THY:

Will Jean-Paul van Poppel jr. , Boy Van Poppel join the team next year? ;-)

(EDIT)
We all know that the Tour de France-time is also the time most riders change teams.. Which riders do you want for next season?
(Be realistic)




Riders I want for next season:
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia - HTC)
Situation, the contract runs out after this season, Team Columbia - HTC wants to extend the contract. Team Sky is also interested!

Marcello Albasini's son, Michael Albasini (Team Columbia - HTC)
Situation, I don't know..

Jean-Paul van Poppel's son, Boy van Poppel (Rabobank, Continental team)
Situation, he is a junior and should be easy to get

Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Team Saxo Bank)
Situation, the contract runs out after this season, Team Saxo Bank probably wants to extend. Cervélo TestTeam was interested last year, but Kurt-Asle was under contract and Cervélo couldn't afford to by him out. This year he is free..

Alexander Kristoff (Team Joker Bianchi)
Situation, he is a junior. One of the most consistent sprinters in the U23-class. Team Columbia - HTC has scouted on him. Former Norwegian Road Champion after beating Thor Hushovd in the sprint! Could be a good lead-out man.

Svein Tuft (Garmin-Slipstream)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svein_Tuft

 

How is his contract situation?

Sorry, don't know how long his contract is.

Ryder Hesjedal and Johann Tschopp are also two riders I would like to see in our team.
I hope the contract situation is "good", as they would had been good to have in the team..

 Mauricio Soler (Barloworld).  His contract goes to end of 2009.

THY:

How is his contract situation?

Tuft signed for 2 years with Garmin ... (2009-2010).
 

Serge Pauwels (!!) to Team Sky? (Google Translate)

He has a contract out next year!

 Good for Serge. Everyone makes mistakes, but it really sucks when someone's screw-up costs you a stage win. I just have to wonder if Sky will be financed Katusha-style: plenty of cash and managers willing to pay top euro for top riders, drive a dump truck full of cash up to Cav's flat and offer to buy out his leadout guys too, etc. If Astana is showing something, it's that if you stack the team, it basically doesn't matter whether they like each other or not, they'll dominate regardless.

CCCP:

Good for Serge. Everyone makes mistakes, but it really sucks when someone's screw-up costs you a stage win.

Well it was his own fault, and he has admitted it also! He didn't follow orders.


I think this news is just nonsense, but you never know!

I just find out that swedish rider, Thomas Lövkvist (Team Columbia-HTC) has a contract that ends after this season. (Wiki)
He could be a good rider for us next season!

I understand that Norwegian and Swedish is almost the same.
So runart, can you confirm that I'm right?
Link!

 Nicolas Roche, pity he's contracted for next year....

Yeah, I couldn't help but notice that you have three Norwegians on your wish-list :-)

Of course Edvald Boasson Hagen and Kurt-Asle Arvesen (hoping to see you back on the saddle soon) are well known. Alexander Kristoff is really up and coming, but maybe you'd also want to take a look at Frederik Wilmann (son of Jostein Wilmann) who is considered to be one of the biggest talents in norwegian cycling ever.

In responce to your question:

Not sure if you mean the language or the people... But here goes. The norwegians understand Swedish perfectly but not vice versa. In fact they hardly understand any word we say (OK... a little bit abbreviated but in general it's mostly true).

In case of the people: Norwegians are vikings and the Swedes are not. Capisc'? :-p

Seriously though... I like Thomas Lövkvist. You know where Magnus Bäckstedt is at the moment?

Magnus Bäckstedt has retired.

I meant, language. :-)
I meant if you could confirm what I said, was consistent with the video I linked to.

This is not a comment about any particular rider, but there's going to be a lot more competition for talent for 2010. Santander and Renault are talking to Contador about a new team. It would most likely be Pro Tour level. And Armstrong was talking to Nike to jump in as a sponsor if Astana didn't come through with their money. Now they might form a Nike-Livestrong-Trek team with Lance and Bruyneel. Two new high profile teams. This would make it more difficult for CTT.