Mens Road Cycling

jobiwan · « **Reply #150 on:** July 14, 2012, 17:42 »

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-denies-rumours-radioshack-team-is-near-collapse

Quote

The Süddeutsche Zeitung today reported that Fabian Cancellara and Fränk and Andy Schleck have not been receiving regular paychecks, and that one of the riders has sued Leopard SA.

...

The Luxembourg paper Tageblatt also picked up on the rumors, claiming that Leopard SA lost 7.6 million Euros this year and that Becca's ownership of the team's WorldTour license is in jeopardy.

BYOP · « **Reply #151 on:** July 14, 2012, 18:02 »

Isn't he also being looked at for tax evasion too?

killswitch · « **Reply #152 on:** July 14, 2012, 19:07 »

Quote from: jobiwan on July 14, 2012, 17:42

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-denies-rumours-radioshack-team-is-near-collapse

See the posts by Christian on CN (hopefully he doesn't mind copying his translations):

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=944629&postcount=4144

Close to the end?

According to media reports, Flavio Becca could soon lose the license for his ProTeam, Radioshack-Nissan. The company holding the license is making huge losses.

Tageblatt has access to the balance of accounts of 2011 of Leopard S.A. It shows a loss in the first year of €7.6 million. Meanwhile, in the international edition of Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) of this Saturday, one can read that "Insiders are of the opinion that Flavio Becca will soon lose his license"

According to the document from auditing-company Deloitte, Leopard S.A. finished the first business year (26.07.2010 to 31.12.2011) with a loss of €7.618.109,60.

The conclusion of the auditers: with such a huge loss, the board of directors are required by law to summon a general assembly of the share holders, which will decide whether the company will be terminated or not.

Journalist Andreas Burkert (SZ) writes in his article "Revolution of the national heroes" among other things that the riders who complained about late paiments were "aces": "Luxembourg's national heroes, the Schlecks, as well as Fabian Cancellara. In addition, the Dane Jakob Fuglsang contacted the UCI. According to the records, at least one rider has sued Leopard S.A. by ways of a private company of his".

http://www.tageblatt.lu/nachrichten/...-Aus--23058974

Complete article in today's print edition, I shall try to get one

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=944772&postcount=4147

Carlo Rock (speaker of Leopard S.A.) said on Luxembourg Radio that "there is a war going on between Sky, Radioshack-Nissan and us (sic)" and inferred that Rupert Murdoch is trying to discredit the team by spreading false rumours through the Süddeutsche Zeitung, to which he has "a very close relationship".

He did however acknowledge that the numbers published by Tageblatt are correct, but said that this did not pose a major problem. The team's future is assured for another two years through a bank guaranty that lies with the UCI. Recently all their accounts were audited and nothing suspicious was found.

The rider having sued Leopard S.A. through his company is indeed Jakob Fuglsang. Rock: "This affair is actually pretty simple. Last year, we paid Mr. Fuglsang's salary to a private company. This year, we were told to pay them to a different company. We then asked for legal documents assuring us of the seriousness of this company, because we do not want to be involved in any way in money laundering. To this day, we are waiting for these documents".

Source: Radio RTL

Some further numbers from the balance of accounts:

Salaries for riders: €10.6 million
Salaries for employees: €1.5 million
Salaries for doctors: €300.000
Participation at UCI biological passport program: €120.000
Corporate identity: €400.000
Traveling expenses: €1.4 million

Input of Flavio Becca's financing company Promobe Finance SPF: €5.5 million
Debts towards others: almost €7.7 million
Debts of others towards Leopard S.A.: almost €3.6 million
Input of sponsors: €9.5 million
Other gains (Leopard-Trademark): €2.5 million
Penalties for enticing riders away from other teams: €618.500
Amount to pay to riders for image rights: €1.3 million

Promobe Finance SPF acts as a guarantor for losses or debts of Leopard S.A.

Source: Tageblatt print edition

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=944879&postcount=4151

According to the article in Süddeutsche, "The Schlecks are waiting for their share of the image rights, on which they pay separate taxes in Luxembourg. This makes for about a quarter of their salary. And because these payments have apparently been missing already since the Tour 2011 and until at least the second quarter of 2012, both must be missing a higher six-figure sum. Cancellara received his salary twice with significant delays. Delayed salary payments are supposed to be the rule, rather than the exception, for the 80 employees of the team"

Source: Tageblatt

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=944894&postcount=4153

What I find most interesting is that they accuse the Murdoch group, therefore Sky, of deliberately spreading false rumours in a "very big war" that is supposedly going on right now.

I have often read comments by British users who refer to Murdoch as "scum of the earth" so it seems that at least theoretically this is something this group would do. On the other hand most of RSNT financiers and managers are also very sketchy people.

Wasn't Murdoch also behind that big scandal where they tapped the phones and e-mail accounts of politicians in England?

You can find the audio of the interview here:

http://sport.rtl.lu/cyclissem/news/280095.html (luxembourgish)

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=945231&postcount=4155

At least the part about them being broke does indeed only seem to be a storm in a waterglass (perhaps mounted by Murdoch/Sky? Tbc!) as Leopard S.A. writes in a press release:

"From the beginning of (Leopard's) activities in cycling and its demand for a license with the UCI, the business plan foresaw an important deficit for the first season which would be covered by its shareholders.

The balance of accounts concluded on 31 December 2011 is conform to these previsions. The company's and the UCI's auditors have not only validated all the team's accounts but also confirmed the financial capacity to continue its activities."

http://sport.rtl.lu/cyclissem/news/280095.html

froome19 · « **Reply #153 on:** July 15, 2012, 22:01 »

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-gives-respect-to-wiggins-for-neutralising-tour-de-france-stage-14

Wow the end of the interview is really revealing as Frank gets very tense and starts acting as if he is very upfronted....
He says that the claims that rider's are not being paid are unbelievable and looks pretty flabergasted
When asked about whether he has been paid on time instead of answering with what would be a logical yes as most people would he starts to look away and retorts with a question about the interviewer's own salary.... Maybe I am reading too much into it but Schleck is definitely not satisfied with the goings on at RANT..

brassyn · « **Reply #154 on:** July 15, 2012, 23:24 »

The Schlecks being so cranky all season long makes even more sense if they weren't even getting paid to listen to Bruyneel

flicker2.0 · « **Reply #155 on:** July 15, 2012, 23:46 »

Quote from: froome19 on July 15, 2012, 22:01

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-gives-respect-to-wiggins-for-neutralising-tour-de-france-stage-14

Wow the end of the interview is really revealing as Frank gets very tense and starts acting as if he is very upfronted....
He says that the claims that rider's are not being paid are unbelievable and looks pretty flabergasted
When asked about whether he has been paid on time instead of answering with what would be a logical yes as most people would he starts to look away and retorts with a question about the interviewer's own salary.... Maybe I am reading too much into it but Schleck is definitely not satisfied with the goings on at RANT..

That is a very disrespectful interviewer, I thought Frank was very courteous, what gives the interviewer the right to ask anyone about their wages, zero class the interviewer....

AG · « **Reply #156 on:** July 16, 2012, 01:09 »

respect to Frank Schleck for that. I thought he conducted himself very well in what must be difficult circumstances ...

As for the goings on of RSNT

Is it just me, or are they seriously implying that Jakob Fuglsang has something to do with money laundering?

Honestly, whether its paid to me personally, or to a private company ... if I give my employer a bank account to pay my salary into, thats it. I dont usually have to prove its my company, that its a 'serious company' or anything about it. If they have concerns about it, report those concerns ... but they have no right to withhold the salary (certainly not long enough for the rider to sue them for it). We arent talking about a few days here.

BYOP · « **Reply #157 on:** July 16, 2012, 01:17 »

I have to admit, I found it weird when I read the part about his 'company'. Pay it to him, his company, his dog or whatever else he gave you and if he's avoiding paying tax when he has to pay tax, I'm sure the appropriate authorities will soon come knocking on his door to reclaim the outstanding tax.

just some guy · « **Reply #158 on:** July 17, 2012, 10:13 »

the above article is 404 now

anyways here is some more

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-cancellara-complained-to-uci-about-non-payment-team-owner-confirms

AG · « **Reply #159 on:** July 17, 2012, 10:47 »

such a weird situation.

I dont know about the laws in Luxembourg .. maybe their is some kind of responsibility or onus on the employer in that regard ???

Certainly I have never heard of this kind of thing - and surely if it were that simple it would be easily resolved? Holding back 500,000 Euro for a long time for such a simple paperwork issue sounds like a cop out. And the statement "Perhaps the two of them don't understand the complicated rules of the UCI. And in Luxembourg there are courts, they can go there and then – like Fuglsang – they can sue us." is even stranger. What team wants their top riders having to sue the company to get their wages?

benotti69 · « **Reply #160 on:** July 17, 2012, 14:00 »

Paola Salvodelli stills claims Bruyneel owes him money from his days at Discovery. Bruyneel has a history :

froome19 · « **Reply #161 on:** July 17, 2012, 17:21 »

Quote from: froome19 on July 15, 2012, 22:01

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-gives-respect-to-wiggins-for-neutralising-tour-de-france-stage-14

Wow the end of the interview is really revealing as Frank gets very tense and starts acting as if he is very upfronted....
He says that the claims that rider's are not being paid are unbelievable and looks pretty flabergasted
When asked about whether he has been paid on time instead of answering with what would be a logical yes as most people would he starts to look away and retorts with a question about the interviewer's own salary.... Maybe I am reading too much into it but Schleck is definitely not satisfied with the goings on at RANT..

This and this

Quote

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schleck-cancellara-complained-to-uci-about-non-payment-team-owner-confirms

I believe are conclusive evidence we wont be seeing the Schlecks in a RANT kit next year...
Calling it unbelievable when referring to himself, in hindsight it is obvious that Schleck was having problems with his own salary payment due to his reaction when asked about it..

just some guy · « **Reply #162 on:** July 17, 2012, 17:23 »

Quote from: benotti69 on July 17, 2012, 14:00

Paola Salvodelli stills claims Bruyneel owes him money from his days at Discovery. Bruyneel has a history :

on that the payments come from leopard holding company - Becca, it is ok though this is the dude who has some dodgy money issues apparently

jobiwan · « **Reply #163 on:** July 17, 2012, 20:26 »

froome19 · « **Reply #164 on:** July 25, 2012, 20:33 »

Fuglsang hasn't received any race program from RSNT yet. Might ride with Danish national team, pretty pathetic display by RANT on all accounts

benotti69 · « **Reply #165 on:** July 25, 2012, 20:40 »

Quote from: froome19 on July 25, 2012, 20:33

Fuglsang hasn't received any race program from RSNT yet. Might ride with Danish national team, pretty pathetic display by RANT on all accounts

And the UCI are doing nothing to protect a rider who holds a UCI licence and what about the Danish Federation, probably just as bad as UCI?

Sprout · « **Reply #166 on:** July 26, 2012, 20:28 »

They don't have to give him a race programme do they, i mean as long as they pay him. oh hang on

benotti69 · « **Reply #167 on:** July 26, 2012, 20:42 »

Quote from: Sprout on July 26, 2012, 20:28

They don't have to give him a race programme do they, i mean as long as they pay him. oh hang on

I imagine apart from the pay dispute they have certain contractual obligations towards the rider, but i may be wrong, it may be simply he is paid to ride his bike where and when they decide!

Sprout · « **Reply #168 on:** July 26, 2012, 21:10 »

Quote from: benotti69 on July 26, 2012, 20:42

I imagine apart from the pay dispute they have certain contractual obligations towards the rider, but i may be wrong, it may be simply he is paid to ride his bike where and when they decide!

surely the only obligation the team (or any employer has) at least in general is to pay the employee for the period of his contract. The team utilise the squad how they see fit. Of course it is posible he might have promises for certain races in his contract but unlikely I'd have thought.

Of course if he isn't getting paid at all

BYOP · « **Reply #169 on:** July 26, 2012, 22:41 »

This stuff wouldn't be allowed in the USA, under the various CBA's that teams and the various sports have. If some guy was refused playing time because he was going to leave as a free agent at the end of the year, the players union would've kicked off and it could end up with a lock out. Wasn't/isn't Jens the riders union rep? Shouldn't they be fighting the cause for the birdsong?

Slow Rider · « **Reply #170 on:** July 31, 2012, 11:44 »

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/radioshack-nissan-lose-partnership-with-enovos

This team is as good as dead.

benotti69 · « **Reply #171 on:** July 31, 2012, 14:05 »

Quote from: Sprout on July 26, 2012, 21:10

surely the only obligation the team (or any employer has) at least in general is to pay the employee for the period of his contract. The team utilise the squad how they see fit. Of course it is posible he might have promises for certain races in his contract but unlikely I'd have thought.

Of course if he isn't getting paid at all

I imagine Doms are employed in such a fashion, but Canc no, Schlecks' no and Fuglsang i guess would have had a stipulation to ride a minimum number of WT races guaranteed if fit.

just some guy · « **Reply #172 on:** August 01, 2012, 11:20 »

birdsong gets his Cash

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leopard-sa-agrees-to-pay-fuglsang-withheld-monies

BYOP · « **Reply #173 on:** August 01, 2012, 14:01 »

Well not yet, they've said they'll pay him on Friday, still alot of time before then.

just some guy · « **Reply #174 on:** August 20, 2012, 10:03 »

I have no idea what this means

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bruyneel-next-year-we-will-see-a-different-radioshack-nissan

cj2002 · « **Reply #175 on:** August 20, 2012, 10:30 »

Just my two cents (or equivalent in other currency...) about being paid into a company.

As I understand it, it is normally a tax thing, although not necessarily to do with evasion. I remember looking into it a couple of years ago when the Champions League final was in London. In that case, players competing (at the time thought likely to be residents of Spain or Italy) would have face income tax bills from Her Majesty on prize money they earned "working" in the UK. The same issue is faced by any sportsperson who competes in multiple companies - athletes, F1 drivers and cyclists particularly, given the large amount of money the top few can attract. Thus, having moneys paid into a company, registered in one country, which can then pay a "salary" to its owner, allows income tax to be deductible in only one country.

This seems entirely logical to me, and a fair way of doing it. Of course, there are individuals in all walks of life who use such a system to pay less tax, either by registering their company abroad (Luxembourg being a favourite of many) or by simply paying Corporation Tax at a lower rate than the equivalent, personal income tax.

At least, this is how I understand it. Loath as I am to defend Frandy, you understand! And none of this excuses either a) Leopard's (alleged) failure to pay them or b) their terrible performances all season.

The Leopard is dead, long live the Leopard?

benotti69 · « **Reply #176 on:** August 20, 2012, 10:45 »

Quote from: just some guy on August 20, 2012, 10:03

I have no idea what this means

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bruyneel-next-year-we-will-see-a-different-radioshack-nissan

Stalling for time, bluffing or outright lying.

You would need to be desperate to ride for Bruyneel next year even if he has a team and sponsors.

Andy is hardly gonna ride for RSNT after they dismissed Franks positive as not coming from a possible supplement the team had by mistake!

I would be very surprised if there was a team next year.

Fus87 · « **Reply #177 on:** August 20, 2012, 11:23 »

I guess no Radioshack-Nissan at all is different from the Radioshack-Nissan we see this year.

jobiwan · « **Reply #178 on:** August 20, 2012, 23:16 »

I guess it all depends on who gives Andy (and Frank) a ride next year. The new German team seems to have fizzled (haven't heard any news since July) and he clearly wants nothing to do with Johan.

It's hard to imagine a Luxembourg team with the only two point scoring Luxembourgers (until Jungels turns pro that is

), so I have a hard time seeing RSNT around next year.

But with Johan, who knows?

cj2002 · « **Reply #179 on:** August 21, 2012, 09:29 »

Well, perhaps the King of Pain knows something beyond our speculation.

Voigt renews with RadioShack-Nissan

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/voigt-renews-with-radioshack-nissan

Quote

Jens Voigt confirmed today that he has renewed with the RadioShack-Nissan team through the 2013 season.

"I'm very happy to confirm that I will stay with the team for another year... I'm almost 41 now, but I feel I can still be an asset to the team, so that's why I continue."

We shall see...

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