Team Sky's budget could grow under new sponsor

RobD wrote:

While I'm pleased it looks like they've secured a future, and will likely be able to carry on in a similar way to how they do now, I'd prefer to see the potential budget increase used to fund a women's team with access to similar resources. Having a couple of really well funded womens team would likely increase pressure on creating more high profile races, getting more coverage, all of which raises cycling's profile over all and may well lead to increased revenues generally as more sources of income are found, which would benefit the smaller teams as much as the biggest.

What?

Women's sport is thriving, England have just won the #shebelieves cup!

The trouble with equality is that it ain't very equal. 'Your' one day race, tour or whatever doesn't get the sponsor backing, crowds or interest to the same level so why should prize money be equal? You get to the point now where they get 'equal' prize money for shorter races (by distance or duration). Most cycling events have evolved over decades of hard work, it is insulting to want instant parity.

Gecko-cyclist wrote:

At this time of year, Sky are miles away from being dominant, regardless of how much money they have. They focus on grand tours which grab the attention of the mass public and good luck to them. Their record in 1 day races and classics isn't much to write home about though? Deceuninck quickstep are even more dominant in that arena which I presume pleases their home fans and as they are a member of the old guard they seem to cop very little flak on here for effectively doing exactly what sky do with a different type of rider. Surely the definition of top riders or success very much depends on what your objectives are and what you like watching. Personally I don't think any one team can dominate every type of event, no matter what the budget.

^^ This.

A sign of Sky's dominance is that the 'actual dominating' team of 2018 was Quickstep, who wiped the floor with everyone by a huge margin. 

It IS a sign of other teams commercial impotence that they've not secured better sponsorship deals. Total speculation on my part, but I'd bet my car that DaveB went into this year with a very programmatic and clinical plan to attract a deal. It's not rocket science, just process.

I would not, however, feel confident that QuickStep ended last season with a similar plan of action. It's incredulous to me, that they every couple of years Quickstep, who have so much history and loyalty with fans, such a loved team, end up with the equivalent sponsor to the 'Flemish Fish Flans of Flanders' each year. Desperately buying themselves another year of sponsorship. 

The

When one team has the cash to buy up the best riders it comes at the expense of all the other teams who do not have the ability to match the funding. I would like to see some sort of funding cap to help level the playing field.

With this level of funding I expect the team to win everything and that just destroys my enthusiasm for watching racing as everyone else is likely to be racing for second place.

BTW I have nothing against the sponsors or the riders. I would just like to see the absolute top riders distributed across all teams rather than filling up a single team.

[/quote]
It the job of the other teams to find sponsors with deep pockets

The

When one team has the cash to buy up the best riders it comes at the expense of all the other teams who do not have the ability to match the funding. I would like to see some sort of funding cap to help level the playing field.

With this level of funding I expect the team to win everything and that just destroys my enthusiasm for watching racing as everyone else is likely to be racing for second place.

BTW I have nothing against the sponsors or the riders. I would just like to see the absolute top riders distributed across all teams rather than filling up a single team.

[/quote]
It the job of the other teams to find sponsors with deep pockets