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Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized
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Last edited by: BryanD: Jan 7, 19 5:46
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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Looks like Richard Murray also won't be on Specialized anymore.

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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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haha i think you should change the title. Ben is not leaving specialized. Spec is just leaving everyone.
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [talbotcox] [ In reply to ]
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Is this their routine dump of athletes after 3-4 years?

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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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Is this their routine dump of athletes after 3-4 years?


Yes - sort of.

Generally speaking sponsorship relationships run 3 - 5 years. That typically sees enough time to establish the relationship, and then start to leverage it and see where the value is. Then after 4 - 5 years, the steam does tend to start to run out of it, or there are other big shifts in the market, and the relationship ends.


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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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Not sure on the hoffman front, except that maybe with Javier Gomez moving to long course, that they figure he's their horse to back (and they are still with Tim Don)... On the Richard Murray front, Specialized has Kristian Blummenfelt and Vincent Luis signed through 2020 (I believe this is the case with KB, VL confirmed this recently in an AMA post on instagram), which likely makes him the odd man out on the ITU front (and both are a bit younger, a bit better all around, and very marketable lately)...

I don't think they are bailing on the sport, so much as it is them reshuffling their deck trying to break through the Canyon stranglehold on Kona for the men, and to make a run at the Olympic Podium on the ITU front...
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [Trauma] [ In reply to ]
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Trauma wrote:
Not sure on the hoffman front, except that maybe with Javier Gomez moving to long course, that they figure he's their horse to back (and they are still with Tim Don)... On the Richard Murray front, Specialized has Kristian Blummenfelt and Vincent Luis signed through 2020 (I believe this is the case with KB, VL confirmed this recently in an AMA post on instagram), which likely makes him the odd man out on the ITU front (and both are a bit younger, a bit better all around, and very marketable lately)...

I don't think they are bailing on the sport, so much as it is them reshuffling their deck trying to break through the Canyon stranglehold on Kona for the men, and to make a run at the Olympic Podium on the ITU front...

Don't forget Sarah True, although no one is going to stop the Ryf show any time soon she is likely going to be the biggest American name for the next few years.

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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [Fleck] [ In reply to ]
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In which I agree with. You can only get so much out of an athlete after 3-4 years. After that companies tend to drop a few and pick up some other hopeful athletes. Don't forget Spec had a massive push in the Age Group industry with the Zwift team and from my knowledge they're doing it again. Just a shift in marketing $$.
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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Ben has been on Specialized for quite some time. I think he was one of the few holdovers when Specialized cut ties with a number of athletes at the end of 2014 I think. I believe Frodo, Crowie, Rapp, and some others went elsewhere at that time.

He never got the chance to race on the new Shiv. I suppose he can sell it for a pretty penny as just slightly used...

Matt
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [Pun_Times] [ In reply to ]
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And he looks pretty nice position wise on that bike. Better then on the old shiv.

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Owner at TRIPRO, The Netherlands
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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Lucy Charles seems to still be with Specialized (or I haven't seen any mention of her changing bike sponsors).
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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On the MTB side, Kate Courtney has left Specialized for Scott. She is world champion and all around bad-a$$.
Looks like they are cleaning house.

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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [hadukla] [ In reply to ]
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Don't forget Sarah True, although no one is going to stop the Ryf show any time soon she is likely going to be the biggest American name for the next few years.[/quote]
this one i cant understand she is the most likely kona podium hope the USA has and i would say she is the best at giving interviews etc . do they sponsor and USA triathlete now ?
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [abbottj123] [ In reply to ]
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abbottj123 wrote:
On the MTB side, Kate Courtney has left Specialized for Scott. She is world champion and all around bad-a$$.
Looks like they are cleaning house.

I kind of suspect that was her choice. Scott is obviously thrilled to have both world champions on their team and what young, talented rider wouldn't switch teams to have the opportunity to train with and learn from Nino?
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [jhammond] [ In reply to ]
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Overend is still on Specialized
Duffy moved from Scott to Specialized
Jorgensen on running owns the latest Specialized model.
Sagan
Boonen
Gomez...
Contador Trek-Specialized-Trek


IMO there are not a deadline but a different history for each athlete, a history that the majority of ST readers don’t know many details
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [jhammond] [ In reply to ]
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Yeah, I believe the press release from Specialized said that it was Courtney's decision to leave their team. With Hoffman, they said "thanks for everything. Good luck"--i.e. we aren't re-signing him.
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [jhammond] [ In reply to ]
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jhammond wrote:
abbottj123 wrote:
On the MTB side, Kate Courtney has left Specialized for Scott. She is world champion and all around bad-a$$.
Looks like they are cleaning house.

I kind of suspect that was her choice. Scott is obviously thrilled to have both world champions on their team and what young, talented rider wouldn't switch teams to have the opportunity to train with and learn from Nino?
I heard on the MTB podcast that the deal was already over with Courtney before she won world's. If I understand it correctly, Spec. decided to not renew a new deal with her for the new year. Sorry, didn't articulate this very well (tired)
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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BryanD wrote:
Is this their routine dump of athletes after 3-4 years?


I don't think he left...he was not invited back.

I have it on very good authority that Specialized was not happy with Hof riding the MTB race in SA with Keinle; they could not even use the event as promotional material (to make MTB'ers laugh at triathletes riding MTBs? ;) because of the two different bike sponsors.

So when Hof got injured doing this stunt, fell apart in IMSA as a result, and did not race in Kona this year, you have the perfect storm that makes it time for a brand to leave.

Hof has had super loyal support from Zoot and Specialized up to this, but now? He is going to need some impressive results this season.
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [jhammond] [ In reply to ]
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Scott did the same thing with Jolanda a few years ago. I think she was on the team for 1-2 tears before moving on.

I thought Courtney was making a mistake leaving Specialized, but if they are dumping so many athletes maybe this wasn't her choice.
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [BryanD] [ In reply to ]
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Looks like they've been cleaning house- should be interesting to see where everyone lands
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [Darren325] [ In reply to ]
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Darren325 wrote:
BryanD wrote:
Is this their routine dump of athletes after 3-4 years?



I don't think he left...he was not invited back.

I have it on very good authority that Specialized was not happy with Hof riding the MTB race in SA with Keinle; they could not even use the event as promotional material (to make MTB'ers laugh at triathletes riding MTBs? ;) because of the two different bike sponsors.

So when Hof got injured doing this stunt, fell apart in IMSA as a result, and did not race in Kona this year, you have the perfect storm that makes it time for a brand to leave.

Hof has had super loyal support from Zoot and Specialized up to this, but now? He is going to need some impressive results this season.

No
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [Ellsworth53T] [ In reply to ]
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Ellsworth53T wrote:
jhammond wrote:
abbottj123 wrote:
On the MTB side, Kate Courtney has left Specialized for Scott. She is world champion and all around bad-a$$.
Looks like they are cleaning house.


I kind of suspect that was her choice. Scott is obviously thrilled to have both world champions on their team and what young, talented rider wouldn't switch teams to have the opportunity to train with and learn from Nino?

I heard on the MTB podcast that the deal was already over with Courtney before she won world's. If I understand it correctly, Spec. decided to not renew a new deal with her for the new year. Sorry, didn't articulate this very well (tired)

Talk about one of the all time backfires, if true.
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [Sean H] [ In reply to ]
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Kate Courtney is choosing to leave Specialized - she would be a fool at her age not to move over to Scott and learn/train with Nino.

Those who do not follow Cross, Nino is the Sagan (if not more) of that world and for her to go and learn from the CX god is an opportunity she couldn't pass.


(I meant MTB and XC)
Last edited by: teddygram: Jan 8, 19 10:25
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [teddygram] [ In reply to ]
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if by CX and cross, you mean XC MTB, then yes, Nino does not have godlike CX results...
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [Trauma] [ In reply to ]
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Trauma wrote:
if by CX and cross, you mean XC MTB, then yes, Nino does not have godlike CX results...


HAHAHA.... Yes, dyslexic I am and I have been bouncing between Gravel, Cross and MTB threads today..... embarrassed but yes XC MTB....
Last edited by: teddygram: Jan 8, 19 9:55
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Re: Ben Hoffman is leaving Specialized [teddygram] [ In reply to ]
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teddygram wrote:
Kate Courtney is choosing to leave Specialized - she would be a fool at her age not to move over to Scott and learn/train with Nino.

Those who do not follow Cross, Nino is the Sagan (if not more) of that world and for her to go and learn from the CX god is an opportunity she couldn't pass.


(I meant MTB and XC)

I had said this in a different thread but from an overall longevity and presence standpoint Scott in the US is really a small player. They do make some nice XC bikes. They never have bikes in US inventory and most dealers are frustrated in trying to do business with them because of lack of backup inventory. If you want a Scott bike place an order and be prepared to wait an eternity....

Rule number 1 of marketing is if you are going to get a customer excited to buy a product you might want to have the product availible to purchase.
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