2011 Season Signings

[sandranian]

Saur is starting to prepare for the 2011 campaign. The first announced addition to the squad is 29 year old Arnaud Coyot who rode for Caisse D'Epargne in 2010. He was 12th in this year's Paris-Roubaix.

[sandranian]

So Contador is now with Riis. I wonder if I would have liked Contador if he went to Saur....

[Wisey]

So Contador is now with Riis. I wonder if I would have liked Contador if he went to Saur....

I'd have sold off all my gitanes and walked away!

.....ok, maybe not. But I still don't like the fastest C grader in the world.

[sandranian]

Congratulations to Paul Poux, who has been signed to ride for Saur-Sojasun for 2011. He was brought up from their espoir team at the end of this year for the Tour du Poitou-Charentes, where he did well in the individual time trial and helped the team win 2 stages and the GC. He has performed well in the TT's all year, which is where Saur needs some help.

Great work, and best of luck in 2011!

Here is his 2010 results...which clearly earned him the spot:
5th - French National Championships (ITT)
9th - Tour du Poitou-Charentes (ITT)
11th - Tour du Limousin (ITT)

1st - Grand Prix du Muguet (ITT)
1st - Circuit des Ardennes (ITT)
1st - Tour des Deux-Sevres (ITT)
1st - Souvenir du Louson Bobet
1st - Tour du Leon (Stage win)

[Wisey]

So....... he's a sprinter, eh?

[sandranian]

Despite assurances, there has been no sponsorship announcement for the BBox team for 2011. Fredrigo just jumped ship (to FDJeux)...which leaves Thomas Voeckler in a situation: He is the big name there, and they don't have a ride for 2011.

Wouldn't it be the coup of the century for Saur to sign Voeckler? That would almost guarantee them entry to the 2011 Tour de France....

Here's to pipe dreams!

[sandranian]

Not exactly the blockbuster we are looking for, but a huge opportunity for the espoir rider Jean-Lou PAIANI. He will join two others from the "feeder" team into the pro ranks next year. No word on anyone leaving to make room: These have just been announced as additions. This will be the 21 year old's first pro contract. He was the Brittany champion of 2010, selected for the Junior World Championship team for France, was the leader of the French 'B' team for the Tour de l'Avenir (32nd GC), and won stages in the 2009 Tour de l'Avenir and Nevers Morvan.

Let's hope he has a long and successful career!

[sandranian]

Saur-Sojasun's Heulot is apparently in the running to sign Voeckler, which is apparently a goal according to the "rumor mill":


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http://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/une_cy ... 1_actu.Htm
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Saur-Sojasun n'a pas de limites territoriales
vendredi 24 septembre 2010

Tour de Vend?e, dimanche. Parfois gagnant avec Coppel et Hivert dans cette Coupe de France, Saur-Sojasun refuse l'image bretonnante.
Il est dans l'air du temps de classer, de compiler, de comparer. La seule pr?sence ? ses c?t?s de Philippe Raimbaud, l'ancien associ? de Jean-Ren? Bernaudeau chez Vend?e U puis Bonjour et La Boulang?re, pourrait d'ailleurs suffire ? ?tablir un parall?le entre Saur-Sojasun et Bbox. Poliment, St?phane Heulot r?fute la comparaison. ? Je refuse l'?tiquette identitaire, c'est un facteur limitant, explique le manager de Saur-Sojasun. Je me sens plus sous influence du grand Ouest. Je ne mets aucune limite territoriale ? mon ?quipe. Il va d'ailleurs falloir s'ouvrir ? l'?tranger de mani?re ? disposer d'une lecture au-del? de nos fronti?res... ?

Le r?ve Voeckler

Cette ?tape sera pens?e, pr?par?e minutieusement, comme chaque fois chez le Rennais. ? D'habitude, je n'aime pas les sprints lanc?s de trop loin. L'an dernier, je n'?tais du tout pr?t ? m?langer les valeurs de l'?quipe. C'?tait un plaisir ? partager en interne. Maintenant, je veux avoir les moyens de jouer sur tous les tableaux. ? Ferm? ? rien, ouvert ? tout, celui qui se pr?sente comme le conducteur du train - ? le leader, c'est l'?quipe ? - rappelle n?anmoins que la priorit? n?1 pour 2011 demeure l'option fran?aise.

Habitu? ? proc?der par petites touches - ? la construction se passe relativement bien. On a pris Arnaud Coyot (Caisse d'?pargne) et trois n?o-pros ? - St?phane Heulot sait parfaitement qu'il lui faudra p?cher un gros dans ses filets pour franchir une ?tape.

Encore davantage que l'an dernier, le nom de Thomas Voeckler circule avec insistance. Du malheur ou des interrogations des uns, il n'entend pas faire son fonds de commerce alors il attend. ? Je ne suis pas sp?cialement inquiet sur notre potentiel, maintenant il nous faut un peu de calibres. On va monter ? 23 coureurs (au lieu de 19). ?

Hivert encore de saison

Ce dimanche, la Coupe de France va conduire cet atypique en Vend?e. ? Cette coupe, c'?tait moins un objectif que ?a a pu l'?tre l'an dernier. Nous avions un programme plus lourd. Les objectifs cibl?s ont ?t? r?alis?s. Je pense aux courses ? ?tapes comme Paris-Nice ou le Dauphin? avec Coppel. Engoulvent s'est affirm?, Casper s'est maintenu, Simon manque juste d'un r?sultat d'envergure pour concr?tiser sa r?gularit?. L'?quipe a pris du volume. ? Avec 37 points de retard sur L?onardo Duqu?, Jonathan Hivert peut n?anmoins toujours esp?rer succ?der ? Jimmy Casper.

Pour autant, St?phane Heulot n'entend pas mettre tous ses oeufs dans le m?me panier. ? On court pour gagner la course. La coupe, c'est juste une r?sultante ?. Si le Tour de Vend?e donne rendez-vous aux sprinteurs, la carte Jimmy Casper appara?t moins ?vidente en cette fin de saison. ? Il avait tellement en t?te le championnat du Monde, ?a g?n?re un rel?chement. Maintenant, c'est un coureur de classe, il peut sortir quelque chose de grand. ?

Composition de Saur-Sojasun : Casper, Delaplace, Engoulvent, Galland, Hivert, Mangel, Martias, Simon.

[sandranian]

So Monday is the deadline for Voeckler! He has stated that he has until Monday to respond to offers from Cofidis and Saur-Sojasun for 2011.

Seriously, this would get Saur into the Tour de France next year!

[Wisey]

Yeah, he was saying it's not just about the money, he has "sporting" objectives. Looks like it is a choice between Saur and Cofidis if BBox folds. He would be a great addition. Fingers crossed. (Not that I have any ill will towards BBox and JRB)

[sandranian]

Monday has come and gone and still nothing. Voeckler told l'Equipe on Tuesday that he still had nothing to report: Bbox still apparently has no sponsor, and he hasn't moved.

Personally, I think it means that a deal must be close to save the team. But who knows? Voeckler can afford to play "chicken" because he will be able to sign for another team immediately. The others on the team though...not so sure about.

[Wisey]

Reading between the lines, I think that TV know that he is the star of the team. If he jumps ship, the proposed deal may evaporate and that leaves everyone else without a job. Even if he has other offers, many riders will struggle to get a job along with the other staff. It's kind of nice to see him holding out till the last for the benefit of others. Still, it would be nice to have him on Saur too.

[sandranian]

I think you are right, but how many of those riders might have found a ride if they were provided with notice during the Tour de France that the team would be folding?

[sandranian]

My prediction is that Bernaudeau has a new sponsor for BBox for 2011. According to the rules, they have to post their "bonds" or financial guarantees for next year by this Friday.

I just can't see Voeckler going this long without an announcement, if there wasn't something in the works to "save" the team. My prediction: Voeckler stays with Bernaudeau, and we continue watching the Tour de France without Gitane....

Being a pessimist today....

[sandranian]

It's all over but the shouting. Voeckler announced that if BBox folds, he will sign with Cofidis, because they stand a better chance of providing him with the right "calendar" for his season as a Pro Tour contender. He has spoken with Heulot and explained his decision.

I am bitter.

http://www.ouest-france.fr/actu/actuDet ... 6_actu.Htm