End of Saxo-Bank?

[LaFlorecita]

Nope, cos Contador will get a lot of points in the vuelta

See my last post.

 

[Cimber]

Another problem is that Alberto won't earn them points for the next two years. Or does that not count because he's actually not found guilty of doping.

Yeah u are right. I didnt think about that. Thats really tricky.

 

[Christian]

If there's one guy you do not need to worry about it's Riis, he always pulls something out of the hat, he solved the Basso crisis, the Schlexodus and now Clentagate.

Even if they do lose their license they will get invites to the Giro and Vuelta for sure, Flanders of course, Roubaix, Ardennes, you name it. Until then, more then enough time for Riis to pull another Riis, I'm excited to see what ol' baldie comes up with this time.

 

[scullster46]

Will specialized keep on paying Alberto's salary? Cause if they leave, there is no way that Bjarne has enough money for Alberto. Also, it means that so long as Alberto is on contract with specialized, he can't ride other bikes, so the only probable option outside saxo would be opqs

 

[El Pistolero]

Will specialized keep on paying Alberto's salary? Cause if they leave, there is no way that Bjarne has enough money for Alberto. Also, it means that so long as Alberto is on contract with specialized, he can't ride other bikes, so the only probable option outside saxo would be opqs

Which is what I've been suggesting. They have the cash, they have the equipment(bikes, not clinic), they're professional and they have decent support in the mountains(Peter Velits, Tony Martin for the lower slopes and Leipheimer).

They have also showed interest in Contador before already, so they clearly wouldn't mind signing him. Nor do they have any problems with ex-dopers because they signed Ilijo Keisse. The only problem I can think of is that their roster is already full.

 

[Christian]

Man, good thing he is not riding for Katusha, I think he would have to cough up around € 25 Mio, that's gotta hurt even Albert

 

[kurtinsc]

If there's one guy you do not need to worry about it's Riis, he always pulls something out of the hat, he solved the Basso crisis, the Schlexodus and now Clentagate.

Even if they do lose their license they will get invites to the Giro and Vuelta for sure, Flanders of course, Roubaix, Ardennes, you name it. Until then, more then enough time for Riis to pull another Riis, I'm excited to see what ol' baldie comes up with this time.

Would they?

I could see the cobbled classics wanting Nuyens to get in, but who's the draw for the Ardennes? Kroon?

And the Giro? Anker-Sornensen?

They really don't have a lot to encourage a race to invite them. I can't see why the Giro would want them with CAS over an Italian based PC team.

 

[will10]

Fingers crossed for Saxo losing their license and Acqua & Sapone getting their Giro invite

 

[Havetts]

Can't wait till the team goes down, dirtiest of the dirtiest people in cycling hopefully gone from the scene, sorry Bjarne.

 

[skidmark]

Which is what I've been suggesting. They have the cash, they have the equipment(bikes, not clinic), they're professional and they have decent support in the mountains(Peter Velits, Tony Martin for the lower slopes and Leipheimer).

They have also showed interest in Contador before already, so they clearly wouldn't mind signing him. Nor do they have any problems with ex-dopers because they signed Ilijo Keisse. The only problem I can think of is that their roster is already full.

yeah, I don't see how saxo could afford Contador back after his ban, as they don't have the talent to get a WT license without his points (which if I'm not mistaken, won't count for 2 years). Movistar could probably get away with it with Valverde, but definitely not Saxo. Unless of course they wanted to be pro conti, because who wouldn't invite AC's team to any GT? Oh wait, I forgot about 2008...

 

[Benotti69]

It was Contador that had clen in his system, not the UCI... they did not do anything wrong... i still hate them, but it is not their fault.

Of course it is their fault. they maintain the doping status quo.

Riis can hardly complain if his days are numbered. He had a good run.

 

[auscyclefan94]

So the UCI can seriously take points off a team instantly?

I do fear for Saxo's future.

 

[Orvieto]

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.

Just playing devil's advocate here, why wouldn't Contador ride for a continental team? As long as it is his continental team, Saxo more or less as it is today, set up for him to win Grand Tours? Wouldn't that be the biggest kick in the teeth to the UCI? Essentially it would say that UCI's precious World Tour Status means nothing. A Continental team with this generation's best GC rider would surely get invites to 2 out of 3 Grand Tours a year. Contador and Riis pay lower dues to the UCI overlords, don't have to travel to Qatar or China for UCI vanity races and get their big wins any way.

 

[hfer07]

bottom line: Saxo & Riis will not commit to Alberto's contract renewal when he gets back in August, since he's no longer useful for the team-in the short & long term. This ruling basically gave him a full year ban, until he finds a team willing to carry him for the next two years without the benefit of UCI points....

that's the hard truth

 

[Havetts]

Cant invite continental teams to Grand Tours, needs ProContinental status.

 

[RedheadDane]

The way I say it this might be the end of The-team-which-is-currently-known-as-Saxo-Bank on WT level (for now!)
However I don't think it's the end of a team run by Riis, or the end of Danish cycling teams.

I hope they survive, for the riders!

 

[Cimber]

bottom line: Saxo & Riis will not commit to Alberto's contract renewal when he gets back in August, since he's no longer useful for the team-in the short & long term. This ruling basically gave him a full year ban, until he finds a team willing to carry him for the next two years without the benefit of UCI points....

that's the hard truth

Despite him not being ableto earn WT points I am pretty sure Riis will want to prolong with Contador. However, he might have to take a paycut for as long as he cant earn WT points, as Riis will have to afford buying other stars who can.

 

[Mellow Velo]

It was Contador that had clen in his system, not the UCI... they did not do anything wrong... i still hate them, but it is not their fault.

Of course it is their fault. they maintain the doping status quo.

Riis can hardly complain if his days are numbered. He had a good run.

I would maintain it is the UCI's fault due to this cockeyed points system of theirs.
What greater encouragement does an average pro need to cheat, than to have his worth determined by results?

The fact that a whole bunch of people face unemployment, based upon the actions on one rider, is bad enough.
To reach this situation, without those actions being clearly defined, possibly even accidental, is appalling.

In going after Saxo's license, they UCI continue to act like a very stupid dog with a small bone; not realising that they may choke on it.

 

[jens_attacks]

contador will ride for caja rural how cool that will be?

 

[roundabout]

I would maintain it is the UCI's fault due to this cockeyed points system of theirs.
What greater encouragement does an average pro need to cheat, than to have his worth determined by results?

The fact that a whole bunch of people face unemployment, based upon the actions on one rider, is bad enough.
To reach this situation, without those actions being clearly defined, possibly even accidental, is appalling.

In going after Saxo's license, they UCI continue to act like a very stupid dog with a small bone; not realising that they may choke on it.

One can argue that keeping the WT status based on points from a rider known to have commited an anti-doping violation (deliberately or not) is also appaling.

It's a good incentive for the teams to dope up their riders knowing that they won't be in any immediate danger of losing the WT status.

 

[Benotti69]

I would maintain it is the UCI's fault due to this cockeyed points system of theirs.
What greater encouragement does an average pro need to cheat, than to have his worth determined by results?

The fact that a whole bunch of people face unemployment, based upon the actions on one rider, is bad enough.
To reach this situation, without those actions being clearly defined, possibly even accidental, is appalling.

In going after Saxo's license, they UCI continue to act like a very stupid dog with a small bone; not realising that they may choke on it.

I would be very wary of putting all my financial eggs in the same basket if i depended on a cycling team to pay my mortgage as everyone on the team knows what is what and how things work.

Easy to say on a virtual forum i know, but i would think twice about joining a team if i needed to earn a living because the rug can be pulled from under you. Pro cycling is infamous for treating people like ****.

Riis (all teams) should have a financial system in place where he(they) can guarantee everyone's wages, bar those on the team caught for doping be it riders, soigneurs, doctors etc..

 

[Orvieto]

Cant invite continental teams to Grand Tours, needs ProContinental status.

I assume this is a reply to my earlier post:

Just playing devil's advocate here, why wouldn't Contador ride for a continental team? As long as it is his continental team, Saxo more or less as it is today, set up for him to win Grand Tours? Wouldn't that be the biggest kick in the teeth to the UCI? Essentially it would say that UCI's precious World Tour Status means nothing. A Continental team with this generation's best GC rider would surely get invites to 2 out of 3 Grand Tours a year. Contador and Riis pay lower dues to the UCI overlords, don't have to travel to Qatar or China for UCI vanity races and get their big wins any way.

Apologies, I ignored the difference between a Continental and Pro Continental team, so I'll repeat my devil's advocate question substituting Pro Continental.
If Contador rode for a team at the level of a Europcar, Cofidis, Androni, aren't they going to get their Grand Tour invites anyway?

 

[Havetts]

I assume this is a reply to my earlier post:

Yes it was .

Apologies, I ignored the difference between a Continental and Pro Continental team, so I'll repeat my devil's advocate question substituting Pro Continental.
If Contador rode for a team at the level of a Europcar, Cofidis, Androni, aren't they going to get their Grand Tour invites anyway?

I'm sure they'll be invited to the Vuelta, I dont know about the Tour. Astana was not invited in 2008 even when they had Contador as the last years winner, because Vinokourov tested positive.

Giro, I dont know. Androni would definitely get an invite already without Contador, not sure if Europcar & Cofidis would get invited. They never really showed interest in riding the Giro seriously.

 

[FF'Wilco]

Come on.. You really think Contador will ride for any team lower than WT ? After suspension nor Basso or Valverde rode for such a team. So Contador won't either. Especially that hes ban will last just a few months. He will be back for Saxo and hes goin to win Vuelta coz hes still top GT rider and all serious cycling sponsors know that. The only problem is the points for Saxo they require for WT coz Contador results wont be counted. But they can follow Cervelo Team way and just keep the ProConti status.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Analysis: how UCI’s Licence Commission could strip Saxo Bank of its ProTeam licence

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/1...Cycling+News+&+Race+Results+|+VeloNation.com)