By:
Daniel Benson
Published:
August 26, 22:58,
Updated:
August 26, 23:52
Bike manufacturer to stay involved in pro cycling
Cervélo confirmed today that it would not continue as a title sponsor for its cycling team after the end of this season. In a statement issued late Thursday, the bike manufacturer cited "certain subtle changes in the rules that govern pro cycling" which meant the team would have had to increase its budget to ensure it would be able to participate in the sport's biggest races. Cyclingnews reported yesterday that the team's future was uncertain after a number of riders were linked to Garmin-Transitions for next year.
"This is not something with which we are comfortable," the statement said. "We were okay with the significant commitment we originally made to the team, but to increase it is not prudent."
The press release did not directly state that it was ending both the men's and women's professional teams, but Cyclingnews understands from its sources that the women's programme will continue. Sources have confirmed that the riders were notified of the news via email on Wednesday by the team management and that the women were assured that the team would continue for next year, although Cervélo have not confirmed this.
Gerard Vroomen, co-founder of Cervélo, set up the men's Pro Continental team at the start of the 2009 season, signing 2008 Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, Thor Hushovd and a host of other talented riders. The team had a spectacular debut season, winning stages and the green jersey in the Tour de France, stages in the Vuelta and Giro, as well as seeing Heinrich Haussler break through as a major force in one-day racing.
The team were unique in the sense that they combined product development and brand awareness with winning as their main goals.
The team remained Pro Continental in 2010 and were set to carry on as such for next year. However, the UCI modified its rules for participation in the World Calendar races for 2011, and it seems these changes would preclude a Pro Continental team from guaranteed participation in the Tour de France.
Sastre was the first to announce his departure from the team well before rumours of the squad's demise became rampant. His move, coupled with the fact that no new faces were brought into the squad meant that Cervélo were already short of numbers for next season. There was also speculation as far back as the spring that the team were in financial difficulty. However, news of the team's demise still came as a shock to many of the riders within the team.
Since then, the bike manufacturer has been linked with the Garmin-Transitions team as a possible replacement for the American squad's Felt sponsorship, with Transitions dropping from the second sponsor slot and Cervelo taking over in their place. Neither team confirmed this. However, the Cervélo statement said, "We look forward to continued involvement in pro cycling at the highest level with an emphasis on product R&D, as we have since 2003. To that end, we will announce the details soon."
Cyclingnews sources have also confirmed that several of Cervelo's riders have begun negotiations with Garmin, including Haussler, Hushovd and a handful of their other Classics riders.
上大郵局藍姓郵務士日前在北縣新莊送信時，因收信地址門前電線桿綁的三隻狗朝他吠叫，他便拿路邊石頭丟狗。飼主聽到狗慘叫，出門追趕攔下，藍承認拿石頭丟狗，在派出所付一千五百元充當「醫藥費」和解，飼主撤回毀損告訴。
不過，派出所認為全案涉及無故惡意傷害動物，依動物保護法將全案移送北縣動物疾病防治所處理；所方昨約詢藍到案說明，藍坦承丟石頭打狗。
由於「刑事毀損」和解，是否仍須再依動保法追究，因無前例可循，防治所只好請示農委會；若須處罰，會從輕罰一萬五千元。
藍姓郵務士得知花了一千五百元，還可能被罰一萬五千元，大嘆「已經得到教訓，以後送信就算被狗追咬，也不會再丟石頭趕狗。」
上月七日上午八時，卅一歲的藍姓郵務士送信到新莊市化成路時，住收信人隔壁的葉姓飼主，正為飼養的四隻狗洗澡，將其中三隻洗好澡的狗綁在門口電線桿上。
三隻狗看見騎機車送信的藍姓郵務士，立即朝他吠叫。藍因過去常被狗追咬，狗又擋到投信信箱，便在路邊拾起一顆長十一公分、寬十公分及厚約四公分的石頭扔向三隻狗驅趕，趁狗躲開時投完信即離開。
葉姓飼主在屋內聽到狗慘叫聲趕出來，發現其中一隻黑色米格魯「酷酷」右前腳受傷，立即追趕攔下藍姓郵務士。藍承認丟石頭趕狗，葉立即報警將藍姓郵務士及「犯罪工具」石頭一併帶回派出所。
葉原本要提出毀損告訴，藍一再澄清丟石頭只想趕狗，不確定有沒有丟到狗，但願意賠償醫藥費；雙方以一千五百元和解。
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