Team Saxo Bank with a new bank co-sponsor?

[Parrulo]

While Tinkov is unlikeable very often although hilarious too, I fail to see people critising him for what he said to Alberto.

He was completely right, for the amount Bertie is getting, he did absolutely nothing last year. He deserved criticism, and hopefully that criticism helped him in a way to focus much better for this season.

^^This

His performance last year was absolutely embarrassing for a rider like him.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xwdba9C2G14&desktop_uri=/watch?v=xwdba9C2G14

Cycling and tinkoff. It does not make sense.

 

[the sceptic]

Now he just needs to replace Riis with Bruyneel

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Now he just needs to replace Riis with Bruyneel

I heard Bruyneel USADA hearing coming up in December. Not sure if true, and not sure what the fallout would be.

 

[LaFlorecita]

While Tinkov is unlikeable very often although hilarious too, I fail to see people critising him for what he said to Alberto.

He was completely right, for the amount Bertie is getting, he did absolutely nothing last year. He deserved criticism, and hopefully that criticism helped him in a way to focus much better for this season.

Yes he did nothing. However Contador can't just say 'okay I'm gonna win because that's the only thing I can do to justify my salary'. If he doesn't have the legs, he doesn't have the legs. Simples.

Thankfully Alberto already indicated he completely ignored Tinkov's bull****. As Roche said, that criticism was completely uncalled for.

 

[pastronef]

oh, finally. I was tired of hearing Tinkov buys this team, Tinkov buys this other team, Tinkov builds a new team...

sometimes news can be positive, Rijs has been struggling too much in the last few years to find money, so now they have the financial problems covered.

and even if he's a bit of a b1tch, at least he's keen to put money for a few years.

I must say I am glad and curious about this news

 

[Jelantik]

well i'm the one who's not happy with the news. Tinkoff is never good to be a sponsor. As much as everyone thinks he is funny with his twitter, I don't think he knows when he crosses the line. His comment about contador is probably right, but the way he aired the comment and how he commented other cyclist are the one that I think is a little irresponsible. Yes twitter allow people to speak their mind, .. freedom of speech. But it's also come with the responsibility of respecting people and behave accordingly.

On one side, Riis probably tired of trying to find sponsor every year, and now he can focus 'solely' on training his team. Whether that's the result of the inquiry or not. I personally think that Riis should be allowed to continue managing his team. I personally don't like people (like rasmussen) who wrote a book about doping and naming other people so they can make money. At least Riis is trying to run a team and if you see behind the scene of saxo tinkoff at this year vuelta, you see how they are just people like us who try to work. The team looks like they are geling now, and one last thing.. it shouldn't be another distraction and dictatorship from some crazy loose canon like tinkoff. So, I won't be surprise ..after 2014.. there would be a massive leave. Maybe alberto will finally opt to go with his buddy for 2015. I didn't see how he would stay in the team after 2014.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He crossed the line when he called a girl supporting Alberto a wh*re and retweeted a tweet about how Alberto would perform better if Tinkov bought him some Russian sl*ts.

 

[Carols]

Tinkov is a Creep and a misogynist, all his disgusting talk about buying a womans team, etc. He is a toxic creep. His attitude towards riders cannot possibly foster morale on a team

As much as I love Bjarne (only TdF winner whose hand I've shaken) and Alberto, Roche etc. I may be done with Saxo, now Tinkoff?. Tinkoff makes me ill

 

[pastronef]

from the money side to another bright side
in Dec 2014 Alberto could be so unhappy with Tinkov that he pulls a Cadel and buys himself out, and go ride with Alonso's team...

 

[Parrulo]

"oh poor little Alberto, it's not his fault he doesn't have the legs to get results. Tinkov is a ******* for criticizing"

Could you people stop being a bunch of unreasonable Contador fanboys?

Tinkov has every right to criticize Contador, he should have done it in private, but he has every right to criticize him nonetheless.

Contador is earning "best rider in the world" money, a full 6 mil per year, and last season he wasn't worth even top 10 best riders in the world money. And that is a fact, whether you like it or not.

No one has ever gotten rich by making bad investments, and Contador was the worst investment of the 2013 season. His season can be resumed with "bad results and BS PR"

If anything Contador should be thankful that there is still someone willing to invest big time in him after the pathetic showing his 2013 season was.

 

[LaFlorecita]

"oh poor little Alberto, it's not his fault he doesn't have the legs to get results. Tinkov is a ******* for criticizing"

Exactly minus the 'poor little Alberto'.

Could you people stop being a bunch of unreasonable Contador fanboys?

Oh I'm so sorry mr God Admin. I will listen to you, your highness.

Tinkov has every right to criticize Contador, he should have done it in private, but he has every right to criticize him nonetheless.

Hmmm I wonder what your arguments are.....

Contador is earning "best rider in the world" money, a full 6 mil per year, and last season he wasn't worth even top 10 best riders in the world money. And that is a fact, whether you like it or not.

Hmm not impressed at all. Firstly, he earns "just" 3.5mln, get your facts straight, which is probably about the 5th highest salary in the peloton.

No one has ever gotten rich by making bad investments, and Contador was the worst investment of the 2013 season. His season can be resumed with "bad results and BS PR"

You are completely right.

So? Tinkov should just buy out Contador's contract instead of whining, remember this is the guy who, today, said that he would never buy a team for 6 ****ing million euros, no he would buy it for 60 ****ing million.

If anything Contador should be thankful that there is still someone willing to invest big time in him after the pathetic showing his 2013 season was.

If anything Contador should ride like a pathetic piece of **** again next year and go to Alonso's team in 2015 and start winning races again.

He should not be thankful Tinkov is "willing to invest" in him. He'd be better off somewhere else. Someone who blatantly says he believes Contador is **** without dope and should dope again should not get even ****ing near him.

 

[pastronef]

If anything Contador should ride like a pathetic piece of **** again next year and go to Alonso's team in 2015 and start winning races again.

He should not be thankful Tinkov is "willing to invest" in him. He'd be better off somewhere else. Someone who blatantly says he believes Contador is **** without dope and should dope again should not get even ****ing near him.

mmmm Florry Florry.. people involved ($$$) in cycling are not fans or tifosi or have a favourite rider like us. as someone said, there's no good or evil in cycling.
Contador will shut up, take his money, ride as strong as he can and see how the year goes.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Looks like a good deal.

Riis gets close to EUR10M over four years. Did anybody think a cycling team would be worth that amount?

Rider contacts are honored.

Tinkov got his toy and he will make all key decisions moving forward.


TdU starts when?

 

[LaFlorecita]

mmmm Florry Florry.. people involved ($$$) in cycling are not fans or tifosi or have a favourite rider like us. as someone said, there's no good or evil in cycling.
Contador will shut up, take his money, ride as strong as he can and see how the year goes.

And come July Tinkov will be criticizing Contador again and putting even more pressure on Contador. Yea that really seems like the road to success.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

Tinkov is a Creep and a misogynist, all his disgusting talk about buying a womans team, etc. He is a toxic creep. His attitude towards riders cannot possibly foster morale on a team

As much as I love Bjarne (only TdF winner whose hand I've shaken) and Alberto, Roche etc. I may be done with Saxo, now Tinkoff?. Tinkoff makes me ill

I completely agree. I think Alberto et al will almost resent winning because Tinkoff will take the credit. He will also allow limited time for success.

 

[jens_attacks]

He crossed the line when he called a girl supporting Alberto a wh*re and retweeted a tweet about how Alberto would perform better if Tinkov bought him some Russian sl*ts.

i hope you do realize that he most likely didn't mean it. internet is not real life. i say the most ridiculous things online but that doesn't mean i do or would actually do them
tinkov is great entertainment to me. and the fact that he was a cyclist and he still rides his bike now makes me appreciate him even more

but if there were 10 tinkovs...forget about it,i would be out.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Yes he did nothing. However Contador can't just say 'okay I'm gonna win because that's the only thing I can do to justify my salary'. If he doesn't have the legs, he doesn't have the legs. Simples.

I doubt that he did do much to be competitive in the autumn races, though, after having five or so weeks off.

EDIT: Also, wasn't Riis pushing him to ride the Vuelta? Even in the media, post Tour de France. Contador pretty much showed right there how committed he was to the team. That's his right, but to say he did everything he could to justify his salary is a bit much.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I doubt that he did do much to be competitive in the autumn races, though, after having five or so weeks off.

Isn't it possible he just wasn't any good?

I thought he sounded very motivated.

 

[oldcrank]

I was hoping Oleg was going to put his millions into
backing the Russian track cycling program between
now and the Rio Olympics...hopefully he still has a
bit of loose change to throw their way.

 

[hfer07]

Setting aside whether or not Tinkof is getting involved once more with Saxo Bank, I truly believe Riis is in deep trouble with the Dane federation, which is why he's forced to "consider" alternatives to maintain afloat the team-I even dare to speculate Bjarne might be looking to step down & sell it all together, so he can fade away from all the current scandals & perhaps start from scratch....

You heard it here first

 

[Ney the Viking]

The thing is, if he does banned somehow he is still allowed to own a pro cycling team, but but not run it on a daily basis. So if he gets a ban, and the rumors are right, he is out with no real strings left besides his contacts, but nothing on paper.

 

[Opalius]

He must be completely aware of that issue.

I am pretty confident that Bjarne knows quite a bit about how close (or not) he is to being banned, and ending up on the side like Michael Rasmussen.

I think he just wants more time with his family, and more time to do what he has come to love the most in cycling; namely coaching the riders, and guiding them doing the races. He's become fed up with all the paperwork.

Then again. Who knows...

 

[manafana]

insane turn around i assume saxo bank will pull out now and tinkoff go in with whoever then.

Really pity they couldnt have just saved another team to do this, but suppose tinkov is obsessed with being the best from the off

 

[DirtyWorks]

well i'm the one who's not happy with the news. Tinkoff is never good to be a sponsor.

Sure, the Big Boss is lots of really bad things, but the UCI has made it clear that money talks.

So what if your money comes from the last dictator in Europe, or Tinkoff, everyone gets their WorldTour salaries. It's the same as throwing televised WorldTour races on the calendar that take place in China with NOBODY watching.

As long as the cheque clears, it's okay.