'Team Sky'

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/feb09/feb26news

Huge budget. I hope they do well.

el tonto wrote: »

I can see them bending over backwards to sign Cavendish.

He'll cost a fortune.

After the flight home from Bejing episode( as the only cyclist with no medal he was left down in the cheap seets while all others were in first class) where they showed what his Grand Tour stage wins were worth to them they will have to bend over along way.He mentioned it enough in interviews over the winter to show it cut deep

el tonto wrote: »

Who knows. Can't see Miller, Wiggins or Charlie Wegelius doing it.

Isn't Millar a part owner of Slipstream? He's gonna be stuck there for a while. Stuck is probably the wrong word.

It does say that they're no going to sign exclusively British riders at the start... I do have a bit of a feeling that this is going to be like a Rock Racing or a Real Madrid -as in, let's throw money at the problem and see if we can buy success (at least in the start)

TinyExplosions wrote: »

It does say that they're no going to sign exclusively British riders at the start... I do have a bit of a feeling that this is going to be like a Rock Racing or a Real Madrid -as in, let's throw money at the problem and see if we can buy success (at least in the start)

TBH - I don't see how you could create an exclusively British team in the beginning and expect success. A successful road race team needs a large squad and needs experienced and talented domestiques. Also because it is a financial venture then they need returns quickly to make it work long term.

Very analogous to the rugby situation where Munster would never have had their success without some key overseas signings, beginning with Jim Williams in 2001 who brought not only talent and dedication to the team but became part of the team culture and history, going on to coach them after his playing days were over.

Track cycling was much easier to create success in as it relies on individuals and small team units. The road project is far more complex.

cantalach wrote: »

Going way off topic here I know...but a personal connection requires me to point out that John Langford was the first big overseas signing. He had two very successful seasons (including a Heineken Cup Final appearance) before Williams ever came along. And as his former Brumbies team mate, Langford was actually instrumental in persuading Williams to sign for Munster.

fair point - I'm a begrudging Leinster supporter so I make it my business to know as little as possible about Munster rugby and their success - of course there was a less successful overseas signing that year when Rob Henderson moved to Limerick

RobFowl wrote: »

Expect strong overtures to Dan Martin to revert to british status

I hope he doesn't! CyclingWeekly always need to remind us in every article that he is British born.

http://news.sky.com/story/sky-to-end-investment-in-professional-cycling-and-team-sky-11578462

Jesus....didn't expect that.

I guess they just couldn't go on without Phil deignan.

Sorry, not a cyclist just saw this on first page of boards, going by Sky's usual practice, stand by for a massive drop off in coverage of cycling on Sky Sports News.

I'm sure there's lots of good people who could lose their jobs in the background, so kinda find it hard to rejoice even if I am delighted as even if they survive as a team, hard to see the budget being matched (so hopefully a knock on effect of less control of racing).

I hope Eddie does enough this year to get sorted should it go belly up.

My other thought is that they signed up Bernal on a 5 year contract just a couple months ago (and a few other young riders on multi year deals). For all the stick Delaney (rightly) got, not sure that says great things about Brailsfords people management...

https://twitter.com/ukcyclingexpert/status/1072778690575122432?s=19

I think all the bad publicity has finally put pressure on the Sky and Fox to pull the plug on this before its too late.
<Snip>
No company pulls out of sponsorship when they are wiping the field in all the major events.

So i'd expect one last year of dominance in the GT's and then welcome back to exciting cycling in 2020 as i cannot see them being able to keep this team together after next year unless Froome takes a major pay cut.

I once worked for a company during the 90s into the 2000s who sponsored a pretty successful pro cycling team, reaping the rewards from the TV and media exposure. Once there was a whiff of cordite they got out of there before things really blew up.

I wonder if it's the same situation, ordinarily it would be odd for a financially stable company to pull away from such a 'successful' team. However if it is because Sky are starting to fear the backlash against the team, the horse has well and truly bolted on that already.

Diarmuid wrote: »

It's completely NOT obvious that that is correct.



Pro cycling is literally a case study in this exact phenomenon! Open your history books.

Froome been allowed to race while under a very dodgy appeal last year for a very dodgy PED test when other riders were given bans straight away is obvious that they were playing by different rules than the rest.
IF you cannot see that then you have your head in the sand so to speak.

None of those other sponsors from years past have the cash resources that Sky have.
They are not tiling company or sunglasses company.
Both Fox and Sky are 2 of the biggest companies in the world.

irishrover99 wrote: »

None of those other sponsors from years past have the cash resources that Sky have.
They are not tiling company or sunglasses company.
Both Fox and Sky are 2 of the biggest companies in the world.

You're already moving the goals. So is it the size of the company or the fact that they have been successful that made it a surprise to you that they are moving on?

Spare a though for poor Carlton Kirby at this time......mind you he has the Yates bros now to go on about

Hopefully my non-sky castelli gear will regain some street cred.