Cycling: The past few years have not been very successful for the EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale team. However, they have a lot planned for 2019. Only five drivers leave the team, but nine newcomers join.
EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale 2018: Two late WorldTour wins
As in previous years, the EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale team rarely celebrated in 2018. A top driver cannot be presented on any terrain, which is why guaranteed successes could not be planned anyway. In the WorldTour provided simon clarke and Michael Woods only at the Vuelta a Espana for the first and only two victories. classification driver Rigoberto Uran, classic hunter Sep Vanmarcke and sprinters Sacha Modolo fell short of their expectations. At least we could Julius van den Berg and Daniel Felipe Martinez Poveda two 22-year-olds take the next step. Due to the advanced age of many professionals in the team, the future lies with the younger professionals who still have potential for development.
ICYMI: @rusty_woods bagged a big win today atop Balcón de Bizkaia. He dedicated his first WorldTour victory, #LaVuelta18 stage 17, to his son Hunter, who was stillborn at 37 weeks, and his wife Elly.
Read all about it here: https://t.co/YoAG4kf0Ss pic.twitter.com/AO1k2LBcxC
— EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale (@Ride_Argyle) September 13, 2018
Transfers: Big names & Talents
A change in cycling is not easy. Contracts expire, drivers change and get older. The team EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale is already one of the older teams and has been struggling under it for several years. This time the small upheaval should succeed. Five pros were turned in for it, including Pierre Rolland. Too many big-name riders with no results were in the squad. But also for 2019 one has with Tejay van Garderen and Tanel Kangert two well-known professionals of the older semester, who have been driving behind their previous performances for years. With Moreno Hofland the team management hopes for better results in the mass sprints. But something was also done for the youth: James Whelan, Sergio Andres Higuita Garcia and Sean Bennett are considered great talents. Also on Allrounder Alberto Bettiol rest the hopes. It is still unclear whether Daniel Moreno will continue his career in the team.
| departures | Additions | |
|---|---|---|
| Pierre Roland (Vital Concept – B&B Hotels) | Tanel Kangert (Astana) |
|
| Tom Van Asbroeck (Israel Cycling Academy) | Tejay van Garderen (BMC) |
|
| William Clarke (Trek – Segafredo) | Alberto Bettiol (BMC) |
|
| Kim Magnusson (Riwal – Readynez) | Moreno Hofland (Lotto – Soudal) |
|
| Brendan Canty (unknown) | Lachlan Morton (dimension data) |
|
| Jonathan Klever Caicedo Cepeda (Medellin) |
||
| Sergio Andres Higuita Garcia (Manzana – Postobon) |
||
| Sean Bennett (Hagens Berman – Axeon) |
||
| James Whelan (Drapac – EF p/b Cannondale Holistic Development Team) |
EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale 2019: Again many question marks
EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale just doesn't want to run smoothly. And because of the transfers, you can't really believe that this will change in 2019. Almost all of the departures are not painful, but the newcomers don't really tear their socks off either. Well-known, solid drivers have been committed, who will hardly have any development potential. The talents will not be able to achieve any results in 2019. So it stays on once more Rigoberto Urán depend on achieving success. At a Grand Tour he is expected to climb onto the podium again while Sacha Modolo and Moreno Hofland should ensure good results in the mass sprints. With Sep Vanmarcke and Sebastian Langeveld EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale wants to be at the forefront of the classics. Michael Woods is someone for the hilly terrain - the Canadian can also ensure big victories there. All in all, this should result in one or two victories, but the team is not expected to take a really big step forward in 2019 either.
#weekend, we're all coming for you. pic.twitter.com/mHYk3eyw75
— EF Education First – Drapac p/b Cannondale (@Ride_Argyle) 30 November 2018