Road Bike Racing - Paolo Bettini must be pissed!

He wasn’t offered a contract for 09 (after originally saying he was going to retire) and now that Armstrong is “supposedly” going to Astana, Quickstep’s manager Lefevere said he would have liked to have gotten Armstrong, and the sponsors would have paid for that!.

So, If you are Paolo I would be pissed! You spent the last decade of your life being loyal to Quickstep, get booted out for Schumacher (because they didn’t have enough money for Bettini to go around) and now the sponsors are saying they would have footed the bill for Armstrong.

Article on Lefevere wanting Armstrong:
“Armstrong joins Astana, Lefevere too late”
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/sep08/sep24news5

Background of Bettini getting the boot:
“Angry Bettini without Quick Step contract”
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/sep08/sep12news

A Tour podium is worth a lot more than Tour of Lombardy.

Very True... but if they couldn't afford Bettini, what make Levere think he can afford Lance...


Levere:
"I'm sorry Mr. Armstrong, we will have to start you out on the normal Domestique's wages.... BTW you will have to give your bike back at the end of the season so we can sell it for a small reinbursement."

Very True... but if they couldn't afford Bettini, what make Levere think he can afford Lance...


Levere:
"I'm sorry Mr. Armstrong, we will have to start you out on the normal Domestique's wages.... BTW you will have to give your bike back at the end of the season so we can sell it for a small reinbursement."

Here you go...

From the link you posted above...

Lefevere had started an effort to woo Lance Armstrong to the Belgian squad. Quick Step is losing star rider Paolo Bettini for next season, as it's unable to afford the Italian UCI World Road Champion, but Lefevere's sponsors have apparently said they{meaning the sponsors** would have been happy to foot the bill from Armstrong

Is Armstrong still saying that he won't accept a salary?

Here you go...

From the link you posted above...

Lefevere had started an effort to woo Lance Armstrong to the Belgian squad. Quick Step is losing star rider Paolo Bettini for next season, as it's unable to afford the Italian UCI World Road Champion, but Lefevere's sponsors have apparently said they{meaning the sponsors** would have been happy to foot the bill from Armstrong

I read that, my point was: Levere excuse to Bettini was that there was little funds to have keep him for 09, but then made it seem he was dissapointed he didn't get Armstrong.

Is Armstrong still saying that he won't accept a salary?

I would imagine he will either ride for salary or more likely will donate his salary and winnings to his foundation.

wow business is business amirite?? what happened to loyalty?

Very True... but if they couldn't afford Bettini, what make Levere think he can afford Lance...


Levere:
"I'm sorry Mr. Armstrong, we will have to start you out on the normal Domestique's wages.... BTW you will have to give your bike back at the end of the season so we can sell it for a small reinbursement."

There are guaranteed monetary returns with Armstrong. Not the case w/ PB.

He said he could get the money from his American sponsors for Armstrong. American sponsors dont give a **** about Bettini.

It would have cost Patrick Yougivemefever about $5 million/year to bring LA AND all the climbers he'd need to win the Tour...besides, would he leave Boonen and his train at home to win the Tour with Lance? How would that go over back in Belgium?

It would have cost Patrick Yougivemefever about $5 million/year to bring LA AND all the climbers he'd need to win the Tour...besides, would he leave Boonen and his train at home to win the Tour with Lance? How would that go over back in Belgium?

Maybe he was betting on the fact that Boonen may get in more trouble with Cocaine? (not like he was disciplined harshly anyways)

keep in mind, QuickStep and Specialized are American companies.

and, a TdF win is worth more than all the other races _combined_ in terms of sponsor ROI.

but, Lefevre is on crack if he thought LA was going to abandon Trek. He should know better.

And, I think he's just ditchin Bettini b/c Paolo's getting old and didn't have a great year.

He wasn’t offered a contract for 09 (after originally saying he was going to retire) and now that Armstrong is “supposedly” going to Astana, Quickstep’s manager Lefevere said he would have liked to have gotten Armstrong, and the sponsors would have paid for that!.

So, If you are Paolo I would be pissed! You spent the last decade of your life being loyal to Quickstep, get booted out for Schumacher (because they didn’t have enough money for Bettini to go around) and now the sponsors are saying they would have footed the bill for Armstrong.

Article on Lefevere wanting Armstrong:
“Armstrong joins Astana, Lefevere too late”
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/sep08/sep24news5

Background of Bettini getting the boot:
“Angry Bettini without Quick Step contract”
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/sep08/sep12news

I very seriously doubt Paolo Bettini will have any problems finding another good team to ride for.

Quick Step is about results consistently.
Bettini was very quiet until the end of the year.
By that time Lefevre knew he could get 4 quality riders for the price of Bettini.
Paolo will win World's in anger, but hey, he should have not been resting on his laurels for so lmany months.

Bettini is very ugly.

Paolo Bettini

Who?

Quick Step is about results consistently.
Bettini was very quiet until the end of the year.
By that time Lefevre knew he could get 4 quality riders for the price of Bettini.
Paolo will win World's in anger, but hey, he should have not been resting on his laurels for so lmany months.

I love Bettini but Lefevere made the right decision. He signed four quality riders for the price of one. He's also strengthened QS's team for the northern classics. Schumacher will make his presence felt in the hilly classics.

I don't feel sorry for Bettini. He told the team he was retiring after 2008. Lefevere offered him a job as a DS and eventual ownership in his company. Bettini turned it down. It's not like QS threw him out on his ass.

My guess is he's with Katusha by the end of the month.

Who?

Gary's no GQ Cover Boy either, but he's better looking than that little Italian. In fact Gary's performance this year was so monumental that we're getting his name into that Jewish Cycling Legends pamphlet. It's right next to the Jewish Baseball Legends pamphlet (OK, it's really one 4-page pamphlet).

Gary's season this year was just friggin EPIC. And I was glad to be there for part of it. Central Park last Spring:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/SS4-13-08040.jpg

What a great photo. Now THAT is NY City bicycle racing.

Gary's no GQ Cover Boy either, but he's better looking than that little Italian. In fact Gary's performance this year was so monumental that we're getting his name into that Jewish Cycling Legends pamphlet. It's right next to the Jewish Baseball Legends pamphlet (OK, it's really one 4-page pamphlet).

Gary's season this year was just friggin EPIC. And I was glad to be there for part of it. Central Park last Spring:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/patentcad/SS4-13-08040.jpg

What a great photo. Now THAT is NY City bicycle racing.

wow, he IS vertically challenged, isn't he?

wow, he IS vertically challenged, isn't he?

He's faster than you pal. Hell, he's faster than all the 35+ guys around here. Tough man to beat in the last 100 meters and he has the snot to be there 90% of the time. Lots of podiums and wins. Rarely out of the top 5 or 10.

Besides it beats being velocity-challenged like me.

wow, he IS vertically challenged, isn't he?


:unsure

5' 6" isn't really that short

:unsure

5' 6" isn't really that short


He's faster than you pal. Hell, he's faster than all the 35+ guys around here.

:) I appreciate it, but that isn't even remotely true

Gary's year to date winnings.

http://www.hillashponies.co.uk/Pictures/Pat's%20Herd%206-8-05.JPG