Speculate: Who will be going to Lance's new team?

[Kimono]

Just happy it's not Oracle as the sponsor.

 

[whiteboytrash]

Just happy it's not Oracle as the sponsor.

I really thought CVS Pharmacies was going to get it.

 

[shawnrohrbach]

I'm not sure it's such a great idea to be associated with a chain store that sells old electronics that consistently fail to perform and that treats it workers like crap.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure it's such a great idea to be associated with a chain store that sells old electronics that consistently fail to perform and that treats it workers like crap.

When you are scraping the bottom of the barrel, you just have to take what you get.

 

[BroDeal]

Chris Horner.. he'll be there...

wow, just guessing at it, it looks like this team could be OLD

Armstrong (38)
Hincapie (37)
Klöden (35)
Horner (38)
Leupheimer (36)

Ages adjusted for next season.

New press shot of the team with their official bikes:

 

[Bala Verde]

I would expect something more technologically advanced, powered by Radioshack...

or

 

[RdBiker]

The announcement seems to take it for granted that the team is going to ride in the 2010 Tour. Don't you have to be a ProTour team or get a separate invitation to be able to ride it? I assume that UCI doesn't just hand over ProTour licenses so how can they be so sure about getting one? Or do they already have one or does JB hold the Astana license?

 

[Hugh Januss]

Chris Horner.. he'll be there...

wow, just guessing at it, it looks like this team could be OLD

Armstrong (37)
Hincapie (36)
Klöden (34)
Horner (37)

Full name will actually be "Radio Shack Nike Livestrong Trek Masters Racing Team" It will wrap about 3 times around the kit.

 

[awesometown]

I would expect something more technologically advanced, powered by Radioshack...

Spyshots area already plastering the web:

 

[Dr. Maserati]

The announcement seems to take it for granted that the team is going to ride in the 2010 Tour. Don't you have to be a ProTour team or get a separate invitation to be able to ride it? I assume that UCI doesn't just hand over ProTour licenses so how can they be so sure about getting one? Or do they already have one or does JB hold the Astana license?

The ProTour licence is an interesting problem. JB's company Olympus SARL have the contract with the riders - but don't expect Contador to hang around.

Astana (The Kazakh Federation) own the Pro Tour licence! I think the UCI legal team will go through the Astana team with a fine tooth comb - any late payments and they will get kicked out.

There are 20 Pro Tour slots available- but only 17 of those will be allowed in the 'Historical Monuments' ie the Grand Tours.
There are 18 teams currently on the Pro Tour - the Skyteam have applied and I assume Cervelo will too. This could become a huge mess for the UCI.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Why wouldn't the grand tours want to go with 7 or 8 man teams? If for instance they let in 24 eight man teams it would make the racing more open without increasing the overall field size by too much.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Why wouldn't the grand tours want to go with 7 or 8 man teams? If for instance they let in 24 eight man teams it would make the racing more open without increasing the overall field size by too much.

I believe the option of 8 riders is part of what is being looked at, and I agree it would make the racing more open and competitive.

 

[ridley]

Looked at their financials and looks like thy do have some change to throw at a cycling team. Not sure how long it will last or is it going to be another Discovery Channel, seeing it is only a US based company

 

[Andre.J]

I'm not sure it's such a great idea to be associated with a chain store that sells old electronics that consistently fail to perform and that treats it workers like crap.

and are bankrupt:

http://www.wallowa.com/Main.asp?SectionID=9&ArticleID=17169

 

[lean mean &green]

and are bankrupt:

I think this article refers to a small family business which included a radioshack franchise, not the parent company.

It is an honest mistake but it is misleading and you should probably erase the post.

 

[avanti]

How much money will they have? Is it on an Astana/Columbia/Saxo/Katyusha or a Skil-Shimano level? I'm surprised the shack has any money left. So, what is it?

I looked at the 2008 annual report for Radio Shack;
Sales $300 million
Advertising budget $214 million

Radio Shack is profitable.

Radio Shack is also a retailer of Garmin products.

 

[RdBiker]

If Vino comes back with Astana and all the current top riders go to different teams I'd bet UCI does everything they can to withdraw the license. Or at least ASO would not welcome them in the Tour.

 

[avanti]

The Radio Shack press release is here:
http://ir.radioshackcorporation.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=398636

I believe1984 Olympic Sprint Cycling Champion Mark Gorski works for Capital Sports & Entertainment (which ran the Discovery team).

 

[Cobber]

Wo joins the team...?

Klöden... likes to be a super-domestique, part of the old guard
Hincapie... seemed obvious until the chase-down.
Popovich... lance got him to upss, discovery
Liepheimer... LA-LL bromance

anyone else?

Basso? They've seemed to have a close relationship in the past, but doping might throw this off...

Taylor Phinney? Too soon?

Basso dopes as well... so he'll fit right in!

 

[frizzlefry]

Just got in from the beach. Great news. How long is the contract for?

 

[RdBiker]

Oh the beach. Were you training for the 2010 Giro?

 

[frizzlefry]

Oh the beach. Were you training for the 2010 Giro?

No had to spend some quality time with my daughter. It was either miss the TT or Ventoux so I had to suck it up and take her today. Got to see the early riders on the TT. Looks like LA had a rough day. Kloden will take 3rd podium spot.

 

[frizzlefry]

He's going to be competing in triathlons? Surely he cant expect to win the TdF doing that or is he doing the TdF for publicity?

 

[The Colnago Kid]

Jack Borbidge high on Armstrong's hit list

Young Australian cycling senastion Jack Borbidge is at the top of Lance's hit list even though Borbidge has only recently signed a two-year deal with Garmin.

Two other Aussies, Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) and Simon Gerrans (Cervelo) are also on his wish list.

More here: http://bit.ly/N4mUK

 

[The Falcon]

Bobridge and Gerrans would be solid choices........O'Grady not so much any more.