Radioshack Crying after Lombardia snub

[roundabout]

Meh. So which one of the local team gets the boot to appease Hog?

 

[Frosty]

That should finally silence those stupid arguments about them not getting invited in every race because they didn't respect the Giro d'Italia =/

HTC Columbia send Cavendish to the Tour of California because the race is getting more prestigious every year(their words, not mine) and they send their "B-squad" to the Giro(Greipel and Pinotti, even though they're actually good cyclists.)
Owh, and also because ToC was more important for the sponsor than the Giro (again, their words)

I bet Cavendish wont be barred from riding the Giro next year if he decides to ride it. But he's so respectful to the Giro right? ;o

They are an American team so obviously had a difficult situation. However, they still managed two stage wins and a ninth place.

 

[Lajeretta4Ever]

Is the organization behind the Giro and Lombardia the same? If so, me thinks this is payback for LA neutralizing the Milan stage in the 09 Giro.

 

[eleven]

May not be holier than thou, but Sky are certainly viewed as squeaky clean, when compared to Radio Shack.

By who? Michael Barry, a sports director trained under Bjarne Riis and a track racer who "magically" became a top-10 TDF climbing sensation? Squeaky clean reputation, i tell ya! It was all just good ol fashioned marginal improvements.

 

[BYOP88]

I don't remember CAS getting involved the year Unibet.com were in the PT and "forcing" RCS/ASO to let them start, infact I can't really remember the UCI doing anything aside from cashing Unibet's cheque.

 

[theswordsman]

I've been checking online during the tennis match, and so far, this story only seems to exist on Velonews, which was cited at Biciciclismo.. Even they didn't have it as a done deal, just that the UCI was helping with it.. Cycling Weekly joked about it on twitter, but didn't write it up. Maybe they only heard it from Velonews? It should be interesting when it hits La Gazzetta dello Sport.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

There's some here:
http://forum.cyclingnews.com/forumdisplay.php?f=6

and here
http://www.teamskyfans.com

I think it mainly happens when you type anything on a cycling forum if that helps you.

Ta

Your first link goes to the General Forum - if you have something to show then show it.
Nothing in the OP was to do with doping - so I'm not sure what you're trying to suggest. Cobblestoned baited -as they do - and TSF didn't bite.

 

[craig1985]

Machado? Huh? Why the talk on this guy. What did he do? Like ever?

Because I enjoy watching suicidal kamikaze riding, that's why. Or at least that is what he was known for when he was racing the Volta a Portugal. Sorry if I offended you.

 

[Boeing]

This sport eats it own.

what a political joke.

 

[flicker]

Dang eye-tye mail couldn't get the acceptance letter to TRS. Boy that Italian mail service sho-nuff slow. Good luck in Lombardia Shack.

 

[theswordsman]

OK. A group of organizers get together and pick 25 teams for the race. They have typed or written lists, stuff on computers, maybe exchanged e-mails, etc. At least one of them comes up with an official list for a press release. Radio Shack isn't on the list given to the press. Maybe other teams got a nice engraved invitation in the mail, but one alleged missing envelope wouldn't have made the name vanish off the master list. I've checked Google News, and so far I've only seen this story in a brief Velonews article and a Cycling Weekly tweet. And even the Velonews article said that the UCI was trying to help work things out. Maybe it will all be sorted tomorrow, and maybe it isn't happening. The team has a way of putting multiple stories out there, and also of assuming they'll get their way. I won't believe it until the organizers announce it, and will still doubt the story beyond that.

 

[Boeing]

The team has a way of putting multiple stories out there, and also of assuming they'll get their way.

if you are saying that Shack might have initiated the story you have an interesting point

their past' leaks' or Armstrong leaks are very Karl Rove-ish

what might be their motivation do you suppose?

 

[Mellow Velo]

So, no confirmation anywhere of the Velosnooze story?
I picked up the link from elsewhere, as I don't follow the site.
Could well be another case media manipulation from this league's top outfit.
I have no doubt that the UCI are trying to throw their weight about, as we post.

 

[Dutchsmurf]

It showed up in the Dutch news too now, but that might just be a translation of the original story.

 

[gregrowlerson]

I am a big Kloden fan so I may be biased.

The Shack had a much poorer TDF then they'd hoped. But they still finished with 3 riders in the top 20 overall and were about the 3rd strongest team in the mountains. None of their riders were going to win the Vuelta (but how many teams have a legitimate contender?), but how could the Tour Of Spain not include them? I read that Johan was sending Levi, Andreas and Chris. Maybe Braijkovic too. Wouldn't that be one of the best teams at the Vuelta?

Why should the hatred for Lance and Johan negatively effect the careers of others?

And what is the problem with skipping the Giro and focussing 100% on the TDF?

There are some teams that should be automatically in big races if they choose to be, and even without Lance, Radioshack are one of them.

As for this Lombardia thing, maybe they were going to send a rubbish team and if so it's fair enough that they're not included.

 

[Francois the Postman]

There are some teams that should be automatically in big races if they choose to be, and even without Lance, Radioshack are one of them.

As for this Lombardia thing, maybe they were going to send a rubbish team and if so it's fair enough that they're not included.

You have an odd scale to measure big races and "things" by. You might want to read up on the importance and prestige of the Lombardia thing, if it has indeed passed you by.

Guess what the missing 5th Monument is in this sequence: Milan-Sanremo, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, ......... ?

If Radioshack was even considering sending RadioRubbish to this race (-if-), they have no place in cycling full stop.

 

[El Pistolero]

They are an American team so obviously had a difficult situation. However, they still managed two stage wins and a ninth place.

Radioshack is not an American team then?

 

[El Pistolero]

Apart from where Cav actually said he'd rather have been going to the Giro, yes.

Yes, but he's riding for HTC and they obviously disrespect the Giro so he and his team should never be invited again according to the logic here. Well until he leaves HTC.

 

[gregrowlerson]

You have an odd scale to measure big races and "things" by. You might want to read up on the importance and prestige of the Lombardia thing, if it has indeed passed you by.

Guess what the missing 5th Monument is in this sequence: Milan-Sanremo, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, ......... ?

If Radioshack was even considering sending RadioRubbish to this race (-if-), they have no place in cycling full stop.

I have to confess to being a major novice in terms of cycling knowledge. I am a TDF fan (more than a true cycling fan) and take some interest in the other grand tours plus some lead up races to the TDF. I haven't even heard of Ronde van Vlaanderen.

Perhaps Radioshack would not have sent total rubbish, but maybe not have sent their best few riders. And if so, then that is not strictly a teams decision is it? Cyclists are mortal and aren't in racing shape for every race on the calender.

I understand that there is a lot of prestige in some one day races (classics). I just don't take much interest in them.

 

[Francois the Postman]

I have to confess to being a major novice in terms of cycling knowledge. I am a TDF fan (more than a true cycling fan) and take some interest in the other grand tours plus some lead up races to the TDF. I haven't even heard of Ronde van Vlaanderen.

Perhaps Radioshack would not have sent total rubbish, but maybe not have sent their best few riders. And if so, then that is not strictly a teams decision is it? Cyclists are mortal and aren't in racing shape for every race on the calender.

I understand that there is a lot of prestige in some one day races (classics). I just don't take much interest in them.

That's ok, we were all complete cycling novices at some point, and I am certainly not pretending to be an expert either. If you like cycling, given time, I think you will find a growing appreciation of what else is out there, or at least discover a certain type of one day classics which appeals to your taste.

I think that what you have in common with Lance Armstrong's teams (in various guises) - and face it, they were his team, rather than teams that LA was on - is that, rightly or wrongly, they had a blind spot for most of the racing calendar. They were very focussed on a handful of races that were important to them, and treated the rest with what I call disdain and disrespect. The history, winners, and organisers alike. Most riders wouldn't have had a say in what races they wanted the team to appear in, but by signing up for a Lance Team, you knew what you were in for.

You claim that RadioShack is entitled to entry in these races, but that's where we disagree. These races "owe" no-one. And given how Lance, Bruyneel and RS have treated some of the organisers of these over the years, if they had any entitlement at all, they have certainly lost that with several of them, for very good reasons.

There are agreements for automatic qualifications in place, and they ought to be honoured. After that, it's up to the race organisers to decide who they want to invite.

No team is so big that they are "entitled", not even those that ought to be respected for good reasons. Especially not if that respect, over the years, has been a lonely one-way street.

And that is even without taking into account how Lance paid back the Giro organisers, after they stumped up a lot of money so he would appear in their race to "selfishly" promote cancer awareness.

Given a free choice, there seem to be several organisers recently who appear to judge RadioShack with or without LA a rapidly diminishing attraction for their races.

Don't forget though that actual "worth" is relative here. A small local team's attendance might actually be worth more to a particular organiser than a disinterested big name from over yonder.

 

[ultimobici]

Yes, but he's riding for HTC and they obviously disrespect the Giro so he and his team should never be invited again according to the logic here. Well until he leaves HTC.

Then again HTC may have contacted the Giro organisers privately to discuss the calendar conflict with California and their commercial need to attend it.

TRS's announcement that they'd skip the Giro in favour of California was a crude way of handling the situation.

Which would you prefer of a non show at your party, a discrete phone call or to hear it on the grapevine?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Yes, but he's riding for HTC and they obviously disrespect the Giro so he and his team should never be invited again according to the logic here. Well until he leaves HTC.

The thing that Columbia had in their favour is that they could bank on sending a guy who was near the top of the UCI rankings at the time (Greipel) and a team leader who was Italian (Pinotti) to the race even while sending Rogers and Cavendish and his guys to California.

But if you think they were disrespecting the Giro and should never be invited again, I wholeheartedly support that because any race without HTC on the invites list is a good race.

 

[SpeedWay]

American sponsors will take note. The sport isn't worth the pettiness, particularly from 2 nations (ITA, ESP) with the most offenses.

""bizinga""

 

[hrotha]

Gods I love Klödi sometimes

2morrow GB Formie in France , 205k ! Now waching Tennis with Gregory ,he is a very big Fan from Roger Federer http://twitpic.com/2ni12d

Maybe the name from this Race is GP de Fourmies . Sorry I have never heard bevore from this Race !!

 

[Jeepers_ie]

http://www.radioshack.com/uc/index....HTML/pages/InternationalStores.html&noBc=true

1300 stores outside of the US.

Lol. Antigua, Costa Rica, Bahrain - all nice places but in fairness, not exactly the cycling heartland, are they?