Caroline Mani can't find a sponsor.

[Lewis Moon]

http://https://www.gofundme.com/save...anis-cx-season
Can't believe she can't find a sponsor.

[dbnm]

https://www.gofundme.com/save-caroline-manis-cx-season

[hollowgram5]

Did Raleigh bow out of sponsoring that team? I saw Jamie Driscoll was doing some races this summer and wasn't in Raleigh-Clement gear..

[Lewis Moon]

Originally Posted by dbnm

https://www.gofundme.com/save-caroline-manis-cx-season

Thanks for the correction. I have trouble linking on the phone.

[jlwdm]

That is too bad, but not really surprising. I don't follow cross and have never heard of her.

Jeff

[FlashUNC]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

I don't follow cross and have never heard of her.

[peanutgallery]

Raleigh basically got out of bikes. Low quality crap direct to consumer starting this year. Slipped down a tier to below even a bike from Dicks

Originally Posted by hollowgram5

Did Raleigh bow out of sponsoring that team? I saw Jamie Driscoll was doing some races this summer and wasn't in Raleigh-Clement gear..

[Bruce K]

The team finished the year as Clement Racing (sans Raleigh) and Caroline finished the year in Europe as a privateer.

So far, she has had no luck finding another team and is now looking to set up her own one-rider effort for this year.

Please help support this amazing athlete.

BK

[earlfoss]

LOL new low in crowdfunding reached.

[Bruce K]

Seriously?

Earlfoss, you have no idea how hard it is to fund a race program.

Caroline is a multi-time French National Champion and Workds Bronze Medslist in 2016.

What's your resume?

BK

[saab2000]

Originally Posted by Bruce K

Seriously?

Earlfoss, you have no idea how hard it is to fund a race program.

Caroline is a multi-time French National Champion and Workds Bronze Medslist in 2016.

What's your resume?

BK

I think Mr. Earfloss has raced, and quite a bit. Many who have pinned on a number work or struggle to find funding. As brutal as it may sound, that's the world.

I've known plenty of exceptional racers (including a multiple Swiss national women's champ and Olympic participant) who had jobs.

[FlashUNC]

I have a hard time believing a top ten men's elite cross racer would run into the same funding challenges.

[Bruce K]

This has nothing to do with whether Caroline has a job or not outside of racing. I don't think that is even her issue.

She, and others working with her, have been trying to get a program funded since Worlds that would allow her to do a full Workd Cup season plus selected US races as well.

This kind of effort takes a large sum of money.

The GoFundMe effort is hoping to allow her to be able to bare bones a US domestic effort plus defend her French title. The lack of racing in Europe will make it harder for her to get back to the podium at Worlds on this "scrape by" scenario.

Cross is financially very different from road. Travel is virtually every week and on at least 2 continents. Generally there are full sets of equipment staged on both ends, plus spares, vehicles, staff, etc.

What she is trying to do is not easy. Give the woman a little respect.

BK

[e-RICHIE]

Originally Posted by FlashUNC

I have a hard time believing a top ten men's elite cross racer would run into the same funding challenges.

There are probably four at most who make a living in the states. And by that, I mean enough to span a year not a season. The rest - it's smoke and mirrors, the CX equivalent of chasing the 12K dream as a D3 rider on the road. Sadly, all of this has always been the reality. In Belgium, or Holland, I don't know. Domestically, this is the status quo.

I also have a low opinion of GoFundMe ordeals outside of the medical bill strained, or similar. If anything, it's an act of desperation to, hopefully, span some time. But it runs out, it doesn't deliver you to where you wanted to be in the first place.

I'm shocked Mani doesn't have it all locked down by July. If someone broke a contract or reneged, that's different. But to wait 5-6 weeks before the racing begins, then huh?!

[fiamme red]

I was supposed to be in contract with my racing team until July 2018 and at the end of November 2017 my management stopped providing any and ALL support. I had no bikes, no wheels, no equipment, no mechanic, no travel, no team kit and no income. The end of my season was stressful, hectic and humiliating, to say the least. I had to decide how I was going to finish the remainder of the cyclocross season on my own. Thankfully with the help of family, friends, the French federation and an amazing gesture from Planète Vélo Limoges I was able to continue to race and finish top 10 in the world.

I guess she means November 2016?