Euskaltel to quit cycling?

finchy
finchy Posts: 6,686
edited August 2009 in Pro race
http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/breves20 ... stion.html

For obvious reasons the Euskaltel backers are thinking about pulling out of the sport from next year.

Comments

  • Harry Hill
    Harry Hill Posts: 114
    is the "obvious reason" the bomb that killed 2 police officers in Majorca, and they don't want to be associated with terrorism?
    .. who said that, internet forum people ?
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    Bit harsh Harry, is everyone from Leeds a terrorist to you?
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • finchy
    finchy Posts: 6,686
    Harry Hill wrote:
    is the "obvious reason" the bomb that killed 2 police officers in Majorca, and they don't want to be associated with terrorism?

    I was thinking more of the recent doping scandals. I'm not sure the cycling team takes part in terrorist bombings.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Harsh apart, it doesn't make sense. Who doesn't want to be associated?
    We're talking about Basque cyclists sponsored by a Basque telephone company and the Basque government. 'Euskadi' is Basque for 'Basque'.....

    But with a different angle, Basque nationalism might have to do with it. El Pais carried this suggestion of an end to the team a couple of days ago, and one of their points suggested that these doping cases could be a convenient argument for the Basque government to pull its support for the team. The team always used to be backed by the government run by a Basque nationalist party, but this year the Spanish socialists won the election and now run the regional government, and they're likely to be less keen on Basque national promotional pet projects like a 'national cycling team'....
  • Homer J
    Homer J Posts: 920
    I think it would be a shame, thousands of fans come out to support their riders
  • IanLD
    IanLD Posts: 423
    It would be a pity - they've always been up against it when trying to keep to Basque riders - not much of a base to pick from. They have got some amazing roads and hills there, but that doesn't get a full team of top class riders.

    I was really pleased to see Astarloza's win, again a pity that doping is now clouding that too.

    On a personal level, I really like the Euskaltel kit and have it myself. Great for keeping cars well at bay too.
  • podofdonny
    podofdonny Posts: 9
    the support is great,the passion is great but the team are reeking with doping scandals past and present.
    I am not surprised the sponsor has said enough is enough.
    I love the kit, love the fans, but the team has not really returned that passion.
    With new teams such as Sky, Radio Shack (its like a deja vu nightnare) , and hopefully Contador's F1 team, the writing is on the wall.
    its a regional team way out of date with the current rules.
    goodbye and godblesss
    thanks
    podofdonny
  • disgruntledgoat
    disgruntledgoat Posts: 8,957
    FJS wrote:
    Harsh apart, it doesn't make sense. Who doesn't want to be associated?
    We're talking about Basque cyclists sponsored by a Basque telephone company and the Basque government. 'Euskadi' is Basque for 'Basque'.....

    But with a different angle, Basque nationalism might have to do with it. El Pais carried this suggestion of an end to the team a couple of days ago, and one of their points suggested that these doping cases could be a convenient argument for the Basque government to pull its support for the team. The team always used to be backed by the government run by a Basque nationalist party, but this year the Spanish socialists won the election and now run the regional government, and they're likely to be less keen on Basque national promotional pet projects like a 'national cycling team'....

    Most people within the Basque country don't support ETA or even an independent Basque state. The vast majority of sensible people simply want some of the old laws they had over the land back and to be able to teach Euskera in schools. This is the problem with violent extremists, soon everybody who wants something even slightly similar ends up tarred with the same brush.
    "In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"

    @gietvangent
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    disgruntledgoat wrote:
    Most people within the Basque country don't support ETA or even an independent Basque state. The vast majority of sensible people simply want some of the old laws they had over the land back and to be able to teach Euskera in schools. This is the problem with violent extremists, soon everybody who wants something even slightly similar ends up tarred with the same brush.
    I know, I know. I was just stating that there was no way for any of the parties involved to disassociate themselves with the Basque Country, which then in turn by some is automatically associated with terrorism.
  • bikerZA
    bikerZA Posts: 314
    Homer J wrote:
    I think it would be a shame, thousands of fans come out to support their riders
    I agree. They are definitely one of the most loyally supported teams.
    cyclecomparison.com
  • liversedge
    liversedge Posts: 1,003
    IanLD wrote:
    On a personal level, I really like the Euskaltel kit and have it myself. Great for keeping cars well at bay too.
    +1
    --
    Obsessed is just a word elephants use to describe the dedicated. http://markliversedge.blogspot.com

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