Lidl-Trek (no longer Radioshack-Leopard Trek)

[HL2037]

I am not so certain the Schlecks new about it. They were probably asked after the fact along with Kim Andersen. And then what could they have said. "Its a lousy deal and we will hate riding with the new guys that will come no matter what."
Becca is more likey spinning the crono on events, so he looks a little less like the man, who went behind everybodies back.

I suspect that too. Having read a couple of Andy's twitter messages I am pretty sure he did not word this himself:

"I have to withdraw from the upcoming races in Canada because of an untimely, but imperative dental operation at the bottom left wisdom tooth"

 

[MacRoadie]

I suspect that too. Having read a couple of Andy's twitter messages I am pretty sure he did not word this himself:

"I have to withdraw from the upcoming races in Canada because of an untimely, but imperative dental operation at the bottom left wisdom tooth"

One could say it was actually quite "timely"...

 

[Polish]

Thanks Christian. Interesting interview

Clearly many here were correct when they said that Brunyeel/Armstrong were not going to continue in 2012

Interesting.
Bruyneel will not continue in 2012?

That matches with my source also.
They say Johan is going to be a pilot instead.

But not like Gianni Bugno with his Helicopter license.
Johan will be flying a big and beautiful airplane with two co-pilots and a good crew.
Au revoir, Johan. It was fun while it lasted.

 

[peloton]

One could say it was actually quite "timely"...

+1

funny that...

 

[eleven]

The Radioshack deal (as a sponsor) always puzzled me - because as you rightly point out they have little business outside the US and none in Europe.

However, Cycling is (relatively speaking) a cheap form of sponsorship - so they may be satisfied with the exposure they are getting from their performances in the US.
But I am not sure how Becca and having FrAndy as the leaders will build on that.

I've wondered about the Radioshack deal as well. I can only figure that (1) they hoped to build a corporate rebound on the Livestrong Association, making a bunch of yellow-branded cheap electronics or just living off the branding exercise or (2) the people making the decisions at Radio Shack really like to ride bikes and follow racing. That personal connection is probably a big part of many deals.

The Livestrong connection obviously didn't go as planned. Now they are an American company title-sponsoring a team led by Belgian and Swiss riders.

 

[pastronef]

@mmmaiko stop worrying about @thejensie. all he needs to do is make 2 more babies and he has a 9-person team.


(since the official announcement of the leo-shack merger twitter has exploded!)

 

[eleven]

I don't doubt that CSE has a piece

Oh really? Then why have you been doubting and denying it for pages?

 

[Polish]

So when do you guys think Bruyneel and Becca started negotiating?

I would guess BEFORE the extension with Radioshack-Nissan-Trek took place in late June.

I would also guess that Radioshack-Nissan-Trek were in on the negotiating.

It would explain why Johan was VERY selective in who he signed contracts with.
Johan did not want to have to break any commitments it seems.
I also would say the 2 year contract extension that Bruyneel inked with Horner took place knowing that the merger would happen.
A very nice "present" for Horner.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

I've wondered about the Radioshack deal as well. I can only figure that (1) they hoped to build a corporate rebound on the Livestrong Association, making a bunch of yellow-branded cheap electronics or just living off the branding exercise or (2) the people making the decisions at Radio Shack really like to ride bikes and follow racing. That personal connection is probably a big part of many deals.

The Livestrong connection obviously didn't go as planned. Now they are an American company title-sponsoring a team led by Belgian and Swiss riders.

RS has one guy in marketing who is a Lance and cycling fanatic. He is the reason the company is sponsoring a team. It never made business sense when it was an American team. Now it makes even less sense.

 

[thehog]

I am not so certain the Schlecks new about it. They were probably asked after the fact along with Kim Andersen. And then what could they have said. "Its a lousy deal and we will hate riding with the new guys that will come no matter what."
Becca is more likey spinning the crono on events, so he looks a little less like the man, who went behind everybodies back.

The Shlecks knew about it alright. The team is built around them and it’s a Lux-team. I think the Hog approached Frank and Andy at the Tour. They pulled in Canc for additional support. Then they approached Becca together with the concept of sponsorship. Of course Becca was going to agree. He had a revenue stream coming in – he wouldn’t worry about much else. The reason for keeping it “non-American” is to keep the Feds away. When the deal was verbally agreed Andy and Frank should have addressed the team. I think they went into hiding and pretended nothing was going on and they knew nothing. Alas this is the second time in under a year they’ve been involved in bloodletting at a team. They’re getting a reputation. Yes it’s just business but cycling is a funny sport. You often need to call on other teams to help you on the road. I get the feeling they’re going to be losing support from a lot of teams. The CSE marketing blitz won’t cater for the fact that they’ve put guys out on the street who have to look for jobs with 3 months of the year to go.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

The Shlecks knew about it alright. The team is built around them and it’s a Lux-team. I think the Hog approached Frank and Andy at the Tour. They pulled in Canc for additional support. Then they approached Becca together with the concept of sponsorship. Of course Becca was going to agree. He had a revenue stream coming in – he wouldn’t worry about much else. The reason for keeping it “non-American” is to keep the Feds away. When the deal was verbally agreed Andy and Frank should have addressed the team. I think they went into hiding and pretended nothing was going on and they knew nothing. Alas this is the second time in under a year they’ve been involved in bloodletting at a team. They’re getting a reputation. Yes it’s just business but cycling is a funny sport. You often need to call on other teams to help you on the road. I get the feeling they’re going to be losing support from a lot of teams. The CSE marketing blitz won’t cater for the fact that they’ve put guys out on the street who have to look for jobs with 3 months of the year to go.

The riders with contracts do not have a problem. They can go to another team at a lower salary and Leopard will have to make up the difference. A way to get back at Leopard would be to offer their services to other teams at the UCI's minimum salary. Not only is it a deal that few teams could refuse, Leopard gets stuck with the true cost of the rider (minus the minimum).

What is interesting is what happened with the riders who do not have contracts. Were they led to believe they would be getting a contract extension while Becca was scheming to cut them out of the team. They have lost two critical months when their agents should have been seeking another team, and the other teams have already spent most of the money available for new riders.

 

[Benotti69]

The whole thing seems to have been done in a back room somewhere and no one was informed

Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg received with a surprise press release of Leopard from the 5th September, which says that the team gets new sponsor with Nissan and Radioshack from 2012. Mercedes-Benz points out that there already exists a valid sponsorship with Leopard until the end of 2013. The consequences of Leopard's latest agreements will now be discussed between the parties, writes Mercedes in a press release according Radsport-news.com.

What kind of team takes on a new sponsor that is a competitor and conflicts with a current one without informing the current sponsor that is supposedly continuing till 2013.

the whole thing stinks!!!!

~edited by mod~

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Interesting.
Bruyneel will not continue in 2012?

That matches with my source also.
They say Johan is going to be a pilot instead.

But not like Gianni Bugno with his Helicopter license.
Johan will be flying a big and beautiful airplane with two co-pilots and a good crew.
Au revoir, Johan. It was fun while it lasted.

Oh, Polish - don't you know by now that Pigs can't fly?

Of course to be the 'pilot in command' one needs a licence, it appears CSE/Bruyneel have handed back theirs, although at this stage I am more concerned if there are enough parachutes.

 

[thehog]

The riders with contracts do not have a problem. They can go to another team at a lower salary and Leopard will have to make up the difference. A way to get back at Leopard would be to offer their services to other teams at the UCI's minimum salary. Not only is it a deal that few teams could refuse, Leopard gets stuck with the true cost of the rider (minus the minimum).

What is interesting is what happened with the riders who do not have contracts. Were they led to believe they would be getting a contract extension while Becca was scheming to cut them out of the team. They have lost two critical months when their agents should have been seeking another team, and the other teams have already spent most of the money available for new riders.

Well it could be Floyd all over again. If the other riders at Leopard start seeing Andy and Frank with the better bikes, the nicer cars etc etc. then they’ll know they took a mighty sweetener from Hog to get him on board. Good luck to them I hope it makes them very happy men and big in America. Alas if Jens, Frank, Canc supporting Andy can’t even beat Cadel Evans then they’ll have no hope in beating Contador. Period. The Hog’s tactics in races is simple. He had super strong teams which basically rode the peloton off their wheels then Armstrong would attack with 3km to go and win. Lance would then consolidate in the time trials and gain more time. But I don’t think that’s possible anymore. People just won’t buy it especially won’t buy if Andy pulls time trials from nowhere.

 

[Polish]

Oh, Polish - don't you know by now that Pigs can't fly?

Of course to be the 'pilot in command' one needs a licence, it appears CSE/Bruyneel have handed back theirs, although at this stage I am more concerned if there are enough parachutes.

Those licenses are not cheap.
Hundred of thousands of dollars per year?

If Becca agreed to pay - why would CSE/Bruyneel complain?

 

[Race Radio]

Oh really? Then why have you been doubting and denying it for pages?

Because the owner of the team is saying it and there is zero public evidence to the contrary.

Still waiting for your link

 

[Dr. Maserati]

I don't doubt that CSE has a piece ..

Oh really? Then why have you been doubting and denying it for pages?

He hasn't:

Agreed.

The reality is ownership these days seldom provides a great ROI. It may be far more lucrative to get a fee for managing opps and bringing sponsors to the table then to be an partial owner. It lowers Johan and Lance's risk and puts cash in their pocket to help pay some substantial legal fees.

While they may no longer be majority owners CSE could end up getting the better financial deal in the long run.

You were the one suggesting that CSE and not Becca had the 'controlling interest' and that it is a shared deal - when the information finally coming out by all sides has been the contrary.

 

[Race Radio]

troll babble

CSE will not have a license next year and Brunyeel is back to driving cars for a living.

 

[eleven]

The whole thing seems to have been done in a back room somewhere and no one was informed



What kind of team takes on a new sponsor that is a competitor and conflicts with a current one without informing the current sponsor that is supposedly continuing till 2013.

the whole thing stinks!!!!

~edited by mod~

More important, who gives up the opportunity to drive a Mercedes in favor of a Nissan?

 

[Polish]

CSE will not have a license next year and Brunyeel is back to driving cars for a living.

Some people said "CSE/Bruyneel will not be around next year"?
Those people were wrong, weren't they?

 

[thehog]

Well it could be Floyd all over again. If the other riders at Leopard start seeing Andy and Frank with the better bikes, the nicer cars etc etc. then they’ll know they took a mighty sweetener from Hog to get him on board. Good luck to them I hope it makes them very happy men and big in America. Alas if Jens, Frank, Canc supporting Andy can’t even beat Cadel Evans then they’ll have no hope in beating Contador. Period. The Hog’s tactics in races is simple. He had super strong teams which basically rode the peloton off their wheels then Armstrong would attack with 3km to go and win. Lance would then consolidate in the time trials and gain more time. But I don’t think that’s possible anymore. People just won’t buy it especially won’t buy if Andy pulls time trials from nowhere.

and the Shleck's won't be riding the Ardennes next year. At least not at full tilt.

 

[Polish]

and the Shleck's won't be riding the Ardennes next year. At least not at full tilt.

But hopefully Fabian will go for L-B-L.
A missing jewel in his Crown!

 

[DirtyWorks]

.... People just won’t buy it especially won’t buy if Andy pulls time trials from nowhere.

I beg to differ. Anyone that has some experience will immediately call it a farce, but that's not Pat and Hein's audience. I think Pat and Hein know they need another star for the sport to grow in the U.S. and have chosen the Schlecks. Johann will get them up to speed

The classics guys at the Lea-oh-pard team are on the losing end of this deal. Cancellara has nothing to look forward to next spring! The Grand Tour guys can't win either in the current environment. Johann will likely change that and Pat and Hein will assist every way possible.

Has anyone mentioned the fact that Knagg's and Co. collected some revenue for bringing The Shack and Nissan? I wonder how the sponsors feel about that. You have to wonder how many fingers Tailwind has up the UCI's rear end given an awkward deal like this happened.

 

[pugdog]

More important, who gives up the opportunity to drive a Mercedes in favor of a Nissan?

Check this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNyOqPNFJAA&feature=related

 

[eleven]

Those licenses are not cheap.
Hundred of thousands of dollars per year?

If Becca agreed to pay - why would CSE/Bruyneel complain?

Well, the road to the cyclingnews forum is paved with posters claiming Astana would never be allowed to ride the 2009 tour....that Bruyneel and CSE would be in jail long ago...that they would never be allowed to ride the 2010 Tour...that Bruyneel was about to be arrested...

The list goes on.