Garmin Cervelo Dismiss Matt White

[this_is_edie]

Maybe something along the lines of "A Garmin DS sent me to a doctor who offered to make me a doping plan. I didn't go through with it. Look at my horrible 2009 and 2010 results, not doped. Also when they found out I wasn't cool with it they stopped taking me to the important races. I rode the 2008 Tour de France and that was it."

But if I understand the timeline correctly, the 2nd blackmail came in after White was publicly fired for sending Lowe to the doping doc. Basically, according to Slipstream statement, Lowe said he would reveal that the blood testing report with the doc on the letterhead was sent to Slipstream in 2009 - why does he think that is worth 500,000 Euros?

 

[Bailey]

Exactly, this makes no sense to me at all. What is Lowe trying to blackmail them about?

Remember you are relying on Garmin's own (slanted) description of what Lowe said/did during his "contract negotiations". Which may or may not be accurate. And to which there is certainly another side of the story (Lowe's).

Let's firstly remember this is a young bloke who is trying to make a living and who clearly felt very miffed when he didn't get his contract renewed.

I reckon we should be careful before we start yelling "blackmail". Everyone has a right to vigorously negotiate on behalf of themselves, in private conferences with their employer, and some may not be as brilliant and articulate as others when they do it. It's reckless of Garmin to put that slant out into the public forum, especially since they don't appear to be explicitly suggesting Lowe blackmailed them. In fact, they're really just making Lowe look like a crook with that release.

 

[blackcat]

Exactly, this makes no sense to me at all. What is Lowe trying to blackmail them about?

Lowe is not trying to blackmail anyone, he has a legit civil suit and grievance.

 

[L'arriviste]

But if I understand the timeline correctly, the 2nd blackmail came in after White was publicly fired for sending Lowe to the doping doc. Basically, according to Slipstream statement, Lowe said he would reveal that the blood testing report with the doc on the letterhead was sent to Slipstream in 2009 - why does he think that is worth 500,000 Euros?

That's because he's saying that, with that PDF in their Inbox, Vaughters and the Slipstream doc both had notice of De Moral's involvement and said nada. So they can't now shout about a contractual violation on that particular issue when they both had notice.

What probably happened is that Slipstream said to Lowe you're out for these reasons 1) riding a Scott, 2) seeing an unauthorised doc ... (etc) And Hardie is just answering each point and asking for a settlement. As blackcat says, it isn't blackmail, it's deal brokering.

 

[this_is_edie]

That's because he's saying that, with that PDF in their Inbox, Vaughters and the Slipstream doc both had notice of De Moral's involvement and said nada.

yeah I get that but again why does he think it's worth that much money? Does he think that Vaughters will pay to keep it out of the press, even after going public with White? Or is there something else?

Anyway I'm sure there is more to this story and it will come out in pieces in the next few days.

 

[L'arriviste]

yeah I get that but again why does he think it's worth that much money? Does he think that Vaughters will pay to keep it out of the press, even after going public with White? Or is there something else?

Anyway I'm sure there is more to this story and it will come out in pieces in the next few days.

Sorry, I eventually anticipated that question and edited in the meantime. Basically, the $500k is a settlement proposal. Hardie will have made a computation based on salary, loss of earnings, damage to reputation and other stuff up to the threshold of remoteness. No way we'll hear the exact terms of that though.

 

[Bailey]

You know, the more i think about this with a clear head the more i feel this incident (and the handling of both Lowe and White since) really sucks. It's all so ugly.

It has been really poorly dealt with by Vaughters and Garmin. The way it's been handled has been unprofessional, overly quick, and frankly farcical.

With their latest press release, Garmin is blatantly inviting the public to conclude that Lowe is a dead-set blackmailing crook. If Garmin really thinks that, then why not maintain some confidentiality and hand all the threats over to the police. If not,then just pretend you are a professional employer and pass Lowe off as a disappointed young bloke feeling really upset, angry, and naive when expressing his disappointment. We're all just trying to get by. Lowe has a career he is worried about.

Set against the context of the **** Vaughters said about the whole GreenEdge conspiracy a week or so ago, it's all just so ugly and unprofessional.

 

[L'arriviste]

You know, the more i think about this with a clear head the more i feel this incident (and the handling of both Lowe and White since) really sucks. It's all so ugly.

It has been really poorly dealt with by Vaughters and Garmin. The way it's been handled has been unprofessional, overly quick, and frankly farcical.

With their latest press release, Garmin is blatantly inviting the public to conclude that Lowe is a dead-set blackmailing crook. If Garmin really thinks that, then why not maintain some confidentiality and hand all the threats over to the police. If not,then just pretend you are a professional employer and pass Lowe off as a disappointed young bloke feeling really upset, angry, and naive when expressing his disappointment.

Set against the context of the **** Vaughters said about the whole GreenEdge conspiracy a week or so ago, it's all just so ugly and unprofessional.

Indeed. What I think it's shown me so far is that washing dirty laundry in public can be very difficult, especially if things get out of control. I tend to think Vaughters' motives in making this whole business public were probably benign, but the story itself significantly muddies the water with each capricious curveball.

 

[Ferminal]

Hardie seems to be keeping quiet (wouldn't respond to Benson's questions). Hardie and Lowe must feel a bit under the pump at the moment. This could be the end of it, or just the beginning, too hard to tell.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I tweeted Hardie about it and he DM'd me saying that he really didn't want to comment about it.

 

[blackcat]

Indeed. What I think it's shown me so far is that washing dirty laundry in public can be very difficult, especially if things get out of control. I tend to think Vaughters' motives in making this whole business public were probably benign, but the story itself significantly muddies the water with each capricious curveball.

no, JV was trying to manage perception.

Thats politics JV.

This gets played out in the courts not by your PR firm.

Peppercom = Public Strategies

 

[Nearly]

You know, the more i think about this with a clear head the more i feel this incident (and the handling of both Lowe and White since) really sucks. It's all so ugly.

It has been really poorly dealt with by Vaughters and Garmin. The way it's been handled has been unprofessional, overly quick, and frankly farcical.

With their latest press release, Garmin is blatantly inviting the public to conclude that Lowe is a dead-set blackmailing crook. If Garmin really thinks that, then why not maintain some confidentiality and hand all the threats over to the police. If not,then just pretend you are a professional employer and pass Lowe off as a disappointed young bloke feeling really upset, angry, and naive when expressing his disappointment. We're all just trying to get by. Lowe has a career he is worried about.

Set against the context of the **** Vaughters said about the whole GreenEdge conspiracy a week or so ago, it's all just so ugly and unprofessional.

I agree on the face of it.

I do however reserve final judgment until we see what Lowe and Hardie have to say and for more facts to emerge. This of course may not happen.

The Slipstream announcement hinted at Lowe sitting on, or at least claiming he had, further 'information'. Vaughters and the board may not be aware of any (hence going public). That is not to exclude the possibility that, whilst they may not be aware of anything embarrassing (and let's face it they do not seem good at seeing this stuff in their emails and their investigation could not even turn up the Del Moral pdf), others in the organisation may be or, alternatively, that there is a gigantic game of bluff going on daring Lowe to release information (of which they are aware but doubt that he has the pelotas to make public).

 

[blackcat]

Hardie seems to be keeping quiet (wouldn't respond to Benson's questions). Hardie and Lowe must feel a bit under the pump at the moment. This could be the end of it, or just the beginning, too hard to tell.

just the beginning. Day of reckoning awaits. Patience.

 

[Ferminal]

What does Lowe have to lose? His career was on the verge after Pegasus left him standing, now it's pretty much over. Are Slipstream taking a gamble hoping he stays quiet, or is there nothing to hide?

To quote Hardie - "The truth will liberate you".

 

[la.margna]

Neither Dr. Steffen nor Jonathan Vaughters noticed del Moral's name on the letterhead in June 2009

What a joke. This is ridicolous. They get a blood test and don't look at the doctor's name... I mean, we are talking about one of a dozen suspect names in the group such as Fuentes, Ferrari, Conconi... gimme a break...

 

[Chuffy]

That's because he's saying that, with that PDF in their Inbox, Vaughters and the Slipstream doc both had notice of De Moral's involvement and said nada. So they can't now shout about a contractual violation on that particular issue when they both had notice.

You're confusing things. The Slipstream statement makes it clear that the initial contact with De Moral was for a standard UCI health check and isn't a contract violation. Being sent to De Moral by White outside of the context of a standard UCI health check was a violation. It would seem that in the aftermath of White's sacking, Lowe has made Slipstream aware of the initial contact and threatened to make mischief.

Kudos to Slipstream and JV for making this public.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

just the beginning. Day of reckoning awaits. Patience.

In blackcat we trust.

 

[BotanyBay]

Remember how I was BBQ'd for refusing to coddle JV?

One guy was already cooked and the other was leaving to board another train. Yet JV's hand was either FORCED, or he merely took advantage of the situation to score some easy "See, I'm anti-doping" points with the public.

"As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."

 

[fatandfast]

Ryan and Bannan had misspoke when they announced tentative relationships with current Garmin riders and staff. Pegasus was such a national let down that I think Jerry Ryan just let some things slip that he should have kept under wraps. Lowe is probably trying to make things whole for getting White toasted while trying to help him. This is another example of how fragile pro bike racers are Lowe is desperate in an instant and is doing some things that will leave him few options. If he really wants the 500k for lost wages,damage to his rep and other associated losses he gain got bad advice. He should have asked for 30k or less. Jerry Ryan has sponsorship and cycling ties that make mistakes he makes easy to forgive..Lowe and White not so much. I hope all the Pegasus cast offs don't start doing crazy stuff. Lowe should count himself lucky to be paid by anybody to race a bike for the last couple of years

 

[JA.Tri]

You know, the more i think about this with a clear head the more i feel this incident (and the handling of both Lowe and White since) really sucks. It's all so ugly. ...

It has been really poorly dealt with by Vaughters and Garmin. The way it's been handled has been unprofessional, overly quick, and frankly farcical. ...


Set against the context of the **** Vaughters said about the whole GreenEdge conspiracy a week or so ago, it's all just so ugly and unprofessional.

I concur: Garmin and JV had the option of playing a "straight bat" and giving, as far as possible, public benefit of doubt to TL and MW. Concerns over professional misconduct and black-mail could have appropriately been expressed to the relevant authorities including the police.

In the event that there are charges laid then Garmin and JV could have been above reproach...at least in this very particular circumstance.

Whatever the outcome now: Garmin and JV will be a little muddier than they needed to be.

 

[Race Radio]

What a joke. This is ridicolous. They get a blood test and don't look at the doctor's name... I mean, we are talking about one of a dozen suspect names in the group such as Fuentes, Ferrari, Conconi... gimme a break...

Moral's clinic does not have his name in it. It is a government funded clinic called Perfoma

JV has launched some heavy allegations against Lowe. This is either because he knows it is true or is in deep $hit and is trying to get ahead of the story. The most rational choice is he is confident in his position.

 

[NashbarShorts]

It would seem that in the aftermath of White's sacking, Lowe has made Slipstream aware of the initial contact and threatened to make mischief..

"Make mischief" is a pretty polite way of saying "gimme a half million $"!

 

[Topangarider]

From the team press release: "The PDF was not discovered in our original investigation as that investigation was focused on the referral made by Matt White."

Really? Do these guys not know how to do a keyword search on their computers and/or e-mail?

 

[BikeCentric]

From the team press release: "The PDF was not discovered in our original investigation as that investigation was focused on the referral made by Matt White."

Really? Do these guys not know how to do a keyword search on their computers and/or e-mail?

Come now, Vaughters "pedantry" is good for the sport as CyclingNews.com instructs us to believe. We now know that Vaughters does not read his own e-mails, is unable to use the search function within his e-mail program, does not communicate at all with his employee DS Matt White about where White sends riders to get blood tested, invites a huge contract dispute with a rider by withholding an entire months salary due to a minor infraction (riding his new bike), then publicly accuses said rider of blackmail in order to make himself look purely like a victim in this whole fracas.

As you can see, Vaughters' "pedantry" is just what the Doctor ordered! Pro cycling sets a very high bar indeed for competence and professionalism as we can all see from this fiasco.

 

[euanli]

I'm interested in knowing what email program searches pdf attachments for words.