Jakob and the Non-Payment

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It's still in the papers, Jakob is still being reported as "suing" Leopard SA for his missing wages: although now their spokesmen, Carlo Rock (could you make up these names?)  is stating that Jakob has changed the name of his private company, and hasn't done the necessary paperwork to get the money paid to them.

But do you not think that the administrator at Leopard SA would have noticed, or contacted him, or helped him, or reminded him what needed doing... and of course, there are apparently three others also complaining about not being paid.

I do think that the payroll department have a responsibility to ensure that all goes smoothly, especially if a team member is known to be less than happy.

Anyone who has ever read any books written by cyclists will know that their lives are very complicated, they get moved around from country to country, they don't have what you and I would think of as a home routine, and unless they can afford to each pay for their own private secretary, they must struggle to keep their paperwork under control. Indeed, we know that a lot of them can't even keep their ADAMS up to date!

So you do think that the admin people would make a bit more effort to ensure that things go smoothly.

And why are riders (yes, Jakob, this means you as well) complaining to the press instead of talking to their administrators about it?

For that matter, why does Jakob have to "sue" Leopard, instead of just asking them?

Or is it a mis-translation? In some contexts, to "sue" for something means simply to ask for it, not necessarily to take legal action, whereas the news report makes it sound as though Jakob has been forced to take legal action.

Of course, this means it could all be a storm in a teacup, blown out of proportion by the media who, as we well know, just love to make a story out of nothing.

However, it seems pretty clear now that Jakob is going elsewhere next season: Cycling News have been talking to Michael Morkov, ex Sky, now riding for Saxo-Tinkoff Bank (hard to resist calling them Stinkoff Bank, isn't it?!) who wants Jakob and Matti Brueschel to go back there, on the grounds of a United Danish Front.

Jakob's manager, Moreno Nicolleti (why wasn't he the one sorting out Jakob's money, then?) has stated in that report that Jakob's situation is "60 percent Riis, 30 percent Omega Pharma, 20 percent. Astana"

Meanwhile, somewhere in Luxembourg:

The door swings energetically open, and a greek god bounds into the room, which is lit up as though by a warm yellow glow.

Andy: "Jakob, mate, put that torch down."
Jakob: "Awwww, I liked it when Coug said that I lit up the room with a golden glow."
Andy: "How old are you, 12?"

Jakob pulls a mock grumpy face, then settles down on the sofa next to Andy.

Jakob: " Any chance of a beer?"
Andy: "Not while you are making trouble in the papers again."
Jakob: "What! Me?" (affects look of injured innocence)
Andy: "Yes, you. At the very least, you are breaking the rules of physics."

Jakob: (preening slightly) "Well, although I am pretty chuffed with my win of the Tour of Australia - "
Andy coughs behind his hand "a-hhheeeer, shitsmallrace."
Jakob continues as though he has not heard "- I wouldn't say that it breaks any laws of physics. Or are you referring to my incredible good looks?"

Andy points to Mr Nicoletti's report. Jakob raises his eyebrows, as though to say "What?"

Andy: "60% Stinkoff -"
Jakob: "Please don't call them that. It's not nice."
Andy: "I know, but Saxo-bank-Tinkoff-bank is so clumsy."
Jakob: "Oh, and Omega Pharma Lotto isn't?"
Andy: "Good point. Anyway, 60% to Bjarne, 30% Omega, 20% Astana. Really?"

Jakob: "Yes: I'd love to go back to Bjarne: it's a Danish team, we got on well, I've had some conversations with him and really, he's changed since we were there. No more boot camps, he promised!"
Andy: "I know. It's good to be on terms with him again."
Jakob: "So why not come back?"
Andy: "Mate, we've discussed this, we have a contract."
Jakob: (makes rude snorting noise through his nose) "Yes, and we all know how much Shack honoured some of our Leopard contracts, didn't we?"
Andy: "I know, I know. It's not an easy situation. Besides, too many team leaders in one team leads to problems. You said that, yourself, remember?"

Jakob: (sighs) "Yes, I know. But I can dream, can't I? Maybe Conti will go back to Astana?"
Andy: (makes mock tearing-hair-out gesture) "Mate! Don't start that again! You'll set Coug off, and she'll be making up mad plans to shuffle everyone round again, it drove me mad last time! Anyway, that's not my point. 60 + 30 + 20 gives 110, and you can't have 110% of anything."

Jakob: "Yes you can - we talk all the time about giving 110%"
Andy: "Yes, but it can't happen. There are only 100 per cents in a whole thing. You can't have more. 110% doesn't exist: it’s meaningless, empty rhetoric. It’s a phrase uttered when people want to prove how committed they are to something, when they want to impress and in my opinion, adds an air of desperation to the person making the statement."

Jakob: (leans backwards and eyes Andy as though he has just turned green and sprouted horns) "Are you feeling all right?"

Andy: "Sorry, I think Coug feels strongly on that subject, and is putting words in my mouth."
Jakob: "Oh, right. OK, so perhaps Moreno can't add up properly, that's all."
Andy: "And he manages your affairs? No wonder you didn't get paid on time!"

Jakob throws a cushion at Andy, and before it degenerates into a wrestling match, we will leave them to it.

But now we know that Jakob apparently has 110% to give. Good to know.

As an aside, I saw on Twitter yesterday that Leelu has threatened Jakob that if he goes to Astana, she will personally fly over and slap him. Not sure if that's a reaction to Astana's doping history, or their pale blue kit...

Would that be so bad? Jakob in pale blue? I'd rather see him in dark blue and yellow, of course - the Stinkoff kit is really nice: it's not often that a mid-season sponsor addition actually improves the kit, but this is one case where it did.

But although as a general point, I would rather see Jakob back at Saxo, is the Astana kit really that bad??