Rabobank pulls sponsorship

[Boris Bajic]

Skoda have pulled their sponsorship of Rabo too - so guys, if you thing this is wrong, don't buy Skoda cars...

That would be a step too far.

I've never owned a Skoda, but a 110R Coupe in full rally spec is on my list to drive or own before I die.

On a more serious note, I see the decision (which saddens me) as a happy confluence of belt-tightening and taking a pragmatic line on the current retrospective media Lance Armtsunami.

I imagine there may be more to follow through the exit, but as with motorsport (when tobacco eventually trudged out) there should be other sponsors keen to fill the gap.

Rabobank have been (for entirely pragmatic marketing reasons) a huge investor in pro-cycling for a long, long time.

I admire David Millar greatly (and I love the work he did as vocalist for the Talking Heads) but I think he's being slightly waspish in his comments. It's not a marriage or even a friendship. They are a bank. The have different drivers and different priorities. Get over it.

The timing of the announcement is unfortunate. In fact, I think it's poor from every point of view... But the fact that they are going is just pragmatism, as was the decision to get involved in the first place.

 

[jonny jeez]

Perhaps the best way to "clean" sports is to remove all corporate sponsorship?

[Ducks]

 

[Domestique]

I noticed when we where in NL earlier this year Rabobank seemed to be involved as a sponsor in lots Dutch sport, noy only cycling. By involved I mean at local level not only proffesional level.
I cant see them stopping sponsoring sport, just cycling.

 

[thom]

Rabo certainly trying to put the boot into the UCI :

Rabobank was not only shocked by the riders' doping confession made in the report, but mostly by the allegations that the international governing cycling tolerated or perhaps even covered up cheating in the sport. "The report shows that the international cycling world is flawed. Doping is everywhere at professional races and moreover it is supported even within the highest institutions of the cycling world. Our conclusion is thus that there is no way out of it. Which is why we have decided to stop supporting the professional teams," Bruggink said.

Boris, my quip about Skoda was more a cheap shot at the idea that there are floods of people buying Skodas, rather than actually discouraging people from buying them. I dunno really as I've never had a car.

 

[Sam Cycling]

David Miller on Twitter

David Millar (@millarmind) tweeted at 9:01 AM on Fri, Oct 19, 2012:
Dear Rabobank, you were part of the problem. How dare you walk away from your young clean guys who are part of the solution. Sickening.
(https://twitter.com/millarmind/status/259202667941875713

he is Millar the rider ?

 

[thom]

Were Rabo named in the Italian investigation yesterday? Maybe they are worried there's more grief coming their way.

Menchov mentioned in phone taps according to Gazzetta

Giant may step up sponsorship

 

[400bhp]

Rabo certainly trying to put the boot into the UCI :

Rabobank was not only shocked by the riders' doping confession made in the report, but mostly by the allegations that the international governing cycling tolerated or perhaps even covered up cheating in the sport. "The report shows that the international cycling world is flawed. Doping is everywhere at professional races and moreover it is supported even within the highest institutions of the cycling world. Our conclusion is thus that there is no way out of it. Which is why we have decided to stop supporting the professional teams," Bruggink said.

Boris, my quip about Skoda was more a cheap shot at the idea that there are floods of people buying Skodas, rather than actually discouraging people from buying them. I dunno really as I've never had a car.

I was right then.

 

[accountantpete]

I can see Rabobanks point - how many on here (hand on heart) think that the sport is now clean?

 

[Ron-da-Valli]

Rabobank also sponser the Celtic rugby union league. Hope they don't pull the plug there as well!

 

[thom]

Leipheimer's USADA testimony pertains to Rabobank drug use
Michael Rasmussen implicated.