"Jason Waddell" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >Subject: Re: New Pro Teams, etc From: "Greg Avon"
[email protected] Date: 1/15/03
> >8:59 AM Central Standard Time Message-id: <
[email protected]>
> >
> >
> >"Jason Waddell" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
> >
news:[email protected]...
> >> >Subject: Re: New Pro Teams, etc
> >. <snip> .
> >>
> >> I responded to this in the thread titled: Rank these US teams....with
my
> >> ranking projections. These new pro teams are just glorified sub-Elite
Am
> >> teams. No more, n less. Why not spend that $10,500 on travel to about
5
> >NRC
> >> races or a couple of trips overseas??? $10,500 is alot of money for
> >people to
> >> able to say that they are "pro".
> >
> >The fee is $5,500. The other $5k is a bank guarantee that you have to
lay
> >out. In the past I have shared your opinion and spent that money on
sending
> >the team to as many NRC races as we could. Spending the $5,500 has been
a
> >gamble that has already paid off, returning more than that in additional sponsorship. A warning:
> >other amateur teams should not be lured into
going
> >D3 unless you are prepared to do an incredible amount of work in order to
do
> >it right.
>
> Maybe I can just talk like a car salesman or results speak for themselves,
but
> I have NO PROBLEM getting sponsors for our Am team. We probably get more
free
> stuff than half of the D3 teams.
I was talking about financial sponsors. I should also clarify that the "incredible amount of work"
refers to putting together an organization and running the team, not just getting sponsorship
> If you are talking money terms, get all your sponsors and then subtract $10,500+ salary if any to
> the riders.
Not sure exactly what you are trying to say here.
>
> >
> >>
> >> I can't wait for the first race when these D3 wankers realize that it
> >takes
> >> talent to win races, not a "pro" license.
> >
> >We have been around a long time and realize talent and hard work win
races.
> >
>
> Not to belittle your program, but other than NE races what have your guys
done?
I'm not going to give a team resume, but we have done very well, for an amateur team, outside of
the NE over the years (some years better than others). We do focus on the NE events, since most of
the quality races after May 1 are in the NE and they are more important to our sponsors. I should
also mention that Kissena's Peter Mazur did win the Junior World TT and the overall Junior World
Cup in 2000.
> If you are not able to pay your riders and they still have to wrench at a
bike
> shop or sling coffee at Starsluts then how are they expected to do any
more
> than the past.
You should not assume we will not be paying any of our riders. The team is almost entirely composed
of full time riders, so they won't be wearing paper hats when not on the bike. Adding a pro team
generates interest and should make it easier to recruit riders and we have a bigger budget as a
result of adding a pro team, both of which should help us "do more" in the long run.
>
> Question for you Greg: My point is that you can get first rate support
from an
> Elite Am team that is run right and develop riders, but you say that by spending the $10,500 to
> turn pro and do 5 more races a year that you are
taking
> a step forward?
Also,our goal is to do an elite amateur team in addition to a pro team and move guys from the
amateur to the pro team when they are ready.
Unless you secure a few really good riders your current guys
> will continue to place the same and get dropped at the same times at the
races.
>
> >>
> >> All that these teams are doing is diluting the "pro" product by sending
a
> >bunch
> >> of sub-standard Category 1/2 riders out into big races. They would be better off staying in the
> >> amateur ranks and getting some good experience and
> >doing
> >> some extended travel schedules.
> >
> >We have resisted turning pro for this reason. Give us the benefit of the doubt for a year or two
> >and then make your judgment as to whether we
merit
> >being in the domestic pro peleton.
> >
>
> I give anyone the benfit of the doubt, but I will still question the
reasons
> behind the motive. I don't post anonymously so I stand behind my words.
I
> hope your team is successful, I really do, but I question your motives and methods that is all.
I have questioned the 'method' myself. I felt the same way you do in many respects. Spending the
extra $5,500 to race 5 more races did not make sense. However, that is an over-simplification.
Adding a pro team has generated much more than $5,500 from sponsors who were not interested in
supporting an amateur team. Equally as important, the pro thing has generated a lot of interest with
people surrounding the team, who now want to get involved and help out.
While I respect the fact that you are one of the only people using their name to post, "questioning
my motives" when you know nothing about me or our motives might prompt some people to question your
intelligence. My 'motive' has always been to give something back to the sport and in some small way
to continue the work of my mentor in cycling, the late Al Toefield. I owe an incredible debt to Al
and would not have been able to get into bike racing without his help. I am not sure what kind of
motives you might think I have, but I am definitely not looking for personal glorification (since I
would be happier if nobody knew who I am) or financial gain (I have always been the biggest sponsor
of the team).
>
>
> >> Philly,SF,NYC,USPRO crit are the only races that Amateurs are not
allowed
> >to
> >> do. There is still alot of NRC racing to be had without "going pro"...
> >>
> >> my 2 cents, jason
> >
> >Thanks for your 2 cents.
> >
> >Greg
>
> your welcome, thanks for the response, jason
Some people act like we are trash talking and saying "we are pro and you are not" or something
similar (this is not directed toward you, Jason). Having a pro license alone means nothing.
Most people are taking this way too seriously. We're only talking about domestic pro racing here. As
my friend Alex Lavallee would say in a French Canadian accent "the real pros, they are in Europe".
Greg
