Lidl-Trek (no longer Radioshack-Leopard Trek)

[Machu Picchu]

Are there any more rumors about this merge and if its actually going to happen? or just those 2 newspaper articles

Well there's this today from cyclingnews but nothing really worth reading, much like most of this thread really

He also refused to comment on the general situation, or on the rumour that team financier Fabio Becca has put pressure on Nygaard because the Dane has still not found a name sponsor for the team.

“It's not something I know anything about, but I've been out at the races,” Andersen said. He denied being under any pressure himself. “No, I am not under much pressure. I don't have anything like that.”

“It is going well in Spain. It went well in Colorado and the Tour was good, and the same with the Tour of Denmark. So there is not much to complain about.”

 

[Christian]

In the Luxemburger Wort print edition of today, sports journalist Joe Geimer writes in his column that many staff members of LEOPARD TREK (masseurs, soigneurs, mechanics) have found new teams for next season.

He paints a positive picture of the merger, saying that "luckily" Becca realised that 22 wins are not enough, and that "stagnating means losing"

 

[Forunculo]

In the Luxemburger Wort print edition of today, sports journalist Joe Geimer writes in his column that many staff members of LEOPARD TREK (masseurs, soigneurs, mechanics) have found new teams for next season.

He paints a positive picture of the merger, saying that "luckily" Becca realised that 22 wins are not enough, and that "stagnating means losing"

At the end what is the worth of a victory if you buy the best riders. There is a risk to see 7 leo-radio with the last 20 in a final climb. I think Andy will be suffer lot of pressure, he HAS to win.

 

[BillytheKid]

Clinic fact - Lance does not recycle and waters his lawn too much.

And I can understand the FRUSTRATION with the RadioShack/LeopardTrek potential SuperTeam.

After all, RadioShack was supposed to pull their sponsorship in disgrace pre-Tour 2010.
Didn't happen.

Well, they certainly would not renew their sponsorship past 2011 fcol.
Crap, they did. Along with Nissan.

But at least Bruyneel will not add to his record of 10+ GT Wins.
He won't, will he? Please please please, he won't will he?

Corporations don't invests ad capital for fun. These teams have a large fan base that far out numbers the few detractors that waste their time here. That said, a Leopard-Shack team would have to shed some of their original rosters and that would be interesting to see if it does not nix a deal.

 

[greenedge]

RS have got rid of Hermans, ( young polish rider MK ), Levi and also maybe Beppu.

 

[Machu Picchu]

RS have got rid of Hermans, ( young polish rider MK ), Levi and also maybe Beppu.

Several riders are leaving Radioshack with only two (Gallopin & Meersman) going the other way, those leaving include Hermans & Rast to Leopard-Trek.

It appears that the rumours have at least enough truth to them not to be dismissed easily by the riders, this from velonews (a couple of days ago):

Fuglsang said the rumors of the talks have caught the riders of Leopard-Trek off guard, especially among the core group of riders who left Saxo Bank-Sungard to help form the new, Luxembourg-backed squad.

“If something happens, there’s not enough space for everyone,” Fuglsang said. “It’s a bit sad because we wanted to build something special here and everyone on the team (in 2011) was selected because we could all fit in together.”

 

[Race Radio]

When the team was launched Becca said he had put up enough to support the team for 4 years. Now it appears he lost interest 1/2 though the 1st season.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I'll stick my neck out and suggest that it was roughly July 23rd 2011 that he lost interest.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'll stick my neck out and suggest that it was roughly July 23rd 2011 that he lost interest.

____________________

 

[Cobblestoned]

I'll stick my neck out and suggest that it was roughly July 23rd 2011 that he lost interest.

But be careful.
Their is a load of axes flying around here.

23rd July ? Really ?
If he really did lose interesse, then it was on 24th April 2011.

 

[Cobblestoned]

The "lunchbag" story was pre-RadioShack.
It was pre-Bruyneel too.
Also, that kind of talk belongs in the Clinic

I told him twice or even more often, just because I like TFF.
I just wanted to help him.
He's still fireing out his lunchbag-gags regularly and all over the places, like a one man band clapping on detuned instruments in the pouring rain.


He finds a warm and dry place here.

 

[GreasyMonkey]

When the team was launched Becca said he had put up enough to support the team for 4 years. Now it appears he lost interest 1/2 though the 1st season.

Or they have a cash burn-rate better than General Motors....

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

When the team was launched Becca said he had put up enough to support the team for 4 years. Now it appears he lost interest 1/2 though the 1st season.

It shows how fragile building the sport on the largesse of rich guys is. They say there is funding for the team for years, but attitudes change when faced with the actual cash outflow. Many I suspect hope that a major sponsor will be found so they can enjoy their plaything with minimum expediture of their own money.

 

[Bicicleta]

Leopard Trek is ending per @gilsimongil Story will be in L'equipe tomorrow.

Leopard-Trek n'existera plus la saison prochaine. Comme prévu, Flavio Becca fait association avec RadioShack.

Chez leopard, 11 coureurs, dont Brice Feillu, savent déjà qu'ils doivent chercher une autre équipe. Dans L'Equipe, demain.

Sad day.

 

[thehog]

It shows how fragile building the sport on the largesse of rich guys is. They say there is funding for the team for years, but attitudes change when faced with the actual cash outflow. Many I suspect hope that a major sponsor will be found so they can enjoy their plaything with minimum expediture of their own money.

This lies the problem with the ProTour. By its own rules for admission you need to show at least 4 years of funding. I'm assuming Becca did just that for admission. It beggars belief long term sponsors like FDJ and Cofidis can't get ProTour membership when Leopard can. Then again this is the UCI we're talking about.

 

[Anonymous]

Just been tweeted by Vincent Renault, Journalist at Eurosport International as well.

End of Leopard Trek. Christ. What a fail.

Update: 11 riders currently at leopard dont have jobs for next year, the other riders all have rides, assumedly at radioshack, Stuey at Greenedge etc

According to Thierry McAdams, those 11 include Brice Feillu

 

[ansimi]

That makes it sound like it's Leopard that's shutting down and rolling into Radioshack rather than the other way around? That might make it easier/cheaper to shed riders from the larger roster?

I wonder if Fabian will be OK with this or if he'll buy out his contract again

 

[Publicus]

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

 

[killswitch]

Poor Feillu. Nothing has gone well for him since that TDF stage win.

I wonder if Fabian will be OK with this or if he'll buy out his contract again

Canc to BMC?

 

[Anonymous]

****ing uci

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like Shackotard is to become a reality.

 

[thehog]

Poor Feillu. Nothing has gone well for him since that TDF stage win.


Canc to BMC?

Get Canc on Europacar. Full team at his disposal for the classics and he can time trial Tommy V to victory.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

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.

 

[ansimi]

Get Canc on Europacar. Full team at his disposal for the classics and he can time trial Tommy V to victory.

Money aside, it would be a great fit. FDJ might work too.

Monfort was one of Leopard's most impressive riders this year. I'm sure the merged team will want to keep him but I'd sure like to see him go somewhere else.

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

AhahahahhHAhHAHhaahHAHahhhHAhaha

ohwow.jpg

Thank god that episode will be over. Finally no more faked interest by the media in my home nation.

Now we can genuinely concentrate passive aggressive postings on one team only.