remember Iteamnova? how many gordon mccauley fans are out there?
dozens maybe? people who live near him in NZ I guess.
how many chris wherry "fans" are there? who runs his
fan club? How many of you
have posters of wherry hanging over your bed?
US domestic racing scene has zero fans, some girlfriends,
and don't talk about philly becasue drunk philadelphians would get
drunk and party on groundhogs day if they had the chance.
the only spectators are the cat 3's 4's and 5's who race, and then
watch the pro race because they like the sport, not because
they are fans of any particular rider or team.
in europe the situation is different, with minor italian riders
having huge fan clubs from their home region, where regionalism
sparks support - the basques are just wildly enthusiastic about
their team, the dutch used to line the alpe d'huez going nuts,
and americans cheering for amrstrong - these guys have actual fans,
36 year old domestic american riders? no. you see these guys
changing chamois in the parking lot of the local crit.
(and yes, they are great riders, i'm not saying they aren't, but
they don't have fans)
so yeah you get some kit for like $150 or something and get to ride
around and look like a fred looking like captain america.
maybe I'm wrong, but I can't seen them raising a 500k + budget
by having freds buy kit and sending them donations.
seems more like a situation where a real title sponsor fell through,
then they came up with a plan B.
it's a good team too, some of those riders are actually expect to get
paid, they aren't gonna fart around and race for free waiting for
donations. I see a possible noble house situation
where you start seeing these guys not wearing the kit anymore in april.