Tinkoff Saxo team conference: Questions and reactions from presentation plus interview video
Riis, Tinkov, Contador, Roche and Seier Christensen comment on plans to build world’s number one team Changing his position on the team as a result of a multi million Euro sale to Oleg Tinkov, Bjarne Riis plans to work more closely with his riders in 2014 and beyond, motivating them and guiding them strategically. At today’s press conference in London which announced the deal, Riis said that he had been preoccupied with finding sponsorship in recent years, neglecting the important area of directing his riders because of the necessity of looking after the financial aspect. He said with this area now being covered with Tinkov’s backing, that he can get back to trying to have the strongest possible team. “Me owning the team or not doesn’t make that big of a different for me, personally, in terms of my ambitions for this team. Of course I have a long history [...]
Video: Live broadcast of Team Saxo Tinkoff’s London press conference; will Tinkov take over ownership from Riis?
Press conference here live from 3pm GMTWhat is expected to be a very significant moment in the history of the Saxo Tinkoff team is set to take place this afternoon in London, with what the team describes as ‘important news’ being disclosed at 3pm GMT. The announcement has been predicted as being news about the transfer of team ownership from Bjarne Riis to the Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov, who has been secondary sponsor to the squad since mid-2012. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the arrangement will see Riis paid six million euros to hand over ownership of the squad to the Russian, some thirteen years after he acquired control of it. He is tipped to stay on board as general manager, earning a million euro per year, while Tinkov is predicted to be putting in between eleven and thirteen million per season. It is not clear at this point [...]
Dan Martin video interview part II: Targeting GC in the Giro could mean missing the Tour
Garmin-Sharp rider motivated by thoughts of racing in front of Irish fans, also speaks about other season aimsSpeaking in detail about his thoughts on the season ahead, Dan Martin has said that he believes he could be a contender for the overall title in the Giro d’Italia, and will target the race even if it means missing the Tour de France. Although Martin won a stage in this year’s Tour and seemed on course for a top ten overall in the race until he became sick, he is willing to risk taking a year out of the event in order to be in the best shape possible for the Italian race. The 2014 Giro begins in Ireland and the first three days being there, plus the mountainous parcours, both give him clear motivation to target the event. “I am going to go to the Giro aiming to be as good [...]
Dan Martin video interview part I: Garmin-Sharp leader speaks at length about best ever year, concussion issues and more
Irishman increasingly confident after Liège, Catalunya and Tour de France success Looking back at the highs and lows of his 2013 season, Dan Martin has spoken in detail for the first time about the effects of the concussion he suffered at the Vuelta a España, saying that the blow to the head he suffered caused serious sleep disturbances and considerable stress. “I still don’t know what I hit [in terms of the cause of the crash – ed.],” he told VeloNation in a long video interview conducted recently, and published below. “I was moving up on the outside [of the bunch] and just lost my hands off the bars. I hit the road harder than I have ever hit it before. “It felt like I had fallen out of a tree or something.” Martin’s crash occurred eleven kilometres from the end of stage seven, with the rider tumbling to the [...]
Tiffany Cromwell interview part II: Why I’m leaving Orica AIS for Specialized lululemon
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner speaks about schedule, new ambitions, team dynamic and the growth of women’s cyclingConfirmed today as joining Specialized lululemon after two seasons with the Orica AIS team, Tiffany Cromwell has spoken in detail about the move plus her reason for leaving the squad. Despite riding on many occasions for Emma Johansson, she clocked up a number of strong results including the Het Nieuwsblad success, stage two of the Jayco Bay Cycling Classic, fifth in Le Samyn, ninth in Flèche Wallonne and ninth in the world road race championships. The 25 year old believes that she can move up a notch after deciding to leave the setup and explore new possibilities. “Orica gave me amazing opportunities, they are a fantastic team, but for me it is just about change and trying something different, getting a little away from the Australian programme,” she told VeloNation in the video interview [...]
Video: Ebsen questions Taiwan KOM Challenge winner Emami after latter’s return from two year ban
“It would be very great if there was a doping control here…I am pretty sure that there are some things going on”Raising concerns and doubts very soon after he finished eighth in yesterday’s Taiwan KOM Challenge, the 2012 victor John Ebsen made clear that he had questions about the lack of testing at the race plus the dominant victory of Rahim Emami (RTS Santic, pictured). The Iranian rider finished 27 seconds clear of his team-mate Amir Zargari (RTS Santic) and at least a minute ahead of almost everyone else. Only third-placed Yin Chih Wang (CCN) was within sixty seconds of his time, with others much further back. Ebsen is concerned by the margin of Emami’s victory and the strength he showed, but the big question mark he has originates from the fact that the RTS Santic rider returned this year from a two year ban for Clenbuterol. That, his current [...]