Saxo Bank crumbling?

[Cerberus]

Berlingske claims to have conformation form several sources:
"Long has team owner looking for a new sponsor, and sporten.dk learn from multiple sources that team owner has a new sponsor on front. Holdet har allerede IT-virksomheden Sungard i stalden som mindre sponsor, men angiveligt træder firmaet nu op ad stigen og smider en del flere millioner i det danske cykelhold. The team has already IT company Sungard in the stable as minor sponsor, but ostensibly the company now enters the ladder and throw some more millions in the Danish cycling team."

Google translated, but as a Dane I can confirm it says what it sound like. I think it's actually true this time (ETA: Hmm should I be saying that ), though we'll know more in 15 minutes.

 

[Cerberus]

Sungards CEO is present at the Press conference and before the press conference asked whether he was in France to enlarge the Sponsorship he stated that "all I can say is stay tuned"

 

[Cerberus]

And Riis says that he's got a 2 year sponsorship.
ETA: The sponsorship allow the team to continue "at the current level". He says however that he cannot announce the name of the main sponsor at the this moment.

ETA2: Sungard is the new name sponsor but there is an additional new name-sponsor that he can't name yet. So we have team Sungard-???.

 

[Cerberus]

In summery, 2 new sponsors, one of which is Sungard, the sponsorship is at the current level, and Andy Schleck will not confirm whether he's staying or leaving (which IMO means probably leaving). There's a link here.

 

[ergmonkey]

I'm wondering if the anonymous co-sponsor could be a firm presently sponsoring another team--and thus the reason for delaying the announcement. For instance, maybe a brand like Specialized who currently support many riders in competition with Saxo, as well as providing for the Saxo riders themselves. Just a thought...

 

[Archibald]

I'm wondering if the anonymous co-sponsor could be a firm presently sponsoring another team--and thus the reason for delaying the announcement. For instance, maybe a brand like Specialized who currently support many riders in competition with Saxo, as well as providing for the Saxo riders themselves. Just a thought...

RadioShack?

 

[Cerberus]

I'm wondering if the anonymous co-sponsor could be a firm presently sponsoring another team--and thus the reason for delaying the announcement. For instance, maybe a brand like Specialized who currently support many riders in competition with Saxo, as well as providing for the Saxo riders themselves. Just a thought...

That would make sense. I was puzzled by the secrecy since it seems to me that a firm would want the extra exposure during the Tour, but if it's a team already involved in cycling that would explain it.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I bet Specialized goes to the new Schleck team.

Maybe somebody like Giant takes over at Saxo and the team becomes Giant-Sungard.

 

[Christian]

Read in the paper today that Brechel, Fuglsang and O'Grady are going to the Schleck team.
I think this does not bode will for a possible sponsorship, perhaps the press conference is to announce the end of the team

Which paper?

Cyclingnews reported a while back that both Breschel and Fuglsang would want to stay with Riis ... it'll be interesting to see who'll switch and who won't.

 

[Barrus]

Which paper?

Cyclingnews reported a while back that both Breschel and Fuglsang would want to stay with Riis ... it'll be interesting to see who'll switch and who won't.

Telegraaf, not really a quality paper, but they often do have good info concerned with cycling, especially the Rabo team.

 

[avanti]

I bet Specialized goes to the new Schleck team.

Maybe somebody like Giant takes over at Saxo and the team becomes Giant-Sungard.

Combining the Cervelo and Saxobank teams would make a lot of sense.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Combining the Cervelo and Saxobank teams would make a lot of sense.

Yes. Actually, I think your idea is better than mine. It would make far more sense to have a Cervelo-Sungard team. My only thought is that Vroomen and White may be reluctant to go in with Riis, given the latter's previous "indiscretions."

 

[Christian]

Combining the Cervelo and Saxobank teams would make a lot of sense.

Lol Sastre would be delighted if that happens

 

[pedaling squares]

Yes. Actually, I think your idea is better than mine. It would make far more sense to have a Cervelo-Sungard team. My only thought is that Vroomen and White may be reluctant to go in with Riis, given the latter's previous "indiscretions."

I'd have to go over a few Vroomen interviews but if memory serves he seems to enjoy the freedom of running the team himself (meaning his company) instead of answering to a corporation and the likes of Riis.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I'd have to go over a few Vroomen interviews but if memory serves he seems to enjoy the freedom of running the team himself (meaning his company) instead of answering to a corporation and the likes of Riis.

I thought that I read the same thing as well.

 

[Biffins]

I thought that Radioshack was in the top running for Andy Schleck next season. Lance had stated he did not want Frank coming along as well as he thought that this could hinder Andy's development but I think they've moved past that now and are ready to take them both on board as their GC contenders from next year.

Certainly Lance's quick tweet wishing Frank well after Frank's crash and then giving him a call all points to the Schlecks and Lance getting along well. I think Lance might also stay on with the team in a non-rider capacity alongside Johan next year.

 

[Night Rider]

Maybe somebody like Giant takes over at Saxo and the team becomes Giant-Sungard.

That would be a good combination. It would be nice having a pro team riding Giant that can create nice looking kit.

Seriously, I'm glad Riis has found a sponsor. It would have been a shame losing a team of that calibre next year.

 

[euanli]

If you are that way inclined. Maybe find out if Riis Cycling has registered any domain named recently.

 

[craig1985]

For the non Danish speakers amongst us (ie me!), just how does one pronounce Frank Hoj's name correctly? Is it 'Ho' and the 'j' is silent or is it 'Ho-j'? Or should I learn Danish first?

 

[Cerberus]

For the non Danish speakers amongst us (ie me!), just how does one pronounce Frank Hoj's name correctly? Is it 'Ho' and the 'j' is silent or is it 'Ho-j'? Or should I learn Danish first?

You probably can't, the Ø-sound doesn't exist in English and it's all but impossible for an adult to learn to pronounce new sounds. The j is pronounced though so "Hoj" is probably as close as you can get.

 

[hmronnow]

For the non Danish speakers amongst us (ie me!), just how does one pronounce Frank Hoj's name correctly? Is it 'Ho' and the 'j' is silent or is it 'Ho-j'? Or should I learn Danish first?

If you pronounce it like Cris Hoy, that is close enough for a non-danish speaker. The 'o' sound should have a tinge of french 'e' compared to Hoy.

 

[Cerberus]

If you pronounce it like Cris Hoy, that is close enough for a non-danish speaker. The 'o' sound should have a tinge of french 'e' compared to Hoy.

Ok, you're right that's actually fairly close, disregard what I said.

 

[Christian]

France 2 just announced Siemens would be the second sponsor, don't know where they got it from though

 

[ulrikmm]

Stage 9: the crumbling continues

Saxo crumbles the other GC contenders!

 

[L'arriviste]

France 2 just announced Siemens would be the second sponsor, don't know where they got it from though

Sounds a bit blustery, that. Siemens is a business competitor of Sungard in some areas.