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New Irish pro Conti team (aka The Aquablue thread)

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13567…23

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    #62
    crashoveroid
    Registered Users Posts: 911 ✭✭✭crashoveroid


    Looks like the bike and equipment sponsor details have been released today.

    http://www.aquabluesport.com/press-release-5.html


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    #63
    1bryan
    Registered Users Posts: 815 ✭✭✭1bryan


    Mark Christian and Adam Blythe were out training in Gran Canaria with Pete Kennaugh and Ian Stannard last week, by all accounts.


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    #64
    scott.s
    Registered Users Posts: 171 ✭✭scott.s


    Those bikes look rather nice


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    #65
    1bryan
    Registered Users Posts: 815 ✭✭✭1bryan


    anyone know if the domestic-based feeder team are going to be using the same equipment?


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    #66
    RobFowl
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 11,667 Mod ✭✭✭✭RobFowl


    Those bikes are seriously nice :)


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    #67
    Lusk_Doyle
    Registered Users Posts: 4,338 ✭✭✭Lusk_Doyle


    RobFowl wrote: »
    Those bikes are seriously nice :)

    There's something about the dark blue and gold combo that doesn't sit right with me. I'm not sure what it is but there is a niggle just in front of the back of mind about it.


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    #68
    1bryan
    Registered Users Posts: 815 ✭✭✭1bryan


    Interesing that Martin Irvine seems to be the face of the team in all the publicity shoots.

    Though he's probably the only one who's allowed to wear the gear this side of 2017, so that might be something to do with it either.


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    #69
    Tenzor07
    Registered Users Posts: 8,819 ✭✭✭Tenzor07


    Lusk_Doyle wrote: »
    There's something about the dark blue and gold combo that doesn't sit right with me. I'm not sure what it is but there is a niggle just in front of the back of mind about it.

    Maybe it's cos the bikes don't have Disc brakes? ;)


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    #70
    Lusk_Doyle
    Registered Users Posts: 4,338 ✭✭✭Lusk_Doyle


    Tenzor07 wrote: »
    Maybe it's cos the bikes don't have Disc brakes? ;)

    That would be even worse!


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    #71
    easygoing39
    Registered Users Posts: 1,374 ✭✭✭easygoing39


    The press release says the wheels will be clincher's!! This must be a mistake??


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    #72
    scott.s
    Registered Users Posts: 171 ✭✭scott.s


    Running them as tubeless I believe


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    #73
    Thud
    Registered Users Posts: 2,611 ✭✭✭Thud


    The Aquablue web shop appears to be up and running, looks like its sub selling from some Irish bike shops (I suppose kind of like Amazon does from smaller shops) and its own team suppliers

    http://www.aquabluesport.com/


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    #74
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,218 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Thud wrote: »
    The Aquablue web shop appears to be up and running, looks like its sub selling from some Irish bike shops (I suppose kind of like Amazon does from smaller shops) and its own team suppliers

    http://www.aquabluesport.com/

    That's funny. Why would they be selling Cannodale bikes?

    I read that their business model is based on profit from sales as opposed to sponsors.


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    #75
    Keeks
    Registered Users Posts: 2,199 ✭✭✭Keeks


    godtabh wrote: »
    That's funny. Why would they be selling Cannodale bikes?

    I don't think they are....they are just providing a mechanism for other Shops to sell through them


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    #76
    68 lost souls
    Registered Users Posts: 3,990 ✭✭✭68 lost souls


    When they setup initially the idea was to be a self sustaining business and to be a market place for bike sales in europe as a sort of Amazon for bikes. Th ehope is that the team would be the company and become self sustaining rather than being a sponsor and a toy for rich businessmen like Tinkoff etc. The idea is to change how the fundimentals of pro cycling work with this regard


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    #77
    1bryan
    Registered Users Posts: 815 ✭✭✭1bryan


    Thud wrote: »
    The Aquablue web shop appears to be up and running, looks like its sub selling from some Irish bike shops (I suppose kind of like Amazon does from smaller shops) and its own team suppliers

    http://www.aquabluesport.com/

    just had a look there. Not much up as of yet.

    While I think having a central hub like this for bike shops to sell their wares is a good idea, especially with the publicity having it tied to a pro-team will bring, there's no sense of any great value to be had there. They'll need more than the aquablue name to get people to buy from them. They'll have to be competitive price wise too. And, I sincerely hope they don't limit themselves to Irish bikeshops. I doubt they will but that's all that was showing when I looked just now.

    As much as I'd like to support them, I'll be sticking with chainreaction, unless I can be convinced otherwise.


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    #78
    Raddaboutye
    Registered Users Posts: 17 ✭Raddaboutye


    Big Conor Dunne putting in a great shift on the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race here. Was in the breakaway all day and they were just caught with 34k to go. He got enough points for the King of the mountain I believe.


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    #79
    robyntmorton
    Registered Users Posts: 4,263 ✭✭✭robyntmorton


    Tour of Dubai live on Eurosport has Aquablue Sport involved. Getting good airtime with one of theirs in the breakaway.

    While I was unsure of the kit on paper, it looks really good to see on the bike.


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    #80
    Derrydingle
    Registered Users Posts: 366 ✭✭Derrydingle


    Did very well in both races think it's only a matter of time before they pick up a few wins


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    #81
    Shedite27
    Registered Users Posts: 9,397 ✭✭✭Shedite27


    robyntmorton wrote: »
    Tour of Dubai live on Eurosport has Aquablue Sport involved. Getting good airtime with one of theirs in the breakaway.
    I miss Eurosport already :(


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    #82
    Pudsy33
    Registered Users Posts: 10,776 ✭✭✭✭Pudsy33


    Shedite27 wrote: »
    I miss Eurosport already :(

    You know they saved it, right?


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    #83
    Shedite27
    Registered Users Posts: 9,397 ✭✭✭Shedite27


    Pudsy33 wrote: »
    You know they saved it, right?
    No, missed that :o


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    #84
    Keeks
    Registered Users Posts: 2,199 ✭✭✭Keeks


    Derrydingle wrote: »
    Did very well in both races think it's only a matter of time before they pick up a few wins

    Podium in Australia Yesterday for Conor Dunne....great result.
    Will probably feel the mechanical prevented a win....

    They do look like they have the potential to pick up a few wins alright


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    #85
    1bryan
    Registered Users Posts: 815 ✭✭✭1bryan


    anyone know Irvine's race program? Has he said?

    I presumed they were keeping him for some of the semi-classics in Belgium. Their squad is thin enough on numbers with the majority of them seeming to have ridden either Dubai or in Australia.

    I don't think LP Nordhaug featured there either, so I guess there are classics specialists being held over for those races.


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    #86
    Miklos
    Registered Users Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Miklos


    I know Irvine has had to delay his season start to comply with some UCI testing pool six month thingamajig.


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    #87
    Thud
    Registered Users Posts: 2,611 ✭✭✭Thud


    Aquablue got invites to Liege Bastogne Liege and Fleche Wallone:

    http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/aqua-blue-sport-hit-big-time-invites-major-spring-classics/


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    #88
    CrowdedHouse
    Registered Users Posts: 6,853 ✭✭✭CrowdedHouse


    I see Aqua Blue have received a wildcard for La Vuelta


    https://www.aquabluesport.com/press-kit-37

    Seven Worlds will Collide



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    #89
    1bryan
    Registered Users Posts: 815 ✭✭✭1bryan


    CrowdedHouse wrote: »
    I see Aqua Blue have received a wildcard for La Vuelta


    https://www.aquabluesport.com/press-kit-37


    with such a small squad those lads are gonna have some amount of racing miles in their legs by the end of the season.

    this is great news though


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    #90
    MPFGLB
    Registered Users Posts: 3,254 ✭✭✭MPFGLB


    1bryan wrote: »
    with such a small squad those lads are gonna have some amount of racing miles in their legs by the end of the season.

    this is great news though

    Yeah and when they are hoping for a Tour of Britain invite as well ...which is on at the same time as the Vuelta...have they enough riders to cover both racea and do them justice I wonder ( 9+8 =17 ....not sure thay have 17)

    I know riding the Vuelta is big but maybe could have won (more) at ToB.. and its a mega race in UK


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    #91
    slow
    Registered Users Posts: 194 ✭✭slow


    There's no rule to stop them from hiring more riders. Conti contracts allow riders to move up a level at any stage in the season without breaking the contract.


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