Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

G'day

The ABC (radio) just reported on the news that Team Discovery cannot find a new sponsor and will cease operations at the end of the year.

See here also for more.

Regards
Andrew

Pretty sad really and I personally blame Flandis for this. Americans are only interested in something if they are dominating, something LeMond and Armstrong did for them. However, the backlash (and blind patriotism) against and for Landis is not only somewhat shocking to a non-yank, but I think you'll find it's behind the team's inability to find new sponsors. Personally, I think the US not having a pro based team is a disgraceful situation for them and I don't think you can lay the blame at the UCI or the European nature of pro racing. The world of pro cycling is a big enough playground for America to play in and regardless of their own circuits, I don't think they can take any pride in being unable to manage at least one team. This won't stop the top Americans joining the tour (didn't stop Greg did it), but it might just mean that we only see the top ones, and that'd be a real pity.

Richard

Richard there is still a possibility for a US team. From Cyclingnews.com

The dissolution of the Discovery Channel team leaves one ProTour license up for grabs, leading to speculation that Team Slipstream could be the next American ProTour team. Manager Jonathan Vaughters told Cyclingnews that he wasn't sure his team would be able to take on three Grand Tours. "The ProTour requires that teams race the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta - and that's a huge undertaking," said Vaughters. His team has already signed ProTour riders David Zabriskie, David Millar, Christian Vande Velde, Magnus Backstedt, Julian Dean and Christophe Laurent.

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Regards
Andrew

Good. I've heard so much whining from Americans, either 'they're all perfect and the Flandis thing is the evil French picking on us' or 'they're all cheats and trust no-one'. Very little middle ground. I can understand why sponsors are wary.

As I said, America needs at least one pro team. With the size of the place and the money there, more would be appropriate, but when you consider that the pro-tour is Europe based, I'm willing to forgive aberrations. But the yanks need one good team to follow. Bit hard with the cheats but I'm willing to believe that we will get a basically clean pro-tour. I'd like to imagine it'll happen soon.

Richard

Its not just Landis' fault, Bruyneel's signing of Ivan Basso was also a move that bought scorn upon the team. Besides, Landis isnt even on Discovery, he just managed to only tarnish the entire face of US cycling, thats all....

it will just open a spot up for Team Slipstream

Discovery gone, Astana not invited, welcome Slipstream.

How 'bout a "Bicycles.net.au" team? Since we're clean, we couold do a Bradbury and come from last place as they all fall to drug scandals ....

We'd have to keep Mike off the track though

Richard

Kalgrm wrote:How 'bout a "Bicycles.net.au" team? Since we're clean, we couold do a Bradbury and come from last place as they all fall to drug scandals ....

Your assuming were all clean. I know for a fact that some of the people on here from time to time have indulged in copious amounts of red wine, beer, or spirits (or sometimes all three in the one night ).....at least I know I have


Kev.

Kev365428 wrote:Your assuming were all clean. I know for a fact that some of the people on here from time to time have indulged in copious amounts of red wine, beer, or spirits (or sometimes all three in the one night ).....at least I know I have


Kev.

And just ask Floyd what alcohol does to your testosterone levels...

Faced with the list of substances the pros can't use, I wonder how many of us are really clean? I know we have some asthmatics here...are they below the legal salbutimol (or whatever it was) level? I take some prescription migraine medicine - not sure if that's ok...and I sometimes take anti-inflammatories - is "coles available" ibuprofen ok?

It would be an interesting experience...I would be interested to know if I was "clean"...god help my riding if I stopped taking these "performance inhancing substances"...I'd fall off

what about caffeine?

Oh !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !!, what about green or red cordial and cupcakes !

Frack ! I knew they would come back and bite me one day.

I was unaware of this whole licensing deal, makes sense I guess. How much does a team license cost?

nimm wrote:what about caffeine?

the WADA removed the restriction on caffeine back in 2003 (bet Alex Watson is pissed). Unusual because there was an article in Ride a couple of years ago where they did tests and found that caffeine was worth about a pool length in a 1500m swim and something like 10 minutes in a marathon.

nimm wrote:what about caffeine?

saw a lot of riders pulling Coke cans out of their food satchels in the TdF recently...

tallywhacker wrote:the WADA removed the restriction on caffeine back in 2003 ...

As in no upper ceiling?

sogood wrote:

tallywhacker wrote:the WADA removed the restriction on caffeine back in 2003 ...

As in no upper ceiling?

I think thats correct

mikesbytes wrote:I think thats correct

Stocking up on Coke this weekend.... (just kidding)

sogood wrote:

mikesbytes wrote:I think thats correct

Stocking up on Coke this weekend.... (just kidding)

The powder?

sogood wrote:

mikesbytes wrote:I think thats correct

Stocking up on Coke this weekend.... (just kidding)

try a can of mother http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-content/mother

tallywhacker wrote:

sogood wrote:

mikesbytes wrote:I think thats correct

Stocking up on Coke this weekend.... (just kidding)

try a can of mother http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-content/mother

That's horrible stuff. They were giving it away at a local servo and it was obvious why they were giving it away, it's dreadful

Richard

2 nodoz do the the job...4 give me cramps..I don't drink coffee or tea so they leave me feeling a wee bit scatty...but with that winning feeling!!!

Kalgrm wrote:he powder?

Actually, the real stuff... Coke

I think the sugar in the coke is probably more beneficial, but the caffeine plays it part.