Euskaltel license bought by Fernando Alonso

bipedal

If what they say about Movistar trying to scupper the deal is true, that's a poor show by them...

Sounds like the Euskatel management tried to save their own skins at the expense of the team... bad for the riders and for Spanish cycling

Art Vandelay

From the ever reliable source of all things Euskaltel http://ibanmayoblog.blogspot.co.uk/

The sticking point in the negotiations is still the contracts of the backroom staff and the team's current sponsors. Euskaltel want Alonso's team to take on everything they've got - which includes contracts with equipment providers Orbea and Bio Racer, the team's vehicle fleet and the contracts of soigneurs and sport directors - while the Formula 1 star appears keen to only take on the 14 riders under contract and put together his own staff and team of sponsors.

According to sports daily AS, Alonso and co. have a deal tied up with a new main sponsor for the coming four years. Various reports have it that this sponsor is Italian car manufacturer FIAT.

Euskaltel's problem, though, is that both Orbea and Bio Racer have another year running on their current deals with the team.

Paul 8v

What a shame

NervexProf

From the BBC Sports website:


Formula One driver Fernando Alonso's plans to buy Spanish cycling team Euskaltel-Euskadi have collapsed, sponsors Euskaltel say in a statement.

"We could not reach a definitive agreement. Euskaltel is now obliged, regrettably, to return to the process of an orderly and responsible closure of the project.

"For Euskaltel and the team this is sad news after the hope generated by the initial agreement reached at the end of August and public declarations at that time by Alonso and his representatives."

Pross

So no-one gets anything rather than some getting nothing. Cutting off your nose to spite your face springs to mind!

above_the_cows

This is very sad.

hatone

I think Euskatel (deep down) were more inclined to see the deal fail and be out of work than be acquired by Alonso then most of 'em fired - their results to date this year is extremely and unequivocally dire. Totally unnacceptable for a world tour team. Some of the least known pro-continental teams have done a better job...

Ed-tron

Not really stayed abreast of this, but a statement of sorts here?:

pic.twitter.com/g5fup4Z3GS

andytee87

Think this may be the same link as above:

http://twitter.com/alo_oficial/status/382218066089611264/photo/1

What is even more worrying if true, is this question from Rob Hatch. Don't know where he got the info from though, as I couldn't find where Pro Cycling were reporting that.

@robhatchtv: So if reports by @Pro_Cycling are true, why would @EuskaltelEuskad not want their accounts to be audited?

Seems like a right balls up, and really petty from some of the Euskaltel guys- more like buying a national federation than a license, complete with embedded old boys etc. A real shame

jimmythecuckoo

Always sad when people lose their jobs due to politicking.

EPO Delivery Man

I'm just wondering where their 'star' riders will go now.

dish_dash

Bugger for Bakelants
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15525 ... oject.aspx

frenchfighter

Advisors to Formula One driver Fernando Alonso this week confirmed that the Spaniard is perservering with the creation of his own cycling team despite the collapse of discussions with Euskaktel-Euskadi.

Alonso’s manager Luis Garcia Abad told La Gazzetta dello Sport that the team had signed two title sponsor’s and that the team’s future would be revealed during next year’s Tour de France.

“They are not sponsors currently involved in cycling,” he said. “We are drawn toward businesses interested in innovation and with an ecological vision. We already have two deals signed.”