GEOX Quits !

[El Pistolero]

How many wildcard teams have won Grand Tours recently?

In my opinion Vuelta isn't even worthy of being called Grand Tour anymore

 

[Dr. Maserati]

This all goes back to the UCI and how they award WorldTour status to teams.

Geox the sponsor wants guarantees to play in the big league - Gianetti is stuck having to lie that it can be achieved because even having enough points (which teams can achieve by buying riders) does not mean automatic qualification.

It is another disgraceful example of how there is no sustainability in the current WorldTour model.

 

[Duartista]

Yea, cos Cobo did so well last time he was at Abarcá. By most accounts he didn't get on with many of the people there and they didn't know how to handle him either.

In spite of that, he was supposed to have had an offer from Movistar for next season (this may well have been his agent making stuff up, of course).

 

[jens_attacks]

cobo already had a very big offer from astana.
lol definitely can't see him at unzue.

 

[hfer07]

Yea, cos Cobo did so well last time he was at Abarcá. By most accounts he didn't get on with many of the people there and they didn't know how to handle him either.

.... and also add the "lovely" relationship between Menchov & Andrei Tchmil- the dislike of each other is such that it was the principal reason they never got on the table when Katusha opened negociations......
and Cobo must be crazy to go back to be Valverde's domestique after winning the Vuelta.....
some Aussies don't make sense...

 

[Zoncolan]

Another sponsor leaves the sport.
Nice chance for Riis to get a few signings.
If Contador is banned (big if), he could try with Menchov for the Tour.

 

[hrotha]

This..



and this...

Remind me again, who else didn't have a contract for 2012?

 

[Duartista]

.... and also add the "lovely" relationship between Menchov & Andrei Tchmil- the dislike of each other is such that it was the principal reason they never got on the table when Katusha opened negociations......
and Cobo must be crazy to go back to be Valverde's domestique after winning the Vuelta.....
some Aussies don't make sense...

Hasn't Tchmil been shunted out after the TDF debacle?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

In spite of that, he was supposed to have had an offer from Movistar for next season (this may well have been his agent making stuff up, of course).

hr's definetely not going back to movistar, that team nearly destroyed him

 

[hfer07]

Hasn't Tchmil been shunted out after the TDF debacle?

my understanding is that he was stepping aside a bit an letting Zani take more control - but looks to me is just to keep appearances...

 

[Duartista]

Just found this interview with Cobo from a couple of days ago:

¿Será World Tour el Geox con sus puntos?

Era una de las condiciones que ponía la firma para seguir, que el equipo sea World Tour. No sé cómo están las puntuaciones, pero espero que este año nos metamos en la élite.

He says that a condition of Geox continuing as a sponsor was getting WT status. So perhaps Freire signing for Katusha sealed the team's fate.

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo/tour-gusta-mejor-va/20111018dasdaicic_1/Tes

 

[pastronef]

hr's definetely not going back to movistar, that team nearly destroyed him

maybe to some spanish team?

caja rural?
andalucia?




MICHE anyone?


i think katusha or astana could get him.

 

[luckyboy]

Pretty ****ty thing to do by the sponsor, no matter what you think of the management.

I feel sorry for the staff and the riders. Surely those who manage to find a contract somewhere will be seriously underpaid seeing as their points won't be worth anything?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

In my opinion Vuelta isn't even worthy of being called Grand Tour anymore

The 2011 Vuelta, like the 2009 Vuelta, was realistically two weeks long.

Still more of a GT than the 2011 Tour de France though, of course.

 

[Old School]

Wow, this is crazy....and sad.

 

[nobilis]

The 2011 Vuelta, like the 2009 Vuelta, was realistically two weeks long.

Still more of a GT than the 2011 Tour de France though, of course.

indeed, it was one week and a half.

 

[pastronef]

could Geox be obliged to pay for the 2012 $$$ just like happened with team T.Mobile when they quit in 2007 ?

 

[hrotha]

hr's definetely not going back to movistar, that team nearly destroyed him

I call BS. He destroyed himself by not being one tenth of a professional.

 

[Swede1]

Let me say that Astana will try to pick up either Menchov or Cobo. I think they are pretty interested in Menchov last year, and Cobo this year. Menchov would fit at Astana I think. Same with Cobo. Saxo could be a good place for Menchov if Contador is banned. + He could come with domestiques.

 

[El Pistolero]

The 2011 Vuelta, like the 2009 Vuelta, was realistically two weeks long.

Still more of a GT than the 2011 Tour de France though, of course.

2011 Vuelta had one day for me: the time trial.

All the rest were flat stages with an uphill/mountain finish.

The quality of the live feed was also crappy. Didn't know Quickstep had a green outfit...

 

[Dr. Maserati]

could Geox be obliged to pay for the 2012 $$$ just like happened with team T.Mobile when they quit in 2007 ?

I believe thats the key question - and could shed light on why they have withdrawn now.

Gianetti has threatened to go to CAS to get Geox to pay for breaking the contract - however, I would guess that Geox had a clause if they were not part of the World Tour.
My view is Gianetti was promising more than he could deliver.

 

[Anonymous]

I believe thats the key question - and could shed light on why they have withdrawn now.

Gianetti has threatened to go to CAS to get Geox to pay for breaking the contract - however, I would guess that Geox had a clause if they were not part of the World Tour.
My view is Gianetti was promising more than he could deliver.

Maybe Gianetti and Chris White should get together..

 

[Anonymous]

What an utterly oxymoronic thread with utter bile and guff spouted by posters with a considerably higher post count than sane folks with a life.

Get over it....a sponsor has simply pulled out of the sport.

Nowt more than that, if the truth be told.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Maybe Gianetti and Chris White should get together..

Funnily enough the present system encourages that deceit.

You approach a sponsor - all they want to know is can they ride the TdF.
You say "yes, if you are a World Tour team". They say "cool, how do you get that?"
"Am, ah...."

There is no clear position to securing a WT licence.
You have to raise money to set up a team, but you have to have a licence to attract a sponsor to fund that team.

 

[craig1985]

As much of a **** Gianetti is, it's not really fair on the riders being left without a job for next year, or be forced to ride for minimum wage. Frankly, why couldn't Geox get their act together and announce this earlier? But the sounds of things in the article, this will end up in court.