Fernando Alonso buys Euskaltel's license

[Broth3r]

I doubt they'll completely ditch the basque identity. It's likely they'll keep reaping the profits from the well-established basque cycling school system.

 

[De Snelle Duif]

This made me happy. Who are Alonso's sponsors?

 

[Sophistic82]

he's paying 6m for the license?i understand that its less administrative work to take over a license rather than set up a complete new team but 6 million???there's a wt spot open for 2014 (that no pro conti team wants apparently), why not simply apply for that?and whats the license worth anyway, when you have to reapply/can lose the license every year?

 

[Pharazon]

This made me happy. Who are Alonso's sponsors?

Santander mainly

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Can't he convince ferrari to put some money in? Or maybe Banco Santander.
I mean a cycling team's budget should be about 5% of a F1 team budget, no?

 

[Broth3r]

he's paying 6m for the license?i understand that its less administrative work to take over a license rather than set up a complete new team but 6 million???there's a wt spot open for 2014 (that no pro conti team wants apparently), why not simply apply for that?

Risk management. While these 6M might be a lot for a license, but it nigh ensures him a place in WT without having to face stiff competition.

 

[MatParker117]

Santander Pro Cycling?

 

[ILovecycling]

WOW,Great Fernando!

Can't he convince ferrari to put some money in? Or maybe Banco Santander.
I mean a cycling team's budget should be about 5% of a F1 team budget, no?

I think 5% is too much

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Alonso is awesome!

Give Manolo Saiz another chance!

 

[Liquigas]

Alonso is awesome!

Give Manolo Saiz another chance!

Transparency and zero tolerance; the pillars of the new undertaking.

So no Manolo. LOL

 

[hrotha]

Transparency and zero tolerance; the pillars of the new undertaking.

So no Manolo. LOL

No Manolo, just Igor

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Transparency and zero tolerance; the pillars of the new undertaking.

So no Manolo. LOL

well well, one can't have everything

 

[Arnout]

Ferrari F1 budget is about 250 million all inclusive i think.

Great news though, a new Spanish team is more than welcome. Looking forward to Ferrari teamcars.

 

[spalco]

Risk management. While these 6M might be a lot for a license, but it nigh ensures him a place in WT without having to face stiff competition.

I'm assuming he also gets all the equipment, buses, tools, trucks whatever and the support crew running it, which would surely be expensive to set up from scratch.

 

[rantanplan]

 

[trevim]

The fourteen under contract are Samuel Sánchez; Mikel Nieve; Igor Antón; Mikel Landa; Ion Izagirre; Romain Sicard; Egoi Martínez; Gorka Verdugo; Juanjo Lobato; Garikoitz Bravo; Jon Aberasturi; Pello Bilbao; Rubén Pérez y Miguel Mínguez.

That would be a good start for the team. I would add some international riders that could get them wins in smaller 2.1, 1.1 races which always help the morale.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Ferrari F1 budget is about 250 million all inclusive i think.

According to this the 2006 budgets were almost at 400 million, so 8 years later, should be about half a billion. Sure they should be able to find some 15 million extra

edit: apparently team budgets in F1 have fallen immensely the last couple of years, so 250 is correct: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ferrari-have-biggest-budget-in-f1-34846.html

 

[fraserhughes]

According to this the 2006 budgets were almost at 400 million, so 8 years later, should be about half a billion. Sure they should be able to find some 15 million extra

edit: apparently team budgets in F1 have fallen immensely the last couple of years, so 250 is correct: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ferrari-have-biggest-budget-in-f1-34846.html

So they have a 150 mil going spare then

Take that sky

 

[icefire]

If Santander is in this they'll want someone from Cantabria in the team. I can understand Manolo can't be in, but Cobo?

 

[saneguy]

Go carrots!...good news for the team.

 

[SKSemtex]

Probably Ferrari wants to sell more bicycles next years

 

[Afrank]

Very good news, glad the team and it's support staff will still have a job for next year. They should make sure to look at signing some young talents that can bring in the results now. To ensure they will get some results and not continue just scraping by like Euskaltel has.

 

[Michele]

Alonso has been spotted testing a convertible for next year Tour.

 

[coinneach]

Alonso has been spotted testing a convertible for next year Tour.

Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Parrulo]

Never been a fan of Alonso as a F1 driver, but this time i have to say: Grácias Fernando!!!

Alonso has always been know to love cycling and is a pretty strong cyclist himself, just look at this photo of him riding:

yes, that is Alonso looking better on a time trial bike than 50% of the pro peloton!!!!