Rabobank quits cycling!

[Ryo Hazuki]

Considering the large check Sky are going to write ASO and the UCI for TV rights in a couple years I doubt it.

they are going to write to the aso yes, not the uci

 

[perico]

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.

Lance didn't invent the problem in this current generation, nor was he the cause. He was the biggest offender.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Lance didn't invent the problem in this current generation, nor was he the cause. He was the biggest offender.

post 1998 he definitely reinvented it and he is the one to blame.

 

[MatParker117]

they are going to write to the aso yes, not the uci

My mistake, if there Team keeps doing well Sky aren't going to want anyone getting there hands on it. If a bidding war erupts between Sky, ITV and BT ASO is getting paid.

 

[gjdavis60]

Why wouldn't all sponsors pull out of this three-ring circus? If cycling wants to survive as a professional sport it is going to have to figure out how to deliver a product that does not self-immolate with the regularity of Old Faithful. Cheating scandals do not only reflect on those who are caught perpetrating them; they destroy the credibility and reputation of the entire sport, including sponsors. Surely everyone can see this.

Cycling will never be "clean" or even fixed as long as the money keeps flowing through the current system; as long as the status quo is maintained. The cheating and the cheats will simply go to the next willing sponsor, continue their practices, get caught, and ruin another brand, while the UCI shrugs its shoulders and blesses the next incarnation of a "reformed" team. But we all know this can't go on forever. The idea that some tweaking around the edges will fix everything - after 14 years of non-stop calamities - is naive, imo. Something fundamental about pro cycling has to change if we want to stop its slow descent into irrelevance, and the best way to do that - perhaps the only way - is to de-fund the system. Take away the money. Let new people and new ideas find a better way to use the capital that is being squandered on the current corrupt, failing pro cycling model.

Good for Rabobank. I hope the rest of them follow suit. You can live for a season or two without your favorite sport on TV. Just ask NHL or MLB fans. I don't want to see the UCI reformed; I want to see it bankrupt, since the current problems are clearly endemic to it and its model. Let's see some new models for a professional cycling sport. Maybe even some competition until something emerges that brings together all the elements needed for a successful and sustainable pro sport. What we have today ain't it.

In the interim people will still purchase, race, and ride bikes. And Alp d'Huez will still be there for anyone who cares to take the challenge. Cycling is beautiful. Pro cycling is entertainment. I can live without the latter.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

because like it or not 90% of the people don't care about doping and already think all are doped. they will still watch. it's as old as cyclign self and sponsors know it

 

[The Hitch]

I was often on the anti rabo side for banter, but this is very sad news, especially since i thought rabo would stick with cycling for a long time to come.

 

[cineteq]

This is entirely UCI´s fault, if sponsors don´t have faith in the govern body of the cycling sport, then how should they believe there will ever be progress in the future against doping.

Clearly the root of the problem. How long before we see changes?

 

[perico]

It looks like Rabobank was aware that there were going to be more to come from the investigations involving their own past, if Menchov was requesting that his workers must train w/ Dr. Evil.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gazzetta-reveals-police-taps-of-dr-ferrari-and-michele-scarponi

 

[luckyboy]

Bad news. Thanks UCI!

inrng's article about this has this line to finish..
Finally Rabobank are not the only major sponsor to be driven out of the sport. I understand another high profile sponsor is reviewing its contract with a view to quitting the sport.

Gotta be Lampre right?

 

[Dutchsmurf]

I just read that Skoda had already terminated its contract in August, but had kept it quiet. They don't give doping as reason and will continue to sponsor races (the Tour de France among them I believe).

 

[Dutchsmurf]

of course it is. it means riders get new teams and it will improve their riding. how basically every rabo rider when they left started to ride better

That means there first has to be new teams. And the amount of good sponsors hasn't exactly been growing the last years. If we take out all the government sponsors (Astana) and personal projects (Tinkoff), we don't really have that many serious sponsors to begin with. Cheering because one of those few quits isn't something a true cycling fan would do.

 

[The Hitch]

I hate to break your good mood but the team will stay for one more year...

So you'll probably have to watch another Gesink TdF Fail

Imagine being in a rabobank managers meeting if he wins it

 

[luckyboy]

Giant considering taking over sponsorship - http://www.rtl.nl/components/financ...42/giant-overweegt-sponsorschap-raboploeg.xml

 

[maltiv]

Giant considering taking over sponsorship - http://www.rtl.nl/components/financ...42/giant-overweegt-sponsorschap-raboploeg.xml

So basically, any sponsor stepping up will essentially not have to pay anything, since Rabobank will be paying the contracts? That's a pretty good deal if that's how it works

 

[Der Effe]

Giant considering taking over sponsorship - http://www.rtl.nl/components/financ...42/giant-overweegt-sponsorschap-raboploeg.xml

Like I said this morning.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Bad news. Thanks UCI!

inrng's article about this has this line to finish..
Finally Rabobank are not the only major sponsor to be driven out of the sport. I understand another high profile sponsor is reviewing its contract with a view to quitting the sport.

Gotta be Lampre right?

lampre will always stay in cycling. their boss loves it. simple as that

 

[Dutchsmurf]

Giant considering taking over sponsorship - http://www.rtl.nl/components/financ...42/giant-overweegt-sponsorschap-raboploeg.xml

Of course they are, you get the first year for free. How long they will stay after that is the question tho. And if it gets anything more than 'considering' of course.

 

[Kwibus]

lampre will always stay in cycling. their boss loves it. simple as that

The boss of Mapei loved cycling as well.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

The boss of Mapei loved cycling as well.

not anywhere near lampre though

 

[theyoungest]

Of course they are, you get the first year for free. How long they will stay after that is the question tho. And if it gets anything more than 'considering' of course.

Yeah, I'm willing to become shirt sponsor for next year as well

"Snackbar om de hoek" cycling team.

 

[BillytheKid]

I have not back read all the post, so this might have already come to light.

The bigger the question here is has the fallout from recent events begun? Or is this a result of the team's lack of bigger results?

Is cycling a tainted sport from which sponsorship will flee?

I guess replies should be limited to terms of "negative scandals" and sponsorship only.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

this is still kind of hilaruous to merijn zeeman though. the so called prophet of new cycling and training

 

[El Pistolero]

So, this bank knew nothing about the doping scandals going on in their team for years and now just found out? Who the hell trusts his money to a bank like that? I bet they make a lot of smart risk-free investments with your hard earned cash - what with their eyes all closed and all.

 

[Kwibus]

So, this bank knew nothing about the doping scandals going on in their team for years and now just found out? Who the hell trusts his money to a bank like that? I bet they make a lot of smart risk-free investments with your hard earned cash - what with their eyes all closed and all.

This has been explained before. The big public didn't know so Rabo didn't care. Now Rabobank is getting a lot of negative press for the last 2 years and they leave. It's not that complicated.