Lidl-Trek (no longer Radioshack-Leopard Trek)

[HL2037]

Becca promised the Schlecks the world if they would abandon Bjarne Riis. Less than a year later he is leasing them to Bruyneel and the americans. From now on their seasons will be build around the tours of Colorado and California. They will be paraded in the media like circus clowns. They will end up like Lance Armstrong: with rotten souls. That is what happens to traitors.

 

[thirteen]

The Saxo Bank exodus was wrong, but is there an official statement about the Shack-LT merger from the Schlecks? Can't find anything (haven't read every post though).

not very comprehensive: http://www.leopardtrek.lu/news/leopard-trek-welcomes-radioshack-and-nissan-new-main-sponsors

 

[Marcus135]

The Saxo Bank exodus was wrong, but is there an official statement about the Shack-LT merger from the Schlecks? Can't find anything (haven't read every post though).

Yes this time was not so bad but if Kim Anderson is telling the truth that he did not know about the merge then i would assume that a number of riders who thought they had a contract for next year may have been told to find a new team. They don't exactly have much time now to get where they want to be when they thought they had a secure future. Its wrong to do that!

 

[CasperVg]

Bruyneel reacts to sporza.be: http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/110906_Bruyneel_reactie

Translation:

Johan Bruyneel will, just like with RadioShack, be head of sports of the RadioShack-Nissan-Trek superteam. "We're grateful to our sponsors for their belief in this new project."

"This is a milestone for our team and cycling", says Bruyneel. "I'm convinced that we will continue to dominate the sport for the next few years."

"With RadioShack" we've won 30 races this year and dominated the most important American races. With top riders like Cancellara and the Schlecks we cannot only win classics and tours, but also the Grand Tours."

"We will have a team of 30 riders. All contracts of riders signs with Leopard-Trek and Radioshack will be respected. We are grateful to our sponsors for their belief in this project."

 

[Martin]

Bruyneel reacts to sporza.be: http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/110906_Bruyneel_reactie

Translation:

Why am i not surprised seeing bruyneel happy, even if he has to fire 16 riders with valid contract for the next season?

 

[Sophistic]

They had to give Bruyneel the job as he has an existing contract with RS, guess they would have rather switched to Leopard without him.

 

[karlboss]

Giro vs Cali ?

So we will now see a reasonable team sent to the Giro instead of the tour of Cali?

Team RadioShack
211 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr)
212 Robbie McEwen (Aus)
213 Tiago Machado (Por)
214 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn)
215 Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por)
216 Philip Deignan (Irl)
217 Bjorn Selander (USA)
218 Robert Hunter (RSA)
219 Ivan Rovny (Rus)
vs
Team RadioShack
1 Levi Leipheimer (USA)
2 Matthew Busche (USA)
3 Christopher Horner (USA)
4 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa)
5 Jason McCartney (USA)
6 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz)
7 Ben King (USA)
8 Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa)

Leopard Trek
101 Brice Feillu (Fra)
102 Dominic Klemme (Ger)
103 Thomas Rohregger (Aut)
104 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned)
105 Bruno Pires (Por)
106 Davide Viganò (Ita)
107 Fabian Wegmann (Ger)
108 Wouter Weylandt (Bel)
109 Oliver Zaugg (Swi)
vs
Leopard Trek
51 Andy Schleck (Lux)
52 Stefan Denifl (Aut)
53 Martin Mortensen (Den)
54 Jakob Fuglsang (Den)
55 Linus Gerdemann (Ger)
56 Anders Lund (Den)
57 Martin Pedersen (Den)
58 Jens Voigt (Ger)

 

[HL2037]

They had to give Bruyneel the job as he has an existing contract with RS, guess they would have rather switched to Leopard without him.

Don't you think Kim Andersen has an existing contract with LT?

Obviously Flavio Becca, a rich patron who knows nothing about cycling, has been suckered by Bruyneel's sweettalking.

 

[roundabout]

I don't see this ending well. It's his money but Becca went for the band-aid solution. There will be a lot of unhappy people who are forced contractually to stay.

And on a more personal note a lot of riders that I really like end up being replaced by riders who I like a lot less to put it mildly just because they came as a package deal.

Hopefully riders and staff who are not part of the deal can find employment.

 

[HL2037]

Exclusively on CN: Johan's new suit

 

[webvan]

All sporting operations will be managed by Johan Bruyneel Sports Management in both Belgium and Luxembourg.

Huh, is that a new entity, Olympus SARL renamed? Is the licence being transferred to that entity, looks like there are more surprises to come.

 

[the asian]

Why? What have they done to you? And where are they different from the other big teams?

They will be stacked of riders whom I do not like at all

 

[HL2037]

Why? What have they done to you? And where are they different from the other big teams?

They hired Bruyneel for gods sake. It's unforgivable.

 

[the asian]

Just let it go - don't need to hear reasoning for wiener comments.

Sorry. There was no whining at all. Just statting my wish!

 

[SennHeiser]

What exactly are the challenges against some sort of merger?

Vis a vis Trek and Johan,...

Off topic, are you from Luxembourg ?

 

[the asian]

They hired Bruyneel for gods sake. It's unforgivable.

Imagine next year's TDF with A Shleck, Frank. Bottle. Horner all in the same team.
We will surely witness some bold riding with lots of attcks in the mountains by Shack-Trek!

 

[just some guy]

Imagine next year's TDF with A Shleck, Frank. Bottle. Horner all in the same team.
We will surely witness some bold riding with lots of attcks in the mountains by Shack-Trek!

Since Bottle will be at QSOP might not be wearing the same jersey

 

[El Pistolero]

How long will it take Andy to realize none of the Shack boys will ever help him in the Tour?

This team looks strong on paper, but I don't have much faith in Klöden or Chris Horner anymore at the GTs. Especially since Horner hasn't got a GT in his legs this season. That's a killer when you're 40 years old... Going to be a hard winter for him.

 

[thirteen]

Huh, is that a new entity, Olympus SARL renamed? Is the licence being transferred to that entity, looks like there are more surprises to come.

i found this article interesting all around... note the use of the word "aim" in there... also, states that more details would become available on the 15th.

and the new marketing operation has put my gag-reflex into overdrive

Although the earlier Leopard Trek press release said that the setup would be based in Luxembourg and would aim to retain Leopard Trek’ current UCI ProTeam licence, it appears that there is a substantial element of the RadioShack team set to be involved.

It states that Johan Bruyneel will indeed be part of the setup, the Belgian director managing things in Belgium and Luxembourg. It also adds that marketing operations will be performed by CSE Pro Cycling LLC in Austin, Texas, and that Livestrong will continue being part of the setup.

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9...adioShack-Nissan-Trek-team.aspx#ixzz1XASvf6qi

 

[the asian]

How long will it take Andy to realize none of the Shack boys will ever help him in the Tour?

After he has finished 2nd yet again.

 

[the asian]

Since Bottle will be at QSOP might be wearing the same jersey

I thought Klodi was going to OP-QS. Not Levi. Is it confirmed? or just rumours??

 

[just some guy]

I thought Klodi was going to OP-QS. Not Levi. Is it confirmed? or just rumours??

I missed the not in my original post Kloden signed a 2 year deal with the old Radioshack and appears to be going to the new Muppet show from Lux.

LL new DS said in an interview he looks forward to working with LL.

 

[the asian]

I missed the not in my original post Kloden signed a 2 year deal with the old Radioshack and appears to be going to the new Muppet show from Lux.

LL new DS said in an interview he looks forward to working with LL.

Just checked the confirmed transfers thread and Levi to QS-OP is confirmed.
Pity he would have been great at RS-Trek.
The Shlecks must have thought Bruyneel will be able to work miracles for their TT
Otherwise how to explain their sudden ditching of good friend Kim.

 

[Siriuscat]

This sneakiness has the hands of Fat Pat all over it, The UCI might be on the dark but you can bet fat Pat's backhander no questions will be asked, after all...he has to keep his favourite paymaster in the sport.

Sickening that they are allowed to get away with it!

 

[Aleajactaest]

The Schlecks have no loyalty. If I was one of the riders/staff being let go now, I would have a lot of anger in my stomach at them.

Loyalty to who? They are working for the same entity next year as this year. The only thing that changed is the sponsor and the DS. Contractually, they didn't change a thing.