End of Saxo-Bank?

[Thomsena]

Main sponsor's contract ends by the end of the year (I actually believe they have a clause to break the contract at any time in these circumstances) and since Riis already had a tough time finding a new sponsor this could be the death blow.

 

[Zoncolan]

Contador should be free to race at the Vuelta, Worlds RR and Lombardia. All races where he could win. So, it would be a bit rash to call an end to Saxo.

 

[meandmygitane]

Contador should be free to race at the Vuelta, Worlds RR and Lombardia. All races where he could win. So, it would be a bit rash to call an end to Saxo.

That as may be, but what will the sponsors think? So much money and prestige invested into Contador for Riis after the Schleckxodus.

SB is a B-team without Contador, sad to say. Hope they will survive.

 

[Thomsena]

Zoncolan@

Is it though?

Saxo-Bank wont renew it's contract. That's one thing for sure.

Also, “If Contador is suspended, article 2.15.040 §2 could be enforced,” a UCI source told VeloNation today, in response to questions about the issue. The wording of the article states that “the licence commission may withdraw the licence…if the information taken into account in granting the licence or the registration of the UCI ProTeam has changed such that the issue conditions are no longer fulfilled, or the commission considers that the new situation does not justify the issue of a licence or registration.”

 

[ingsve]

Contador should be free to race at the Vuelta, Worlds RR and Lombardia. All races where he could win. So, it would be a bit rash to call an end to Saxo.

Well, they would still have to deal with the fact that any points Contador would score after coming back would not count towards the sporting criteria ranking the next two years so Saxo would need to do some serious recruiting in order to avoid being relegated to ProConti and if they get relegated I'm guessing they would be gone.

 

[Zoncolan]

So their license may be taken away.
Feel bad for the riders, but Riis could have signed someone who would bring points with.
He gambled on AC getting off, and he lost.
I feel bad for Majka who might not get to show his talent.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Well, they would still have to deal with the fact that any points Contador would score after coming back would not count towards the sporting criteria ranking the next two years so Saxo would need to do some serious recruiting in order to avoid being relegated to ProConti and if they get relegated I'm guessing they would be gone.

This too. Oh, I'm getting sadder and sadder.

 

[Thomsena]

So their license may be taken away.
Feel bad for the riders, but Riis could have signed someone who would bring points with.
He gambled on AC getting off, and he lost.
I feel bad for Majka who might not get to show his talent.

The thing is though. Berto was riding for someone else when he was found positive. And that was the reason Riis wasn't able to find any additional sponsors to get more riders. Too much speculation. (until now) He has been in a kind of a locked situation.

 

[pastronef]

could this mean we have a spot for Acqua e Sapone in the Giro d'Italia?

 

[Ruudz0r]

The only chance for Saxo to stay PT next year is Contador (+ Navarro, Hernandez and Noval) leaving the team after 2012 in which they get money for signing some new riders with points, as I dont see some sponsor investing an extra amount of money. But I also dont really see it happen that Saxo is going to buy a bunch of new guys and let Contador go, so I also fear for the end of Saxo Bank.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

could this mean we have a spot for Acqua e Sapone in the Giro d'Italia?

Yeah this is what I'm wondering too; what will happen if saxobank quits mid season? An extra invite for every WT race?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Yeah this is what I'm wondering too; what will happen if saxobank quits mid season? An extra invite for every WT race?

It's not just about Saxo quitting but also about Alberto's points being taken away.

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

I hope not. Would be a damn shame.

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador will not resign for Saxo.

He'll go to a WT team. Saxo-Bank is dead. Killed by clean cyclists Andy and Frank Schleck back in 2010.

 

[theyoungest]

Saxo have just won the Tour 2010, that's gotta be worth something

 

[El Pistolero]

Saxo have just won the Tour 2010, that's gotta be worth something

Points follow cyclists, not teams

 

[pastronef]

will Saxo Bank have to terminate its (or it's? ) contract with Contador, and sign him again on August 5th?

(just like Valverde?)

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador will not resign for Saxobank.

- Contador's points won't count for the next 2 years
- Without Contador's points Saxobank will not be WT for 2013. Their cyclists all suck.
- Contador will not sign a contract for just 5 months
- Contador will not ride for a continental team.
- Saxo-bank will be a continental team next year, if not this year already.

Simple logic guys.

He'll sign for a different WT team. Movistar or something if they still have the cash. Quickstep or something... If they had the money to sign Gilbert, they have the money to sign Contador.

Saxo is dead, accept it. Unless Riis finds a new sponsor and can sign a lot of good cyclists with a lot of points.

 

[Thomsena]

Contador will not resign for Saxobank.

- Contador's points won't count for the next 2 years
- Without Contador's points Saxobank will not be WT for 2013. Their cyclists all suck.
- Contador will not sign a contract for just 5 months
- Contador will not ride for a continental team.
- Saxo-bank will be a continental team next year, if not this year already.

Simple logic guys.

He'll sign for a different WT team. Movistar or something if they still have the cash. Quickstep or something... If they had the money to sign Gilbert, they have the money to sign Contador.

If they somehow do stay WT - oh, boy will we see some fantastic, aggressive racing from the rest of the riders.

 

[theyoungest]

Points follow cyclists, not teams

I know, but for the sponsor, I mean.

 

[El Pistolero]

I know, but for the sponsor, I mean.

If Andy was still in the team, perhaps, but not now. Though you were just being sarcastic I guess. I can see the humor in it actually, Riis won the Tour and it's the worst day of his life. Black humor, but humor never the less.

 

[Old School]

Man o Man! This is going to be a crazy ride.

 

[Sophistic]

wonder what Riis is doing with the extra cash now, der Jan hasnt seen a salary check in a while!

 

[movingtarget]

Does Saxo need this sort of publicity ? Who would lead them at the TDF ? They will pull the plug.

 

[Thomsena]

Does Saxo need this sort of publicity ? Who would lead them at the TDF ? They will pull the plug.

Or - as I wrote above - granted they remain WT they'll attack like maniacs throughout the season with nothing to lose. I'd like to see that after a disappointing, boring last season from them.

Edit: Or did you mean the sponsor?