Pro Team Luxembourg

[EmpressJo]

From http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nygaard-tips-andy-schleck-as-2011-tour-favourite:

As for rider rosters and sponsors, he [Nygaard] added: “We’ll announce riders this week and in the coming weeks. Everything will come in the next couple of months, including the team’s identity, and we’ll have a big presentation in Luxembourg in January.”

Recent reports have indicated that the team will be funded by a pool of sponsors, rather than one leading company, and may compete under the name of Pro Team Luxembourg.

While Nygaard says there's more info to come, surely one sponsor would stump up the cash to be naming rights sponsor, especially for a team that will be relatively high profile, right? Otherwise, I think 'Pro Team Luxembourg' would win gold for the most boring and unimaginative team name ever.

Anyone know - or care to speculate - on who major sponsors could be?

 

[BroDeal]

Anyone know - or care to speculate - on who major sponsors could be?

Noble House.

 

[ingsve]

Well, both Astana and Katusha are team names that isn't a sponsor since those teams also have a collection of sponsors rather than a single title sponsor. I don't know how much more imaginative Astana is than Pro Team Luxembourg. Then again when you have an opportunity to choose your own name I agree that a little originality would have been fun.

 

[Green Machine]

Well, both Astana and Katusha are team names that isn't a sponsor since those teams also have a collection of sponsors rather than a single title sponsor. I don't know how much more imaginative Astana is than Pro Team Luxembourg. Then again when you have an opportunity to choose your own name I agree that a little originality would have been fun.

I guess the difference might be that both Astana and Katusha more or less are nationally run cycling projects. Both teams are heavily backed by the governments in respective countries. As far as what has been speculated on regarding the team from Luxembourg, it is purely a private project.

 

[roadbiker]

Beside Trek and Mercedes-Benz further suppliers/sponsors will be (yet confirmed):
- Bontrager (wheels and parts)
- Shimano with DI2 groupset

 

[L'arriviste]

If I was the sponsor putting in the biggest chunk of cash, I might be a bit disappointed if they called it "Pro Team Luxembourg", but there you go!

There was a thing about supermarket chains a while back. Auchan was doing the rounds, but I think the rumour turned out to be just that.

Perhaps they'll get Casino 2000 from Mondorf (Schleckville) to put in a bit of money, or the big leisure operation that owns the Domaine Thermale over there.

I went there last year. Weirdest massage I ever had.

 

[Christian]

If I was the sponsor putting in the biggest chunk of cash, I might be a bit disappointed if they called it "Pro Team Luxembourg", but there you go!

There was a thing about supermarket chains a while back. Auchan was doing the rounds, but I think the rumour turned out to be just that.

Perhaps they'll get Casino 2000 from Mondorf (Schleckville) to put in a bit of money, or the big leisure operation that owns the Domaine Thermale over there.

I went there last year. Weirdest massage I ever had.

-> Auchan officially denied
-> Casino 2000/Domaine Thermal are way too small to put in a significant amount of money, advertising on such a large scale is pointless for such small businesses

My best guesses:

- Luxair/Cargolux (Luxair was already a co-sponsor at Saxo Bank)
- Arcelor-Mittal (largest steal corporation in the world with its headquarters in Luxembourg)
- Flavio Becca's firm
- Some kind of Luxembourgish bank or investment firm
- Maybe an internet firm : Amazon, E-bay and Skype all have seats in Luxembourg, Skype is already with HTC though

 

[Altitude]

No clue. I just hope their kits are decent looking.

 

[hfer07]

I don't know why but I keep thinking that "Radio Shark" & "Luxembourg team" are going to merge as one--they have Trek already involved & all the praising to ASchleck from the Hog sounds too suspicious-plus the "licence issue" is a big motivator to make it happen...

 

[ingsve]

Don't forget the beer. Andy and Stuart need to get their drink on so a beer sponsor is a must.

 

[Christian]

Don't forget the beer. Andy and Stuart need to get their drink on so a beer sponsor is a must.

Sky gives free iPhones to their riders, Team Luxembourg free beer

 

[Old School]

Don't forget the beer. Andy and Stuart need to get their drink on so a beer sponsor is a must.

That was classic...

 

[The Sheep]

Would reckon the main reason it's called Team Luxembourg is Flavio Becca?

 

[EmpressJo]

Don't forget the beer. Andy and Stuart need to get their drink on so a beer sponsor is a must.

Too true! Don't know of any Luxembourgish beer, but since half the management are Danish, maybe Carlsberg could be a goer!

Otherwise, what else is there? You know those Lonely Planet guide books that tell you what a country is famous for? Luxembourg is famous for one thing - banking. Boring! Still, there's a bit of money in that.

 

[shouldawouldacoulda]

Noble House.

I wonder how many people will get that? Goes back a long long time And I get the feeling Noble House is backing the 'new' FlyV.

 

[EmpressJo]

I wonder how many people will get that? Goes back a long long time

I readily admit that I had to look it up. Seems like it was a bit of a saga!

 

[tgsgirl]

I read a rumour (on twitter? not sure) that the main shirt sponsor would be Unicef. Barça style.

 

[L'arriviste]

I read a rumour (on twitter? not sure) that the main shirt sponsor would be Unicef. Barça style.

I may be wrong about this, but I thought the UNICEF relationship was based on the club paying the sponsor (paragraph 3 of this bit).

I can't see any pro cycling team having that sort of money, but it would indeed be refreshing if they could do something like that.

 

[the student]

ah Beer sponsort might seriously be it look what i found picture...
of schleck on a luxembourg beer company which is actually sponsering cycling

bofferding lol at this: http://www.bofferding.lu/coureurs-gala-tour-de-france

 

[tgsgirl]

I may be wrong about this, but I thought the UNICEF relationship was based on the club paying the sponsor (paragraph 3 of this bit).

I can't see any pro cycling team having that sort of money, but it would indeed be refreshing if they could do something like that.

Ah yes, 'sponsored' by unicef is the wrong terminology.

 

[Christian]

ah Beer sponsort might seriously be it look what i found picture...
of schleck on a luxembourg beer company which is actually sponsering cycling

bofferding lol at this: http://www.bofferding.lu/coureurs-gala-tour-de-france

Bofferding actually had a special edition honouring Kim Kirchen:

I'm currently trying to get those, they were a limited edition so it's not that easy.

 

[Ruxen1989]

Team leopard?

Nygaard has twitted:

- Watch this space in future for the coolest team in cycling in 2011: http://www.leopard.lu/

 

[gttim!]

I wonder how many people will get that? Goes back a long long time And I get the feeling Noble House is backing the 'new' FlyV.

My first thought was "Wow, a James Clavell reference! And on a cycling forum!"

 

[Machu Picchu]

Team leopard?

Nygaard has twitted:

news article here but not much info, however I did find this interesting:

"I think we have the lowest average age in the ProTour. That in itself emphasizes both a generational change and a shift in mentality," says Nygaard.

The team listed so far didn't really strike me as being that young ?_?

 

[Zaschrona]

I think "Leopard" will be the name for the company which will run proffesional cycling team.. I think it will be only license holder like Riis Cycling, High Road Sports, Abarca Sports or Slipstream Sports.