Michael Zijlaard has run his team in great style and has constantly raised the game for others. Their imposing tour bus casts shadows on lesser outfits in the tiny parking areas at women’s races.  Their steely-faced mechanics professionally ensure no speck of dust remains on the bikes before their star-studded lineup of riders challenge over every kind of terrain.  It looks like an embarrassment of riches that highlights the skills of Zijlaard as a business man as well as team manager.  It’s because of this the alarm bells chime loud and clear when people like him have issues gaining and retaining sponsors.

But perhaps it raises an important question about the structure of women’s teams.  Do they focus too much on the ‘front end’ of the team?  Are we too focused on squeezing as many result-scoring riders into the lineup, rather than adding behind-the-scenes stars that can schmooze potential sponsors and provide the VIP experience to existing partners that make backing a women’s team a no brainer?  Now I’m not suggesting it happened this way with AA Drink; Michael and Leontien (Leontien van Moorsel – Former World and Olympic Champion and original Queen of Dutch Racing) made a formidable partnership by controlling and managing their team and environment with Pro Tour efficiency.  But is this lack of back office focus by a majority of teams the reason so many only get to mediocre levels and then fizzle away?   In recent times, it’s a rare sight to see a Pro Tour team owner/manager behind the driver’s wheel of a team car.  Yes they are there and involved, but they are focused on press, partners and maybe giving an outside-in perspective on their teams’ performances.

My team is a mere morsel compared to AA Drink, but we share the same struggle. Much of our press is self-generated though our website and riders blogging.  Major cycling sites fail to pick up our releases or convey our news and performances, giving us a tough start when it comes to impressing sponsors.  Each year we have a few calm months during the spring classics where our focus is 100% on racing. We can carefully plan our riders’ seasons, their development, and even dream about their futures in this great sport – a sport that is obviously going to turn the corner and then fulfil all of our wildest fantasies.  But as the end of June approaches and we turn up to the national championships, attention has changed. We need results, we need to impress. There is a much bigger focus on the here and now.  A medal, two medals, will it be enough?  A stripey jersey backed up with some solid results in other races, surely that will take the pressure off?  The reality is it won’t, and the tough side of women’s cycling and its harsh financial realities kick in.

From 1^st June my entire focus has been on 2013.  Survival is the key, growth is a privilege.  That struggle bears a great weight on your shoulders.  My success in making this team survive, and the same for Michael, is something that we take seriously, but there comes a point where that pressure is no longer feasible.  I’m sure Michael could have gone public and ‘begged’ for help, but why should he?  Few people have ever done as much for the sport as the Zijlaard van Moorsel family.  They deserve better, they deserve to enjoy their lives and above all they need to be praised for what they have achieved.  Constantly challenging the norm and raising the bar – that respect should also go to AA Drink, who as a company have invested huge amounts of money in a sport that others shy away from – I for one tip my hat to all of them.

I also feel that hope is still there. That legacy of what has been achieved by this outstanding cycling couple quickly appears to allow the riders of the AA Drink team to continue as a unit in the coming season.  Increasing numbers of men’s team are picking up on the potential of women’s cycling and making the informed choice to back the sport. Rumours are rife of new squads backed by men’s teams in the whispering circles in managers’ meetings. In this circumstance I hope ‘the no smoke without fire’ rule of thumb is true.

The sport will go on. It has its super teams, and it has its middle ground.  It has people that care, and people that want to innovate to ensure a great and strong future.  This case is currently under the microscope, but it will soon be under the carpet.  It’s certainly highlighted to me the need for bringing in more help behind the scenes.  Keeping the knowledge of soon-to-retire riders in the sport is very important.  The mere thought of Ina Teutenberg in a managers’ meeting would raise the pulses and bring sweat to the brow of UCI Commissaires around the world.  To get these people driving team cars, leading tactical debates, and commanding the respect of young and developing riders is going to be key by inspiring future stars with their firsthand knowledge. Putting business people behind teams into an office environment and providing real-life return and unique experiences to those that choose to be partners is a priority.

We are close to something great, but the final kilometres are very steep.

Here we go!

Kittel received legendary support from his team this week, at his first race for 2012 Etoile De Besseges (photo by Isabelle Duchesne courtesy of CyclingNews)

Best of the Week

Number Five

No Croatian licence for Riccardo Ricco 

This is just plain sad. Look, Ricco, your 15 minutes of cycling fame are up.  If Alessandro Petacchi can’t get an Asian licence, then you’re up shite creek without a paddle, a boat, and a life preserver. I might even suggest some therapy, or an extended holiday on an island without bicycles or any technological connection with humanity. Take a break. Spend time with the family. Learn a skill. Like dishwashing. Or ditch digging.

Number Four

Vanderkitten adds Bridie O’Donnell to the roster

So Bridie writes for us and she’s a panelist on the Hotstove. And she’s sharp, smart, and funny. Are we biased? Hell yes. But beyond that, she is an important voice for women’s cycling, and an advocate for fairness in the sport, not to mention society at large. We’re looking forward to her exploits with the new crew, and making her case for inclusion on the Australian Olympic Cycling Team. Vanderkitten is another shining example in the women’s peloton of providing outstanding support for their riders beyond the paycheque.

Number Three

Remaining Garmin women end up with AA Drink

I would love to hear the real story on this. But I’ll leave it alone this week and say that I’m glad to see Pooley, Armitstead, and the rest of the ladies find a secure home in an Olympic year. We all know there’s a real story behind the public relations fluff, but we’ll just have to wait until 2013 for that to come out.

Number Two

SHIFT Active Media lands RCS 

Now you all may be asking yourself why this is important, but please pay attention. Firstly, SHIFT Active Media has a strong understanding of cycling and the impact of “new media.” They represent some of the key players in the cycling industry and do savvy media buying, communications work, publishing, and creative. Their principals are some of the who’s who in the sport – including the ex-COO of Future Publishing, which owns cyclingnews.com and ProCycling Magazine. The also provide their services to 3T, Colnago, and fi’zi:k to name a few.  They understand the importance of new media and social media, even though Stephen Farrand still has a reluctance to fully embrace Twitter. Sorry, Stephen, I’m still smarting over that unfollow last year. (chuckle) Savvy move by the folks at RCS, as they understand the impact of the changing playing field of brand awareness, as seen in our own @pedalingtheroad interview with Marco Gobbi Pansana. Be thankful, cycling fans – they could have picked a dinosaur agency that would put, say, the Tour Down Under on Channel 9 rather than keep the coverage on the innovative SBS.

Number One

1t4i handles the Marcel Kittel situation in superior fashion

Imagine you are a rising superstar who has come off a record-setting rookie performance. You pride yourself on being clean. You ride for a team that has a stellar reputation when it comes to anti-doping initiatives. Then, you turn on German TV to see that you’re linked to a “doping” scandal.  Kittel was devastated. But you know what? His teammates rallied around him, all of them making phone calls to each other. The team spoke to Daniel Benson from cyclingnews.com right away to get the story out. But that wasn’t enough, they even put a detailed explanation of Kittel’s and teammate Patrick Gretsch’s involvement with the UV treatment on the team’s website. Plus, they even went so far as to note that John Degenkolb visited the doctor but didn’t receive the treatment.  For a team that prides itself on anti-doping initiatives and transparency, it’s outstanding to see that they hold true to those ideals when crisis hits. That’s great leadership by Iwan Spekenbrink. In addition, the cycling twitterati jumped on the bandwagon to call out the ambulance chasers of the news realm and hold them accountable.

Worst of the Week

Numero Cinco

Team Time Trialling  at World Championship Events Part II – The Belgian Sand

Is this a new trend in men’s elite racing? Just TTT to a win? It’s rather coincidental that the same thing happened at the road championships in Copenhagen. No matter. What’s the real story? Is it the Belgians taking full advantage of home sand, where they have expertise like no one else? Was it superior preparation to other nations? One thing is for sure, it certainly was an eyebrow-raising performance the likes of which has never been seen. However, on the plus side they had a phenomenal turnout of 62,000 people, something that the UCI attempted to limit to 42,000. Why? I just don’t know anymore. Nonetheless, if seven U.S. riders dominate next year, we pretty much know the answers to all of our questions – a home side win is good for business. The fix is in.

Numero Cuatro

Wanted: Investors in a private venture set up by non-profit funds borrowed without approval

This would be just sad if it wasn’t so absolutely atrociously funny. As @fmk_RoI noted on Twitter, why would the UCI want to invest in their own Ponzi Scheme? However, “speaking to people of means” could be your local loan shark, or even worse, a Russian gas magnate who runs Russian cycling, is President of the European Cycling Federation, and sits on the UCI Management Committee. He’s a great one with all sorts of connections, including Ukranian mafia, but I won’t go there, no, @inrng has a cracker post coming up on that (keep your eyes peeled starting Thursday at inrng.com). No, you see, the ASO said no to investing in the Ponzi Scheme as they preferred to be paid as the technical service provider for the races that have already been set up – like the Tour of Beijing – rather than risk losing money as an investor. You see, the UCI has a bad habit of misusing, misplacing, or flat out losing money. Of course, conventional wisdom would say that the ASO are positioning themselves to be bought as they continue to divest of a variety of  assets. Anyone remember how the GCP was set up? With funds borrowed from the ProTour fund, of course.

Numero Tres

Kathryne Bertine’s brush with an inept Aigle

The UCI addition of the worst of the week continues with Bertine coming out publicly to voice her frustration in her dealings with the cycling governing body that  resemble an accounting firm from a bad Monty Python sketch. No kidding. Losing points retroactively, and her federation files paperwork a couple of days late means that she may miss the Olympics? Due to a pencil pusher? It’s interesting to note that UCI rules have been bent and out right broken for many, especially if you have a brown envelope. In this case? Letter. Of. The. Law. However, is this more of a statement about federation politics? Bertine is a dual citizen, and she smartly saw an opportunity to go to the Olympics riding for a small nation rather than the United States. Could this be a politically motivated backlash? Heaven forbid a small nation sends one cycling athlete to the Olympics at the expense of another “cycling power.”  Stranger things have happened in Aigle.

Numero Dos

Levi Leipheimer wins Tour De San Luis

You all know why.

Numero Uno

Pat McQuaid and Hein Verbruggen and the UCI sue Paul Kimmage

I have an idea. I’m a public figure, and I’m fair game for criticism. But in my world no one should have an opinion but me. Because apparently I’m all knowing. Now, I run a semi satire via twitter on the fine Irish gentleman, but I’m a fooking parody. He’s not supposed to mirror my attitude in real life. But he is. I mean, could you imagine Guardian commentator Patrick Wintour being sued by former RBS honcho Fred Goodwin for Wintour’s comments about him losing his knighthood? Of course not! However, as reality doesn’t exist for McQuaid, Verbruggen and the UCI, and they insist that the cycling world “Eat Fooking Cake,” they can pretty much do whatever the fook they want. I appreciate the fact that they picked on Kimmage, because the gent will fight back. In fact, this may galvanize the cycling journalists around the world to zero in on the UCI and their pattern of behaviour. You don’t pick on an award winning bloke who has a history of standing up, because then he becomes a M-A-R-T-Y-R for others to gain a backbone. Like Joe Lindsey. Looks like the line for journos’ collective mouths up the UCI’s arse like that centipede horror film has shrunk to almost zero. And it’s only January. Well folks, grab your popcorn, as we’re in for a long year of bullshite politics. It’s an Olympic year after all.