CSC (sponsor) leaving cycling at year end

missile

Yes! Instead they did shows like "The Science of LA", promoting his supposed super human superiority as an athlete compared to all the other athletes.

whiteboytrash

I do remember reading about CSC that a lot of the reason they sponsored cycling was the fact that it was a great vehicle to take clients to the Tour de France..... Every Tour there would be a new set of clients each day being wined, dined and entertained. It was perfect backdrop for schmoozing.... so I think it was less about having the CSC name on the jerseys and more about taking clients to France for piss ups.....

Now Riis just needs to talk to Bill Gates and get a budget of around 3 billion for his new team.... completely with own genetic laboratory...

limerickman

Riis's sponsorship deal with CSC - came at a precarious time for Riis.

If you recall, he had serious difficulty attracting a sponsor when his initial sponsor withdrew funding in 2001/2002.
Several potential sponsors looked at his team and then balked : Jack & Jones being one.
Riis had to fund the team, in part, from his own resources.

Tiscali and CSC then came on board - and Riis, in fairness, repaid that investment in spades with wins throughout racing seasons 2003-2007.

I have no doubt that given his record, Riis will easily get a replacement for CSC.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

thunder

Riis repaid them with Cecchini, 3 Danish docs, and Voigt and Julich on cheap salaries.

They all benefited from Ceccho and Riis' pharmalogical expertise.

limerickman

I wasn't trying to justify Riis - i was simply giving members the background as to how CSC came on board.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

thecyclist

Who are those 3 Danish doctors? Don't you mean Belgian doctors?

Julich was on a cheap salary at first, but he was given a new contract during the 2005 season I believe, because they thought he deserved more money.

I doubt Voigt was ever on a particularly cheap salary. He was also very good when he was with Crédit Agricole.

thunder

Riis paid average wages. He offered free dope tho.

Julich was recompensated for his wins in his second contract and I would be surprised if Jens Voigt was on less than 600k Euro per annum.

thunder

CSC got great value. You were right, just a clumsy reply by me. More a reply to the trhead.

Cobblestones

Could it be that CSC sees Riis as the problem? They likely see the writing on the wall with ASO winning the fight against UCI and the Pro-tour concept.

Remember Riis was a persona non grata at last year's TdF. The perceived risk might be too high that Riis' team might not get an invite for, say, next year, in particular if more dirt comes up concerning the CSC team? (and you all know that there is very likely a lot more dirt).

Crankyfeet

I think they see it for what it is... a frickin' sponsor's nightmare (pro cycling that is).

thunder

I think Chipotle are getting great penetration. Great value.

TheDarkLord

Well, let us see whether they get a sponsor or not. That will be the biggest test.

thunder

chipotle the firm, be about 3 million max.

Crankyfeet

My comment was a general observation based on:

1. UCI are prepared to diminish the brand value of pro cycling and screw promoters, pro cyclists, and teams/sponsors if it meets their ends of solidying their control and potential share of the pie in the future.

2. ASO/RCS are prepared to subjectively decide invites as a way of devaluing the Pro Tour license concept and displaying/using their biggest weapon, as well as giving the UCI the middle finger with regards official sanctioning.

3. The power/money war doesn't look like ending soon. The current impasse looks very ominous. Sponsors have no idea what the future landscape is going to be like.

4. Much media attention in cycling (and consequently, the general public) is focussed on doping and scandal atm. Teams are at risk because they cannot 100% control their riders (eg. Moreni - Cofidis).


Good luck to Chipotle. They are trying to link their sponsorship of a clean team to their focus on clean food products. The value of their penetration is debatable. I don't know what their investment per annum is, but the team is frequently referred to as "Slipstream", without the "Chipotle". They have no business in Europe where most of the racing occurs. How many of their customers are aware of their sponsorship? In 2007 they earned $70 million on $1.1 billion in revenues. If they are forking out a few million dollars (a guess) as co-title sponsor, then they need to get in excess of $50 million in extra revenues to justify it on the bottom line (each year). Looks to me like the founder is just a cycling fan... but I am only guessing.

I don't think Chipotle have a great need for corporate hospitality, as they don't have big customers. And whilst the clean team image is a great slogan, it means that if one rider gets busted, the whole premise of the team and the slogan is put in question. That's a big risk... especially when you can't 100% control riders.