bank for two years. Marxcz finished second at the U23 European championships this year and has twice won the U23 Polish national time trial championship. Otherwise, I don't pretend to know anything about him.

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Sky?

I know we nominate them for everything, but they could use help in the climby classics area.

"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert

by Chris... on Nov 26, 2009 1:37 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

He's signed with Katyusha for two years

The strong rider Alexandre Kolobnev, recently silver medal at World Championship 2009 in Mendrisio (CH) signed a two years contract with the Andrei Tchmil Team. Kolobnev will be another strong cyclist for the one-day race classic.

That’s from Tuttobici who seem to be adding Google English translations to a lot of their stories nowadays. Well I hope it’s an automatic translation, anyway.

by Monty. on Nov 26, 2009 1:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Katyusha

Is building a mighty fine classics squad.

Tickets are bought, Belgium here I come!

by jsallee00 on Nov 26, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hm

He’s getting leadership? Is this news to J-rod?

"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert

by Chris... on Nov 26, 2009 8:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

On A Russian Team

If it comes down to Rodriguez v Kolobnev, I think I know who will get the nod. Really though there are enough races for both of them to be happy, especially given the roles they’ve been in. Hopefully they won’t mind sharing, because each could benefit from the presence of the other.

Tickets are bought, Belgium here I come!

by jsallee00 on Nov 26, 2009 9:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hell Kolobnev ain't necessarily the leading Russian

Ivanov, Kolobnev, Rodriguez, Kirchen.

Ideally none of them is so good that they can force the others into domestique duties and if they realize that this team should be very dangerous.

by ursula on Nov 27, 2009 12:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

so I have no idea what Kolob was talking about — “going to a leadership role”… I figured something much smaller.

"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert

by Chris... on Nov 27, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Leadership at Lombardia, heh ?

by Jens on Nov 27, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well..

He had no chance to ride as team leader at Saxo Bank with the Schlecks, but he has placed consistently at Worlds when he rode for himself. Sure, Katusha has one day riders, but I’m guessing Kolobnev has a better chance there of riding for himself than he did at Saxo Bank.

by gavia on Nov 27, 2009 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Much better

I would think. The other riders mentioned are certainly no slouches, but I think Kolobnev might be the Real Deal. Put it this way, he has a fair to good chance of emerging as the team’s leader. On Saxo… that opportunity just wasn’t there.

by tgartner on Nov 29, 2009 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Andre Tchmil on Ben Swift

“I think it’s very bad that a new team like Sky goes around thinking they can buy up riders who are under contract. It’s something we never did last year out of a matter of principle. Contracts exist because they have to be respected,”

hmm

by William H on Nov 26, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Couldnt agree more

Always thought “to win TDF in the next five years” – means it will take five years (+). They are the two best middle term hopes.

by andrewp on Nov 26, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Friends?

This is a Murdoch enterprise, after all.

"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert

by Chris... on Nov 26, 2009 8:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.

by TheFigurehead on Nov 26, 2009 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I've been waiting for someone to say this for awhile...

…and I think the level of general disrespect they’ve manifested for the relationships that everyone else had already established before they showed up contributes in a real way to my general distaste for them right now. Neither Katusha nor Cervelo, to name two big startups in the past couple of years, got themselves going by trying to poach riders under contract elsewhere. Sky’s “British” consistent attempts to do that, and to act as if every established British rider should be riding for them, has been verging on the obnoxious for some time now.

by Ed K on Nov 28, 2009 6:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh, last sentance should be:

“Sky’s consistent attempts to do that, and to act as if every established British rider should be riding for them, has been verging on the obnoxious for some time now

by Ed K on Nov 28, 2009 6:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ah, but noticeably not "every" established British rider though

by civetta on Nov 28, 2009 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Charly?

by tedvdw on Nov 28, 2009 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cav, but only because he definitively told them to go suck eggs.

Correct?

by Ed K on Nov 28, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fleeman springs to mind.

Deserves another chance, but not in favour…

by Albertina on Nov 30, 2009 5:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Katusha...now there's a surprise!

Kolobnev, J-Rod, Ivanov….quite an Ardennes triple header

"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.

by Albertina on Nov 26, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs