Rabobank withdraws all cycling sponsorship

[kosmonooit]

Maybe less money in the sport will make it more honest?

[pauloc]

Not sure it's entirely fair to blame Lance alone - pretty much every professional rider in that era was bust for doping so I think it was bigger than Lance.

[awesme]

Thats why I think USADA wants to make more of a statement, old saying tallest trees catch the most wind, Lance is well know, they have a chance to show their might, against the biggest name in cycling ever, allot of the other big names does not fall under USADA.

 

and Well if the UCI does not support their decision then I can just imagine what will happen at sport controlling body levels.

 

G

 

Not sure it's entirely fair to blame Lance alone - pretty much every professional rider in that era was bust for doping so I think it was bigger than Lance.

[gummibear]

Yes, this is so sad.

 

If only the USADA had stopped its unconstitutional witch hunt of the greatest cyclist of all time who was also the most tested athlete ever and above all brave Cancer survivor who has raised so much money for cancer research, none of this would have happened.

 

Shame on the haters !!!

 

What have you been smoking on?

 

Companies in Europe have been going through some very hard times over the last 2 years.The returns on big cycling sponsorship deals is very small.This would have happened anyway at a later stage.

[jcza]

Thats why I think USADA wants to make more of a statement, old saying tallest trees catch the most wind, Lance is well know, they have a chance to show their might, against the biggest name in cycling ever, allot of the other big names does not fall under USADA.

 

and Well if the UCI does not support their decision then I can just imagine what will happen at sport controlling body levels.

 

G

 

The UCI is a utter abortion of a organisation and it is due to their lack of leadership and direction that we have the same situation again and again.

[Toxic]

Pro road cycling is a filthy sport! I sincerly hope pro mtb never gets to this!!!!

 

Totally agree! Lets hope MTB stays clean

[covie]

demmit the chips are down now.....operation cleanup, fanks lance

 

You forgot to mention the other 999 dopers in the top 1000 peleton.

[jcza]

Press conference live now (from dutch journalist - Jose Been)

 

Rabobank will keep sponsoring the Dutch Cycling Union untill 2016

 

It was an inevitable decision, and the decision hurts after 17 years of sponsoring

[jcza]

USADA report was too much. We are not convinced anymore that the world of cycling will be able to clean itself

 

We withdraw as sponsor. The teams with the name Rabobank end December 12

[eddy]

What have you been smoking on?

 

 

My bike, for 6 hours a day .. What are you on ? (1)

 

Actually, my post was a cynical ploy to extract the last bit of discomfort from those who fell into the barrel of yellow Kool-aid as babies and who had called me a hater for pointing out the obvious since the start of this thread.

 

Note (1)

 

A direct quote from the greatest cyclist who ever lived in a Nike advert, in response to rumors that he may have had some pharmaceutical assistance.

[jcza]

There will be a separate association to manage the WorldTour teams. The riders will be in that association

 

Spokesman is unclear about women’s team. Unclear whether they will be in that same association

 

EDIT: The name Rabobank will disappear from all jerseys.

 

EDIT: Why now? There were so many moments the team could have ended. Like Rasmussen’s case. Answer’s: we restructured the team back then

 

EDIT: The association will keep the WorldTour license (if Uci extends it) and the riders will ride for the association

Edited October 19, 2012 by jcza

[NotSoBigBen]

Totally agree! Lets hope MTB stays clean

 

[Christie]

Agree with jcza, UCI should shoulder more of the blame than LA. They are there to prevent this from happening, and they could have done something earlier, but they decided it is better for the sport and their bank accounts to let dopers win big and couver it up, rather than to expose an ban them. Thorough blood profiles can prevent performance enhancement in whatever way, but the profiles currently serve to give investors confidence, not to detect cheating.

Imo money talks, the only way teams and the UCI will start cleaning up the sport is when money leaves their pockets. Perhaps the IOC should drop cycling from their list as well.

[jcza]

Rabobank CT and offroad team will possibly go to national cycling union

 

The entire team will go to the new association without Rabobank on the jerseys. Rabobank will keep paying the salaries

 

Rabobank will continue to support Marianne Vos on a personal basis untill 2016. Including the team. We are looking for a financial solution

 

EDIT: The exact way how Vos’ Olympic ambitions will be supported and how team (11 riders with a contract) will look, is still under investigation

 

EDIT: The world of men’s cycling and the associate organizations are sick. And beyond repair. Harsh words by Rabobank’s Bruggink

Edited October 19, 2012 by jcza

[JA-Q001]

In the mean time across their border.

 

[Bat-ass]

Maybe there is more to Charise Taylor/Stander bagging road for mtb?? Just saying.... Maybe she has chosen a clean stand point...