I've been following Le Tour de France for a few years, and at the end of each year, I had only one thought: Where is the Australian team?
With so many good Aussie pro cyclists making their mark on the sport, I think it's about time we fielded an Australian team at Le Tour. I think it should be auspiced by the Australian Institute of Sport, with other major cycling sponsors coming on-board too to help make it happen. We have the interest in the sport, we have the great cyclists, we have the support of the Australian cycling public, and public in general who like to see an Aussie win/do great.
This would be a great way for Cadel, Robbie, Stuart, Simon and all the others to put a team together. I think having these particular cyclists on the one team would cover all the disciplines within Le Tour -- GC, Green jersey, Mountain jersey, etc. Having a few domestiques to support their respective jersey leaders would just round out the whole team. They do it for their country at Olympics time, why not as a team to win Le Tour?
What do you think, Australia? Time to support our own, properly?
Should Cadel lead such a team? Who should sponsor/be the owner of the team?
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Time for an Australian team?
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Time for an Australian team?
Who is going to pay for it? This morning, on channel 7, Simon Gerrans was telling us it costs about $12M-$15M to run a pro race team. Who is going to be the sponsor for the Aussie team?
I'd support an Aussie team, and would really love to see one, but I really don't think it's going to happen. Cheers, Graeme Think outside the double triangle.
--------------------------------------- My web site: www.scenebyhird.com --------------------------------------- The Bicycle Transportation Alliance
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Be nice to see a whole flock of BNA jerseys at Le Tour next year, I've gotta a fifty to start things off.
Laydeez an' Gennulmen, get y'r cowbells out for team BNA! Anybody? Anybody? Anybody? Shaun ...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
London Boy 29/12/2011
I'll kick in $10 I have got 5 kids after all
Everyone in Australia pays an extra $2 tax next year. Bingo, problem solved. Jim MY RIDES: My Velospace Profile
Great idea, just don't let Brumby get hold of it. It'd be indexed every year, go five years and $14m over budget and the end result would look way better than it actually worked... 
Shaun ...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
London Boy 29/12/2011
Does it have to be people sponsored?
If a big business wants great exposure in Europe then the grand tours would be great avenues fot the likes of the banks or investment group...but with the current financial market...does anyone know if Andrew Forrest is a bicyclist
Any one remember the last Team Australia. There were sponsor and supporter packages that allowed the average cyclist to contribute. In the end there was a merger and the team was (from memory) a Dutch Australian team however without the big bucks it would be hard o attract the top name Aussie riders - money simply plays an important role.
If such a constellation was to work a big sponsor, who wants to communicate to an international market would be required. Our Australian cons are not necessarily as Australian as we would expect so I would therefor put forward the following name suggestions (obviously when we can gain the right sponsors). Team Vegemite Team Fosters Team Tim Tams Cheers Christopher 2013 BNA Ultimate Survey - Now Closed - 775 participants - results out soon
No, it doesn't have to be people sponsored (and most likely wouldn't be). But that's the problem: what company in Oz can afford to spend $15M in a market they have no products in?
As Christopher noted, Fosters is the most likely candidate company (you see their advertising at F1 racing events), with a budget big enough and they are in the region already. But is cycling likely to appeal to their market segment? Are the people buying beer also watching cycling? Maybe if they let 'bents into the race (where an "Aero-belly could be an advantage  ) but it's a fit man's race, and beer doesn't quite fit in with the image.
Twiggy Forrest is in the mining game, selling iron ore to China. It's not a retail market, so he has nothing to sell through advertising (same for all mining companies). Holden are a competing technology, so they wouldn't sponsor a team. The banks or Telstra? They aren't selling into Europe. Crazy Johns? Maybe he was crazy enough. So that leaves public money. It's not looking good for Team Oz II. Cheers, Graeme Think outside the double triangle.
--------------------------------------- My web site: www.scenebyhird.com --------------------------------------- The Bicycle Transportation Alliance
How about instead of the talk a little bit back about scrapping the GST on the petrol excise, they leave that in place and spend the money collected on sponsoring a team?
The government could name the team 'Team Aus Fit' or something and use the them as inspiration to help fight the obesity problem in this country. Also could use them to promote a greener planet by encouraging more people to cycle as a form of transportation.
I do like Team Tim Tam. I'd like to get hold of those bidons!! Instead of energy gels...
Do you reckon we could do a team? No brilliant climbers...although there are a couple of up-and-comings, but not for another 2 years I reckon.
What about a Australian wine consortium? Australian tourism could throw some dollars there, instead of lara bingle-esque ads
would be great to have an aussie team!!
i never knew how much money it cost's to have a pro team but maybe if we had an aussie team with Cadel and O'grady etc they might not perform that well. its like Mark Webber...he needs to find a new and better team for him to get results. i think money factor in each team shows who is up on the leader board each day
Team tim tam and vegemite would be american teams not 'aussie' teams. We could have 'team pangea' and advertise to the world we are open to recieve their nuclear waste? other thing in oz is maybe something from the resource boom, iron ore company or something. China must be keen to improve their rep with the world maybe a Australasian pacific team. Newzealand's got plenty of hills, they can chip in some climbers and if the chinese have male riders half as manly as their female atheletes, should be able to win anything (except the B sample).
they could sponser the team with the carbon credits tax.
or better yet, gst. or even better, the flying bicycles LESIURE TAX WE CYCLISTS HAVE TO PAY ON ALL NEW BIKES AND PARTS, - flying bicycles POLITICIANS! i hate you they should set up our team and give them lodging in france for the training, i just really hate politicians corporations and governments - why do we need to be controlled by these organisations - kiss my ass you freedom suckers
What's really on yer mind mate?
That donkey better be cute 
Shaun ...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
London Boy 29/12/2011
24 posts
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