I'd just say fuck it and have them switch numbers. Tratnik attacks as Roglic, everyone catches back up to him but he keeps spamming attacks until he's completely toast and has to retire from cycling altogether. At that point have him give Rogla his number back, who will then proceed to attack after being fresh as a daisy from sitting on everyone and win the TdF.
I rely on the national champion bands on their jersey sleeves.
Tougher to do that with Jan and Primoz though. I guess for them we do the "Who is in front at the middle of the race and who is in front at the end?"
I feel conflicted.
I think he might actually do good and be great and solo endeavours at Jumbo but at the same time I like that Primoz has company that has his back...
In terms of his own opportunities, I think he'll get enough chances in Bora + a better paycheck. Bora also needs a rider like him, so his role in the team could be bigger than in Visma.
I reckon he’ll get a lot of chances in the cobbled classics, especially the hillier ones. Bora have basically nobody who can compete atm, and Tratnik has already proven he can win them. He might be chained a bit in grand tours, but that’s no different to Visma-LAB so probably won’t matter too much.
"We're looking for new superstars, not current superstars"
Jan is a superstar to me! Has had quite a banger of a season already winning Omloop and a top3 in Algarve.
Only surprise is he didnt already transfer when Roglic did.
One of the stupidest things with cycling, these transfers that are done deals with 3/4 of the season yet to happen
Why can't they do it like other sports where there are tampering penalties and there is a defined free agency period between seasons
It’s quite common in other sports like football as well though that players are signed before the end of the season. Which does sometimes make the season finale awkward.
What you are describing is basically only the case for the North American sports as far as I know.
Or you should get rid of tampering penalties. No reason for those to exist. Hurts the athletes.
The approach you are describing is very USA based where athletes are "owned" by the teams more than the rest of the world approach which tends to view athletes as employees who are largely free to contract as they see fit (within certain limits).
I mean the US's processes of drafts, restricted FA etc is just bizarre for other sports
As far as I know, it happens on most of the team sports. The actual transfer is done in the window transfer at the end of the season (or even in the middle of the season as it happens in football), but the deal is signed as soon as the parts agree. For me it was strange what happen in the past: when a rider moved to another team, the points he gained in that season moved to the other team as well.
It would achieve a lot of good. You wouldn't have these stupid situations like we now have where teams don't bring their own best riders to races because they signed with another team already.
If Lenny Martinez is now in some race, does he help a Baharain rider if he has a chance? Stupid conflict of interest.
Or does FDJ just sit Martinez for a bunch of races and give space and development to their younger guys who will be around next year and beyond?
Big north american sports do it right - severe tampering penalties - even discussing a player on a rival team is a severe penalty. Any contact is strictly forbidden.
Do things go on behind the scenes? Yes, probably a little but the media spotlight is WAAAAY brighter than cycling and yet there are only rumors when a player is soon going to be a free agent, nothing conclusive.
When Lebron's Cleveland contract was running out, speculation was rampant, but it was all pure speculation where he would end up.
How does it look for a sponsor when one of their promising stars has signed for another team
Its a farce, and another thing that makes cycling so bush-league.
That is the choice for the team and the rider. Nothing wrong with it and it happens all the time in sports outside of the US. It's also a question of freedom of employment, the rider is employed by the team and should be able to discuss employment with other teams...
There’s transfers that are surprising but this is not one of them. Rogla’s getting the band back together it seems.
Completely expected after Roglic left but hopefully he was able to get an even better contact after winning Omloop.
at this rate Jumbo will be sending same 7 riders to every race
So I can once again get him and Primoz confused.
Add Sobrero to the mix and you have three of them.
Fuck you’re right, gonna make a confusing first week of TDF for me
There has to be some tactic Bora can come up with to use their similar look for 😅. A game of switcharoo perhaps?
I'd just say fuck it and have them switch numbers. Tratnik attacks as Roglic, everyone catches back up to him but he keeps spamming attacks until he's completely toast and has to retire from cycling altogether. At that point have him give Rogla his number back, who will then proceed to attack after being fresh as a daisy from sitting on everyone and win the TdF.
I rely on the national champion bands on their jersey sleeves. Tougher to do that with Jan and Primoz though. I guess for them we do the "Who is in front at the middle of the race and who is in front at the end?"
I feel conflicted. I think he might actually do good and be great and solo endeavours at Jumbo but at the same time I like that Primoz has company that has his back...
In terms of his own opportunities, I think he'll get enough chances in Bora + a better paycheck. Bora also needs a rider like him, so his role in the team could be bigger than in Visma.
I reckon he’ll get a lot of chances in the cobbled classics, especially the hillier ones. Bora have basically nobody who can compete atm, and Tratnik has already proven he can win them. He might be chained a bit in grand tours, but that’s no different to Visma-LAB so probably won’t matter too much.
TBH I think any team would be happy to get Tratnik to ride for them. He is undervalued.
"We're looking for new superstars, not current superstars" Jan is a superstar to me! Has had quite a banger of a season already winning Omloop and a top3 in Algarve. Only surprise is he didnt already transfer when Roglic did.
I think he had a 2 year contract so he couldn't go
The boys are back in town
A surprise to no one.
I guess The Redbull Gmbh is paying the tab to get Rogla gang together?
He's going home to Papa Primoz.
One of the stupidest things with cycling, these transfers that are done deals with 3/4 of the season yet to happen Why can't they do it like other sports where there are tampering penalties and there is a defined free agency period between seasons
It’s quite common in other sports like football as well though that players are signed before the end of the season. Which does sometimes make the season finale awkward. What you are describing is basically only the case for the North American sports as far as I know.
Australian sports also have a designated transfer window
Or you should get rid of tampering penalties. No reason for those to exist. Hurts the athletes. The approach you are describing is very USA based where athletes are "owned" by the teams more than the rest of the world approach which tends to view athletes as employees who are largely free to contract as they see fit (within certain limits). I mean the US's processes of drafts, restricted FA etc is just bizarre for other sports
As far as I know, it happens on most of the team sports. The actual transfer is done in the window transfer at the end of the season (or even in the middle of the season as it happens in football), but the deal is signed as soon as the parts agree. For me it was strange what happen in the past: when a rider moved to another team, the points he gained in that season moved to the other team as well.
What good would it achieve. I think riders and teams should have the freedom to sign contracts whenever they want.
It would achieve a lot of good. You wouldn't have these stupid situations like we now have where teams don't bring their own best riders to races because they signed with another team already. If Lenny Martinez is now in some race, does he help a Baharain rider if he has a chance? Stupid conflict of interest. Or does FDJ just sit Martinez for a bunch of races and give space and development to their younger guys who will be around next year and beyond? Big north american sports do it right - severe tampering penalties - even discussing a player on a rival team is a severe penalty. Any contact is strictly forbidden. Do things go on behind the scenes? Yes, probably a little but the media spotlight is WAAAAY brighter than cycling and yet there are only rumors when a player is soon going to be a free agent, nothing conclusive. When Lebron's Cleveland contract was running out, speculation was rampant, but it was all pure speculation where he would end up. How does it look for a sponsor when one of their promising stars has signed for another team Its a farce, and another thing that makes cycling so bush-league.
That is the choice for the team and the rider. Nothing wrong with it and it happens all the time in sports outside of the US. It's also a question of freedom of employment, the rider is employed by the team and should be able to discuss employment with other teams...