In a stunning move today, John Burke, president of Trek Bicycles announced that the company has severed ties with Greg Lemond. Trek has sold bicycles under the Lemond brand since 1995; the current contract between Trek and the three-time Tour de France winner was set to expire in 2010. Trek has similar contracts with bicycling icons Gary Fisher and Keith Bontrager which are not affected by this announcement.
The action by Trek appears to be precipitated by a recent lawsuit filed by Lemond against Trek on March 20. In the suit Lemond contends that Trek has not been fulfilling its obligations to grow the Lemond brand. Of particular concern to Lemond was the lack of any penetration for Lemond bicycles in the international market something which he contends was specifically called out in the existing contract.
Trek contends that Lemond's actions, Greg has given many public statements to the press in recent years about the drug problem in pro cycling, have seriously impaired Trek's ability to successfully market the Lemond brand. Burke also confirmed that Trek had met with Lemond this past fall and at that time indicated that Trek would not be renewing their contract when it ended in 2010.
We can spend a lot of bits and bytes prying into what is really happening behind closed doors. I am sad to see the relationship end because the partnership between Trek and Lemond produced some really cool bicycles. In fact, it could be argued that the Tete de Course, the flagship ride of the Lemond line was just as good or better than Trek's vaunted Madone.
Obviously, Lemond and Trek, within legal boundaries, are free to do whatever they choose. Hopefully, after the dust has settled from their split, both will flourish and we as consumers will be even better off.
Bruce
Active Expert: Bruce Hildenbrand
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Bruce Hildenbrand
Theresa,
good question! The status of the Lemond brand is at the heart of both lawsuits. Lemond, who filed his lawsuit first, contends that Trek did not do enough to grow his brand. Maybe, in anticipation of Trek's response, he seems to be focusing on the growth of the brand internationally rather than here in the USA where his comments about Lance Armstrong were most likely not well received. Trek, in their lawsuit, contend that that Lemond's comments about Lance and doping hampered their attempts to grow the brand. I guess that's what we have courts for, because this is going to be a pretty ugly mess to clean up. As I said before, I hope both Trek and Lemond will be better off after their relationship has been severed.
Bruce
Suspicious
I wonder if -- were we to look behind the curtain -- we'd see the influence of Lance. Both Trek and Greg have been unhappy with each other for quite some time, but they kept the relationship going. I wouldn't be surprised if pressure coming directly from Mr. Armstrong, and not Trek's righteous defense of him, was the catalyst that finally caused the break.
Aqua
in response to: Suspicious
I can't see why on earth would LA have something to do with this? He has left cycling completely behind him, and he doesn't have a bike brand like LeMond does.
Rik DeRoosteer
Oh, I think the "Lance Machine" is hard at work on this one. Hey, you win seven TdF's and still aren't recognized as the most talented American cyclist in modern history... I guess that will get under your craw eventually. What we all have learned is you just don't cross Lance as it will come back to get you in spades. Greg is cycling royalty... here for being the best and in Europe for telling it like it is. As for Lance, no one every claimed he's kind and forgiving.
A link to a pretty good related article in the Trek 'local' paper -
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=737134
Ok, I've never ridden a LeMond bike. My bike shop sells them. But, I bought a Serotta. I did not want LeMond's name on my bicycle.....do you think that's part of the problem?