Stinkoff and Cannondale? Surely not!

Lots of rumours recently that nasty Mr Tinkoff - yes, he of the weird abusive and homophobic tweets, who suddenly pulled out of sponsoring Saxo Bank because Contador didn't win anything much this year - instead of starting his own new pro-team, as he had petulantly claimed, was going to join in sponsoring Cannondale.

Bad news, we all said.

Don't touch him! we all said.

He's bonkers! we all said.

Cannondale were denying everything earlier this week, then suddenly Mr Tinkoff was quoted as saying that it was true.

I considered this to be seriously bad news - I mean, the man has shown himself to be another of these results-focussed, not-serious-about-cycling rich people who have failed to understand the difference between Sponsorship (basically money down the drain, in return for publicity) and Investment (money in, money out: hopefully more out than you put in).

Just like dear Mr Becca. And possibly Mr Alonso, we don't know yet.

I know that the Cannondale Gerbils - no, not gerbils, what are those ratty things with stripes down their backs? Oh yes, chipmunks - ok, the Cannondale Chipmunks, are short of a sponsor and therefore looking for more money, but really, guys, come on: you can do better than Mr Tinkoff.

Then yesterday LLB told me that he'd read a report quoting Peter "More fun than a jammy dodger" Sagan as saying that if Mr Tinkoff came on board, he would be off.

Great stuff! Well done, Petter! He has now been promoted to definite Honorary Schlecklander, for standing up against proven bad behaviour and irresponsible sponsorship.

Incidentally, I do wonder why Peter Sagan is pronounced Petter, while Peta Todd (Cav's wife) is spelt Petter, but pronounced Peeeter.

It's the little things that intrigue me...

Anyway, back to Cannondale - no official news either way this morning, but I shall be watching wiht interest to see who denies what, next.