We're sad to see another loss from the downhill world - this time, it's not a bike company that's pulling out, it's Dorval AM, the French asset manage ...
By stwhannah
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackworld.com/2024/08/dorval-am-ends-downhill-racing-sponsorship/
Don't think there will be many teams next year.
Hopefully the riders and wider team members can find another team - the likes of Camille, Benoit and Monika are too good to not be racing next season.
@stwhannah does anyone know what the entry cost for team is next season?
I've heard a rumour that it's gone from around £20k to £100k - seems a bit excessive if it is.....
Don’t think there will be many teams next year.
I’ve heard a rumour that it’s gone from around £20k to £100k – seems a bit excessive if it is…..
The cynic (realist?) in me suspects this is all part of the UCI / D+ plan to slim down the field to make it into a more compact broadcast package - don't have to actually limit the numbers if you can just price the smaller teams out of it.
I've heard the 100k figure from somebody with connections to a few teams, and their take is how many bike companies can afford that, let alone justify it?
They could only think of 8 or 9 at most who could afford 100k, but can they justify it?
100k is a lot of money that could probably be spent on more effective marketing, and that's before you consider the cost of actually running a team, especially when large parts of the bike industry are still struggling to make a profit. Ditch the whole WC circuit, and you're probably going to save 300k+ for any reasonable team.
****
UCI
Thanks Obama.
I suspect this has bugger all to do with UCI/ Discovery.
Dorval pulled the funding for their trials team a few years back when Natixis became the majority holder in the company. Is this simply the next step; the downhill team reaching the end of a sponsorship contract with a company that no longer has biking fans in high places due to management reshuffles?