BMC Team Racing

SpaceJunk

For far too many reasons than I could be bothered to explain, BMC are starting the season way behind the 8-ball.

Sure, they might only be a ProContinental Team, but after attending their Press Conference in Adelaide today, they've got a lot to learn. It was embarrassing.

My personal highlight was Andy Rihs, John Lelangue and the CEO of BMC explaining the history of BMC and it's association with pro cycling. They had no shame in bragging that Tyler Hamilton won Gold at Athens on one of their bikes. But my favourite bit?

Listing "Landis exploits" (their words, not mine in a powerpoint presentation too) at the 2006 Tour de France. I am not sure what "Big George" and Cadel were thinking at this stage, but it can't be positive.

And then when it came to question time, both Lelangue and Rihs "misunderstood" any questions about their chequered past, and what impact if any that has on the team, and in recruiting riders etc.

I think this photo summed up the mood of the press conference:



Although I must admit, both Hincapies' and Evans' bike aren't too bad. Def better than the Phonak colours:

SpaceJunk

Sorry double post.

pedro118118

That's a bit harsh.

Surely as bike sponsor, they had no influence in terms of the 'preperation' of riders for competiion, be it with Phonak or any other team/nation. I'm sure they were simply stating that their bikes have performed at the highest level, even it it was under the legs of doped riders. Which major bike brand hasn't?!

jim one

pedro118118 wrote:

That's a bit harsh.

Surely as bike sponsor, they had no influence in terms of the 'preperation' of riders for competiion, be it with Phonak or any other team/nation. I'm sure they were simply stating that their bikes have performed at the highest level, even it it was under the legs of doped riders. Which major bike brand hasn't?!

I think that Andy Rihs is/was the owner of Phonak hearing aids and BMC is 1 of his other brands as a huge bike fan. BMC is just like a new phonak in that sense although obviously he does not want to get stung twice.

SpaceJunk

pedro118118 wrote:

That's a bit harsh.

Surely as bike sponsor, they had no influence in terms of the 'preperation' of riders for competiion, be it with Phonak or any other team/nation. I'm sure they were simply stating that their bikes have performed at the highest level, even it it was under the legs of doped riders. Which major bike brand hasn't?!

Yep, Rihs owned the Phonak team, as he does BMC Team Racing. And Lelangue is the "Chief Sports Director" now as he was then.

Pedro, I agree that every major bike rider has had a doped rider on it and all, but you surely wouldn't want to use specific examples of riders failing dope tests in their 'major achievements', complete with a picture of Landis on a BMC Phonak bike and a photo of Hamilton time trialling at Athens? Couldn't BMC (the bike manufacturer that is), say their bikes had been used at the highest level without referring the Tyler or Floyd.

There was an audible moan and then a very uncomfortable pregnant pause when they used the Hamilton and Landis examples.

DaveyL

Nice bike - always liked the BMCs

SpaceJunk

DaveyL wrote:

Nice bike - always liked the BMCs

Yep, great bike.

Although I have got a bit of a 'bike crush' on the new Sly bikes. Had a bit of a look at one yesterday, they are even better in the flesh.

pedro118118

Yeah, I didn't appreciate the track record of the key players at BMC Racing!
But, if the likes of Hincapie, Evans, Burghard, Ballan, Kroon etc are happy enough, perhaps they deserve a fair crack of the whip.

SpaceJunk

pedro118118 wrote:

Yeah, I didn't appreciate the track record of the key players at BMC Racing!
But, if the likes of Hincapie, Evans, Burghard, Ballan, Kroon etc are happy enough, perhaps they deserve a fair crack of the whip.

I'm with you on that. I like the idea of the riders you mentioned being on the same team. I think they have a good classics team, which Lelangue said was their first objective of the season.

But Evans' stated today that his goal is try and win the Giro AND the Tour, and Lelangue came out and said that basically the BMC squad for the TdF (if selected) is: Evans, Big George, Ballan, Kroon, Burghardt and Steve Morabito + 3 younger riders.

Without sounding too hard on the team, the vide I got from the Press Conference was that I wouldn't be surprised if it all ended in tears, ie. riders not performing, being unhappy, etc (as opposed to another doping controversy).

I'd like to be proven wrong though!

pedro118118

I would also raise the question of financial sustainability. That rider roster surely didn't come cheap - surely they need to acheive some big results. And quick!

SpaceJunk

pedro118118 wrote:

I would also raise the question of financial sustainability. That rider roster surely didn't come cheap - surely they need to acheive some big results. And quick!

Actually, I think BMC might be okay in this department. Evans stated late last year that he is earning less with the team than what he would've got @ Silence.

Hincapie also said that a bit factor (but not the only one) in moving teams was the chance to clothe the squad with his label.

The other thing I learnt today (which Cadel wouldn't disclose), was when he started to talk to BMC.

Lelangue admitted it was 'well before the WC'.

Kléber

Bad example to use Landis and Hamilton, that's not very clever.

But Lelangue is one of the sport's better guys and deserves a second chance.

Wheelspinner

pedro118118 wrote:

I would also raise the question of financial sustainability. That rider roster surely didn't come cheap - surely they need to acheive some big results. And quick!

I'm sure the riders didn't come cheap, but I suspect you have misunderstood the whole point of this team, from the perspective of the owner.

Sell more bikes.

Winning races will surely help that cause, but for now, I would guess that already BMC has had a handy little return on investment from the publicity surrounding the team. As a bunch of bike geeks on here, we all know BMC's products, but I'd bet there are a bunch of other folks who'd NEVER heard of the company who are now damned sure they exist, make absolutely world class machinery, and they've probably already started shipping out a bunch more bikes to dealers as a result.

Job done I reckon.

calvjones

I hope they do well, but that Tour team will win stages at best, not the overall.

Nice bike. Horrible wheels (and I ride Eastons...)

Kléber

Andy Rihs is loaded, thanks to being the owner of the world's leading hearing aid business. The team is a hobby for him. The Swiss man owns 10% of Sonova, which owns Phonak, currently his holding is worth about £350 million.

SpaceJunk

Wheelspinner wrote:

pedro118118 wrote:

I would also raise the question of financial sustainability. That rider roster surely didn't come cheap - surely they need to acheive some big results. And quick!

I'm sure the riders didn't come cheap, but I suspect you have misunderstood the whole point of this team, from the perspective of the owner.

Sell more bikes.

Winning races will surely help that cause, but for now, I would guess that already BMC has had a handy little return on investment from the publicity surrounding the team. As a bunch of bike geeks on here, we all know BMC's products, but I'd bet there are a bunch of other folks who'd NEVER heard of the company who are now damned sure they exist, make absolutely world class machinery, and they've probably already started shipping out a bunch more bikes to dealers as a result.

Job done I reckon.

Spot on.

Rihs brought out his market research from his time at Phonak today. ie. 20-odd % of Swiss people has heard of Phonak, and it was as low as 0.3% in Germany.

2 years later it was over 50% in Switzerland and 26 % for Germany.

BMC (the bike builder) will love the exposure, and benefit big time.

flanners1

Wheelspinner wrote:

pedro118118 wrote:

I would also raise the question of financial sustainability. That rider roster surely didn't come cheap - surely they need to acheive some big results. And quick!

I'm sure the riders didn't come cheap, but I suspect you have misunderstood the whole point of this team, from the perspective of the owner.

Sell more bikes.

Winning races will surely help that cause, but for now, I would guess that already BMC has had a handy little return on investment from the publicity surrounding the team. As a bunch of bike geeks on here, we all know BMC's products, but I'd bet there are a bunch of other folks who'd NEVER heard of the company who are now damned sure they exist, make absolutely world class machinery, and they've probably already started shipping out a bunch more bikes to dealers as a result.

Job done I reckon.

Worked for me! DOH!

For SpaceJunk some pics I took of the Sky Pin's from the launch ride! The Dogma looks lovely but £3.5K, went for the BMC instead, glad Evans' is on a black/white one!

cougie

Hearing aids do cost a packet dont they ? I wonder if theres a huge markup - like RedBull - any sponsor that can afford 4 F1 cars in a season - does make you think...

Landis and Hamilton - I'd really rather forget them.

SpaceJunk

Thanks for that Flanners1. It's a great bike.

I also took a photo of Hincapies' BMC. Here's a link:



Again, it's a great looking bike (although I prefer Evans')[/i]

flanners1

Cheers, you had a free run in 'pit lane' then?? Excellent photos dead jealous!

Yes I prefer the ProMachine, gather they are going to ride both models this year

SpaceJunk

Flanners1 wrote:

Cheers, you had a free run in 'pit lane' then?? Excellent photos dead jealous!

Yes I prefer the ProMachine, gather they are going to ride both models this year

media accreditation comes in very handy

afx237vi

Thanks for the press conference report SJ. Very interesting. It does seem strange for them to big up Landis and Hamilton, though, seeing as it was those two that essentially doomed Phonak in the first place.