What will Oleg do?

[Jelantik]

Oleg was right. I don't think it's about greedy. (if it is so be it) But It's also about sustainability. ASO wants control. That's why they don't want the reform to happen. This is the millennia, the model of 1900 isn't working anymore. They got to find a way to make cycling more marketable among business. Every year with recession, it's getting hard to find company/sponsor spending marketing dollar. I work in the company who works in advertising, and over the year compare to 10 years ago, most companies are scaling down their marketing budget. Especially in this electronic age, social media, TIVO etc, Advertising on TV isn't not effective as it used to be. People record show and fast forward the commercial. Or buying stuff because other people comment or rating. Whether ASO like it or not, this is a digital age. You need to evolve. Otherwise, no one is going to pump money anymore if the reward is not there.

What does actually TDF got that them unique other than history? (please correct me if I'm wrong). I wonder if sponsor putting more money for the winner in Vuelta and Giro, eventually both of GT will gain popularity because top riders participates (money talks) + bigger TV coverage. I don't see any other thing from TDF other than, the history, and probably more winning money that makes the rider wants to go there. If the other 2 GT gains popularity by offering more incentive winning money.. then eventually they are going to be the same as TDF. Probably people will choose which route suites them. It's just crazy to see how TDF is the only GT that everyone wants to show up while Giro and Vuelta always give us a more exciting and drama everyday.

 

[Jelantik]

Re: Re:

That's what Oleg will do:

It's time to ditch Vino. But is Oleg any better as a boss?

if vino already throw temper tanturm over his performance... even called him "something wrong with his mechanic", what do you think Oleg will do to him with his poor showing all season and came TDF under perform too? Oleg will eat Nibali for breakfast.

 

[Jelantik]

Re:

Oleg is an arrogant narcissist that thinks pro cycling will shrivel up without him. He's really delusional, it's sad.

you guys needs to see the idea behind it .. and not the personality. I don't like oleg that much either. but he is the only one who has been very vocal about making changes in cycling. (as far as business side). We heard every year, so and so team folded due to not being able to find sponsor. That's a recurring theme every year. This year Cult energy.. i believe is going to fold. then who's next. This is what Oleg wast trying to change. A sustainability to support the rider and staffs. Whether you like it or not, if people like Oleg or Riis for that matter leave the sport, that's 2 WT .. close down. The point is.. it's about him being missed, but .. about the riders and staff who will be the victim of sponsor or individual folding their team. Sky is done by 2016. Riis BMC, hasn't gotten any sponsor after 2017. I'm sure they will find some one. But that's the point. These riders and staff, needs to have security that their team will not fold while they have already signed a contract. Imagine if you keep working in a company that you know will lay off people every year. Does that makes you happy working in that company? I won't.

Of course every initiative will have motive behind it. Well it's called business. If you don't make money, you don't invest. But as long as it's a win-win situation, that's how the word works. And right now, in cycling. it's more about romanticizing the old days, and hanging on to what doesn't work anymore.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

This is the millennia, the model of 1900 isn't working anymore.

I see it working, well alive and kicking... But I dont know what you see.
Oh, btw, riders earn as much money as never before. Despite clinic issues...

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Great answer by Madiot (as he did last time when Olga hit out randomly):

"According to Sagan’s employer Oleg Tinkov, who apparently knows who I am now, thanks to Cyclingnews, I’ve become a socialist throughout the Tour de France whereas he called me a communist at the beginning. Maybe in Paris he’ll think I’m a Republican… if I join Velon! But I won’t do that. I don’t believe in their business model. But I believe in freedom of speech so I’ll continue voicing my opinion, regardless of Mr Tinkov’s threats. I hope someone can inform him that the guillotine is no longer in service in France and people have the right to disagree with some of the things he says"

The first bolded describes the inconsistencies in Olgas rants. There are lots of them. People who praised Olga, may didnt read her whole drivel.

Long live Madiot and the TdF. And Olga? The heck I dont care, just hope she leaves cycling asap.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/marc-madiot/marc-madiot-blog-where-is-the-uci-1

 

[ice&fire]

The main problem of the sport from the sponsoring point of view is that the top stars only show up for a few events a year. For GT contenders that lasts 3 full weeks; for classics riders it's a couple of sundays in the spring and maybe the Worlds, but these are raced by national teams. The rest of the calendar is mostly made up of training races. Just an unfortunate accident at the wrong time will send a rider's season to the dustbin even if he's only off a few weeks. So even if JV is right and cycling is a cheap sport to sponsor, exposure to big audiences is very limited along the season and the appeal to big sponsors (that are not bike manufacturers) will be very low as long as everyone keeps idolizing the Tour and the 5 monuments above everything else.This was the idea behind Oleg's challenge for riders to do all 3 GTs; but nothing will change as long as people keep idolizing the Tour and the monuments above everything else.

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Olgas ideas actually hurt. All he wants is a safe place for the WT teams (talk about socialism a la NFL) as JV wants. He was hitting out pretty hard against small races some months ago. May you forgot?
ASO otoh saved a lot of smaller races than the TdF when the going got really tough after all the scandals.
Thats the reality. Not the one Olga is painting...
And who cares if "only" bike manufactures do big time sponsorship? As long as cyclists are among the top earners in team sports world wide, I see no problem...
The model as it is works pretty well...

 

[Von Mises]

Vaughters and Tinkov are different. Oleg is paying from his own pocket, it is vanity project. I cannot see business or marketing rationale behind it. Astana is same. Katyusha is same. BMC in large part too. I suspect Gerry Ryan still pays at least partly Oricas budget from his own pocket.

So, classical business model based on sponshorship, is already broken. I do not know are Oleg´s ideas good or bad, but he has a point.
(btw, Tinkov Bank shares have dropped more than 50% over year.)

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

Oleg is paying from his own pocket, it is vanity project.

And thats why he lashes out. He thought he could make more (profits) out of it. And now he sees he is held in check > He´s annoyed, searching for victims, like blaming Sagan to earn too much, ASO being basterds, heck whole cycling being "wrong". And yet he signed the contract for Sagan for example.

So, classical business model based on sponshorship, is already broken. I do not know are Oleg´s ideas good or bad, but he has a point.
(btw, Tinkov Bank shares have dropped more than 50% over year.)

It´s not broken. Sponsors come and go. And if they would not come anymore, cycling has to blame it on clinic issues solely. But not on the model that works since ages.
Btw, hope his shares drop to zero. If there was justice Olga will suffer like his slaves he uses/used to get rich...

 

[antmills]

Re: Marc Madiot

What is that guy Marc Madiot's problem? .... He sure as hell has a very big chip on his shoulder!

He keeps banging on in his blog about Oleg & Sky, whilst claiming he is the guardian of "real" cycling. .... He is so stuck in the past and is possibly even part of the problem for France & why they have not and will not win another Tour de France unless they learn how to train & be organised in the 21st century. Sadly, this attitude of his seems to be a reflection of France itself, where an ex-doper is welcomed as a commentator on their TV Tour coverage.

I suggest Marc Madiot looks at his own (and France's) troubles and stops making snide comments about Oleg & Sky et al. So what if Oleg flies to Paris by helicopter or Sky have a well organised administration? .... Get that chip off your shoulder, you fool!