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Hi all,
Vanilla are planning an update to the site on April 24th (next Wednesday). It is a major PHP8 update which is expected to boost performance across the site. The site will be down from 7pm and it is expected to take about an hour to complete. We appreciate your patience during the update.
Thanks all.

'Team Sky'

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24

Comments

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    #32
    neris
    Registered Users Posts: 20,036 ✭✭✭✭neris


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


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    #33
    Diarmuid
    Registered Users Posts: 3,981 ✭✭✭Diarmuid


    Not a huge surprise really.


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    #34
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,204 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    I doubt they will fold but they wont get a £15m a year sponsor again.


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    #35
    CrowdedHouse
    Registered Users Posts: 6,804 ✭✭✭CrowdedHouse


    https://twitter.com/TourDeJose/status/1072766516620378112

    Seven Worlds will Collide



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    #36
    irishrover99
    Registered Users Posts: 2,023 ✭✭✭irishrover99


    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.


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    #37
    Diarmuid
    Registered Users Posts: 3,981 ✭✭✭Diarmuid


    irishrover99 wrote: »
    SNIP
    It's completely NOT obvious that that is correct.
    irishrover99 wrote: »
    No company pulls out of sponsorship when they are wiping the field in all the major events.

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


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    #38
    Hurrache
    Registered Users Posts: 10,148 ✭✭✭✭Hurrache


    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.


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    #39
    Weepsie
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,835 Mod ✭✭✭✭Weepsie


    Threads Merged.

    Shouldn't have to be told, but the usual warnings about doping accusations apply.


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    #40
    irishrover99
    Registered Users Posts: 2,023 ✭✭✭irishrover99


    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.


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    #41
    py
    Registered Users Posts: 1,527 ✭✭✭py


    One thing to consider is the potential for descent amongst the ranks within races. If the team has the potential to fold, how many of the riders will want to pull for other people when they need to show other teams they can race?


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    #42
    Diarmuid
    Registered Users Posts: 3,981 ✭✭✭Diarmuid


    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?


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    #43
    Weepsie
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 19,835 Mod ✭✭✭✭Weepsie


    Katusha's budget is not far off skys (at least in 2016). They are backed by Gazprom. BMC were not far behind either. Then there's a big drop off.

    Movistar are owned by Telefonica, one of the world's largest Telecommunications companys.

    Bahrain Merida and UAE Team Emirates have endless resources if they wanted to.

    The company behind Astana is gargantuan.

    At least 3 teams are sponsored by companies that are bigger than Sky/Fox combined. That Sky choose to pump in more money, fits with their company profile however. They've used sports as a big seller for 30 years, the other companies not so much, though Gazprom sponsor a lot of sports.


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    #44
    El CabaIIo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 354 ✭✭El CabaIIo


    py wrote: »
    One thing to consider is the potential for descent amongst the ranks within races.

    They definitely won't win anything if they can't get off the ascents anyway.


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    #45
    LennoxR
    Registered Users Posts: 414 ✭✭LennoxR


    One of the interesting things about Team Sky is that even in Britain they do not seem to capture the imagination anymore. When Wiggins won the Tour in 2012, yes, but he was successfully marketed as 'working class lad done good'. There doesn't seem to be be the same level of popular enthusiasm across the water for Froome at all or for Geraint Thomas. Very hard to blame them though, the two are not exactly flamboyant personalities either on or off the bike.
    Now Team Sky will be no more. Don't expect much mourning in the cycling world.


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    #46
    Thud
    Registered Users Posts: 2,534 ✭✭✭Thud


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


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    #47
    lissard
    Registered Users Posts: 531 ✭✭✭lissard


    Things might get a bit harder for the team when they can no longer hire GT contenders and use them as mountain domestiques :-).


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    #48
    mcdonrob
    Registered Users Posts: 165 ✭✭mcdonrob


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


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    #49
    Daroxtar
    Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Daroxtar


    Brailsford having visions of Oleg writhing around on a bed made from €100 notes, like a middle aged trans Mena Suvari, licking his lips.


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    #50
    Harrybelafonte
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,450 ✭✭✭Harrybelafonte


    I wonder if the British Cycling element has a part to play in this. Jess Varnish currently working out some legal basics in order to sue them and then general tainted state of BC


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    #51
    RobFowl
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 11,667 Mod ✭✭✭✭RobFowl


    Maybe Aquablue could take over sponsorship?


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    #52
    El CabaIIo
    Closed Accounts Posts: 354 ✭✭El CabaIIo


    Or GlaxoSmithKline...


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    #53
    Chips Lovell
    Moderators, Politics Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,267 Mod ✭✭✭✭Chips Lovell


    I'd love to see them sponsored by someone like Tesco or Nandos.


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    #54
    harringtonp
    Registered Users Posts: 2,563 ✭✭✭harringtonp


    LennoxR wrote: »
    One of the interesting things about Team Sky is that even in Britain they do not seem to capture the imagination anymore. When Wiggins won the Tour in 2012, yes, but he was successfully marketed as 'working class lad done good'. There doesn't seem to be be the same level of popular enthusiasm across the water for Froome at all or for Geraint Thomas. Very hard to blame them though, the two are not exactly flamboyant personalities either on or off the bike.
    Now Team Sky will be no more. Don't expect much mourning in the cycling world.

    Thomas was surprisingly good on Graham Norton. Certainly didn't stick out like a sore tongue amongst the celebs


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    #55
    terrydel
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,881 ✭✭✭terrydel


    Good f**king riddance.
    Lets hope Brailsford never darkens cycling's door again.
    The man is the epitome of the modern day spinning spoofer. The Leo Varadker of cycling.


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    #56
    godtabh
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 23,204 Mod ✭✭✭✭godtabh


    Harrybelafonte wrote: »
    I wonder if the British Cycling element has a part to play in this. Jess Varnish currently working out some legal basics in order to sue them and then general tainted state of BC

    thats at an employment tribunal now


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    #57
    velo.2010
    Registered Users Posts: 3,010 ✭✭✭velo.2010


    Team Sky's senior staff right now...
    th?id=OIP.ykl2g7bgzlmQVHR-cMohwAHaHa&pid=15.1&P=0&w=300&h=300


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    #58
    retalivity
    Registered Users Posts: 14,000 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    terrydel wrote: »
    Good f**king riddance.
    Lets hope Brailsford never darkens cycling's door again.
    The man is the epitome of the modern day spinning spoofer. The Leo Varadker of cycling.

    He's not going anywhere, he's the man tasked with findings new sponsor


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    #59
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,321 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    i think the boards cycling forum should pitch to be their new sponsor. say everyone pitches a tenner in?


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    #60
    velo.2010
    Registered Users Posts: 3,010 ✭✭✭velo.2010


    #SKEXIT


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    #61
    TheBlaaMan
    Registered Users Posts: 3,442 ✭✭✭TheBlaaMan


    One guy who must surely be wondering what happens next is Geraint Thomas. He has just re-signed too (for 3 years, I think) when he had other offers that would have been attractive. He has also stated that the Touris his #1 priority for the year and there was always going to be the interesting scenario of leadership at the Tour with Froome also going for a fifth title. If Sky were continuing long-term, Thomas might have supported Froome, though as defending champion, that would be an odd, though not unprecedented, situation. Now - unless a new sponsor is lined up by July - they are all going to be looking after #1 and Brailsford will have his work cut out to ensure the team acts as a team, and not as individuals using the Tour as a shop window. Maybe 'the road will decide'....

    Interesting times ahead.


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