Rabobank quits cycling!

[trompe le monde]

Pretty sad news to read that Rabobank have decided to cut its ties to the pro tour. I've liked them for the most part and you couldn't really hate them.

Never realized the blowback from Lance's USADA investigation would be so huge, but I suppose sponsors will now be somewhat wary of sponsoring cycling when it appears that in the past cycling was a rolling pharmacy on bicycle wheels. A bit of an extreme characterization sure, but to a sponsor looking for good press cycling may appear as such.

 

[hiero2]

This is very bad.

I absolutely agree. Suddenly I have a feeling we are going to see a continuing implosion, like the financial disaster just a few years ago. The only good thing about that would be that the UCI won't be the only player after a collapse like that happens. ASO has a good thing going - they won't let that stop.

 

[the asian]

Lotto has been sponsoring cycling teams since 1985.

Rabo were the longest standing sole sponsor. Lotto merged with Omega Pharma for quite some time.

 

[Afrank]

I absolutely agree. Suddenly I have a feeling we are going to see a continuing implosion, like the financial disaster just a few years ago. The only good thing about that would be that the UCI won't be the only player after a collapse like that happens. ASO has a good thing going - they won't let that stop.

Great, now your making me worry that other big name sponsors of cycling teams will start to pull out. We've already lost liquigas, and now rabobank, I really hope none of the other long time sponsors follow.

I remember thinking to myself when the USADA came out with their reasoned decision that this isn't going to make cycling look very good or do a lot of good things for the sport and it's image. Looks like I was right. I really hope it doesn't get any worse.

 

[El Pistolero]

Great, now your making me worry that other big name sponsors of cycling teams will start to pull out. We've already lost liquigas, and now rabobank, I really hope none of the other long time sponsors follow.

I remember thinking to myself when the USADA came out with their reasoned decision that this isn't going to make cycling look very good or do a lot of good things for the sport and it's image. Looks like I was right. I really hope it doesn't get any worse.

But we've also gained Argos, Orica and Belisol.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

and especially Sky

 

[Afrank]

But we've also gained Argos, Orica and Belisol.

True, hopefully they remain in the sport for a long time.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Rabobank's pulling out of sponsoring cycling may potentially get the best out of their riders as some better riders will be wanting to boost their market value and others will simply be fighting for their careers or just wanting to find another team. We may see a very strong Rabobank team next year.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Well this isn't true

they quit all their cycling except on domestic amateur basis and cyclocross

 

[Der Effe]

they quit all their cycling except on domestic amateur basis and cyclocross

Next season the men's and women's team will be white label team and the cyclos and continentals will be under KNWU, with the note that the white label teams need to be self-reliant asap

 

[MatParker117]

If Chris Froome hadn't signed a contract extension with Sky last year I guarantee you Rabobank would of become Virgin Pro Cycling extremely quickly. Richard Branson is a cycling fan but obviously would want a British team leader.

 

[guncha]

I myself would not sponsor sport in which history is re-written 13 years after the race is finished. In fact this sport deserves zero sponsors...

 

[GPdesAmeriques]

they quit all their cycling except on domestic amateur basis and cyclocross

... and Marianne Vos. Although as she's said she needs a team as well!

I think that the women's team will continue as "White Label" / Giant for the next few years, and then Rabobank will re-appear as the lead sponsor for 2016 and the Olympics.

 

[gerundium]

David Millar's open letter towards rabobank in the Volkskrant today.

http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/3184...ank-jullie-maken-ontelbare-dromen-kapot.dhtml

 

[Dutchsmurf]

David Millar's open letter towards rabobank in the Volkskrant today.

http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/3184...ank-jullie-maken-ontelbare-dromen-kapot.dhtml

Mostly the "maybe you should give yourself some time to understand cycling" part is hilarious. You would think 17 years is long enough.

 

[theyoungest]

Laurens ten Dam has already gone out training in his new kit

(via @_RobertoTejedor)

 

[Netserk]

I like the kit

 

[Kwibus]

Yesterday the Rabobank director Bruggink was live at "Nieuwsuur" an latest news program.

He pretty much named the UCI as 1 of the big problems in cycling right now. I so dearly hope sponsors and other important instances start saying the same thing.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Yesterday the Rabobank director Bruggink was live at "Nieuwsuur" an latest news program.

He pretty much named the UCI as 1 of the big problems in cycling right now. I so dearly hope sponsors and other important instances start saying the same thing.

what is he supposed to say? that rabo was trying to find an excuse to get out? that is the real reason. pressure from around the bank and even the absolute top in the bank couldn't go on like this.

 

[Kwibus]

what is he supposed to say? that rabo was trying to find an excuse to get out? that is the real reason. pressure from around the bank and even the absolute top in the bank couldn't go on like this.

Obviously. He didn't deny that. It's obvious that the pressure took their sponsorship down, but he did press that the sport is sick from the top till the bottom. When they asked is the UCI a problem he said yes.
I'm sure he isn't saying that as an excuse to quit the sponsorship. He's saying that because he feels it's that way... and well we all know he is right.

We can say it on here, but nothing will change.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

the uci is definitely a huge problem, but not really the reason rabo quit

 

[theyoungest]

Ryo, you need to realize that your own guesswork does not always correspond with reality. The fact that you see the Rabobank team as one big fail doesn't mean the Rabobank executives themselves see it that way.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Ryo, you need to realize that your own guesswork does not always correspond with reality. The fact that you see the Rabobank team as one big fail doesn't mean the Rabobank executives themselves see it that way.

yeah that's why they stepped out as sponsors, because it was such a succes they are not going to say it but they know it and felt it. that's why they left the sinking ship

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Ryo, you need to realize that your own guesswork does not always correspond with reality. The fact that you see the Rabobank team as one big fail doesn't mean the Rabobank executives themselves see it that way.

Of course they do. The public opinion and media attention in the NL hasn't been favorable for years. That's all that matters to a sponsor.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

David Millar's open letter towards rabobank in the Volkskrant today.

http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/3184...ank-jullie-maken-ontelbare-dromen-kapot.dhtml

Nothing will attract sponsors like the certain knowledge that a boring old hypocrit will give them lots of negative publicity when they leave, even after 17 years of great support for the sport.