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Beloki Leads modest new team

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Nick Burns
  
I just read the article again about Beloki and I am wondering why he left Saiz after he had stated
his intent to stay? There is always the possibility that the money is better but I really thought
Beloki was most concerned about being on a strong team.

The roster on his new team looks pretty weak and I guess he is counting on a wild card invitation to
the Tour based in his excellent previous results.

Any other ideas or comments?

Dan Connelly
  
Saiz was thought to be joining Stayers until recently (see CyclingNews). However, if I was Beloki,
I'd have to consider Saiz's rather abysmal record in 3-week stage race GC. The '03 Vuelta is just
the latest example. But even Jalabert noted in the mid '90's that Saiz's approach to racing didn't
prepare the riders properly for the Tour.

Dan

Nick Burns wrote:
> I just read the article again about Beloki and I am wondering why he left Saiz after he had stated
> his intent to stay? There is always the possibility that the money is better but I really thought
> Beloki was most concerned about being on a strong team.
>
> The roster on his new team looks pretty weak and I guess he is counting on a wild card invitation
> to the Tour based in his excellent previous results.
>
> Any other ideas or comments?

Carl Sundquist
  
"Nick Burns" <chrismcreynolds@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fa99ebc$0$91681$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.com...
> I just read the article again about Beloki and I am wondering why he left Saiz after he had stated
> his intent to stay? There is always the possibility that the money is better but I really thought
> Beloki was most concerned about being on a strong team.
>
> The roster on his new team looks pretty weak and I guess he is counting on a wild card invitation
> to the Tour based in his excellent previous results.
>
> Any other ideas or comments?
>
>

I think Cyclingnews had some comments from Saiz about the same time the Liberty Seguros team was
announced that Beloki needed to ask Saiz for a spot on the team, that Saiz wasn't going to come
forward to ask him to join.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2003/oct03/oct31news

Nick Burns
  
"Carl Sundquist" <carlsun@cox-internet.com> wrote in message
news:vqj8r58pf1664d@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Nick Burns" <chrismcreynolds@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3fa99ebc$0$91681$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.com...
> > I just read the article again about Beloki and I am wondering why he
left
> > Saiz after he had stated his intent to stay? There is always the
possibility
> > that the money is better but I really thought Beloki was most concerned about being on a
> > strong team.
> >
> > The roster on his new team looks pretty weak and I guess he is counting
on a
> > wild card invitation to the Tour based in his excellent previous
results.
> >
> > Any other ideas or comments?
> >
> >
>
> I think Cyclingnews had some comments from Saiz about the same time the
Liberty Seguros
> team was announced that Beloki needed to ask Saiz for a spot on the team,
that Saiz wasn't
> going to come forward to ask him to join.
>
> http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2003/oct03/oct31news

OK, lemme see if I have this straight...Beloki held out for a while during the sponsor search.
Beloki and Saiz both eventually come to an agreement (tentatively at least) with Stayer to join that
team (as opposed to taking over ONCE sponsorship) and then a few days later Saiz announces the
liberty Seguros insurance company sponsor that will take over ONCE and that Beloki needs to take the
initiative to ask for a spot on the Liberty Seguros team? (all in one breath)

Richard Adams
  
Nick Burns wrote:
> I just read the article again about Beloki and I am wondering why he left Saiz after he had stated
> his intent to stay? There is always the possibility that the money is better but I really thought
> Beloki was most concerned about being on a strong team.
>
> The roster on his new team looks pretty weak and I guess he is counting on a wild card invitation
> to the Tour based in his excellent previous results.
>
> Any other ideas or comments?

Three words...

Venga Venga Venga

Carl Sundquist
  
"Nick Burns" <chrismcreynolds@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> >
> > http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2003/oct03/oct31news
>
> OK, lemme see if I have this straight...Beloki held out for a while during the sponsor search.
> Beloki and Saiz both eventually come to an agreement (tentatively at least) with Stayer to join
> that team (as opposed to taking over ONCE sponsorship) and then a few days later Saiz announces
> the liberty Seguros insurance company sponsor that will take over ONCE and that Beloki needs to
> take the initiative to ask for a spot on the Liberty Seguros team? (all in one breath)
>
>

It certainly gives the impression that Saiz is a pissy little man with a big ego, doesn't it?

Lombardi's comments today http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2003/nov03/nov06news appear to support
that as well.

Howard Kveck
  
In article <vqje6bem98la1d@corp.supernews.com>, "Carl Sundquist" <carlsun@cox-internet.com> wrote:

> "Nick Burns" <chrismcreynolds@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > >
> > > http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2003/oct03/oct31news
> >
> > OK, lemme see if I have this straight...Beloki held out for a while during the sponsor search.
> > Beloki and Saiz both eventually come to an agreement (tentatively at least) with Stayer to join
> > that team (as opposed to taking over ONCE sponsorship) and then a few days later Saiz announces
> > the liberty Seguros insurance company sponsor that will take over ONCE and that Beloki needs to
> > take the initiative to ask for a spot on the Liberty Seguros team? (all in one breath)
> >
> >
>
> It certainly gives the impression that Saiz is a pissy little man with a big ego, doesn't it?
>
> Lombardi's comments today http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/?id=2003/nov03/nov06news appear to
> support that as well.

It seems like Saiz -has- to be in charge of the whole shooting match. No "I'm working for..." in
his world. Beloki stuck by Saiz for a long time while he searched for a new sponsor, possibly
missing out on employment by a couple of decent teams. I think it's ridiculous that Saiz expected
Beloki to go with him (and beg for the chance to, at that...) after they had gotten things pretty
much dialed in at Stayer. Who's left with Saiz, anyway? Nozal and de Galdeano are it, as far as I
can remember.

--
tanx, Howard

"Danger, you haven't seen the last of me!"
"No, but the first of you turns my stomach!"
Firesign Theatre

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Nick Burns
  
"Carl Sundquist" <carlsun@cox-internet.com> wrote in message

>
> It certainly gives the impression that Saiz is a pissy little man with a
big ego, doesn't
> it?

I never really cared for him. He had a few good ideas but I think the success during the 90s allowed
his head to get even bigger than his gut. I had the sense that it interfered with his riders when
certain patterns emerged. It just does not seem like the racers are allowed to make very many
decisions on their own. I also remember when they brought Giant in with the first sloping top tube
(I think?) frames on the road and he was talking about it as if this was a personal achievement. In
fact, there were many times that he has gloats when he should have pointed to the work of others. I
guess he feels like a wannabe with no racing palmares and a body like the Michelin man, leading some
of the finest athletes in the world.

I hope Beloki does well, but he has to dethrone Lance just to keep people from getting bored with
him! Imagine being in that position! Seriously though, I think Beloki needs to keep up the good work
because I sure appreciate his consistent form, but I would like to see him go for a stage win or
two. I know he sorted of tried once but if I were him in next year's Tour and Lance is battling it
out with Jan, I would definitely put that as a higher priority than he has in the past and probably
at this point far more important than another third behind those two (like he did in 2001).

Jonathan V.D. S
  
Nick Burns <chrismcreynolds@hotmail.com> schreef in berichtnieuws
3fa9dbf8$0$91676$a32e20b9@news.nntpservers.com...
>
> "Carl Sundquist" <carlsun@cox-internet.com> wrote in message
>
> >
> > It certainly gives the impression that Saiz is a pissy little man with a
> big ego, doesn't
> > it?
>
> I never really cared for him. He had a few good ideas but I think the success during the 90s
> allowed his head to get even bigger than his gut. I had the sense that it interfered with his
> riders when certain patterns emerged. It just does not seem like the racers are allowed to
> make very
many
> decisions on their own. I also remember when they brought Giant in with
the
> first sloping top tube (I think?) frames on the road and he was talking about it as if this was a
> personal achievement. In fact, there were many times that he has gloats when he should have
> pointed to the work of
others.
> I guess he feels like a wannabe with no racing palmares and a body like
the
> Michelin man, leading some of the finest athletes in the world.

At the same time, I think he (Saiz) is very involved with what he does. He often phones all his
riders and knows what they are up to. Many of them appreciate this. I think he can be very
motivating. Perhaps they all feel they're part of the team when he's in charge, as he gives
attention to every one.

Jonathan.

DiabloScott
  
Anybody heard how Beloki's recovery is going? He can't be back to 100% yet after an injury like that.

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