Answer The Survey And Find Out Who Will Be The Rider Of The Month

Who is the Rider of the Month?

McCarthy

Najar

Sagan

Geniez

Degenkolb

Mareczko

Wellens

Impey

Greipel

Skujiņš

 

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Start of the Season

The new season just started and nothing seems to be changed.
Sagan is bossing in and out the competitions, his meeting with the Pope has been fantastic and showed us a grown Champion.
Greipel said again he is still in the game and in pure sprints he is the one to beat.
Degenkolb after a troubled season has already won a race, but will he return to be the champion he was before the horrible accident? I really hope so.
Porte seems to have done this, he won again on Willunga Hill, 6 months after his dramatic crash at le Tour de France.
In conclusion, what can we say about Quick-Step Floors?  They have started the season reaffirming their enormous superiority in the UCI World Tour, they have already won 3 races with 3 different riders.
Do we have to prepare ourselves for another spring of Sagan vs. Quick-Step Floors?
This are the first few 2018 impressions because I don't want to say a word about so many teams that, at first sight, appear significantly below expectations.

Peloton 2018 - Rider Transfers

How will be the 2018 Peloton?
Here is a summary of the most important transfers: 

AG2R La Mondiale
In: Benoit Cosnefroy (Neo-Pro), Clément Venturini (Cofidis), Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal), 
Silvan Dillier (BMC Racing Team), Aurélien Paret Peintre 
Out: Christophe Riblon (Retires), Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida), 
Sondre Holst Enger (Israel Cycling Academy), Hugo Houle (Astana)

Extended: Romain Bardet, Oliver Naesen, Pierre Latour, Ben Gastauer, Axel Domont, 

François Bidard, Alexis Vuillermoz, Mikaël Chérel, Gediminas Bagdonas, Nico Denz, 

Julien Duval

Astana Pro Team
In: Omar Fraile (Dimension Data), Magnus Cort (Orica-Scott), Davide Villella 
(Cannondale-Drapac), Jan Hirt (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), 
Hugo Houle (AG2R La Mondiale), 
Yevgeniy Gidich (Vino-Astana Motors)
Out: Paolo Tiralongo (Retires), Michele Scarponi, Matti Breschel (Cannondale-Drapac),
 Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates), Arman Kamyshev
Extended: Jakob Fuglsang, Dario Cataldo, Luis Leon Sanchez, Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev, 
Dmitriy Gruzdev, Ruslan Tleubayev, Pello Bilbao, Daniil Fominykh,
 Artyom Zakharov and Andrei Grivko.

Bahrain-Merida
In: Gorka Izagirre (Movistar), Matej Mohorič (UAE Team Emirates), 
Kristijan Koren (Cannondale-Drapac), Hermann Pernsteiner (Amplatz-BMC), 
Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale), Mark Padun (Team Colpack)
Out: Javier Moreno (Delko Marseille Provence KTM),
 Tsgabu Grmay (Trek-Segafredo), 
Ondřej Cink (PMRA Racing Team), Jon Ander Insausti (Fundación Euskadi), 
Janez Brajkovic
Extended: Sonny Colbrelli, Franco Pellizotti, Heinrich Haussler

BMC Racing Team
In: Nathan Van Hooydonck (BMC Development), Alberto Bettiol (Cannondale-Drapac), 
Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto Soudal), Simon Gerrans (Orica-Scott), 
Paddy Bevin (Cannondale-Drapac)
Out: Manuel Quinziato (Retires), Daniel Oss (Bora-Hansgrohe), 
Amaël Moinard (Team Fortuneo-Oscaro), Manuel Senni (Bardiani-CSF), 
Silvan Dillier (AG2R La Mondiale), 
Ben Hermans (Israel Cycling Academy), Sammy Sanchez (Fired), Martin Elmiger (Retires), Floris Gerts
Extended: Richie Porte, Michael Schär, Brent Bookwalter, Alessandro De Marchi, 
Danilo Wyss, Damiano Caruso, Jempy Drucker, Joey Rosskopf, Fran Ventoso, 
ohan Dennis, Stefan Kung, Tejay van Garderen, Tom Bohli

Bora-Hansgrohe
In: Daniel Oss (BMC Racing), Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky), Davide Formolo (Cannondale-Drapac), Felix Großschartner (CCC Sprandi Polkowice)
Out: Shane Archbold (Aqua Blue Sports), Jan Barta (Elkov - Author), 
Silvio Herklotz and Jose Mendes (Burgos-BH)
Extended: Sam Bennett, Michael Schwarzmann, Christoph Pfingsten, Rudi Selig

Cannondale-Drapac
In: Logan Owen (Axeon Hagen Bermans), Sacha Modolo (UAE Team Emirates), 
Dan McLay (Team Fortuneo - Oscaro), Mitch Docker (Orica-Scott), Matti Breschel (Astana), 
Kim Magnusson (Tre Berg-Postnord), Daniel Felipe Martinez (Wilier Triestina - Selle Italia),
Daniel Moreno (Movistar)
Out: Alberto Bettiol (BMC Racing), Kristijan Koren (Bahrain-Merida), 
Davide Formolo (Bora-Hansgrohe), Davide Villella (Astana Pro Team), Tom-Jelte Slagter (Dimension Data), Andrew Talansky (Retires), Ryan Mullen (Trek-Segafredo), 
Wouter Wippert (Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij), Dylan van Baarle (Team Sky), 
Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo), Paddy Bevin (BMC)
Extended: Rigoberto Uran, Michael Woods, Simon Clarke, Alex Howes, 
Lawson Craddock, Will Clarke, Tom Van Asbroeck, Nathan Brown

Dimension Data
In: Nicholas Dlamini (Dimension Data Continental), Louis Meintjes (UAE Team Emirates), Julien Vermote (Quick-Step Floors), Tom-Jelte Slagter (Cannondale-Drapac), Scott Davies (Team Wiggins), Amanuel Gebreigzabhier (Dimension Data for Qhubeka)
Out: Omar Fraile (Astana), Nathan Haas (Katusha-Alpecin), Kristian Sbaragli (Israel Cycling Academy), Daniel Teklehaimanot, Youcef Reguigui (Natura4Ever-Sovac), Adrien Niyonshuti
Extended: Steve Cummings, Jay Thomson, Jaco Venter, Johann van Zyl, Jacques Janse van Rensburg, 
Igor Anton, Mekseb Debesay

FDJ
In: Ramon Sinkeldam (Team Sunweb), Georg Preidler (Team Sunweb), 
Valentin Madouas (Neo-Pro), Romain Seigle (Neo-Pro), Bruno Armirail (Neo-Pro)
Out: Odd Christian Eiking (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Arnaud Courteille, Kevin Reza, 
Lorrenzo Manzin, Johan Le Bon and Marc Fournier (Vital Concept), Cedric Pineau (Retires), 
Jérémy Maison (Team Fortuneo - Oscaro), Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie)
Extended: Benoît Vaugrenard, Mickael Delage, Ignatas Konovalovas, Matthieu Ladagnous, Daniel Hoelgaard

Katusha-Alpecin
In: Nathan Haas (Dimension Data), Ian Boswell (Katusha-Alpecin), Matteo Fabbro (Friuli Cycling Team), Marcel Kittel (QuickStep-Floors), Alex Dowsett (Movistar), 
Stef Crass (BMC Development), Willie Smit
Out: Angel Vicioso Arcos (Retires), Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates), 
Rein Taaramäe (Direct Energie), Michael Morkov (QuickStep-Floors), 
Sven Erik Bystrøm (UAE Team Emirates), Matvey Mamkin (Burgos-BH)
Extended: Ilnur Zakarin, Simon Spilak, Tiago Machado, José Gonçalves, Reto Hollenstein, Jhonatan Restrepo, Pavel Kochetkov, Maxim Belkov

Lotto Soudal
In: Victor Campenaerts (Team LottoNL-Jumbo), Lawrence Naesen (WB Veranclassic Aquality Protect), 
Jens Keukeleire (Orica-Scott), 
Bjorg Lambrecht and Harm Van Houcke (Lotto Soudal U23)
Out: Tony Gallopin (AG2R-La Mondiale), Jürgen Roelandts (BMC Racing), Kris Boeckmans (Vital Concepts), Louis Vervaeke (Team Sunweb), Sean De Bie (Veranda's Willems - Crelan), Rafael Valls (Movistar), Bart De Clercq (Wanty-Groupe Gobert)
Extended: Jelle Wallays, Jasper De Buyst, Maxime Monfort, Jelle Vanendert, Frederik Frison, Tomasz Marczynski, Sander Armee

Movistar Team
In: Eduardo Sepulveda (Fortuneo-Oscaro), Jamie Roson (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Mikel Landa (Team Sky), Jaime Castrillo (Neo-Pro). Rafael Valls (Lotto Soudal)
Out: Adriano Malori (Retires), Gorka Izagirre (Bahrain-Merida), Jonathan Castroviejo (Team Sky), Rory Sutherland (UAE Team Emirates), Alex Dowsett (Katusha-Alpecin), 
Jesús Herrada (Cofidis), Jose Herrada (Cofidis), Dani Moreno (Cannondale-Drapac)
Extended: Nelson Oliveira, Jorge Arcas, Antonio Pedrero, Winner Anacona, Carlos Betancur, Dayer Quintana

Orica-Scott
In: Mikel Nieve (Team Sky), Cameron Meyer, Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors), 
Jack Bauer (Quick-Step Floors), Lucas Hamilton (Mitchelton-Scott)
Out: Magnus Cort (Astana), Ruben Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy), Simon Gerrans (BMC Racing), Jens Keukeleire (Lotto Soudal), Mitch Docker (Cannondale-Drapac)
Extended: Svein Tuft, May Hayman, Chris Juul Jensen, Michael Hepburn, Sam Bewley, Jack Haig, 
Michael Albasini, Luka Mezgec

Quick-Step Floors
In: Jhonatan Narvaez (Axeon Hagen Bermans), Florian Sénéchal (Cofidis), Elia Viviani (Team Sky), 
Fabio Jakobsen (SEG Racing), Michael Morkov (Katusha-Alpecin), James Knox (Team Wiggins), Alvaro Hodeg (Coldeportes - Claro)
Out: Matteo Trentin (Orica-Scott), Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin), David de la Cruz (Team Sky), 
Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates), Julien Vermote (Dimension Data), Jack Bauer (Orica-Scott), 
Gianluca Brambilla (Trek-Segafredo), Martin Velits (Retires)
Extended: Bob Jungels, Julian Alaphilippe, Fernando Gaviria, Max Richeze, Philippe Gilbert, 
Pieter Serry, Iljo Keisse, Niki Terpstra, Fabio Sabatini, Tim Declercq, Dries Devenyns, Enric Mas, Zdenek Stybar, Davide Martinelli, Eros Capecchi

Team LottoNL-Jumbo
In: Pascal Eenkhoorn (BMC Development Team), Neilson Powless (Axeon Hagens Berman), Sepp Kuss (Rally), Danny van Poppel (Team Sky)
Out: Jurgen Van den Broeck (Retires), Steven Lammertink (Vital Concept), Twan Castelijns, Alexey Vermeulen, Martijn Keizer, Victor Campenaerts (Lotto Soudal), JJ Lobato (Fired)
Extended: Paul Martens, Koen Bouwman, Primoz Roglic, Tom Leezer, Bert-Jan Lindeman, 
Bram Tankink

Team Sky
In: Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar), David de la Cruz (QuickStep-Floors), 
Egan Bernal (Androni Giocattoli), Pavel Sivakov (BMC Development Team),
 Kristoffer Halvorsen (Team Joker Icopal), Chris Lawless (Axeon Hagens Berman), Dylan van Baarle (Cannondale-Drapac), 
Leonardo Basso (Neo-Pro)
Out: Peter Kennaugh (Bora-Hansgrohe), Mikel Nieve (Orica-Scott), Ian Boswell (Katusha-Alpecin), Mikel Landa (Movistar), Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors), Danny van Poppel (Team LottoNL-Jumbo)
Extended: Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Michal Kwiatkowski, Christian Knees, Ian Stannard, Michal Golas, Beñat Intxausti, Gianni Moscon, Philip Deignan, Vasil Kiryienka, David López, Sebastián Henao

Team Sunweb
In: Martijn Tusveld (Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij), Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo), 
Louis Vervaeke (Lotto Soudal), Jai Hindley (Mitchelton Scott), Michael Storer (Mitchelton Scott)
Out: Ramon Sinkeldam (FDJ), Georg Preidler (FDJ), Warren Barguil (Fortuneo-Oscaro), 
Bert de Backer (Vital Concept), Zico Waeytens (Veranda's Willems - Crelan), Sindre Lunke (Fortuneo-Oscaro)
Extended: Tom Dumoulin, Laurens ten Dam,Søren Kragh Andersen, Sam Oomen, 
Nikias Arndt, Max Walscheid, Johannes Fröhlinger, Chad Haga, Roy Curvers

Trek-Segafredo
In: Ryan Mullen (Cannondale-Drapac), Alex Frame (JLT Condor), Gianluca Brambilla (QuickStep-Floors), Niklas Eg (Team Veloconcept), 
Tsgabu Grmay (Bahrain-Merida), Nicola Conci (Neo-Pro)
Out: Haimar Zubeldia (Retires), Alberto Contador (Retires),
 Jesús Hernández (Retires), Edward Theuns (Team Sunweb), Marco Coledan (Trek-Segafredo)
Extended: Fabio Felline, Julien Bernard, Kiel Reijnen, Michael Gogl

UAE Team Emirates
In: Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin), Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors), Rory Sutherland (Movistar), 
Sven Erik Bystrøm (Katusha-Alpecin), Alexandr Riabushenko (Neo-Pro), 
Fabio Aru (Astana Pro Team)
Out: Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Merida), Louis Meintjes (Dimension Data), Andrea Guardini (Bardiani CSF), Marko Kump (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Federico Zurlo
Extended: Matteo Bono, Kristijan Durasek, Roberto Ferrari, Simone Petilli, 
Simone Consonni, Valerio Conti, Marco Marcato (all through end of 2019), Przemyslaw Niemiec

Happy New Cycling Year!!!