|
News In March
|
| jph27 |
Posted on 02-04-2012 11:28
|
Team Leader
Posts: 7339
Joined: 20-03-2010
PCM$: 900.00
|
Guido Mukk wrote:
Aquarius wrote:
CrueTrue wrote:
1st of April today, isn't it? 
It is, but that'd still make sense I reckon. The weird part is that it'd only be about TDF.
I still remember hugh painted dick at tour descending U turn
No, Pozzato just got too near the camera.  |
| |
|
|
| Gulvplanke |
Posted on 02-04-2012 13:20
|
Stagiare
Posts: 229
Joined: 30-12-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Ste117 wrote:
The Tour of the Basque Country normally starts today, and is normally on Eurosport but no sign of it in the listsings for the whole week.
Anyone shed any light whether it is still this week or if it will be televised? 
It is this week, but for some reason it's not on Eurosport. Luckily though, the internet exists so there will be live streams.
How hard can it be?
|
| |
|
|
| siwi |
Posted on 02-04-2012 17:34
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1148
Joined: 02-11-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Saxo Bank keep the WorldTour license!! FANTASTIC  UCI said in press release.
Btw i know its not march, but dont think there is one for april, at least i couldnt find it.
EDIT: Now its on UCIs website
Edited by siwi on 02-04-2012 17:35
|
| |
|
|
| Kami |
Posted on 02-04-2012 17:54
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3485
Joined: 19-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
siwi wrote:
Saxo Bank keep the WorldTour license!! FANTASTIC UCI said in press release.
Btw i know its not march, but dont think there is one for april, at least i couldnt find it.
EDIT: Now its on UCIs website
It's not like they deserve it or something. If Contador would have been banned when he should have, they wouldn't even be in the PT now. There are quite a few teams out there, who would deserve that spot more.
Edited by Kami on 02-04-2012 17:55
|
| |
|
|
| siwi |
Posted on 02-04-2012 18:40
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1148
Joined: 02-11-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
I dont think the other teams are so much stronger. Though Europcar obv have some riders that are really good, but not so much depth in the team imo.
Also i dont think Saxo Bank should be punished for Contadors ban when they didnt really do something wrong. Seems like the license commission thinks the same, thats great.
Looking forward to see Saxo Bank in Giro, Tour, Vuelta and all the other WorldTour races |
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 25-11-2024 02:52
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| Bosskardo |
Posted on 02-04-2012 18:59
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1559
Joined: 07-04-2008
PCM$: 200.00
|
Kami wrote:
siwi wrote:
Saxo Bank keep the WorldTour license!! FANTASTIC UCI said in press release.
Btw i know its not march, but dont think there is one for april, at least i couldnt find it.
EDIT: Now its on UCIs website
It's not like they deserve it or something. If Contador would have been banned when he should have, they wouldn't even be in the PT now. There are quite a few teams out there, who would deserve that spot more.
Actually for Contadors sallary they could have got shitloads of points.
I think it was only right they kept the licence.
|
| |
|
|
| Kami |
Posted on 02-04-2012 19:15
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3485
Joined: 19-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Bosskardo wrote:
Kami wrote:
siwi wrote:
Saxo Bank keep the WorldTour license!! FANTASTIC UCI said in press release.
Btw i know its not march, but dont think there is one for april, at least i couldnt find it.
EDIT: Now its on UCIs website
It's not like they deserve it or something. If Contador would have been banned when he should have, they wouldn't even be in the PT now. There are quite a few teams out there, who would deserve that spot more.
Actually for Contadors sallary they could have got shitloads of points.
I think it was only right they kept the licence.
Then they should have done that, but they opted to keep a rider who had been caught and was most likely set to be banned. Riis chose the risky was to stay in the PT, instead of the normal way other teams have to do it. In the end, it isn't fair towards other teams.
And depth in Saxobank? Contador was the source of 70% of their points. Imo, Europcar, Argos-Shimano and Cofidis would deserve that license more. Saxo without Contador has Nuyens and C.A. Sorensen; i'd rate that at the same lvl as Farnese, Saur and Androni.
|
| |
|
|
| CrueTrue |
Posted on 02-04-2012 19:17
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
PCM$: 200.00
|
Bosskardo wrote:
Kami wrote:
siwi wrote:
Saxo Bank keep the WorldTour license!! FANTASTIC UCI said in press release.
Btw i know its not march, but dont think there is one for april, at least i couldnt find it.
EDIT: Now its on UCIs website
It's not like they deserve it or something. If Contador would have been banned when he should have, they wouldn't even be in the PT now. There are quite a few teams out there, who would deserve that spot more.
Actually for Contadors sallary they could have got shitloads of points.
I think it was only right they kept the licence.
Yes. If Contador had been banned when he should have, Riis could possibly have signed other riders in his place.
Anyway, as noted by others, the trouble is not over for Riis.
Scenario 1: Alberto Contador returns from his ban in August, but decides to join Movistar. He's allowed to do this - he currently has no contract.
This is a huge issue - Saxo Bank, the sponsor, only decided to extend its contract with the team in 2010 when Contador showed up. Until then, the team desperately tried to get a new sponsor, but with no luck.
Scenario 2: Even if Contador does join Saxo Bank, UCI rules currently state that riders returning from bans can't score points. So while still having Contador's huge salary, he can't contribute towards the World Tour ranking, making him useless.
Saxo Bank is currently last in the rankings, so they desperately need points in order to keep the WT license in 2013.
Some speculate that the rule is against WADA rules - well, that's up to a judge to decision, and as you know, that can take years. And while they figure that out, Saxo Bank loses its license, sponsor and Contador |
| |
|
|
| siwi |
Posted on 02-04-2012 19:18
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1148
Joined: 02-11-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Contador was free - and he was under contract. I guess it would cost Riis a lot of money to fire him, which he would have to. So that would not make sense either.
If now managers should be punished for supporting riders who are cleared - Contador was that at the time - then something is just very wrong imo.
EDIT: CrueTrue, i dont think they care so much about the points this year. They know - i think - that its hopeless. So they have to get some riders on the team for next year with some points. If they get a new sponsor or Saxo Bank stays as sponsor, that is.
Edited by siwi on 02-04-2012 19:20
|
| |
|
|
| CrueTrue |
Posted on 02-04-2012 19:27
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 29989
Joined: 20-10-2006
PCM$: 200.00
|
I'm pretty sure that you can fire a rider (without paying a fine) for not telling about a positive doping test
Anyway, I understand the decision to keep him at the time. As I see it, their only chance to get WT license in 2013 is to let Contador go to Movistar and spend his salary on riders with points.
There's one issue, as I said: Saxo Bank, the sponsor, wants Contador. At least they did in 2010. Riis will hope that Saxo Bank's view has changed since then. |
| |
|
|
| Kami |
Posted on 02-04-2012 19:29
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3485
Joined: 19-06-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
siwi wrote:
Contador was free - and he was under contract. I guess it would cost Riis a lot of money to fire him, which he would have to. So that would not make sense either.
If now managers should be punished for supporting riders who are cleared - Contador was that at the time - then something is just very wrong imo.
EDIT: CrueTrue, i dont think they care so much about the points this year. They know - i think - that its hopeless. So they have to get some riders on the team for next year with some points. If they get a new sponsor or Saxo Bank stays as sponsor, that is.
Teams have fired riders that have doping rumors around them before: Kolobnev, Ricco, Mosquera, Rasmussen, ... Also, he wasn't cleared of anything late 2010, so Riis could have ended it there already.
IMO, he should have done what Bosskardo said, sign other riders.
Also, just a question, but don't riders have something added in their contract that they get fired if they get caught with doping?
|
| |
|
|
| siwi |
Posted on 02-04-2012 19:50
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1148
Joined: 02-11-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Amazing how Riis can survive one time after another though. Gotta respect that at least. Never seen a man survive so many bad things in such a hard business
But he will have to come up with some kinda magic move again to have a WorldTour team in 2013 |
| |
|
|
| valverde321 |
Posted on 02-04-2012 20:27
|
World Champion
Posts: 12986
Joined: 20-05-2009
PCM$: 530.00
|
TBH, its a shame to see one if not the best team from a few years ago, struggling, much like how HTC could not find a sponsor, regardless of your views on Riis and Contador, imo.
|
| |
|
|
| kumazan |
Posted on 02-04-2012 20:59
|
Team Leader
Posts: 6662
Joined: 02-07-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Meh, the PT survived Fuji-Servetto, and Saxo Bank isn't any worse. It's a shame to see a spot for so many races wasted with such a team, but then again the real problem is the WT itself.
|
| |
|
|
| siwi |
Posted on 02-04-2012 21:20
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1148
Joined: 02-11-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
You dont think Saxo Bank should be in WT races? I think in most of the WT races they have been racing well. So not really a shame for the races having Saxo Bank imo - at least not in those races that have been so far. |
| |
|
|
| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 03-04-2012 06:01
|
World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
|
siwi wrote:
You dont think Saxo Bank should be in WT races? I think in most of the WT races they have been racing well. So not really a shame for the races having Saxo Bank imo - at least not in those races that have been so far.
I agree, Saxobank is team good enough to be in the WT even without Contador, they have bad luck also with their classics leader being injured, who knows maybe Nueyens could have been be great at Ronde and the other classics.
And i dont agree that Riijs should have fired Conta, he was cleared at that time and you can blame Contador or Saxo for their case being so slowly managed.
|
| |
|
