2007，Discovery的最后一年？（转）

星空

DISCOVERY宣布年底解散(转)

官方网站消息：
http://www.thepaceline.com/members/press_item.aspx?cid=3535

TAILWIND SPORTS TO END CYCLING TEAM SPONSOR SEARCH

Team to cease operation effective the end of 2007 season


Team to cease operation effective the end of 2007 season


(Austin, TX) - Tailwind Sports, owner and operator of the current Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, announced today that it will cease operations at the conclusion of the 2007 cycling season. The Team, with roots back to 1989, has operated under the Tailwind umbrella and seen tremendous success over its tenure including eight Tour de France titles, a Tour of Italy and a Tour of Spain title, and numerous national championships.

“Tailwind has had an amazing ten years of success with U.S. Postal and more recently Discovery Channel as its title sponsor. This is arguably the most successful sports franchise in the history of sport,” stated General Manage Bill Stapleton. “This was a difficult decision, not made any easier by our recent Tour de France success. We were in talks with a number of companies about the opportunity and were confident a new sponsor was imminent. We have chosen, however, to end those discussions.”

Sports Director Johan Bruyneel has been the driving force behind the Team’s success since his arrival to the team in 1999. In only nine years, Bruyneel has created a legacy that will live on in cycling history, and his departure from the sport was not an easy choice.

“When I came to direct this team in 1999 I never would have imagined that we could achieve this level of success. It was an amazing time in my life and the lives of all the staff and riders associated with this team,” commented Sports Director Johan Bruyneel.

“What I will miss are the staff, riders and the excitement of the races, but not all the in fighting between the teams. This team has become my family and I am very sad to think that we will not be together next season. 2007 has been our most successful season ever and I expect the remainder of the season to continue on that same path.”

Lance Armstrong has been intricately involved in the team both as a rider and as an owner.

“I do not think you have seen the last of this organization in the sport but clearly things need to improve on many levels, with a more unified front, before you would see us venture back into cycling,” added Armstrong, co-owner and seven-time Tour de France champion.

The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team will continue to race its full calendar of Pro Tour races including the final grand tour of the season, the Tour of Spain, as well as the upcoming Tour of Missouri.

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TAILWIND SPORTS

Tailwind Sports owns and operates the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. Founded in 1989, the team has established itself as one of the best in the world and is the only American team to have won each of the sports’ premier events: the Tour de France, Tour of Spain and Tour of Italy, including Lance Armstrong’s historic seven consecutive victories at the Tour de France.

Tailwind has partnered with Capital Sports & Entertainment (CSE), an experiential event and sports marketing firm based in Austin, Texas to manage the sponsorship and operations of the team. Tailwind supports both USA Cycling and the USA Cycling Development Foundation to help identify and develop future American cyclists. Find out more about the Team and CSE at: www.thepaceline.com http://www.thepaceline.com and www.planetcse.com


下面是CB车友"骆驼"的译文

（奥斯汀,德克萨斯）Tailwind Sports，探索频道车队的所有人及组织者，今天宣布在2007年赛季结束将停止运作探索频道车队，这只车队成立于1989年，在Tailwind的旗下取得了巨大的成功，获得了8届环法，以及一届环意大利、一次环西班牙和数次美国锦标赛的胜利。

   “在Tailwind的运作下取得十年令人惊讶的成功，包括原来的美国邮政车队及后来的探索频道车队。在体育史上拥有无可辩驳的重要地位。”总经理Bill Stapleton说，“这是个困难的决定，一点不比取得最近环法的成功容易。我们和许多公司谈过这个，确信一个新的组织者将出现。所以我们选择停止讨论。”

   体育主管Johan Bruyneel 自从1999年来到车队一直是车队成功的幕后推动者，在仅仅9年的时间里，Bruyneel 留下了在自行车比赛历史中最宝贵的遗产，他放弃这项运动可不是个容易的决定。

   “当我1999年来指挥这只车队时从来没想过我们能取得如此的成功，这是一段激动人心的时间――在我以及车队全体工作人员和骑手的生命里。”主管Johan Bruyneel解释说。

“我将怀念这些工作人员、骑手以及这些令人兴奋的比赛，而不是各车队之间的争斗。这车队已成为我的家，一想到下个赛季大家不能再在一起很难过，2007已成为我们最成功的赛季，我期望本赛季余下的时间能取得同样的成绩。”

Lance Armstrong 作为车手以及车队的一个股东也陷入了这个难以作出的决定。



“我不认为你们看到了这个组织在自行车运动中的最后时刻，但在你们能看到我们重返自行车运动之前，的确需要在统一的标准下做许多改进。” 作为合伙人以及七届环法王的Armstrong补充到。



探索频道车队将继续完成本赛季已安排的余下的比赛，包括环西班牙以及即将到来的环密苏里州。

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Tailwind Sports介绍

Tailwind Sports作为探索频道车队的所有人及实际运作者，成立于1989年，这只车队确立了自身是世界一流车队，他也是唯一一只曾经赢得世界各个一流赛事的美国车队：包括环法，环西班牙和环意大利，以及Lance Armstrong历史性的成为唯一的环法连续七冠王。



Tailwind 也是Capital Sports & Entertainment (CSE)的合伙人，CSE是一家有丰富体育赛事组织经验，及熟悉市场运作的企业，以德克萨斯州的奥斯汀为基地，负责管理赞助商及运作这只车队。Tailwind同时还支持美国自行车协会以及美国自行车发展基金会以帮助寻找及发展未来的美国自行车运动员。关于这个车队以及CSE的更多资料请看www.thepaceline.com http://www.thepaceline.com and www.planetcse.com


转自:CB