Team Sky - a success?

rick_chasey

Matthewfalle wrote:

cougie wrote:

Ffs.
So being knighted by the Queen, winning gold for GB at the Olympics and still living in Britain when he could easily be a tax exile?

He's British.

Belgian.

Sorry.

I know the English love to adopt a winner but hey, guys, he's Belgian.

Either you're being deliberately obtuse or you're thick.

Take your pick.

The_Boy

Rick Chasey wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

cougie wrote:

Ffs.
So being knighted by the Queen, winning gold for GB at the Olympics and still living in Britain when he could easily be a tax exile?

He's British.

Belgian.

Sorry.

I know the English love to adopt a winner but hey, guys, he's Belgian.

Either you're being deliberately obtuse or you're thick.

Take your pick.

that's a little unfair. Could very well be both...

orraloon

Excellent stirring MF, excellent.

Now where's that Mr Burns gif...

Matthewfalle

cougie wrote:

Ffs.
So being knighted by the Queen, winning gold for GB at the Olympics and still living in Britain when he could easily be a tax exile?

He's British.

You do also realize that Tito, Il Duce and Mugabe were granted knighthoods?

No_Ta_Doctor

Matthewfalle wrote:

cougie wrote:

Ffs.
So being knighted by the Queen, winning gold for GB at the Olympics and still living in Britain when he could easily be a tax exile?

He's British.

You do also realize that Tito, Il Duce and Mugabe were granted knighthoods?

That's quite disingenuous of you. None of them received what we commonly refer to as a knighthood, which bestows the right to the title Sir. The reason being, they weren't British.

Mugabe, for instance, received an honorary Knight Grand Cross, Tito an honorary GCB. The honorary GCB is standard for visiting heads of state.

iainf72

Isn't there some kind of rule about not turning up to a battle of wits unarmed?

Matthewfalle

No tA Doctor wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

cougie wrote:

Ffs.
So being knighted by the Queen, winning gold for GB at the Olympics and still living in Britain when he could easily be a tax exile?

He's British.

You do also realize that Tito, Il Duce and Mugabe were granted knighthoods?

That's quite disingenuous of you. None of them received what we commonly refer to as a knighthood, which bestows the right to the title Sir. The reason being, they weren't British.

Mugabe, for instance, received an honorary Knight Grand Cross, Tito an honorary GCB. The honorary GCB is standard for visiting heads of state.

Oh, then that's all right then.

But Wiggins is still Belgian and none of them are British.

Sorry.

The_Boy

Matthewfalle wrote:

cougie wrote:

Ffs.
So being knighted by the Queen, winning gold for GB at the Olympics and still living in Britain when he could easily be a tax exile?

He's British.

You do also realize that Tito, Il Duce and Mugabe were granted knighthoods?

All of those hold (or held, at least one of them has since been stripped) Honorary GCBs. These exist because regular membership is restricted to Brits, or citizens of a nation with the Queen as head of state. That wouldn't include Belgium.

No_Ta_Doctor

iainf72 wrote:

Isn't there some kind of rule about not turning up to a battle of wits unarmed?

Also something about not wrestling pigs.

Personally I'm enjoying the philosophical aspect of the complete subversion of logic being utilised here. It's rare to see such an example of the abnegation of critical thinking.

shinyhelmut

Personally I'm just wondering how to break it to my dad that for the last 70 years he's been Sudanese without realising. It will be quite a shock to him.

Matthewfalle

ShinyHelmut wrote:

Personally I'm just wondering how to break it to my dad that for the last 70 years he's been Sudanese without realising. It will be quite a shock to him.

Well, it'll be a bit of a bugger but if you do it over a pint or two I'm sure it'll be fine.

At least he won't be Belgian like Wiggins.

Matthewfalle

The_Boy wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

cougie wrote:

Ffs.
So being knighted by the Queen, winning gold for GB at the Olympics and still living in Britain when he could easily be a tax exile?

He's British.

You do also realize that Tito, Il Duce and Mugabe were granted knighthoods?

All of those hold (or held, at least one of them has since been stripped) Honorary GCBs. These exist because regular membership is restricted to Brits, or citizens of a nation with the Queen as head of state. That wouldn't include Belgium.

Jimmy Saville had a knighthood.

rick_chasey

Alright Matt.

Either start posting on topic or stop. You've made your point.

No_Ta_Doctor

Matthewfalle wrote:

The_Boy wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

cougie wrote:

Ffs.
So being knighted by the Queen, winning gold for GB at the Olympics and still living in Britain when he could easily be a tax exile?

He's British.

You do also realize that Tito, Il Duce and Mugabe were granted knighthoods?

All of those hold (or held, at least one of them has since been stripped) Honorary GCBs. These exist because regular membership is restricted to Brits, or citizens of a nation with the Queen as head of state. That wouldn't include Belgium.

Jimmy Saville had a knighthood.

Yes. And he was English.

My mum has a hat, if that's any help. It's about as relevant.

Matthewfalle

iainf72 wrote:

Isn't there some kind of rule about not turning up to a battle of wits unarmed?

Dude - don't put yourself down.

Matthewfalle

Rick Chasey wrote:

Alright Matt.

Either start posting on topic or stop. You've made your point.

Okey dokey Boss.

























But he is Belgian.

pinno

I would rather cyclists were liked because of their personality, tactical ability, sportsmanship and character. I have no notions of Nationality in so far as "I support British riders because they are... British" or in this case, a 'British team' Is it really a British team as it is funded by News Corp and the Murdoch empire? (who I find insidious and odious).
When I first started watching cycling (stage 6, 1985 TdF - mind blowing cacophony of car horns, dust, a seemingly other worldly commentary, mesmerising images and inexplicable yet intriguing action), there were so few English speaking riders then, I got accustomed to viewing cycling as a very Continental activity and got to love the characters and the racing regardless of nationality.

Does anyone think that the SKY Pro team is a 'British' success story?
I just wonder if anyone flies the Flag?

joelsim

I know what you mean. I frequently get told I'm a Sky fanboy as I stick up for them seemingly being one of the cleaner teams, but I can honestly say I've never cheered them on as a team. I was really happy and cheered Wiggo's Tour, but that wasn't because he was Sky.

Weird really but I never even think of supporting a cycling team (except GBR in the Olympics), it's all about riders for me, heroes & villains along with whoever I've got in my fantasy team.

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

I would rather cyclists were liked because of their personality, tactical ability, sportsmanship and character. I have no notions of Nationality in so far as "I support British riders because they are... British" or in this case, a 'British team' Is it really a British team as it is funded by News Corp and the Murdoch empire? (who I find insidious and odious).
When I first started watching cycling (stage 6, 1985 TdF - mind blowing cacophony of car horns, dust, a seemingly other worldly commentary, mesmerising images and inexplicable yet intriguing action), there were so few English speaking riders then, I got accustomed to viewing cycling as a very Continental activity and got to love the characters and the racing regardless of nationality.

Does anyone think that the SKY Pro team is a 'British' success story?
I just wonder if anyone flies the Flag?

It is a successful business story.
Cav does/did. Or does the Green jersey not count?
You could also try going back to the year before you started for a Polka Jersey and 4th place, if only Le Tour counts.
Then again, he did speak with a peculiar accent. And I don't mean Scottish.

pinno

Yes, you have said it - 'a successful business story'.

At the root of all Pro cycling is money. We oft forget that and as has been pointed out before, it's about advertising.
Look how quickly Deutsche Telekom* pulled out when the drugs scandal hit or how the likes of Nike distance themselves from 'Star' caught with their pants down so to speak.

*So much so, that German sponsored/based Pro teams are very thin on the ground but traditionally, they've never been that much behind road cycling.

inseine

Pinno wrote:

Yes, you have said it - 'a successful business story'.

At the root of all Pro cycling is money. We oft forget that and as has been pointed out before, it's about advertising.
Look how quickly Deutsche Telekom* pulled out when the drugs scandal hit or how the likes of Nike distance themselves from 'Star' caught with their pants down so to speak.

*So much so, that German sponsored/based Pro teams are very thin on the ground but traditionally, they've never been that much behind road cycling.

Although Festina never missed a beat and still sponsor the Tour, even though the whole scandal is still called the Festina affair. Publicity is often a good thing, negative or positive.

inseine

Matthewfalle wrote:

ShinyHelmut wrote:

Personally I'm just wondering how to break it to my dad that for the last 70 years he's been Sudanese without realising. It will be quite a shock to him.

Well, it'll be a bit of a bugger but if you do it over a pint or two I'm sure it'll be fine.

At least he won't be Belgian like Wiggins.

We can at least all agree that SKY are a British team. Certainly the best ever so we can be proud of that (if we're British).

ddraver

Pinno wrote:

I would rather cyclists were liked because of their personality, tactical ability, sportsmanship and character. I have no notions of Nationality in so far as "I support British riders because they are... British" or in this case, a 'British team' Is it really a British team as it is funded by News Corp and the Murdoch empire? (who I find insidious and odious).

You may rather but it is not the case in most other sports and certainly not the case in cycling in pretty much every other country.

The Italians like Nibali, Pantani, Vini Fantini, Pippo, Lampre-Merida because they are Italian...

ddraver

viewtopic.php?f=30005&t=12934419&start=1920

slowmart

I bet Wiggins would be portrayed as Belgian if he ever tested positive for drugs....not that he would of course....just saying.

Success has many fathers, failure is a bastard.

tailwindhome

joelsim

Slowmart wrote:

I bet Wiggins would be portrayed as Belgian if he ever tested positive for drugs....not that he would have course....just saying.

Success has many fathers, failure is a bastard.

"Ghent-born Bradley Wiggins who gave up the chance to ride for Belgium first considered doping whilst his Australian father fed him pear puree. All this however, was put on a back-burner until he'd won several Olympic Golds for Great Britain, then came the turning point when he joined a French team full of Johnny Foreigners..."

ugo.santalucia

ddraver wrote:

Pinno wrote:

I would rather cyclists were liked because of their personality, tactical ability, sportsmanship and character. I have no notions of Nationality in so far as "I support British riders because they are... British" or in this case, a 'British team' Is it really a British team as it is funded by News Corp and the Murdoch empire? (who I find insidious and odious).

You may rather but it is not the case in most other sports and certainly not the case in cycling in pretty much every other country.

The Italians like Nibali, Pantani, Vini Fantini, Pippo, Lampre-Merida because they are Italian...

I think Italians like Contador more than they like Pozzato... it's not just nationality... Contador rode the Giro in a very flamboyant way. Italians don't like Froome, but nobody likes Froome, not even you lot like Froome... Wiggins was respected but never liked, if you don't speak the language it's hard to be popular.
Cancellara is hugely popular in Italy and not just because of his descents... Sagan is hugely popular too, he has been pretty much adopted.

slowmart

Joelsim wrote:

Slowmart wrote:

I bet Wiggins would be portrayed as Belgian if he ever tested positive for drugs....not that he would have course....just saying.

Success has many fathers, failure is a bastard.

"Ghent-born Bradley Wiggins who gave up the chance to ride for Belgium first considered doping whilst his Australian father fed him pear puree. All this however, was put on a back-burner until he'd won several Olympic Golds for Great Britain, then came the turning point when he joined a French team full of Johnny Foreigners..."

Are you a red top "sports journalist" as you have a flair for creative writing?

greasedscotsman

ugo.santalucia wrote:

...but nobody likes Froome, not even you lot like Froome...

I do.