HTC's Future: Announcement Imminent?

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 18, 2011 12:28 AM EDT in Gossip!

Podium Cafe Exclusive!! I have secret, insider information that HTC-Highroad, whose future has been hanging by a thread for months, may or may not make an announcement soon regarding the matter! Yes, count on it. A shoe will drop. Just don't ask me which one, or when.

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Over at VN, owner Bob Stapleton was expressing "reason for optimism," which sounds like code for good news, but until it happens it hasn't happened. This much we know: as soon as there is good news, it'll be broadcast loudly, to head off the contract feeding frenzy that may already be going on. Tejay to BMC? Goss to Green Edge? Cav to Sky? We'll see. They talk a lot, those... rumor people.

&One thought that popped into my mind today was, should the worst happen, there would be one rather intriguing free agent: Erik Zabel. Ete is given some or a lot of credit for Cavendish's development into the crafty, efficient sprinter you saw earlier today acing the rather chaotic finale of stage 15. Tyler Farrar, meanwhile, flashed greater speed but poorer positioning, and got second for his troubles. Could a little coaching from Der Meister make the difference? Mind you, I mean no disrespect to the fine lineup of coaches already on staff, or Farrar's native intelligence and experience. But we're talking about Erik Frickin Zabel. And the value of Farrar taking second on a stage versus winning it is probably enough to cover the salary in short order.

Just a thought. A more likely outcome is that Cav leaves, HTC continue on, Goss re-signs and wins 25 races in 2012.

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Well of all the rumors, Cav to Sky is the worst

It completely screws up Wiggo’s GC aspirations IMO and puts Thomas, Swift, and all the other up and comers into a lead out role, stifling their own ambitions.

Focus on easy first. If that's all you get, that ain't half bad - Caballo Blanco

by SpunOut on Jul 18, 2011 12:53 AM EDT reply actions

This whole story is testament to the perils of having Tourbecco as your secret source

by Jens on Jul 18, 2011 1:57 AM EDT reply actions

He said

it was iron-clad.

If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 18, 2011 11:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Cav to Sky

I agree with SpunOut that if Cav went to Sky, his success would stifle the others’ ambitions, because let’s face it, you’re not going to sacrifice a sure thing in the Tour for a ’he’s on his best form, he can place high’ speculation for GC. Personally, i couldn’t care less about Wiggo but I do think that they have a real star in Geraint Thomas who needs opportunities to test himself – although in a Cav team he would have more chances than Wiggo because he could ride the Classics. But Cav on that team means they couldn’t really go for GC in the Tour as well.

But Zabel at Garmin … interesting. Or Zabel at Omega-Pharma for Greipel – even more interesting!

by kittyfondue on Jul 18, 2011 3:36 AM EDT reply actions

Two things:

1.In Danish newspapers you can read that Brian Holm, Rolf Aldag, Zabel + 4-5 riders have a solid offer from one (maybe two) other team(s). If Cav is among the 4-5 riders is not known, but almost sure ;)
2. Years of experience with Riis and sponsor problems have taught me to relax, as long as there are some positive sounds from Stableton there are hope, and for now he says just the same words that I have heard from Riis a lot of times: negotiations is ongoing bla bla bla, no worries about riders leaving bla bla bla….. so take it easy, he will probably pull a rabbit out of the hat, just like Riis always has done.

by LittleOldLady on Jul 18, 2011 3:54 AM EDT reply actions

I think Holm is in a bit of a pickle

He clearly loves working with Cav (and I do think it’s a mutually beneficial relationship) but Holm has no way of getting on Sky. Even if they didn’t have the no-dopers policy I don’t think Sky think Holm fits their staff profile. So Holm is left clinging to the hope that Cav wil go elsewhere and he goes along for the ride.

My optimal scenario is HTC surviving with Aldag-Holm-Zabel re-building around John Degenkolb. The thought of him well supported in the sprints and classics should have any number of competitors pooping in their pantaloons.

by Jens on Jul 18, 2011 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks for the Zabel angle and pic.

That is now the transfer rumor I’ll be listening for, Zabel to _________________

by paisley on Jul 18, 2011 6:44 AM EDT reply actions

Bob was on BBC the other day. Didn’t sound like a man with too many cares in the world.

pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway

by fmk on Jul 18, 2011 6:44 AM EDT reply actions

Sounds like

no announcement today

Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...

by TheFigurehead on Jul 18, 2011 8:01 AM EDT reply actions

HTC has signed to race for BMC this year

by JustJoshinYa on Jul 18, 2011 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

The coming BMC hegemony

by Le Comte on Jul 18, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I think HTC will be fine.

Presuming that at least a partial reason for many of their riders leaving is to get away from Cavendish lead out duty, I do find it funny that Cavendish is now leaving.

But HTC has survived talent drain on more than one occasion.

"Oh man, it’s going to take days to kill all these people!"

by ncrow on Jul 18, 2011 10:09 AM EDT reply actions

So what riders are leaving, other than probably Cav himself?

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Jul 18, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Confirmed? I don't know, none?

Rumored?

Velits to QS
Martin to Saxo
Goss to GreenEdge
Tejay to BMC
Siutsou to Sky

Plus Cavendish is rumored to bring support riders to Sky as well.

Again, rumors. But it looks like HTC is going to lose a lot of talent this year.

And I think it will be fine.

"Oh man, it’s going to take days to kill all these people!"

by ncrow on Jul 18, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I am too lazy to look up what the UCI points system is all about again, but doesn't the rumored moves affect the teams future standing wrt to invites...

They are going to lose a ton of points – assuming they lose all rumored and can’t sign in someone like a Gilbert who would bring a ton of points back. Aren’t points still relevant?

by JustJoshinYa on Jul 18, 2011 12:05 PM EDT reply actions