A few weeks ago, Andy and Frankie were going to the Tour, and Mr Bruyneel said "I will be there to boss you about, not Kim Andersen."
Andy and Frankie said "What!! But we have always had Kim!"
Mr B said "Not this time, chums. I'm in charge, he won't be there, deal with it."
Andy and Frankie said "But, but but:"
Mr B replied "No. That's it, my word is final, no Kim."
There was quite a lot of muttering, and Andy was reported to have said that Kim would be there. Oh yes he would.
So, Andy and Frankie, yes: Kim, no, Bruyneel, yes.
Then Frankie dropped out of the Giro after a shoulder injury, and Mr Bruyneel said quite openly that he thought Frankie was lying about the injury. Andy, meanwhile, had not had a stellar start to the season, having pretty well failed to finish a race: so Mr Bruyneel started saying hinting that neither Andy nor Frankie was guaranteed a place on the Tour squad.
So, Andy and Frankie possibly no: Kim, no, Bruyneel, yes
Then the Long List was announced.
Andy and Frankie, yes: Kim, no. Also, Chris Horner, no, Bruyneel, yes
Oops, big stink about Chris Horner, lots of "beep beep" sounds of Mr Bruyneel reversing, and suddenly Chris is in, Jakob is out. But Andy is now injured.
Andy, out. Frankie, in. Kim, out. Chris Horner, in. Jakob, no, Bruyneel, yes
But then Frankie starts saying that he won't be Team Captain, as he's still recovering from being shoved into the Giro unexpectedly.
Hmm: this could be Andy and Frankie out, Kim out, Chris Horner in, Bruyneel, yes.
And today, I can hardly say it for laughing, Mr Bruyneel announces that he won't be going to the Tour in view of the adverse publicity from him being involved with the Armstrong allegations.
Andy, Frankie, Jakob, no. Mr Bruyneel, no.
Will Kim Andersen be allowed to go now, do we think?
And in sort-of-related news, a Freudian slip from Bjarne Riis in his announcement of his Tour Squad: he announced the team, confirmed that the GC was not possible for them this year, and that they would be going for stage wins, and possibly the KoM jersey.
He ended by saying " I see this as an exciting challenge," etc.
Trouble is, it was printed wrongly:
"I see this as an EXITING challenge"? Oh dear, whoops, what a mistake!
But Frankie is going to the Tour, right? I was highly surprised that Jakob is not going and that Horner all of a sudden is going. Perhaps there was some sponsor pressure involved in that? Radioshack being an American sponsor but no American on the Tour squad...?
ReplyDeleteAnd I think Bruyneel finally made a clever decision in not going to the Tour. I hope this gives the riders the opportunity to focus on the race, and not on commenting on negative media attention.
Dutch press is reporting today that Frank and Andy have found a German company to be co-sponsor of a (new?) team next year: Dirk Demol, Alain Gallopin and Kim Andersen will be DSs and some German riders have already been approached.
( http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/wielersport/12410946/__Schlecks_willen_breuk__.html )
I really, really hope this will only mean: Mr Bruyneel out, maybe some other sponsors out, but that the team itself continues. Otherwise next year will be the third year in a row with a new team, adjustments, getting to know each other etc. Can't be good for anyone I think...
Inge
Hi Inge,
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, Frankie is going - you are right. But with him suddenly saying that he can't be road captain, he's too tired after the Giro etc, I did wonder if Mr B would use that as an excuse to de-select him, too. But then Andy was out with injury, and can you imagine what the press would say if the Shack sent neither of the Schlecks?!
Yes, I heard a rumour about a new German team, which is quite odd considering that I had just commented on how unlikely we are to see another German team for some years. It's a lovely idea, and on the one hand I hope that they escape from Shack, taking as many Leopards as possible with them. But on the other hand, as you have spotted, it means yet another year with a new team, and all the teething troubles that brings.
Poor boys...
Coug
Hmm... how about the new Saxobank name - Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank? Feel how it just rolls off the tongue!
ReplyDeleteBris Gal
Bank/Bank?
ReplyDeleteSaxoff?
Satink?
Aaaand.....Liquigas-Cannondale did not respond to pressure like Radio Shack apparently did. Cannondale is American - and both of the Americans on the team are left out of TdF and one of them just won the USA National Championship (Tim Duggan) and the other one Ted King is a primary reason why Sagan has had the victories he's had!!!
Makes no sense to me.
BE
Oh well, not gonna be a Liquigas-Cannondale "fan" during this TdF.
This is crazy! http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/radioshack-nissan-rules-out-worldtour-races-for-fuglsang
ReplyDeletePoor Jakob. And he just won the Danish national TT. My disdain for Bruyneel and the UCI continues to grow.
Bris. Gal
It's all about the STUPID points system. Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteRiders Union Riders Union Riders Union Riders Union Riders Union
Meanwhile, Stage 6 USAPro in Boulder/CO has burned. ASO offices in Colorado Springs is threatened...and Garden of the Gods (prologue in last years race (and an awesome place) is in the big danger zone.
$%^)
BE
That's ridiculous! In a way, I can sort of see where the management is coming from (point-wise). To keep him from one WT race would have been sort-of-understandable, but to keep him from all WT races is childish!
ReplyDeleteJoost Posthuma has already said he wants to go back to a Dutch team next year, but he's already listed for the Vuelta...And what if the rumours of a new team are true? If they're being consistent, they would keep Andy home from the Vuelta too (and take Fränk out of the Tour squad..).
To me, this story sounds like either double standards and punishing Jakob for making clear he wants to leave the team. (might not have been the smartest move of him, but I can see why he wants to leave) Or it is all very poor team management.
Inge
But everybody seems to forget that Jakob was selected (and trusted) to be leader at the Giro.
ReplyDeleteDue to knee problems he couldn't ride and that started a chain of change of plans for the team. He was very outspoken to race as a leader and if Andy hadn't broke his holybone maybe he would have got it in the Vuelta, but things changed and yelling out loud how disappointed you are doesn't help.
Barbara
It's true. He was supposed to lead in the Giro, and they did have to change plans when he couldn't ride, the same with Andy now that he's broken his pelvis bone. And I agree it probably wasn't the most politically smart move of Jakob to perhaps be as outspoken as he has been, but I do think it's a little extreme to stop him from competing in ANY world tours. I understand that they don't want to lose points, and that they are probably low in points due to a crappy season so far, but at the same time, the whole thing comes off a little petty and childish. And of course, it just goes to show the problems with the UCI points system. It's not a good situation for either the team or the rider, but I do think Jakob is within his rights to voice some disappointment, especially if it highlights the problems with the UCI points system.
ReplyDeleteBE, I hope you're safe from the fires! Trust me, given recent experiences in Oz, I think it's best to evacuate if the time comes, rather than stay and fight, but that might just be me. Hope you're well.
Bris. Gal
Thanks Bris. Gal.
ReplyDeleteI am quite a ways away and the town would be destroyed before it got to my area...so I feel quite safe actually. I'm a bit east of the mountains. I would never hesitate to evacuate it it came to that. I've seen such additional challenges to rescue/fire/recovery people when residents make the choice to stay and then get beyond their capabilities and then expect (demand) rescue. I've experienced fires before. I don't mess around with them.
Fortunately though, our fire in Boulder appears to be quieting down. The fire south in Colorado Springs is the real horror. Over 350 homes lost (suburban neighborhoods). Just heartbreaking.
BE