Thomas could leave Sky

[Anonymous]

Didn't realise sky themselves had comitted beyond 2012.

Guess I was wrong

The original sponsorship deal from bskyb was four years, but they are purely the sponsors. Think it was always intended as a five year plan.

 

[Swabian Lass]

Well, I just hope he's got a good deal on the cash!

 

[Andy99]

The original sponsorship deal from bskyb was four years, but they are purely the sponsors. Think it was always intended as a five year plan.

Oh yeah. Cheers, it's coming back to me now.

 

[Mambo95]

The original sponsorship deal from bskyb was four years, but they are purely the sponsors.

They're not purely the sponsors, BSkyB own the team (via a holding company called Tour Racing Limited)

PS Geraint's new contract was the top sports story on the BBC Wales news today. Mind you, the only other sports story was Bangor FC losing 10-0.

 

[Anonymous]

They're not purely the sponsors, BSkyB own the team (via a holding company called Tour Racing Limited)

PS Geraint's new contract was the top sports story on the BBC Wales news today. Mind you, the only other sports story was Bangor FC losing 10-0.

yeh, but its a holding company with zero value, as all the income from the sponsors then are spent on the team. Its all a very complicated mess, with two sky men on the board, but also british cycling board members on the board, and then trl paying BC for the services of brailsford etc etc. Basically its BC with private funding so they dont lose their lottery grants for the track.

 

[Mambo95]

yeh, but its a holding company with zero value, as all the income from the sponsors then are spent on the team. Its all a very complicated mess, with two sky men on the board, but also british cycling board members on the board, and then trl paying BC for the services of brailsford etc etc. Basically its BC with private funding so they dont lose their lottery grants for the track.

Yeah, I get your point, but I would say that it shows an intention of a long term commitment, which is the way Sky tend to operate - they're a patient company that really commits over many years.

As an aside, today (on another forum), I came up with an EBH/James Murdoch theory. The worse day J Murdoch has, the better EBH rides.

NotW shut down - EBH wins the stage
Rebekah Brooks resigns - EBH is in the winning break (6th)
Murdochs grilled by MPs - EBH comes 2nd

 

[Winterfold]

LOL, the idea of him leaving was so dumb i cant believe I gave it a moments thought

So what was that about then? brinkmanship? it just doesnt seem like that and I bet Sky already had big money on the table for him - he will win RVV or PR I am sure and be the most mega of mega-domestiques when the inevitable is announced.

(I am interested to know if the Guardian had the scoop or cycling news, both of them reported the interview as thought it was them asking the questions, and CN wrote today as if they had the scoop yesterday. Cmon guys there is no harm in crediting another publication if you are merely reporting their story, especially if you are low on resource)

Re NEws Intl

I think Sky's sponsorship of cycling endures beyond the Murdochs.

I dare say James had a big influence in i at the start, but so many of them have done the corporate etape etc now that it must be part of the company culture beyond a 40% shareholding.

And if I was driving a Sky van I would much rather have Queen Vic on the side of my van than Wayne Rooney

 

[Winterfold]

But if Sky do turn into the Mark Cavendish Road Show? If that's the case, I'd be thinking very careful about my future if I were Thomas. Not at all sure I'd want to stay in that case.

If the trade was you get full support at RVV and PR if you lead Cav out in the Tour - that would not be a bad trade.

The true cycling fans would know how good he was - and Sky would make the GB public realise how huge the win was.

And as others have said - Spartacus does that, then has to chaperone Schlecklet - at least if you were leading out Cav you would be leading out a winner.

Anyway, if Cav comes to Sky, Renshaw and Bernie Eisel come too