Straight from the World Tour - Portuguese Continental team signs it's second Cofidis rider after losing leader to UAE Team Emirates
Cycling
Portuguese team Sabgal / Anicolor has signed two World Tour riders last year in Antwan Tolhoek - who was then suspended for doping, and Julius Johansen who was now signed by UAE Team Emirates. But the Continental-level outfit continues to bring in new signings and has confirmed Rubén Fernandez, the second rider they've signed from Cofidis in a matter of weeks.
The Portuguese team, whom sources informed CyclingUpToDate has a budget of just over €1.5 million per season, are putting the money to good use. They have built a core of Portuguese riders and those who race mostly on the Portuguese calendar, but have built a 'second' block of riders who focus on international races. The team is obtaining more and more wildcards for higher-level races and is possibly attempting to move to ProTeam level in recent years.
In the light of that, they have signed riders from two ProTeams in Israel Premier-Tech's Mason Hollyman and Euskaltel - Euskadi's Xavier Cañellas, but have also signed two World Tour riders, both from the Cofidis team. The first was Harrison Wood, who not too long ago openly criticized the UCI points system, citing difficulties in finding a pro contract as his role as domestique in the French team made it very hard for him to gather points and show relevance to other teams.
The second was announced this Sunday, it's Spanish climber Rubén Fernandez. “I am very happy to be able to represent Sabgal / Anicolor next season. I am sure it will be a very beautiful season and full of excellent results, both in personal terms and in terms of the Team," he said in a post shared by the team.
The 33-year old climber will be a quality addition for a Continental-level team, and has had his career highlights on the 2013 overall victory at the Tour de l'Avenir (ahead of Adam Yates and Patrick Konrad) and the day he spent in the red jersey at the Vuelta a España after dropping all the GC riders such as Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde at the Mirador de Ézaro.
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- There is no strategy for someone who can outclimb, out-TT, outsprint everyone in GC.abstractengineer12-12-2024
- Don't forget the firepower of Mauro Gianetti. 😅mikolajjj12-12-2024
- 👏👏👏 What happens now withbthis team seems to me like the biggest lie in cycling history. Figuers like Mauro Gianetti laughing in our face talking about new training strategy. And now I am hearing about Pogačar foundation for kids. They are walking in the footsteps of a previous, unbeatable cycling star. The sport is full of shit unfortunately. And the authorities? Who caught Lance? Americans, not UCI or ASO. If not for Tygard, nothing would have happened. For years Lance could dope and getting away easily. Not only him, the WHOLE TEAM. People, who think he was so clever and wasn't detected are naive. They have been eating all of the pharmacy supply. Such amounts of drugs are detectable nearly at a distance of 2 meters, not only in blood or urine 😉.mikolajjj12-12-2024
- Not different of Bruyneel of Godefroot. Apart that in his case, the omerta stayed more or less, so he wasn't convicted despite its teams dominated the UCI rankings in the 90's and 00's EPO era.Acapulco12-12-2024
- Lance was never the sharpest spoke in the wheel.He was however the greatest egotistical maniac the sport of cycling had ever seen.To his credit with much therapy he has become something of a mench...okay....half a mench.
Brucegel12-12-2024 - Illiterats of this age are people who aren't smart enough to interpret facts that they are given. Guess your ancestors were byuing snake oil or brooklyn bridge. Because people like you will buy shit, eat it and ask for more. Buen appetite!mikolajjj12-12-2024
- If you don't know why Pogacar took two losses to heart than clearly you don't understand competitive psychology and motivation.Brucegel12-12-2024
- Anytime someone leads with "the actual truth" your B.S.detector should go crazy loud.Nobody knows what UAE's shtick is in regards to training and nutrition.When you have some proof I would like to be the first to know.I will enjoy Pogacars exploits until such time.Brucegel12-12-2024
- I always assume anyone who demands people post using their real names are just trying to swat people. Smart people never post their real names or personal information on the internet.Sweep11-12-2024