The gap between the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de France is a “special” time. For cycling fans, the continuous morphine drip of a multi-day stage race ends, sending us into a wild search of a new supply of our favorite droga. Doping rumors, sponsorship changes, and a horde of National Championship races provide meager addictive sustenance resulting in a Twitta cray-fest.
Speaking of sustenance, let’s suck the marrow out from bones of this break before fattening ourselves on fresh French race meats.
Garmin-_____-Barracuda
Garmin-Barracuda have announced they’ve added Sharp as a title sponsor effectively kicking Barracuda off the top podium step. Officially titled Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda, the Aigle geniuses, just as they did for Radio Shack-Nissan-Trek, won’t allow for the nombre trifecta. Sharp, besides the obvious Rapha-Condor-Sharp, reminds me of FIFA98 and my destruction of the league with Manchester United. Those where the days.
As of press time, the Castelli-made kit was unavailable for ridicule.
Full story on Velonation: Sharp joins Slipstream Sports as co-sponsor of Team Garmin
Additionally, Jonathan Vaughters spoke with Shane Stokes of Velonation re: the new sponsor as well as touching on Ryder doing The Double, and Dan Martin finally going to the Tour. Good stuff.
Full story on Velonation: Jonathan Vaughters Interview: New backer, July targets and chasing Giro-Tour double
Cock Hawk Down
Another unexpected (at least I didn’t expect it…) signing came in the form of Saxo Bank adding Tinkoff Bank.
Yes, this Tinkoff.
While this bodes well for Riis and an August raging Contador, it seems as though our beloved Cock Hawk has been pushed below the belt. Luckily, I was on hand to capture the tear of the Cock Hawk.
At first I was repulsed, but when my more sensible Euro-aesthetic awareness kicked in I find I’m enamored with the kit remix. This kit is garish enough to ensconce itself within the eye-shredding era of the 90s. I haz a sad that it won’t be available for Le Tour, but it should be ready to ride the back of Clenty for La Vuelta.
Full story on Velonation: Tinkoff returns to cycling as Team Saxo Bank co-sponsor through 2013
Full story and kit reveal on Cyclingnews: Tinkoff Bank announced as co-sponsor to Saxo Bank