Argentinean sprinter in negotiations with Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank and others for 2013 season
Juan José Haedo’s six-year stay with Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank is coming to a close, and the Argentinean sprinter has yet to secure a deal for next season. Having promised himself that he wanted to race in Europe for ten years, the 31-year-old is hoping to spend another four years racing at the top level; he, and younger brother Lucas Sebastian, have not signed a contract with anybody yet, however.
“My agent, [former Italian sprinter] Giovanni Lombardi, is negotiating with Saxo Bank and some other teams,” said Haedo in an interview with Argentinean blogger Martin Palermo. “Saxo is complicated because they have signed a lot of new riders, and they said they have no money, they were left with a amount and that’s what you get.”
Budgetary concerns, coupled with a winless 2012, are not making negotiations easy for Haedo, and he is beginning to resign himself to a smaller team next year. With just 21 points in this year’s International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour, the Argentinean may have to take a step down from the sport’s upper echelon, but he concedes that this may not be such a bad thing.
“Hopefully I can continue in the World Tour, but if signed by a Professional Continental I can stay at the highest level since there are formations that race two Grand Tours a year and have a very good calendar. Sometimes is better to be on a smaller team and be more important.
“Not to say that at Saxo I was not important, but perhaps now that I’m not being renewed… I’m not feeling quite so comfortable…”
Haedo has 21 WorldTour points, which is better than none to any team looking to recruit; while he might not make it onto a ProTeam next year, the 2011 Vuelta a España stage winner could be a strong addition to a Professional Continental outfit.
“I always said that I would compete 10 years in Europe,” he said. “I’ve done six so I want to ride at least four more years. What comes after is a gift.”