The German-based team is so committed to the concept of a team that the riders' very bikes will be reminders of their responsibilities to the collective... this is no surprise, after 3 years of the Ullrich-Vinokourov-Kloden "3-pronged attack" implosions. Emblazoned on the toptube of every T-Mobile rider's bike will be the German words for "The Team", as is displayed below on Canadian Michael Barry's bike:
This bold move has quickly been matched by other ProTour teams. French team Cofidis applied custom stickers to their riders' bikes, extolling the virtues of the "Men of the Team", or "l'Equipement d'Hommes".
Said veteran Cofidis racer Sylvain Chavanel, "Desole, but I do not see what you reporters find so funny. We here at Cofidis are very proud of our equipe, and we emphasize this feeling by conjugating appropriately. It is clever!" [editor: the above should be read with an Inspector Clouseau accent]
David Millar, a Scotsman on the Spanish Saunier Duval team, was less enthusiastic. "I tried to dissuade management," he explained, "but they didn't seem to get that El Serpiente de los Pantalones isn't quite the effect the other teams were going for." His teammate, Iban Mayo, held a much more positive opinion of the motivational tool. "I know that when I have my head down, when I am suffering, I want to see el serpiente de los pantalones and be reminded of the men around me."
Team Discovery, the only ProTour team whose country consists of native English speakers, commissioned a nationally-acclaimed artist to design their version of the now-ubiquitous sticker. With text reading "Euphemism for Male Genitalia", this sticker will be on sale at bike stores around the country, with half of all proceeds going to Ivan Basso's legal defense fund. When asked for comment, US National Champion George Hincapie just shook his head in disgust. Discovery Alumnus/Coach/Moneybags/Cheerleader/Camera-Magnet Lance Armstrong was quick to reply, "I just want these guys to remember what they're riding for."
*****
This post has gotten way out of hand.
Said veteran Cofidis racer Sylvain Chavanel, "Desole, but I do not see what you reporters find so funny. We here at Cofidis are very proud of our equipe, and we emphasize this feeling by conjugating appropriately. It is clever!" [editor: the above should be read with an Inspector Clouseau accent]
David Millar, a Scotsman on the Spanish Saunier Duval team, was less enthusiastic. "I tried to dissuade management," he explained, "but they didn't seem to get that El Serpiente de los Pantalones isn't quite the effect the other teams were going for." His teammate, Iban Mayo, held a much more positive opinion of the motivational tool. "I know that when I have my head down, when I am suffering, I want to see el serpiente de los pantalones and be reminded of the men around me."
Team Discovery, the only ProTour team whose country consists of native English speakers, commissioned a nationally-acclaimed artist to design their version of the now-ubiquitous sticker. With text reading "Euphemism for Male Genitalia", this sticker will be on sale at bike stores around the country, with half of all proceeds going to Ivan Basso's legal defense fund. When asked for comment, US National Champion George Hincapie just shook his head in disgust. Discovery Alumnus/Coach/Moneybags/Cheerleader/Camera-Magnet Lance Armstrong was quick to reply, "I just want these guys to remember what they're riding for."
*****
This post has gotten way out of hand.
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1 comment:
I think we need some team stickers... maybe "Esprit de Corps" or "Don't C-Block, Fool"
The latter would be for Don, Jenks, and Jay's bikes.
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