Possible merge between Saxo Bank and Astana?
by Frinking on Sep 13, 2011 6:33 AM EDT
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PrintThere is an anti Radio Shack - Leopard movement. De Telegraaf reports that Saxo Bank and Astana have been talking to eacht other since the end of the Alpe D'Huez stage in the Tour de France. Why at that moment? Dunno. They want to bound their power to create superduperteam 2 around Alberto Contador, or well.. if he doesn't get the banhammer that is. Speculated is that the cyclebrand Specialised initiated the negotiations.
What about that? Is it going to be the year of superteams? And does more firework gives your team more chance of winning the Tour? Because with all due respect, BMC was not a superteam..
Source: De Telegraaf (Dutch)
P.s. The firsttime I ever wrote a fanpost without.. crap.. eeh.. what is the word again.. I can feel it on the front of my tongue, NOOOO!! this can't be hapenning.. FUCK! consult.. AAAH Google Translate.. Maybe you guessed. I peaked at consult.
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is that " no merger" or "no actual plan of a merger"?
Because “in preliminary talks” and “no actual plan” are not contradictory. But…may you be right.
"BECAUSE THERE’S NO F*CKING SPRINTS." -Cavendish (asterisk added)
I too hope I am right
what the press person said was:
“Saxo Bank SunGard has no current plans to merge with anyone,”
and he goes on saying about next year:
“We work these days to put together the team for next season and we hope soon we can announce something,”
I take that to mean they don’t have any plans this year, but of course can’t rule out a possible merger with some unknown team in the unknown future.
by LittleOldLady on Sep 13, 2011 8:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Well written without google translate,
but I still wish it were your hallucination. Esp. as I don’t want to see the “other estonian” (Kangert) on the chopping block, when he’s finally finding his way back from years worth of knee problems, demoted to amateur while healing, etc.
"BECAUSE THERE’S NO F*CKING SPRINTS." -Cavendish (asterisk added)
First I was all like "Do what?"
and then you mentioned the Specialized connection and I was all like “Ah ha!”.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
I laughed when I saw this, but realised that absurdity seems to be the flavour of the month
where cycling is concerned.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I have actually been expecting it.
Specialized are in a bit of a bind I think. They are desperate to win the Tour and so have a personal sponsorship with Contador. But they also really need to sponsor one team in a big way with naming rights like the other manufacturers. Saxo isn’t strong enough at the moment for them to risk taking naming rights of just that team, especially of Contador ends up with a ban. They need a team that will have wins all year. They have already managed to get rid of one sponsorship at HTC, but they are still spending too much money for too little effect.
I think if Saxo and Astana don’t merge, we may find Astana riding someone else’s bikes next season. All depends on the sponsorship contracts I guess.
Another bike manufacturer with two big teams and no naming rights is Pinarello
I’m expecting that to change one way or another shortly. Though with possible big results next year with Cavendish and Valverde, I suspect they may be content to wait another year to figure out how to tackle that issue.
I would have thought Vacansoliel or Skil-Shimano would be more of a target for Specialized
in a merge with Saxo than Astana.
Hush. I like both those smaller teams, and want them to stay that way.
(but it makes sense)
"BECAUSE THERE’S NO F*CKING SPRINTS." -Cavendish (asterisk added)
As for BMC,you don't need a superteam to win the Tour
you just need a super stud on super form and a team that’s super focused and dedicated. If AC is back, he isn’t going to need a superteam behind him, he’s just going to have to stay away from a hellish Giro as prep.
But for one day races, a superteam not lead by Vaughters should get the job done often. Not really, I kid.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Ah! How they ( Astana ) missing the Glory days!
Ha! Alberto, did you really think you can escape?
But seriously I’ll give that rumor no more then 1% to become a reality!.
"I love bike races warm up, warm down, cobbles mountains or flats."
perezbike
.
Pff, I hope not
But I’ll be expecting it now. The other hot rumor tangentially related to this seems to be Froome-to-Saxo. Makes sense, considering they’ll be sorely lacking in GT riders next season.
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