timM Posted August 4, 2011 Posted August 4, 2011 (edited) HTC Highroad has folded after failing to find a sponsor. Bicycling carried the following an hour ago... In recent days, the muted buzz of rumors surrounding the HTC-Highroad team increased to a dull roar as all manner of claims – and news – pointed to an imminent announcement by the team as to its future. The announcement came today as owner and general manager Bob Stapleton regretfully said the team had failed to find a sponsor for 2012 and would, in the best interests of its riders and staff, free them to find other offers. Stapleton sounded wistful as he delivered the news to a small group of journalists, reflecting on his five-plus years heading the team and how it had accomplished – and fallen short of – its goals. “We exceeded athletically far beyond my wildest dreams,” he said of a team that should sometime this season record its 500th win. “We never won a grand tour but we won the green jersey and stages and were competitive. And basically everything other than that, we did win.” “The second ambition was to lead a restructuring of the sport to reach its ultimate potential. And that hasn’t worked so well. So on one hand I’m extremely proud of what we accomplished as a team. But I can’t help but be a little disappointed in our modest effect.” Highroad’s departure from the sport will have a huge effect. Its roster of riders is so coveted that Stapleton claimed a few rider agents complained to him privately that the prospect of all 27 riders hitting the market at once had “brought the transfer market to a halt.” Edited August 4, 2011 by timM
jmaccelari Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 I see it's on their Web page: http://www.highroadsports.com/
intern Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 Good news. Pro teams are not what cycling is about. Remember what it was when you were a little kid: the joy of riding a bike. No EPO, doctors or lawyers necessary.
DamMTBer Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 wow - such as awsome team to break up Yip, the team work during the first few stages with Cavendish at the back waiting shoot was impresive.
nochain Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 (edited) Hard to believe that a team like that would struggle to get a new sponsor!!!!One off the strongest units we have had in many years.....what they do on the flat stages is just amazing.50 Grand tour stage wins and they can't get a sponsor?? Edited August 5, 2011 by nochain
splat Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 Phew!That leadout train is gone... It wasn't the first, and won't be the last.
Slowone Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 sad indeed the HTC train was great to watch.......... they executed it perfectly every time
Zac.A Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 I'm sure the train will all seek to be in the same team, and renshaw and cav will definitely stick together.
NotSoBigBen Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 Maybe not everyone is a 'manx missile' fan ....... #justwondering
Owen Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 Good news for teams like GreenEdge. They can pick up riders much easier now. And at bargin prices
MTB_Roadie Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 I'm sure the train will all seek to be in the same team, and renshaw and cav will definitely stick together. I agree!!
pauloc Posted August 5, 2011 Posted August 5, 2011 Eish - you'd think any big corporate would jump at the chance to get the amount of coverage you get with this team.
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