Disco news

[7rider]

I guess Conti's press statement was just a "I'm clean" thing.
But news...Discovery hasn't found a new title sponsor. I thought they did?
Hmmmmm.....
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/aug07/aug10news2
Well....we'll always have Slipstream! :D

[limewave]

Phew! That's what I figured it would be. But with the way things have been going this year . . . I was scared.

[Lifesgreat]

Click here (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/aug07/aug10news3) for the announcement. . .

$45 million for three years. That's a lot of change. It just may be out of Team Amici Veloci's fundraising reach. :rolleyes:

[Kalidurga]

That's such a shame. Hopefully, guys like Levi and Tom Danielson have things in the works to move to other teams at the end of the season. I also wonder where Johann will end up.

On the flip side, this does really open things up for Slipstream to become the big American team in cycling.

[maryellen]

Although I've chosen to be perhaps naiively optimistic about doping and US Postal and then Discovery, having read the various statements online, I can't help but think this is more about "this is not a good time for us to be in cycling" than "we can't find a sponsor."

A sad day in any event and I hope all involved are able to find new situations, not just the riders but all the support folks as well.

[Hub]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/aug07/aug10news3


bummer:( :( :( It's official- no new sponsor.

[7rider]

I find it amazing (and sad) that a team that's won 8 TdF's can't find a title sponsor. If they were in the NFL, and had won 8 Superbowl's in 9 years, cities would be falling all over themselves to get their name on that team.
For Pete's sake...they had 3 riders in the top 8 - 2 on the podium - in 2007!
Sigh.
I would certainly hope guys like Levi and Conti won't have trouble finding a new team. Levi didn't dazzle, but he's consistent (perhaps that's the mark of a clean rider???).

[Kalidurga]

Wow, even the BBC picked up on this one: Top team quits amid cycling woes (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/6940614.stm). The tone of that article is a bit different than the article I read at Velonews. And, apparently Johann's choosing to retire after this season.

You're right, Regina, this is another example of how differently cycling is viewed compared to other sports, especially here in the U.S. :rolleyes:

[ShubieGA]

Such a bummer! :( Yet baseball is celebrating someone breaking the home run record, who has been suspected of doping for years. In cycling, he would have been forced to retire! Not to mention how many chances football players get for rehab. Sad day for Disco fans.

[Adventure Girl]

Yet baseball is celebrating someone breaking the home run record, who has been suspected of doping for years.Hey, Lance as been "suspected" of doping for years, too. Personally, I believe both Lance and Barry should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

[ShubieGA]

Very true Adventure Girl. You are right. I just don't want to think about how many football and baseball player would have failed all the testing they are finally starting to do. But I still love Da Bears!

[spazzdog]

It's a shame that some big bucks American corporation didn't step up (Microsoft, Chevron... Oprah??) $45 million over 3 years for any of them is nuthin'.

spazz, whose tail is draggin in doggie sadness