What's in a pro contract?

Sections 2.16 - 2.18 of the UCI rulebook (uci.chuci.chOpen ↗) include a lot of info on this,
including models for the basic contracts. A lot of contracts will include additional materials, of
course, but the UCI sets the basic guidelines.

David

------

Fastest Fat Climber said:

All this talk about Ulrich and his contract got me thinking. Just what is in a typical pro
contract?

Can the team force a rider to enter a race (baring injury of course) or bar a rider from a race?
Can the team dictate training regiments or mandate levels of fitness? Does something in a contract
force a rider to act as a domestique if so directed by the director? If a personal coach tells a
rider to train and ride one way, can a team force a rider to train another way?

Or are all these things mainly enforced through the ever-present threat of blacklisting?

Do they have clauses prohibiting them from engaging in "risky" activities such as skydiving,
alpine skiing, or motorcycling (I know pro basketball and football players have such clauses)?

Or are they riders more like independent contractors and are expected to show up capable of doing
the job, and the team isn't too concerned about how?

Just curious.

"Fastest Fat Climber" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

All this talk about Ulrich and his contract got me thinking. Just what is in a typical pro
contract?

Yes.

Quoted message said:

Can the team force a rider to enter a race (baring injury of course) or

bar

Quoted message said:

a rider from a race? Can the team dictate training regiments or mandate levels of fitness? Does
something in a contract force a rider to act as a domestique if so directed by the director? If a
personal coach tells a

rider

Quoted message said:

to train and ride one way, can a team force a rider to train another way?

Or are all these things mainly enforced through the ever-present threat of blacklisting?

Do they have clauses prohibiting them from engaging in "risky" activities such as skydiving,
alpine skiing, or motorcycling (I know pro basketball

and

Quoted message said:

football players have such clauses)?

Or are they riders more like independent contractors and are expected to show up capable of doing
the job, and the team isn't too concerned about how?

Just curious.

Most pro contracts are probably standard boiler-plate. In the instances of marquee riders, such as
Jan, there can be anything.

Fastest Fat Climber said:

All this talk about Ulrich and his contract got me thinking. Just what is in a typical pro
contract?

Can the team force a rider to enter a race (baring injury of course) or bar a rider from a race?
Can the team dictate training regiments or mandate levels of fitness? Does something in a contract
force a rider to act as a domestique if so directed by the director? If a personal coach tells a
rider to train and ride one way, can a team force a rider to train another way?

Or are all these things mainly enforced through the ever-present threat of blacklisting?

Do they have clauses prohibiting them from engaging in "risky" activities such as skydiving,
alpine skiing, or motorcycling (I know pro basketball and football players have such clauses)?

Or are they riders more like independent contractors and are expected to show up capable of doing
the job, and the team isn't too concerned about how?

Just curious.

No one can force anyone to do anything that they themselves do not agree to do, contractually
speaking. Does that answer your question?

The better question is: Do most riders have the balls to make their contracts work in their own
favor? Answer: Prolly not. Some do, some don't. Most don't. Just as most rock bands will bend over
backwards to sign any bad deal put in front of them.

"Fastest Fat Climber" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

All this talk about Ulrich and his contract got me thinking. Just what is in a typical pro
contract?

Can the team force a rider to enter a race (baring injury of course) or bar a rider from a race?
Can the team dictate training regiments or mandate levels of fitness? Does something in a contract
force a rider to act as a domestique if so directed by the director? If a personal coach tells a
rider to train and ride one way, can a team force a rider to train another way?

Or are all these things mainly enforced through the ever-present threat of blacklisting?

Do they have clauses prohibiting them from engaging in "risky" activities such as skydiving,
alpine skiing, or motorcycling (I know pro basketball and football players have such clauses)?

Or are they riders more like independent contractors and are expected to show up capable of doing
the job, and the team isn't too concerned about how?

Just curious.

No, it doesn't. Obviously the my questions assumes the most basic principle of contract law... if
you don't reach an agreement to begin with, there's no contract.

For those "Literals" out there perhaps I should have asked what a typical pro "boiler plate"
contract contains... does the UCI/collective bargaining/common practice/tradition prohibit...

"kaiser" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

No one can force anyone to do anything that they themselves do not agree to do, contractually
speaking. Does that answer your question?

The better question is: Do most riders have the balls to make their contracts work in their own
favor? Answer: Prolly not. Some do, some don't. Most don't. Just as most rock bands will bend over
backwards to sign any bad deal put in front of them.

"Fastest Fat Climber" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

All this talk about Ulrich and his contract got me thinking. Just what

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in a typical pro contract?

Can the team force a rider to enter a race (baring injury of course) or

bar

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a rider from a race? Can the team dictate training regiments or mandate levels of fitness? Does
something in a contract force a rider to act as

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

domestique if so directed by the director? If a personal coach tells a

rider

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to train and ride one way, can a team force a rider to train another

way?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Or are all these things mainly enforced through the ever-present threat

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

blacklisting?

Do they have clauses prohibiting them from engaging in "risky"

activities

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

such as skydiving, alpine skiing, or motorcycling (I know pro basketball

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

football players have such clauses)?

Or are they riders more like independent contractors and are expected to show up capable of
doing the job, and the team isn't too concerned about how?

Just curious.

"Fastest Fat Climber" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

All this talk about Ulrich and his contract got me thinking. Just what is in a typical pro
contract?

Can the team force a rider to enter a race (baring injury of course)

Usually, though some contracts (Botero's early-season stuff, for a start) may have get-outs.

Quoted message said:

or bar a rider from a race?

Yes.

Quoted message said:

Can the team dictate training regiments

Some teams, for some riders.

Quoted message said:

or mandate levels of fitness?

This one is hard to define - how fit was Armstrong before the tour? Cipo before the Vuelta? You'd
have difficulty specifying it in a contract.

Quoted message said:

Does something in a contract force a rider to act as a domestique if so directed by the director?

If it has a clause stating that you must follow the DS's race instructions at all times. However you
have to be very good to get away with ignoring the DS repeatedly anyway, or no-one will ever hire
you again.

Quoted message said:

If a personal coach tells a rider to train and ride one way, can a team force a rider to train
another way?

Covered by dictating training regimen.

Quoted message said:

Or are all these things mainly enforced through the ever-present threat of blacklisting?

That's usually the main pressure; you can't really build a court case for breach of contract on
anything other than not showng for a race / training session. Anything else is covered by 'I felt
bad, that was why I went light / buggered off to judge a beauty contest.'

Peter

[email hidden] (DanSchmatz) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Here are some articles that may be in a typical Pro contract:

Services of Rider as Independent Contractor Racing Service Promotional Services Promotional Rights
of Company Conduct of Rider Term of Agreement Payments to Rider Reimbursement of Expenses; Riders
Condition and Drug or Medical Tests Equipment and Clothing Rider as Independent Contractor Riders
Assumption of Risk, Release and Waiver Confidentiality Termination Miscellaneous

Additional "perk" Items for Div 3 teams.

All the expired powerbar food you can eat. Hotel continental breakfast food for feed zone that day.
Jersey from teammate that broke collarbone yesterday. Money from "your" jersey sold to get gas for
trip home. Discarded Postal team musettes/bottles to use for next race. Free use of Division 1
team's internet hookup at hotel to check email. Pool access to hotels other than your own. Flying
2100 miles for a race that is 1000 miles away from home to save money. Free supply of superglue to
repair helmet after crash. Crashing course marshals buffet for dinner.

"OMC"

In article said:

[email hidden] (DanSchmatz) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Here are some articles that may be in a typical Pro contract:

Services of Rider as Independent Contractor Racing Service Promotional Services Promotional
Rights of Company Conduct of Rider Term of Agreement Payments to Rider Reimbursement of Expenses;
Riders Condition and Drug or Medical Tests Equipment and Clothing Rider as Independent Contractor
Riders Assumption of Risk, Release and Waiver Confidentiality Termination Miscellaneous

Additional "perk" Items for Div 3 teams.

All the expired powerbar food you can eat. Hotel continental breakfast food for feed zone that day.
Jersey from teammate that broke collarbone yesterday. Money from "your" jersey sold to get gas for
trip home. Discarded Postal team musettes/bottles to use for next race. Free use of Division 1
team's internet hookup at hotel to check email. Pool access to hotels other than your own. Flying
2100 miles for a race that is 1000 miles away from home to save money. Free supply of superglue to
repair helmet after crash. Crashing course marshals buffet for dinner.

"OMC"

I gotta call you Old Man Creed here... cuz if I do it at the track, I get in trouble...

Old Man Creed, that was awesome!

Scott
--
-*- Scott Patton -*- Colorado Springs, CO -*- fixedgearfever.comfixedgearfever.comOpen ↗ -*- Track Racing
Web Services

OMC said:

[email hidden] (DanSchmatz) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Here are some articles that may be in a typical Pro contract:

Services of Rider as Independent Contractor Racing Service Promotional Services Promotional Rights
of Company Conduct of Rider Term of Agreement Payments to Rider Reimbursement of Expenses; Riders
Condition and Drug or Medical Tests Equipment and Clothing Rider as Independent Contractor Riders
Assumption of Risk, Release and Waiver Confidentiality Termination Miscellaneous

Additional "perk" Items for Div 3 teams.

All the expired powerbar food you can eat. Hotel continental breakfast food for feed zone
that day.

+ All the croissants/rolls and jam packets you can stuff in your from the buffet (Does not apply
where hotel owner knows how cyclists eat and plunder.)

Quoted message said:

Jersey from teammate that broke collarbone yesterday.

+ Free sewing kits to mend your own kit.

Quoted message said:

Money from "your" jersey sold to get gas for trip home.

+ All the stuff you can steal from other teams and sell on eBay when you get home.

Quoted message said:

Discarded Postal team musettes/bottles to use for next race.

+ Some may be covered in blood as support had to slug it out with fans unwilling to part with these.

Quoted message said:

Free use of Division 1 team's internet hookup at hotel to check email. Pool access to hotels other
than your own.

(Tip: Wear your shorts into the pool, the chlorine will help sanitize them.)

Quoted message said:

Flying 2100 miles for a race that is 1000 miles away from home to save money.

(Maximum 5 connections, except 6 for holiday periods.)

Quoted message said:

Free supply of superglue to repair helmet after crash.

+ Ductape at no additional charge.

Quoted message said:

Crashing course marshals buffet for dinner.

(Which even the marshals often have to pay for!)

Quoted message said:

"OMC"

I am sure that Jan's issue is pure contract law.

Almost all service providers of any sort have a contract structured such that:

1. The service provider (here a bike racer) agrees to provide the described services during the
"term" (as defined by a fixed term or other parameters).

2. The customer (here a team) agrees to pay the service provider periodically during the Term.

3. Certain covenants that the service provider will work only for the customer, will not steal
employees, will train, will race, etc.

4. Termination provisions if either side breaches, or upon adequate notice to the other party.

Bianchi would here argue that Jan breached his covenants, justifying Bianchi terminating the
contract (and stopping payment). Or, Bianchi might argue that Jan terminated the contract by joining
a team, thus relieving Bianchi from the obligation to pay him afterwards.

The point being that they are not all the same. I wonder why so many contracts are being disputed
these days?

"DanSchmatz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Here are some articles that may be in a typical Pro contract:

Services of Rider as Independent Contractor Racing Service Promotional Services Promotional Rights
of Company Conduct of Rider Term of Agreement Payments to Rider Reimbursement of Expenses; Riders
Condition and Drug or Medical Tests Equipment and Clothing Rider as Independent Contractor Riders
Assumption of Risk, Release and Waiver Confidentiality Termination Miscellaneous

In article <[email hidden]>,

Richard Adams said:

+ All the croissants/rolls and jam packets you can stuff in your from the buffet (Does not apply
where hotel owner knows how cyclists eat and plunder.)

redmeat.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

--
tanx, Howard

"Danger, you haven't seen the last of me!"
"No, but the first of you turns my stomach!"
Firesign Theatre

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Howard Kveck <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Richard Adams said:

+ All the croissants/rolls and jam packets you can stuff in your from the buffet (Does not apply
where hotel owner knows how cyclists eat and plunder.)

redmeat.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

--

The now defunct "Linda McCartney pro team" contract specified that all the riders had to adhere to a
vegetarian diet. No red meat for those boys.

-R

[email hidden] (OMC) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Additional "perk" Items for Div 3 teams.

All the expired powerbar food you can eat. Hotel continental breakfast food for feed zone that
day. Jersey from teammate that broke collarbone yesterday. Money from "your" jersey sold to get
gas for trip home. Discarded Postal team musettes/bottles to use for next race. Free use of
Division 1 team's internet hookup at hotel to check email. Pool access to hotels other than your
own. Flying 2100 miles for a race that is 1000 miles away from home to save money. Free supply of
superglue to repair helmet after crash. Crashing course marshals buffet for dinner.

"OMC"

Hi Mike Creed, I really enjoy reading your diaries on Bike.com. Good luck finding a team for next
year. Keep up the good work.

- Boyd S. adds one to the "rbr pro rider posts" total

Boyd Speerschneider said:

[email hidden] (OMC) wrote <snip>

Hi Mike Creed,

This is OMC, not YMC.

In article said:

Howard Kveck <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Richard Adams said:

+ All the croissants/rolls and jam packets you can stuff in your from the buffet (Does not
apply where hotel owner knows how cyclists eat and plunder.)

redmeat.comindex.htmlOpen ↗

--

The now defunct "Linda McCartney pro team" contract specified that all the riders had to adhere to
a vegetarian diet. No red meat for those boys.

-R

No paychecks, either.

--
tanx, Howard

"Danger, you haven't seen the last of me!"
"No, but the first of you turns my stomach!"
Firesign Theatre

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?