Liberty Seguros To Pull Sponsorship

by callmecayce on May 25, 2006 10:01 AM EDT Comment 23 comments

[editor's note, by chris] Sarah got it first...

Well it's official.

In the wake of Manolo Saiz's recent detention for his alleged involvement in a blood doping program along with four other people, Spanish news agency EFE has just released a newsflash, announcing primary sponsor Liberty Seguros have chosen to cancel their cycling sponsorship from the Liberty Seguros-Würth team, effective immediately. The team's press officer, Jacinto Vidarte, confirmed the annoucement with Cyclingnews.

No doubt, a clause exists in Liberty Seguros' contract with Active Bay SL, the team's holding company, enabling the former to annul their sponsorship contract if a widespread doping situation arises. How this will affect the six riders currently racing the Giro d'Italia or the future of the team is not yet known.

I don't know what will happen, the riders probably don't either. I am kind of at a loss because this team has become my favorite. I also don't know what this means for Vino's Tour de France bid. Or, you know, the rest of the cycling season.

" Liberty Seguros pulls plug on Saiz! (procycling) -- this just has a bit more information.

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I hate it when I'm right

by Drew on May 25, 2006 10:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

me too -- at least in this case.

by callmecayce on May 25, 2006 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vino...

Assuming he escapes the doping probe itself (I'd sure like to think he's clean) has now got to find another way to ride the TdF...

by TCWriter on May 25, 2006 10:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely

There must be some Pro Tour contingency for this, maybe some $ held in an escrow account to get the team through the season (or at least through July).

by Drew on May 25, 2006 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

my friend

in Germany told me that Eurosport was reporting that the "lincense holder" and not the sponsor is responsible for the team, so if he can find money then maybe the team can go on. But I don't know ...

by callmecayce on May 25, 2006 10:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

True, but...

You have to assume that Saiz is not going to find any more money now that he's under suspicion; his holding company is likely dead, and I'm afraid that the investigation will tie up even the clean cyclists on the team well past the TdF...

by TCWriter on May 25, 2006 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm

I wasn't sure if Saiz was that same guy. But if that's the case, yeah then they're probably over for the season. Which ruins me for the Tour yet again.

by callmecayce on May 25, 2006 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, you can go on...

C'mon Sarah, you're young -- you can still make it through the tour... 8-)

You gotta find a new team to support. Shame Gadret crashed out. Who's next on your list?

by TCWriter on May 25, 2006 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i could always

go with the old standby of Sylvain Chavanel.

Also, according to my friend in Germany, Eurosport commentators just chatted with the LS team car and they said they'd race through until Milan aka the end of the Giro.

by callmecayce on May 25, 2006 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

CN

mentioned in their stage coverage that all the LS riders are out of jobs, so they must know the ins and outs of what happens to a team when the main sponsor pulls out.

Fucking Saiz - I hope they throw the book at him and he does time.

by Drew on May 25, 2006 10:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well

It seems this is definitely for real. Reuters and the BBC have it. Not that I thought it wasn't real, it was just Anthony and Brian were talking about not talking about it until it was confirmed. And, well, that seems somewhat confirmed for me.

by callmecayce on May 25, 2006 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't it be interesting

if Vino rode the Tour 'unattached.' It would really just be a matter of following whichever favored team is defending the jersey at any given time, then waiting for the 3 mountain top finishes. Doesn't seem so hard.

by Drew on May 25, 2006 1:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that would have been awesome

But, according to Rebecca at cycling.tv, Liberty will continue sponsorship through the end of the season.

by callmecayce on May 25, 2006 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And what was...

the great big "exclusive" announcement they kept hyping all day?

Was it that stupid Cannondale ad? Do these folks have a clue?

by TCWriter on May 25, 2006 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it was teh

Cannondale DVD thing. I have no idea what it was but it was pretty lame (though mildly amusing). The Tour of the Vendee is pretty fun, though.

by callmecayce on May 25, 2006 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ohh, Voeckler hiding...

Voeckler rode his breakaway companion's wheel right up until the group them on the line. Not really all that smart.

I just sent cycling.tv an e-mail pointing out that you don't hype "exclusive" stories on their news show if all they've got for us is a stupid (and I mean stupid) Cannondale ad. Scheez.

Let's shun them too.

by TCWriter on May 25, 2006 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now that's crazy talk

and you'd have to go back on your word come July. Just give them a little room to grow and keep sending your helpful emails and I'm sure they won't screw up again.

Have yourself a nice Slaw Dog and an egg cream and you'll feel better.

by Drew on May 25, 2006 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right...

Clearly I've got advanced Peleton Overwatching Fatigue Syndrome (POFS).

I've tried to tell myself I could stop anytime I wanted, but with the Giro not yet over and the Dauphine Libere and Tour de Suisse still to come (followed by the tour), it's time for me to admit my powerlessness in the face of constant live cycling broadcasts.

by TCWriter on May 25, 2006 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs