As reported by velonation.com earlier today, Vacansoleil received confirmation that they will be participating in the top tier of cycling for 2012. Reports that those awaiting the confirmation at team headquarters were celebrating “like it was 1999,” in stark contrast to the mood at the Becca-backed Leopard/Nissan/Radioshack/Trek Hydra-style organization.
Feel the teeth of the hydra upon you yet?
Rumors have continued to swirl around UCI headquarters in Aigle, as none of the parties involved with the WorldTour decision-making process have been willing to come forward with a status report for the team.
This has no doubt been a source of frustration for Johan Bruyneel, whose management company has been contracted to run the team – a new situation for cycling as this structure has never been active in this manner. Prior to the deal, managers were still employees of the organization, with payment made to either a corporate entity or the individual, as per UCI WorldTour rules.
“I don’t understand what the problem is. So what if Capital Sports and Entertainment has written a contract with Leopard to assign the sponsor dollars of RadioShack to the new team? Third party contracts are the lifeblood of corporate culture. It shouldn’t be viewed as unusual for cycling,” commented Bruyneel.
When pressed further and asked if RadioShack was a willing participant in the backing of the new super-team, Bruyneel was blasé, “We have them in a binding contract, what they want or don’t want makes no difference at this juncture.”
Sources close to the discussions have confirmed that the UCI is concerned that this attempt to bend the rules established for WorldTour team funding will open a Pandora’s box of instability that would “dwarf the monetary issues plaguing the European Union and the United States.”
Stevin Volkmerov, head economic researcher at the Prague Institute of Monetary Policy, concurs that cycling is a microcosm of what is occurring in the world at large.
“When you have a situation where a small group of individuals controls the flow of capital with the collusion of a governing body, you remove the ability for that particular market to have the fluidity necessary for consistent operation. The bottom line is that the 1% are hoarding their cash and waiting for the collapse of the financial markets before they decide to reinvest in new ventures. The unknown factor is if these governing bodies, be it the UCI or the IMF, will cave to popular pressure, or maintain the wishes of the small minority in possession of the bulk of the world’s wealth,” commented Volkmerov.
When contacted by Cyclismas, Liquigas boss Robert Amadio – a man who shuns the cycling spotlight – concurred with Volkmerov, “This potential acceptance of the LeopardShack Contractual Hydra will usher in an era of instability that will make our doping problems seem like a minor scuff on my Ferragamo footwear.”
Flavio Becca, the man at the center of the firestorm that began with his abdication of responsibility to the sport in general by his agreement with the shaky CSE deal, refused to comment on his efforts to flagrantly violate the WorldTour rules established by the UCI to prevent unstable team management and funding.
A decision by the UCI is pending within the next two weeks. UCI spokesperson Enrico Carpani refused to comment or speculate on any conversations that may or may not have transpired, keeping in step with the UCI’s policy of obfuscation and conveniently vague communication.
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