Lidl-Trek (no longer Radioshack-Leopard Trek)

[BillytheKid]

No one was suggesting nefarious intent, rather bungling incompetence or irresponsibility.

Rebuke? Do you mean rebut?

No, I sharply disapprove of the comment.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Is is possible all might have worked it out with all parties including UCI before hand? Contracts can be renegotiated or simply bought out. That could have been a lengthy negotiation. Nor sponsor in their right-mind would also sign on to the new agreement unless it had the backing of the UCI or would land themselves legal trouble. Agreed, somewhat of a mess. Not unlike the all Aussie upstart last year in some ways. Obviously more facts will arrive in time. Your points could be proven out.

For someone claiming that others don't know the facts you are exceedingly ill-informed.

This is the UCI's response to the matter - they were relying on the media too:

07.09.2011

The International Cycling Union is aware of the information published in the media concerning the project to create a team for the 2012 season called RadioShack-Nissan – Trek Professional Cycling Team.

The UCI has also learned from the same sources of the intention of the CSE Pro Cycling LLC – financial managers of the American team RadioShack – to give up the UCI WorldTour licence that it had been granted for the 2010-2013 period.

The UCI is currently evaluating the information received and is not available to comment further at this time.

UCI Press Services

 

[Race Radio]

Is is possible all might have worked it out with all parties including UCI before hand? Contracts can be renegotiated or simply bought out. That could have been a lengthy negotiation. Nor sponsor in their right-mind would also sign on to the new agreement unless it had the backing of the UCI or would land themselves legal trouble. Agreed, somewhat of a mess. Not unlike the all Aussie upstart last year in some ways. Obviously more facts will arrive in time. Your points could be proven out.

Did you even read the link? Mercedes said they had heard nothing.

Mercedes signed a 3 year deal. As part of the deal they provided multiple cars, trucks, and vans. They povided vehicles from the A, C and E classes, a Viano, three Sprinters, two Actros and two Travegos. To pretend it is ok to screw them because it is just business is absurd.....or are you just trolling for a reaction again?

 

[pmcg76]

I have been looking back at some mergers in the past and few are akin to this one. As I mentioned in a previous post, mergers usually occur when a sponsor decides to cut back on sponsorship money and become a co/sub sponsor. Apparently neither RadioShack-Nissan or Leopard were stopping.

Mergers between two top level teams who are not stopping sponsorship is non-exsistent as far as I can see. Mapei-CLAS is the closest but at that time Mapei were a small Italian team who had lost their sponsor midway through the 1993 season when Mapei stepped in.

Patrick Lefevre seems to have been involved in quite a few changes/mergers, he quit the Mapei-team having found a new sponsor Domo to form a new Belgian team in June 2000, then Farm-Frites who had been sponsoring the former Dutch TVM team joined as a sub sponsor in August 2000, the 2000 season had brought lots of problems for Farm Frites and they were looking to reduce their sponsorship level.

Farm Frites were then looking to get out of the sport completely leaving Lefevre without a co-sponsor for 03. Lefevre then started looking at the possibility of a merger with Lotto who had also lost their co-sponsor. But then QuickStep approached Lefevre to set up a new team which is still the exsisting team, with Domo becoming co-sponsors of Lotto for two seasons. Confusing eh!!!

In almost all these cases, the mergers were public knowledge long before September, also it was never a case of the management, riders, other sponsors etc being left in the dark for so long.

 

[Christian]

Some people have been wondering about Fabian's chances for the classics with this new team. Becca says:

- What is your dream for 2012?

I would like it if we won Paris-Roubaix. A Grand Tour is amazing, and I hope we can do it, but, having witnessed Roubaix from so close this year, it is a different sort of cycling. Those athletes are superhuman.


http://www.lequotidien.lu/les-sports/26942.html

As for the whole Mercedes debate, he says:

"We have a contract with Mercedes that can be nullified at any time under certain conditions. Starting 2012, we will be equipped by Nissan. I would like to thank Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg as well as Enovos. They believed in us and I think we gave them a lot of visibility"

http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/2011/09/160828/alle-vertraege-respektieren.php

 

[luckyboy]

Some people have been wondering about Fabian's chances for the classics with this new team. Becca says:

- What is your dream for 2012?

I would like it if we won Paris-Roubaix. A Grand Tour is amazing, and I hope we can do it, but, having witnessed Roubaix from so close this year, it is a different sort of cycling. Those athletes are superhuman.

http://www.lequotidien.lu/les-sports/26942.html

Unless they're going to bring in some guys for the cobbles to go with Rast and Klemme, he's going to have to do a lot on his own again.


Also lol at giving Mercedes visibility

 

[Christian]

Unless they're going to bring in some guys for the cobbles to go with Rast and Klemme, he's going to have to do a lot on his own again.

And his only team mate who finished Roubaix, Martin Mortensen, is likely to leave ... (quite the pity actually, I really liked the guy)

 

[ultimobici]

Some people have been wondering about Fabian's chances for the classics with this new team. Becca says:

- What is your dream for 2012?

I would like it if we won Paris-Roubaix. A Grand Tour is amazing, and I hope we can do it, but, having witnessed Roubaix from so close this year, it is a different sort of cycling. Those athletes are superhuman.


http://www.lequotidien.lu/les-sports/26942.html

As for the whole Mercedes debate, he says:

"We have a contract with Mercedes that can be nullified at any time under certain conditions. Starting 2012, we will be equipped by Nissan. I would like to thank Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg as well as Enovos. They believed in us and I think we gave them a lot of visibility"

http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/2011/09/160828/alle-vertraege-respektieren.php

Charming.

Wonder what conditions allow them to dump MB in the way that they have?

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

As for the whole Mercedes debate, he says:

"We have a contract with Mercedes that can be nullified at any time under certain conditions. Starting 2012, we will be equipped by Nissan. I would like to thank Mercedes-Benz Luxembourg as well as Enovos. They believed in us and I think we gave them a lot of visibility"

http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/sport/artikel/2011/09/160828/alle-vertraege-respektieren.php

Becca, europe's own Michael Ball.

The sad part about this is with Leipheimer kicked out of the club, we will not get to laugh at him and Becca flashing gang signs while surrounded by a flock of floozies.

 

[taiwan]

Between them they better be able to scrape together some decent cobbles support for Cancellara. That is all.

 

[ultimobici]

Between them they better be able to scrape together some decent cobbles support for Cancellara. That is all.

I think they may find that any team spirit has been killed by the lack of information in the run up to this "merger". Nothing like keeping your employees in the dark to engender a cohesive unit, eh?

 

[taiwan]

I think they may find that any team spirit has been killed by the lack of information in the run up to this "merger". Nothing like keeping your employees in the dark to engender a cohesive unit, eh?

You wonder how much notice the 'rejects' got.

 

[ultimobici]

You wonder how much notice the 'rejects' got.

And their treatment can't be much comfort to those left behind. Rast was unhappy at being sidelined in TRS. I bet he's ecstatic at the thought that he's actually signed for effectively his old team! Happy days!

 

[AussieGoddess]

Has anybody here said that the Radioshack team is doing anything dishonourable? I'm as much a Lance hater as anybody, but I think they are making a great deal here, especially for their sponsors. It's the Leopards whose dealings are questionable here.

Certainly LT has behaved badly in this, but I can understand their position a little more. They needed sponsorship, so their hands were tied a little. Their communication and management of this has been incredibly poor though.

Radioshack on the other hand actually had sponsors for the new season, they had a team, they had a good structure ..... they are doing this deal purely in order for JB to get his hands on the Schlecks. And to do that he is prepared to screw over a large number of riders and staff when it is almost too late for these people to get a new job. That isnt exactly what I would call ethical.

 

[Race Radio]

Certainly LT has behaved badly in this, but I can understand their position a little more. They needed sponsorship, so their hands were tied a little. Their communication and management of this has been incredibly poor though.

Radioshack on the other hand actually had sponsors for the new season, they had a team, they had a good structure ..... they are doing this deal purely in order for JB to get his hands on the Schlecks. And to do that he is prepared to screw over a large number of riders and staff when it is almost too late for these people to get a new job. That isnt exactly what I would call ethical.

They had a lot of things...... but they were unable, or unwilling, to have a license. CSE was not going to be around next year. While Johan's desire for the Schlecks is understandable the move appears more one of desperation.

I can understand substituting Nissan but the professional thing to do would have your existing sponsors and riders not have to find out in the media

 

[Christian]

And their treatment can't be much comfort to those left behind. Rast was unhappy at being sidelined in TRS. I bet he's ecstatic at the thought that he's actually signed for effectively his old team! Happy days!

Same with Hermans ...

 

[thehog]

Did you even read the link? Mercedes said they had heard nothing.

Mercedes signed a 3 year deal. As part of the deal they provided multiple cars, trucks, and vans. They povided vehicles from the A, C and E classes, a Viano, three Sprinters, two Actros and two Travegos. To pretend it is ok to screw them because it is just business is absurd.....or are you just trolling for a reaction again?

Judging by the mentality by some on this forum I guess it now should be ok for sponsors to do the same. Perhaps Radioshack might get a better sponsorship opportunity and pull the rug on the team? Perhaps Trek might decide to provide bikes to someone else and pull out mid-season.

Beggars belief that some are trying to justify the behaviour. I understand if a bigger opportunity comes along but you have to respect your current sponsor by informing them. I'm sure the contract doesn't stipulate they can pull out at any moment. The break clause would be there only with consultation and both parties agreeing.

 

[Race Radio]

Judging by the mentality by some on this forum I guess it now should be ok for sponsors to do the same. Perhaps Radioshack might get a better sponsorship opportunity and pull the rug on the team? Perhaps Trek might decide to provide bikes to someone else and pull out mid-season.

Beggars belief that some are trying to justify the behaviour. I understand if a bigger opportunity comes along but you have to respect your current sponsor by informing them. I'm sure the contract doesn't stipulate they can pull out at any moment. The break clause would be there only with consultation and both parties agreeing.

Wouldn't be surprised if this happens.

 

[Benotti69]

Wouldn't be surprised if this happens.

Geox are thinking about next year at the end of the season......

 

[pugdog]

Judging by the mentality by some on this forum I guess it now should be ok for sponsors to do the same. Perhaps Radioshack might get a better sponsorship opportunity and pull the rug on the team? Perhaps Trek might decide to provide bikes to someone else and pull out mid-season.

Beggars belief that some are trying to justify the behaviour. I understand if a bigger opportunity comes along but you have to respect your current sponsor by informing them. I'm sure the contract doesn't stipulate they can pull out at any moment. The break clause would be there only with consultation and both parties agreeing.

Sponsors like Coast, Pegasus, Linda McCartney?

 

[thehog]

Sponsors like Coast, Pegasus, Linda McCartney?

Actually no – nothing like that. The sponsors didn't pull out because they found a better opportunity they pulled out because they had no money or weren’t even in cycling to begin with and couldn’t validate their income!

So much different but thanks for bringing up the point.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Sponsors like Coast, Pegasus, Linda McCartney?

TheHogs point was that Mercedes the sponsor had a valid contract.

Your point appears to have nothing to do with that -
Team Coast ran out of money, Pegasus was not a sponsor and had no funding.
Linda McCartney had stopped yet the 'team' continued searching for sponsors even though they had no money.

The new structures in place were made because of these incidents - here is Verbruggen discussing it during the Team Coast suspension in 2003:

In future, a team will have to show proof by January that it has the necessary finances to last the season," said Verbruggen. "For a team to hope to find a cosponsor halfway through the season is something that will no longer be accepted."

 

[DirtyWorks]

Judging by the mentality by some on this forum I guess it now should be ok for sponsors to do the same. Perhaps Radioshack might get a better sponsorship opportunity and pull the rug on the team? Perhaps Trek might decide to provide bikes to someone else and pull out mid-season.

That likely would be a win for CSE. They get a part of the money they bring in to a team, right? That's how it works in other industries. I wonder what Pat's cut for letting this stinker go through is.

I feel sorry for the Spring Classics guys. They will be lucky if there's a 2nd or third podium spot for any of them in Spring 2012.

If any of you thought doping chilled cycling sponsorship, a team publicly firing a sponsor will make things harder still. Why would a future sponsor want to spend a Euro on pro cycling when they see what's happened to Daimler's deal? This kind of thing is exactly why cycling will remain a small-time sport.

 

[thehog]

That likely would be a win for CSE. They get a part of the money they bring in to a team, right? That's how it works in other industries. I wonder what Pat's cut for letting this stinker go through is.

I feel sorry for the Spring Classics guys. They will be lucky if there's a 2nd or third podium spot for any of them in Spring 2012.

If any of you thought doping chilled cycling sponsorship, a team publicly firing a sponsor will make things harder still. Why would a future sponsor want to spend a Euro on pro cycling when they see what's happened to Daimler's deal? This kind of thing is exactly why cycling will remain a small-time sport.

No doubt they'll be skipping the Giro as well. Its all for the Tour. Fabs must haven received a sweetner to stay on-board. He doesn't appear to be the grunt he used to be. The Gilbert Thor challenge will be hard to beat.

 

[just some guy]

What date is the 10 days re UFO greenlight or not.

I Hope for the 1% chance that they say no to the merger but that would do more damage probably.