Team NTT Pro Cycling Thread

[pastronef]

So, NTT. What do you think will happen to the individual riders? It's so bad for them, to have to find a new team in these times. Which WT-teams are still looking around?

Israel StartUp has 24 riders for 2021 for now. WT teams can get 32 riders for next year. Campenaerts Valgren EBH from NTT wouldnt be bad. also Zakarin from CCC is available

 

[yaco]

I suggest only 5 to 7 riders from NTT will be at the WT level with a few more at PCT level.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

NTT is the 5th biggest company in Japan, the 55th on the Forbes Global list, the 4th biggest telecommunications company in the world.

It's not that they can't afford it, and I doubt telecommunications has been particularly hard hit in the pandemic year, so have they said that they are dissatisfied with the level of exposure, or did they only ever want to take one year as a concession to Dimension Data on absorbing them, or are they fed up of machinations within the team management, or what?

 

[Anderis]

I suggest only 5 to 7 riders from NTT will be at the WT level

That's harsh. They have at least around 10 riders who clearly deserve a WT contract.

Valgren, Gibbons, O'Connor and Ghebreigzabhier have already secured WT contracts for 2021. De Bod, Mader, Batistella, Sobrero and Meintjes have already been linked to a specific WT team in rumours. That's 9 riders already and it's hard to imagine that between Hagen, Campenaerts, Nizzolo, Kreuziger, Walscheid, Gogl and Pozzovivo there won't be a single WT signing.

This post has made me realise how much talent there was in this team compared to how little they've achieved in the past couple of years.

 

[yaco]

That's harsh. They have at least around 10 riders who clearly deserve a WT contract.

Valgren, Gibbons, O'Connor and Ghebreigzabhier have already secured WT contracts for 2021. De Bod, Mader, Batistella, Sobrero and Meintjes have already been linked to a specific WT team in rumours. That's 9 riders already and it's hard to imagine that between Hagen, Campenaerts, Nizzolo, Kreuziger, Walscheid, Gogl and Pozzovivo there won't be a single WT signing.

This post has made me realise how much talent there was in this team compared to how little they've achieved in the past couple of years.

I doubt I'll be that far off the mark - A number will ride at Pro-Conti Level.

 

[Koronin]

NTT is the 5th biggest company in Japan, the 55th on the Forbes Global list, the 4th biggest telecommunications company in the world.

It's not that they can't afford it, and I doubt telecommunications has been particularly hard hit in the pandemic year, so have they said that they are dissatisfied with the level of exposure, or did they only ever want to take one year as a concession to Dimension Data on absorbing them, or are they fed up of machinations within the team management, or what?

Telecom companies seem to be some of the few that didn't suffer much during the pandemic. However, I'm still not fully sure what they get out of sponsoring a pro cycling team. I never did figure out what Sky got out of it, and still haven't figured out what Movistar/Telefonica gets out of their sponsorship.

 

[PeterB]

Telecom companies seem to be some of the few that didn't suffer much during the pandemic. However, I'm still not fully sure what they get out of sponsoring a pro cycling team. I never did figure out what Sky got out of it, and still haven't figured out what Movistar/Telefonica gets out of their sponsorship.

I assume that cycling is important part of Movistar's PR in Latin America, where they generate almost half of their global revenues. Not mentioning impact on their Spanish market. As an illustration, you may particularly like the cover of their most recent quarterly magazine for shareholders

I would also assume that Sky got great PR return in the UK from its sponsorship. For NTT I am not sure and Armchair is probably right that it was just because of their acquisition of Dimension Data.

 

[Koronin]

I assume that cycling is important part of Movistar's PR in Latin America, where they generate almost half of their global revenues. Not mentioning impact on their Spanish market. As an illustration, you may particularly like the cover of their most recent quarterly magazine for shareholders

I would also assume that Sky got great PR return in the UK from its sponsorship. For NTT I am not sure and Armchair is probably right that it was just because of their acquisition of Dimension Data.

I'm not sure sure Sky got much return as as soon as Comcast bought out Sky and did their overview the cycling sponsorship was immediately ended while the kept the Cricket sponsorship. That shows the return couldn't have been very high.

I'm still not convinced the return is very high for Movistar either. I also suspect that the Movistar sponsorship has more to do with their cell service than the rest of their products, which in the US cell service is typically the telecom companies that get involved in sports sponsorship due to a finite product they are advertising.

Telefonica also a year or so go ended the Movistar moto gp (or whatever Europe's version is called) sponsorship.

LOL, I knew there was a reason I should have bought some stock in Telefonica.

 

[Armchair cyclist]

Either Alejandro's handwriting is very poor, or he can't spell 'tranquilo'.

 

[Koronin]

Either Alejandro's handwriting is very poor, or he can't spell 'tranquilo'.

Unfortunately I think the answer is both.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Either Alejandro's handwriting is very poor, or he can't spell 'tranquilo'.

Maybe Tramquilo/quifo/quiso is his new dog

 

[tobydawq]

Either Alejandro's handwriting is very poor, or he can't spell 'tranquilo'.

I think the "n" looks like the one in Alejandro on the other balloon.

 

[tobydawq]

To further prove this very important point, you can check how he writes an m on the top left balloon where the word compañero is written.

 

[tobydawq]

And yes, it seems logical that the NTT thread should include a discussion of Valverde's literary skills.

 

[BlueRoads]

And yes, it seems logical that the NTT thread should include a discussion of Valverde's literary skills.

That's the right ending for a vanishing team's thread.

 

[BlueRoads]

Actually, if people call Valverde's handwriting poor I understand they say mine is an unreadable mess.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

And yes, it seems logical that the NTT thread should include a discussion of Valverde's literary skills.

When teams change their names or disbands, it's reassuring to know that Valverde is still around.

 

[pastronef]

Douglas Ryder's WorldTour team likely to race on in 2021

Douglas Ryder's WorldTour team likely to race on in 2021

Reports suggest team will continue with a new sponsor and 8 million Euro budget

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Alexandre B.]

I certainly hope they won't waste a ridiculously valuable WorldTour spot for that team.

If they do, this'll endanger the vast majority of Conti Pro structures.

 

[pastronef]

I certainly hope they won't waste a ridiculously valuable WorldTour spot for that team.

If they do, this'll endanger the vast majority of Conti Pro structures.

Arkea-Samsic woke up to this bad news for them, and for B&B-Vital Concept and Direct-Energie.
if NTT stays world tour there are 19 teams. Alpecin getting a spot as top pro-conti team, and surely Arkea getting a wild card with Quintana and Barguil. the last TDF spot will be between Direct-Energie and B&B.

I hope Alpecin skips both Giro and Vuelta, and maybe NTT with a team saved last-minute does the same too.

 

[staubsauger]

Nobody needs this Barloworld 2.0 team. Why can't they just finally fold and dissappear?

 

[umpororachimo]

Nobody needs this Barloworld 2.0 team. Why can't they just finally fold and dissappear?

They should just go out with a big-bang by signing Betancur as their minimum-wage GC rider and Cav as there deluxe-free sprinter before failing to field any riders other than Pozzo and CampyNarts at early 2021 races. Finally give up the ghost after a twig-like Betancur shows up for the Tour only to get disqualified after stage 1 for barging into TeeJayVG in the feed zone, and Cav fails to make the time cut.

 

[pastronef]

BMC should stay, so they´ll have 2 WT teams next year with Ag2r too

Assos help save Doug Ryder's WorldTour team

Future of South African team looking clearer with Swiss clothing company's support

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[BlueRoads]

So they might survive but have a team of pro-level at best?

 

[Leinster]

So they might survive but have a team of pro-level at best?

Will they even have that? Ben King's gone to Rally rather than wait around for Ryder to clear up the sponsor.

Ben King returns to his roots with Rally Cycling in 2021

American latest to leave NTT team, completes 17-rider roster at Rally

www.cyclingnews.com

Oop. And Meintjes is gone to Wanty;

Louis Meintjes leaves NTT for Circus-Wanty Gobert

'I can't wait to return to the Belgian cycling culture' says South African

www.cyclingnews.com

When your best riders are leaving to go to Pro and Conti level teams, it's not a good sign.