Thor Hushovd to BMC – My (Quick) Two Cents

Fotoreporter Sirotti

It has just been announced that Thor Hushovd has signed with BMC for the next three years, an interesting move that has several possible implications. Here are two quick thoughts:

1. How does Thor’s signing affect BMC’s long-rumored acquisition of Philippe Gilbert? While not as expensive as Gilbert, Thor likely didn’t come cheap; one has to wonder if there’s money left to sign the Belgian superstar as well. And while Thor and Phil’s goals are largely mutually exclusive (with one or two key exceptions including the Ronde van Vlaanderen) might their egos clash? And how does Cuddles feel about all this notoriety taking away some of his spotlight? Super teams work only if there’s chemistry among the stars–which leads me to my next point:

2. Perhaps most interesting was this quote from today’s VeloNews story:

“It’s a serious team where it looks like everything is well-organized,” Hushovd said of BMC Racing. “There’s a plan put together for the riders for all the big and important races. Everyone knows what to do. That’s a good thing.”

Read between the lines to decipher a clear criticism of Garmin-Cervelo a team in which Hushovd was clearly frustrated by the lack of a clear and consistent managerial leader (in the car and at the races, that is). With Thor gone, Heinrich Haussler rumored to be exiting, and the lack of a new title sponsor to replace Cervelo, is trouble afoot for Jonathan Vaughters?

That’s my (quick) two cents–what’s yours?