Rabobank withdraws all cycling sponsorship

[jcza]

Close - but not him.

 

Wasn't he fired from Radioshack?

[jcza]

Rabo Bank is under financial stresses due to the world economic crisis. So blame history to cancel some sponsorship in order to justify budget constraints. It's a joke really.

 

Don't think so - Rabobank Group’s net profit for H1 2012 stood at EUR 1.3 billion. I'm sure they'll survive.

[GoLefty!!]

They not under financial stree, they under shareholder stress.

[duringd]

Don't think so - Rabobank Group’s net profit for H1 2012 stood at EUR 1.3 billion. I'm sure they'll survive.

 

Ford is making money yet they are withdrawing from World Rally. Shareholders want to see the money being spend more wisely. If Rabobank was really serious about cycling now would be the exact time they really want to be associated with the "new" breed.

[jcza]

Ford is making money yet they are withdrawing from World Rally. Shareholders want to see the money being spend more wisely. If Rabobank was really serious about cycling now would be the exact time they really want to be associated with the "new" breed.

 

Maybe they'll be back once we have a "new" breed?

[nickc]

Wasn't he fired from Radioshack?

 

Hey jcza - it was actualy his Epic Team mate Roelof Paulison - they were both part of the Cannondale Vredenstein team that won that year.

 

It was that famous win when they preserved their lead by riding the one stage on a rim only. One of the few MTB riders that I know of who was bust doping

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h-Tx835tV_g/R_TXvzsMd5I/AAAAAAAAAyI/CyG3QK87Qhk/s320/img0.jpg

But I know Fugelsang has been in the news lately, was he not fired/resighned over some race/team issues?

Edited October 19, 2012 by nickc

[jcza]

Hey jcza - it was actualy his Epic Team mate Roelof Paulison - they were both part of the Cannondale Vredenstein team that won that year.

 

It was that famous win when they preserved their lead by riding the one stage on a rim only. One of the few MTB riders that I know of who was bust doping

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_h-Tx835tV_g/R_TXvzsMd5I/AAAAAAAAAyI/CyG3QK87Qhk/s320/img0.jpg

But I know Fugelsang has been in the news lately, was he not fired/resighned over some race/team issues?

 

Thanks nickc - interesting fact (I didn't want to gooogle it)

[jcza]

PHILIPPE GILBERT‏@Phil_Gilbert1

Very sad day for our sport Rabobank leave cycling after 17 years sponsoring. Thanks to the dopers!

[jcza]

Reinardt Jv Rensburg‏@ReinardtvRnsbrg

Shocking news regarding Rabobank. I expect there will be big public backlash. #dutchteam

[jcza]

The Rabobank team grew out of the old TI-Raleigh team, founded in 1974. A long & illustrious history of cycling (and doping).

[jcza]

Nicholas Dawes‏@NicDawes

Cycling's omerta is breaking around the world, but still seems to hold for Amstrong's SA team-mates: http://tinyurl.com/8lwfftt

[GoLefty!!]

I disagree.

The controls are being shown up to be ineffective. The UCI , WADA and other doping authorities cannot prove that they have the system under control, so for a corporate like Rabobank the bad PR risk is just way too high.

 

Ford has just been saved and is now a turned around company. Investors see Ford shares as viable investment again but Motorsport is a massive risk, especially when your biggest competitor in the medium car sector is about to hop into your domain and challenge you directly.

The Ford Fiesta and Focus cars are whats kept Ford afloat. Those platforms are financing the larger platforms used in the US, hence Ford call them their "World Cars". Those platforms need to be protectd and if that means leaving rallying and maintaining the perception that they are still platforms that are comparible to VAG MQB then its a good business move.

 

I can't see professional cycling maintaining the lofty heights it sustained during the Armstrong years. A lot has been built on the platform that USPS created with its dominance. The high prices we pay for power meters, frames, groupsets etc are directly related to the increased demand in the market for equipment thanks to the popularity that was built on the Armstrong platform.

We the cyclist have been lied to. Magazine, equiment manufacturers, sposnors have all been complicit to the lie. Now cyclings lie is bare for all to see what it is and sponsors are running away. Cowards!

 

I stopped buying into all these Pro Armstrong marketing tools years ago, but the lie is still fuelled by the growth cycling is experiencing.

Edited October 19, 2012 by GoLefty!!

[kosmonooit]

My theory is that the MTBers have perfected the art of hiding their doping histories, and passed their secrets on to the roadies. Maybe through a third force.

 

Difference with mtb is lack of the 'the peloton' hence, riders are more on their own, less pack mentality?

[GoLefty!!]

Filip Mierhaeghe was also caught doping in 2003 I think it was.

[philip.maree]

I see the riders will still have backing for next year. There will just be now reference to Rabobank. Guess they have just had enough of all the bad publicity.

 

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rabobank-to-become-white-label-team

[Baster Brak]

Maybe we should all withdraw our money out of the banks because of the sub prime and recless lending crisis, it a bit of the pot calling the kettle black with a bank withdrawing, nogal