Lidl-Trek (no longer Radioshack-Leopard Trek)

[Race Radio]

When Becca started with leopard he announced that he had put in enough cash to fund the team for 4 years.....then suddenly 6 months later he has a meeting with Trek and Burnyeel and everything changes?

Very odd.

 

[Arnout]

I don't know how it's the UCI's fault something got built on smoke and mirrors.

It is their fault that they've willingly alienated and pushing aside the long-standing but lower-budget teams in favour of these corporate behemoths that last about as long as a corporate representative's whim.

HTC and now Leopard going under. I'm sure that the familiar bogeymen of doping and public perception will be rolled out, but realistically the problem is no national base to energise (or one too small to fund a team of that budget), and an everything now approach, meaning the whole thing is top-heavy, big stars, big budget, no foundation. The whole "no title sponsor" thing ties in with Vaughters' franchise idea, but ultimately the revolution has failed; there is a reason we've had sponsor teams for decades, and it's because that model works. Teams grow and shrink as economic times come and go, but to think that at present you could run a team with that kind of budget without a sponsor, simply on some millionaire's whim, is optimistic. For a short while it's fine, but in the long run, well, people don't get rich by spending money.

Yep. Exactly what you said and I tried to say past couple of years.

 

[Arnout]

I'm sure Riis is busy placing some phone calls or 11.

I would give all riders the finger to be honest. That's what you get for being greedy.

But yes, all hate concentrated in one team, that's nice.

Pity of the few cyclist I like that are in the team. Zubeldia for example should go out ASAP.

 

[roundabout]

You like Zubeldia? Man, you're weird.

 

[Race Radio]

It will be interesting to see how the UCI reacts. Given their current war with Brunyeel I would not be surprised if they do something to make it difficult.

 

[Arnout]

You like Zubeldia? Man, you're weird.

Still unbelievable he managed to get 5th in 2003. That was where I became hooked for Mayo and Zubeldia was in the same team.

Well, I like Mayo way more obviously.

Something stinks about that performance, couldn't care less though.

It will be interesting to see how the UCI reacts. Given their current war with Brunyeel I would not be surprised if they do something to make it difficult.

A lot of money in one team. UCI will like.

Money after all is the future of cycling. This is the beautiful vision Pat has and that sometimes the traditional cycling world has to learn and accept. But luckily we have Pat.

 

[killswitch]

BTW is Jens one of those 11 riders?

 

[Forunculo]

So the new radioshack is a common enemy for all of us?

 

[roundabout]

Why would this merger be any different to other mergers?

 

[ansimi]

BTW is Jens one of those 11 riders?

He mentioned after the Tour that he wanted to ride for another year and was asking for a contract but I never heard that he actually extended so he may well be available.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

I don't know how it's the UCI's fault something got built on smoke and mirrors.

It is their fault that they've willingly alienated and pushing aside the long-standing but lower-budget teams in favour of these corporate behemoths that last about as long as a corporate representative's whim.

HTC and now Leopard going under. I'm sure that the familiar bogeymen of doping and public perception will be rolled out, but realistically the problem is no national base to energise (or one too small to fund a team of that budget), and an everything now approach, meaning the whole thing is top-heavy, big stars, big budget, no foundation. The whole "no title sponsor" thing ties in with Vaughters' franchise idea, but ultimately the revolution has failed; there is a reason we've had sponsor teams for decades, and it's because that model works. Teams grow and shrink as economic times come and go, but to think that at present you could run a team with that kind of budget without a sponsor, simply on some millionaire's whim, is optimistic. For a short while it's fine, but in the long run, well, people don't get rich by spending money.

Thats pretty much it.
You have teams with lots of funding but with no apparent sponsor (BMC, Katusha, Astana, Leopard) which is why HTC could not get the extra funding or second sponsor to compete with these big budget teams.

The problem is that many of these teams have no long term commitment to the sport.
I don't think you are correct on Vaughters though, the no title sponsor only puts a squeeze on all other teams. Also, he recently tweeted about a salary cap on riders - while I don't quite agree on that something needs to be done or more teams will fold.

 

[pastronef]

all right with HTC and LEO gone we have GreenEdge and LOTTO?? for a world tour spot?
what about GEOX (since today!)

anyway
it's the most incredible story about a team I've ever heard. just a few months ago: big launch, innovation, Nygaard on board, etc etc and now.. blow!


somewhere here on this forum i've read something like this:
"Leopard on twitter in july: muppets take France"

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I don't think you are correct on Vaughters though, the no title sponsor only puts a squeeze on all other teams.

Yes, and in more than one way. Firstly, they drive up the market cost of riders. Secondly, they potentially pull down the market cost of name sponsorship. Why fund the whole cost of a team when you can get the same naming rights for less with a team which has significant private funding?

 

[ingsve]

I wonder what Leopard riders are among the 11 that are let go. Perhaps Skil-Shimano that continue gathering up germans by getting Dominic Klemme if he's one of them. POr Gerdemann, Wagner, Wegmann for that matter.

 

[pastronef]

mobile.twitter.com/mmmaiko

andy better get dentist to pull out any gold in his mouth so he can schindler's list this ****. "sir, will this gold tooth keep wegmann?"

never ever in any non english speaking forum will i read something like this.

thanks you anglosaxon people! really! mmmaiko you're the best!

 

[luckyboy]

Feel sad for some of the riders and staff who will be left out, but at least they will get to join a team that not as many people hate. Hope they get new contracts sorted out asap.

all right with HTC and LEO gone we have GreenEdge and LOTTO?? for a world tour spot?
what about GEOX (since today!)

This is what will probably happen with the WorldTour spots. Now we have 5 teams that will cease to exist as they are now..

QuickStep > QuickStep-Omega Pharma
RadioShack > Radioshack-Trek
HTC-Highroad > GreenEdge
Omega Pharma-Lotto > Lotto-Ridley
Leopard-Trek >

So there are two spots seemingly up for grabs, and the teams below (most likely Geox-TMC & Skil-Shimano) are the most likely to take them.

Geox-TMC, Skil-Shimano, Europcar, Cofidis, FDJ

 

[Anonymous]

Feel sad for some of the riders and staff who will be left out, but at least they will get to join a team that not as many people hate. Hope they get new contracts sorted out asap.



This is what will probably happen with the WorldTour spots. Now we have 5 teams that will cease to exist as they are now..

QuickStep > QuickStep-Omega Pharma
RadioShack > Radioshack-Trek
HTC-Highroad > GreenEdge
Omega Pharma-Lotto > Lotto Ridley
Leopard-Trek >

So there are two spots seemingly up for grabs, and the teams below (most likely Geox-TMC & Skil-Shimano) are the most likely to take them.

Geox-TMC, Skil-Shimano, Europcar, Cofidis, FDJ

Its only going to be a net loss of one team based on that.

THey are going to have to go to shack, Radioshack only have 12 riders contracted for next year.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Feel sad for some of the riders and staff who will be left out, but at least they will get to join a team that not as many people hate. Hope they get new contracts sorted out asap.



This is what will probably happen with the WorldTour spots. Now we have 5 teams that will cease to exist as they are now..

QuickStep > QuickStep-Omega Pharma
RadioShack > Radioshack-Trek
HTC-Highroad > GreenEdge
Omega Pharma-Lotto >
Leopard-Trek >

So there are two spots seemingly up for grabs, and the teams below (most likely Geox-TMC & Skil-Shimano) are the most likely to take them.

Geox-TMC, Skil-Shimano, Europcar, Cofidis, FDJ

Is there some reason why you are assuming that GreenEdge are further up the queue than those five teams?

 

[luckyboy]

Aha, I knew I was forgetting something. I was scouring the WorldTour team listing on Wikipedia for another team.

Anyway, the mechanics, backroom staff won't all transfer. I would imagine it would be possible for the riders to still get rides at this point though.

Is there some reason why you are assuming that GreenEdge are further up the queue than those five teams?

I hope they have to spend some time as a ProConti team first, but I thought it was generally assumed that GreenEdge would get in.

If not, then it is Geox, Skil, Cofidis, FDJ, Europcar, GreenEdge for the final two spots.

 

[Forunculo]

If UCI rank by performance europcar and Geox

 

[pastronef]

I hope they have to spend some time as a ProConti team first, but I thought it was generally assumed that GreenEdge would get in.

If not, then it is Geox, Skil, Cofidis, FDJ, Europcar, GreenEdge for the final two spots.

what about LOTTO, with VDB, Greipel, Vanendert etc ?

 

[luckyboy]

If Goss does end up at GreenEdge they would leap up somewhere in the rankings. Haven't really followed the ins and outs though.

what about LOTTO, with VDB, Greipel, Vanendert etc ?

Yeah I edited Lotto in there. I knew I forgot one team but couldn't remember which.

 

[Anonymous]

I just hope to god this doesnt open the door for Mauro Gianetti to get a world tour spot.

 

[mewmewmew13]

So I'm getting a bit confused...
do the 11 riders without a team include some who may have a signing/ offer on the books already that we don't know about??

 

[luckyboy]

I just hope to god this doesnt open the door for Mauro Gianetti to get a world tour spot.

lol but Bruyneel, Lefevre, Rihs, Riis, Unzue.. have WorldTour spots already.