Rabobank quits cycling!

[Mellow Velo]

Might as well put this "suggestion" to the mods out there, sooner, rather than later.

Inevitably, the debate in thread is going to cross boundaries that would normally see it moved out of the road racing section and into the tender loving care of the Clinic.

However, since Rabobank's decision has massive implications for followers of road racing.
It is merely a side issue for followers of doping matters.

Leeway is required.
Rabobank cannot be debated out of context.

David Millar?

Yes.
(an example of why this thread needs to stay)

Isn't this thread better discussed further in the Clinic btw?

Absolutely not. See above.
This is a huge issue in terms of pro racing. This is the pro racing section.
Many fans of pro racing do not post in the Clinic.
It's not hard to fathom as to why.

 

[spalco]

I've never been a fan of the team, but that's awful.

 

[Kwibus]

Rabobank just couldn't take the heat anymore.
Even a simple pre-Rabo case of Barredo is blown up in the Dutch press.
I wonder if they'll be able to get a sponsor/WT license for next year.

Isn't this thread better discussed further in the Clinic btw?

I'm not sure. I think this thread is supposed to be here, but I hope the mods allow the forbidden word in this thread as it's obviously related to the sponsor stop.

 

[Kwibus]

bikechatter.com hasn't updated since October the 10th.

Is there any other way to follow cycling tweets? On moments like these I'm always incredibly curious what's being said.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Press conf now.

After a question "Why now"

the answer from Rabobank is literally that because of the report of the USADA, they have no faith left in the UCI to control the anti-doping part of the sport.

So basically they quit because UCI failed

 

[Cykelbloggar]

Oh, now it's USADA's fault? Fool.

Agree! USADA have done what they suppose to do, but Armstrong & Co should leave all behind, give all their prizemoney etc to USADA so they can hunt more and make this wonderful sport clean!

/Fritz

 

[auscyclefan94]

Awful news...shocked for cycling and the riders.

 

[Pentacycle]

I'm not sure. I think this thread is supposed to be here, but I hope the mods allow the forbidden word in this thread as it's obviously related to the sponsor stop.

No, but with the Ferrari investigation being mentioned and all the Barredo stuff flying around some posts I thought it would be partly appropriate.

They've also just said that next year the team won't ride with a sponsor on their outfit.
At least the team will be funded for 2013, but apparently their hatred towards the press has led to them taking all Rabobank from the pro peloton.

 

[RHRH19861986]

This is really, really big news... No problem for Gesink, Mollema, Kruijswiik, Renshaw, but really shocking for less strong riders.

What a day for cycling, end of Rabobank is a blow for the sport, I´d never expected that.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

They still have one year to find a team. After all, the WT team will keep riding in 2013 but without Rabobank as name

 

[OlavEH]

Sad news, and utterly ridiculous at the same time. The sport of cycling is most likely cleaner than in decades. Why withdraw just because that **** Lance, and his compatriots used doping 10-15 years ago.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Rabobank will continue to sponsor Marianne Vos, personally.

 

[Arnout]

Rabobank will continue to sponsor Marianne Vos, personally.

Great news for the rest of the women.

 

[auscyclefan94]

In some respects, this is a bigger blow to women's cycling as Rabobank was one of the few teams that paid their riders a reasonable wage and invested in women's cycling.

 

[burning]

Sad news, and utterly ridiculous at the same time. The sport of cycling is most likely cleaner than in decades. Why withdraw just because that **** Lance, and his compatriots used doping 10-15 years ago.

The main reason is UCI

Sad sad news, I didnt really expected that to be honest, considering the fact that Rabo was around during Festina,T-Mobile and they didnt quit after chicken, well good luck for the riders and other guys in the team

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Lance waves

 

[Danilot]

Press conf now.

After a question "Why now"

the answer from Rabobank is literally that because of the report of the USADA, they have no faith left in the UCI to control the anti-doping part of the sport.

So basically they quit because UCI failed

Armstrong never rode for Rabobank, no Rabobank riders are named in the USADA files (either explicitly or in redacted form), Armstrong didn't have any particular association with Rabobank...

Call me sceptical, but to me it looks like Rabobank were planning to quit cycling anyway and the Armstrong case simply provided a handy excuse.

For a sponsor that stayed on board after kicking the Chicken when he was days away from winning the Tour de France and all the turmoil that ensued, the Armstrong case should be nothing at all.

It's understandable. After 16 years, everyone knows what Rabobank is and cycling sponsorship is no longer needed for brand recognition. But IMO they should have been honest about their reasons instead of jumping on a handy excuse.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

You don't read well do you?

Is not because of Armstrong. Is because of no faith left in UCI.

 

[RHRH19861986]

They still have one year to find a team. After all, the WT team will keep riding in 2013 but without Rabobank as name

Ah, OK. However, though, it´s a strange decision. I guess, cycling is national sports in the Netherlands, just as in Belgium, and everyone there has the feeling that PEDs have been part of cycling forever, and will be forever. So why do they leave right now? Might have other reasons, that will likely never been made public (firm internal reasons).

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Great news for the rest of the women.

So they'll continue to sponsor the only winner they have. Makes sense.

Does anyone but Dekker_T really believe that it was about anti-doping, or the UCI with them? Did anyone have "faith in the UCI" before the USADA news broke?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Ah, OK. However, though, it´s a strange decision. I guess, cycling is national sports in the Netherlands, just as in Belgium, and everyone there has the feeling that PEDs have been part of cycling forever, and will be forever. So why do they leave right now? Might have other reasons, that will likely never been made public (firm internal reasons).

Like I said, they answered that exact question just now in the press conference.
No faith in UCI to control the sport.

 

[auscyclefan94]

So they continue to sponsor the only winner they have. Makes sense.

Does anyone but Dekker_T really believe that it was about anti-doping, or the UCI with them? Did anyone have "faith in the UCI" before the USADA news broke?

Yes I do. USADA's report officially exposed the doping throughout cycling and the corruption within the UCI.

 

[Der Effe]

Cycling is sick unto the highest ranks, is what Bruggink said. Now, ironically, banks are too but it's actually a good thing he said so. Maybe now the people at UCI will finally feel the heat.

 

[CobbleStoner]

F Verbruggen, F McQuaid, and most of all, F Tygart

 

[Madone]

All riders who have used and use doping are responsible, Lance Armstrong where not the only cheater, the problem is that riders hope that the problem disappears if they denies or gets quiet and hope the problem disappears (hear no, see no, say no).


Regarding the UCI I agree there should be made a big laundry in the top and it cant go fast enough or start the new "pirate" league with tight rules and UCI dies.. Timing are the best ever for them right now.

Rabobank are not the bad guy right here, they have supported the sport bigger then any other in 17 years, the contract ended after this season anyway so not a big surprise, I just hope they will be back when riders, leaders and cycling national/uci top gets some people with brains and guts to do there job and not hunt greed.

The sad part is that its only cycling there are some kind of control so lets hunt them and forget the even worse football when talking doopers, there are just to many money involved in football/soccer so nobody dares to hunt them.