Radio Shack already done with Cycling???

[Dr. Maserati]

Now they havent 4 year PT.

From the UCI Protour website:

17.10.2009
Description: Following examination of the request received, the License Commission has awarded a four-year UCI ProTour license for the period 2010 to 2013 to Team Radio Shack (USA).

UCI Press Service

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Reading the Taylor Phinney news and it said that Radio Shack is over in 2011?

What a flash in the pan.

Pretty disappointed if it was all about Lance. And his last try at glory.

I kind of feel used.

They are out after next year. What did you expect?? it was all about Lance and Lance will still be under contract next year only ride outside of Europe. That's why they show no big signings. It's indeed a pathetic team though.

 

[El Imbatido]

Do Radioshack even have any stores outside of USA? Why would they want Europeans to be aware of their products, when we cant buy anything from them anyway?

I think they were known as Tandy in Australia but the Tandy's around where i live are long gone now........5+years ago

 

[Ferminal]

I think they were known as Tandy in Australia but the Tandy's around where i live are long gone now........5+years ago

Tandy was acquired by Dicksmith Electronics (Woolworths) wasn't it?

 

[Spare Tyre]

I think they were known as Tandy in Australia but the Tandy's around where i live are long gone now........5+years ago

I think Tandy was bought out by **** Smith, so yeah, no Radioshack brand to promote in Australia. Of course, we're a tiny market anyway.


Edit: LOL, the censor won't let me use the proper name of the franchise Dick Smith.

 

[Squares]

RS brought money into cycling in a dark period. That dark period continues.

In the end, the fact that there are riders contracted beyond the 2011 season even though RS only signed a sponsorship contract through 2011 is not something that is abnormal in cycling.

How many Milram riders have contracts for next year? The team Milram site says "Regrettably in 2010 six cyclist are leaving the team. Whose places are taken by five new cyclists who will join the team in january.
The team is curious looking for the new racing season. 16 members of the team (as a whole there are 24 cyclists) are German"

And yet cyclingnews.com had a post yesterday entitled "Team Milram still has no new sponsor for 2011". Where are the posts calling out team manager Gerry van Gerwen?

It is standard practice in cycling to establish a team and contract riders for longer than the sponsors have signed on. Then the teams simply search for new sponsors. Come to think of it, 2011 will feature a few new sponsors like GEOX and Telfonica that will be taking over as primary sponsors of established teams.

In the end, it seems to me that some people that post here have such a hatred of LA and JB that anything they do is met with criticism, even when it is nothing different than any other team.

Kind of reminds me of Obama derangement syndrome that occurs here in the US where there is a group that will scream about what Obama does, even when his actions benefit them.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Yes, nothing abnormal here.
But everything that is about Lance or RS is made abnormal and worse.

Look at the h-tactics:
RS will fade away before season ends because wha bla bla > RS will end after this season bla wah wah bla bla > What RS in 2011 ? Ok, lets do some: RS still there in 2011, but let's just bla wah wah wah bla bla

But no question - much entertainment by the usual dramaqueens again.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

RS brought money into cycling in a dark period.

When money are named as team's only contribution to the sport you know things are desperate.
________
KIDS ZOLOFT

 

[hrotha]

When money are named as team's only contribution to the sport you know things are desperate.

We're talking about the sponsor here, not the team. Milram (the company) is not to blame for how much their team sucks.

 

[theyoungest]

In the end, it seems to me that some people that post here have such a hatred of LA and JB that anything they do is met with criticism, even when it is nothing different than any other team.

Maybe it works both ways, and people just don't like these guys' attitudes? The sense of entitlement that JB has makes it hard to like him, and certainly hard to care when things don't turn his way. I've experienced nothing of the sort with Gerry van Gerwen.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think they were known as Tandy in Australia but the Tandy's around where i live are long gone now........5+years ago

LOL, I still have a radioshack walkie talkie set which I got 10 years ago. It was a piece of ****...

 

[Dr. Maserati]

RS brought money into cycling in a dark period. That dark period continues.

In the end, the fact that there are riders contracted beyond the 2011 season even though RS only signed a sponsorship contract through 2011 is not something that is abnormal in cycling.

How many Milram riders have contracts for next year? The team Milram site says "Regrettably in 2010 six cyclist are leaving the team. Whose places are taken by five new cyclists who will join the team in january.
The team is curious looking for the new racing season. 16 members of the team (as a whole there are 24 cyclists) are German"

And yet cyclingnews.com had a post yesterday entitled "Team Milram still has no new sponsor for 2011". Where are the posts calling out team manager Gerry van Gerwen?

It is standard practice in cycling to establish a team and contract riders for longer than the sponsors have signed on. Then the teams simply search for new sponsors. Come to think of it, 2011 will feature a few new sponsors like GEOX and Telfonica that will be taking over as primary sponsors of established teams.

In the end, it seems to me that some people that post here have such a hatred of LA and JB that anything they do is met with criticism, even when it is nothing different than any other team.

Kind of reminds me of Obama derangement syndrome that occurs here in the US where there is a group that will scream about what Obama does, even when his actions benefit them.

If the highlighted above is true in TRS case - then why does Mini Phinney feel the need to search for a different team???

Gerry van Gerwen has been actively looking for a sponsor - and even though he was established within cycling was only offered a one year extension for the ProTour, while Sky & TRS got 4 years.

Sky have invested in the long-term of cycling, so its all very different to TRS.

 

[kurtinsc]

If the highlighted above is true in TRS case - then why does Mini Phinney feel the need to search for a different team???

Gerry van Gerwen has been actively looking for a sponsor - and even though he was established within cycling was only offered a one year extension for the ProTour, while Sky & TRS got 4 years.

Sky have invested in the long-term of cycling, so its all very different to TRS.

If Phinney does move elsewhere, it might be a fair show of intelligence on his part.

It's more common for young riders (even those who end up being fairly successful) to have a year or two of adjustment once joining a major team riding the european races then to just come in and place highly in big races right off the bat.

If a young rider who has a lot of media attention is realistic or has good advisors... he'd probably be smart to want to sign where he can get 2-3 years with a fair degree of certainty at a pretty decent wage due to the attention he has already garnered. If he only got 1, he'd have to get a new contract after a year that could very well not have the best results due to the increase in competiton. This might lead to less opportunity and less money when Radioshack folds after next season.

I think that's less of an issue for an established rider. For them, it would be more about getting the chance to lead a team in races to get results. If RS presented the best opportunity... then taking that for a year would be a better career move then going somewhere else where you might be riding second fiddle to a more established rider.


In my mind, riders in the development stage of their careers would be wise to choose somewhere else. I'm suprised Kwiatkowski went to RS to be honest. Those who are already established should have no problems riding for the Shack if they think that's their best opportunity to get results.

 

[**Uru**]

MiniPhinney is not really a good fit at RS anyway. The team is built primarily for large stage races. Phinney strikes me as a TT/classics specialist. He is better off going somewhere where he can develop along those lines.

 

[CatsNK]

I wish that along with RS's team disappearance that LA would disappear from advertising. Apparently US companies don't mind all his latest controversy - he continues to schill for every company under the sun. His RS ads are annoying to say the least and all the Michelob Light crap... what can you even say about that?

I actually like RS as a store but I don't want to shop there because of the association w/LA. As for Michelob Light, well I've never tasted the stuff and don't ever plan to.

 

[Nick C.]

I think not being stuck on Bruyneel team would be the best thing for Phinney. Look at how many years Hincapie had to flounder about by himself at the finish of all the cobbled classics. Unless I am missing someone the rosters star rider for the cobblestones is Roessems (who is decent) or Steegmans so if I was Phinney I'd run away screaming as fast as I can. Boonen and Quick Step have been looking for help IIRC.

 

[flicker]

I wish that along with RS's team disappearance that LA would disappear from advertising. Apparently US companies don't mind all his latest controversy - he continues to schill for every company under the sun. His RS ads are annoying to say the least and all the Michelob Light crap... what can you even say about that?

I actually like RS as a store but I don't want to shop there because of the association w/LA. As for Michelob Light, well I've never tasted the stuff and don't ever plan to.

I think Lances ads are the best in cycling period. It feels good to see him in merchandise mode.

 

[mr. tibbs]

I can't help but feel that Bruyneel can attract a sponsor with a burgeoning Machado and Brajkovic. They may not be GT winners, but they can produce results and get sponsors' names up in lights.

And who knows what Machado may eventually be capable of? (Though I would like to see him out of the Armstrong/Bruyneel shadow so he can drop the over-the-top rhetorical flourishes.)

 

[Mongol_Waaijer]

I think Lances ads are the best in cycling period. It feels good to see him in merchandise mode.

it's a shame Lance isn't pimping lingerie or bikinis - then it would also be great for you to see him in merchandise too.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I can't help but feel that Bruyneel can attract a sponsor with a burgeoning Machado and Brajkovic. They may not be GT winners, but they can produce results and get sponsors' names up in lights.

And who knows what Machado may eventually be capable of? (Though I would like to see him out of the Armstrong/Bruyneel shadow so he can drop the over-the-top rhetorical flourishes.)

I'd rather see Tiago out of the Armstrong/Bruyneel shadow so he can attack so often Vino's shaking his head going "what the hell is he thinking?" like he used to do in Portugal.

 

[Benotti69]

I think Lances ads are the best in cycling period. It feels good to see him in merchandise mode.

i think these feelings are hidden by the brown mac you wear....let it out Flick let it out....

 

[Dr. Maserati]

If Phinney does move elsewhere, it might be a fair show of intelligence on his part.

It's more common for young riders (even those who end up being fairly successful) to have a year or two of adjustment once joining a major team riding the european races then to just come in and place highly in big races right off the bat.

If a young rider who has a lot of media attention is realistic or has good advisors... he'd probably be smart to want to sign where he can get 2-3 years with a fair degree of certainty at a pretty decent wage due to the attention he has already garnered. If he only got 1, he'd have to get a new contract after a year that could very well not have the best results due to the increase in competiton. This might lead to less opportunity and less money when Radioshack folds after next season.

I think that's less of an issue for an established rider. For them, it would be more about getting the chance to lead a team in races to get results. If RS presented the best opportunity... then taking that for a year would be a better career move then going somewhere else where you might be riding second fiddle to a more established rider.


In my mind, riders in the development stage of their careers would be wise to choose somewhere else. I'm suprised Kwiatkowski went to RS to be honest. Those who are already established should have no problems riding for the Shack if they think that's their best opportunity to get results.

UCI rules are that any neo-pro gets a minimum contract length of 18 months(usually its 2 years).

 

[indurain666]

I can't help but feel that Bruyneel can attract a sponsor with a burgeoning Machado and Brajkovic. They may not be GT winners, but they can produce results and get sponsors' names up in lights.

And who knows what Machado may eventually be capable of? (Though I would like to see him out of the Armstrong/Bruyneel shadow so he can drop the over-the-top rhetorical flourishes.)

Yes he can, but it would require a lot of work and I personally think that he doesn't give a **** other that satisfying his bf Lance.

RS will be always remembered as one of the most pathetic cycling teams of all history like Le Groupment.

 

[Squares]

If the highlighted above is true in TRS case - then why does Mini Phinney feel the need to search for a different team???

Sky have invested in the long-term of cycling, so its all very different to TRS.

Mini Phinney doesn't actually have a contract with RS.

Perhaps he is looking for a place that he fits better. I see him as someone more like Spartacus - good at TTs and One day classics. His TT skills are clear, as are his credentials with the Roubaix espoirs race.

He hasn't proven that he can climb with the best so he isn't likely to become a GT contender but is likely to be more of a classics rider.

So, when looking for a team, if I were Phinney, I'd be looking for someone who will let me race the classics and who has a classics focussed team, not a GT focussed team like RS.

And, by the way, JB got a 4 year Pro-Tour license so that he would have the structure to continue at the highest level if he wants too, or he can take his license and merge with a smaller team to bring them the PT license. That is wise business in my thinking because even if he can't find a new big sponsor, he still holds something of value in the end.

 

[therhodeo]

How would the new Garmin Cervelo be for someone like Phinney? Good TT guys. Good classics riders. Seems like it would be a good fit to come up in.