Saturday 30 November 2013

Stinkoff takeover - oh no!

Bad news today, it seems that Mr "Froth at the Mouth on Twitter" "Slightly Insane" Tinkov has actually bought out Uncle Bjarne, and will be taking over team Saxo Bank.

It's been rumoured for a couple of days, and there's going to be an announcement on Monday, apparently.

This is utterly  unwelcome news - as we all know, Tinkov is one of those Becca-style rich blokes, who knows something, but not quite enough, about how cycling works, and who knows nothing about the difference between Investment (put money in, get money out, preferably more than you put in) and Sponsorship (put money in, never see it again, but get kudos and publicity).

He's already spoiled the end of this season for Saxo, by throwing his toys out of the pram at Contador's "failure" to beat Frome at the Tour, and announcing that he - and his money - would be leaving the team. This threw them into a panicky search for another sponsor, at a time when sponsors are disappearing into the dust, and at a time when Uncle Bjarne himself is coming under scrutiny for his doping past.

Tinkov tried to buy into a couple of other teams, but failed: then he announced that he would build his own team, so there, nar nar nar nar: and now he's decided to buy Saxo for himself.

I can't imagine that this is going to end well.

Can you?

5 comments:

  1. Sad news.I can't imagine Saxo wanting to partner themselves with this man.Let's hope not.I think this is going to be ugly before it's over.

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  2. NOO!!!!! I dread to think about what will happen to the team and the riders under this man's influence :(

    Bris. Gal

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  3. There's already been another report confirming it - with Uncle Bjarne getting one million euros a year to stay on as general manager - and it's not even Monday yet! So I guess it's a done deal, and I don't envy the Saxo boys. For a start, it sounds as though the team will be re-registered as a Russian team, so they will all have to learn to drink vodka!

    Coug

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    Replies
    1. Team Stolichnaya--promoting health, and liver cirrhosis, at the same time.

      Anyway, I'm really just here to say Merry Christmas to the Quacktain! *said in inscrutable Donald Duck-ese*

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    2. Merry Christmas, Figgy! And to all other Schlecklanders, past, present and future!

      Auntie Coug
      *Big virtual hugs all round*

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