It seems that a lot has happened to the cycling team dynamics over the off season. Here is a little something to get you a bit caught up but keep in mind this news changes daily it seems! Plus the opinions given here are mine and are OPINIONS ONLY!
Discovery or The Disco team
Disbanded. This was the end to an AWESOME team. I say TEAM because without the TEAM there would have been no Lance Armstrong winning a record seven tours or Alberto Contador winning one tour or even Levi making the podium. The tarnish to the team was signing Ivan Basso who later was linked to doping and is serving a suspension. Can't help but think that the whole doping debacle messed up finding another sponsor for the ol'boys in blue.
Astana
Was rocked with blood doping with Vino but he has now retired and and totally walked away from cycling. The Astana team is now a mix of mostly old Discovery riders including Levi and Alberto with leader Bruyneel. Astana also was not so kind to some of the riders from last years team. They had not been paid since August. They have been promised that they will fulfill their contract with the riders. If not then the team will have serious issues for 2008. Do you think it was the right move for some of the old Discovery riders? I am not sure. I think there will be huge issues with Levi and Alberto as Levi has been quoted as saying "I want to win the tour!" How is that going to work with Alberto (last years winner) on your team? This will be interesting to watch as it plays out.
T-Mobile
No longer a sponsor and so the old T-Mobile is now High Road. Georege Hincapi the former lieutenant for Lance will be riding for High Road this year. For George's sake I sure hope he wins the Paris Roubaix as this has been his goal since he started racing! Ulrich is fighting his doping charges yet and it sounds like a HUGE quagmire.
Robobank
Mixed up with the whole Rasmussen issue of "where was Micheal" during whatever month. Rasmussen had later said that the team knew where he was and that after all this blew up in the press during the tour he thought about killing himself. Not sure what that would have solved but a widow raising their kid alone. Micheal Boogert "Boogie Man" retired. We will miss his HUGE WHITE TEETH gleaming during this years tour.
Slipstream / Chipolte
The new kid on the block and one to watch. This is an American sponsored team run by an old 7-11 team member Vaughters that signed a lot of players at the end of last years tour. David Zabriski, David Millar, Chris Vande Velde, Julian Dean, Magnus Backstedts (former lead out guy for Thor Husvold) and others. This team will need an invite to ride in the TDF yet but with the players they have signed there should be NO QUESTION! They are also a team that does a lot of blood testing and have implemented their own testing to make sure their team is CLEAN.
Discovery or The Disco team
Disbanded. This was the end to an AWESOME team. I say TEAM because without the TEAM there would have been no Lance Armstrong winning a record seven tours or Alberto Contador winning one tour or even Levi making the podium. The tarnish to the team was signing Ivan Basso who later was linked to doping and is serving a suspension. Can't help but think that the whole doping debacle messed up finding another sponsor for the ol'boys in blue.
Astana
Was rocked with blood doping with Vino but he has now retired and and totally walked away from cycling. The Astana team is now a mix of mostly old Discovery riders including Levi and Alberto with leader Bruyneel. Astana also was not so kind to some of the riders from last years team. They had not been paid since August. They have been promised that they will fulfill their contract with the riders. If not then the team will have serious issues for 2008. Do you think it was the right move for some of the old Discovery riders? I am not sure. I think there will be huge issues with Levi and Alberto as Levi has been quoted as saying "I want to win the tour!" How is that going to work with Alberto (last years winner) on your team? This will be interesting to watch as it plays out.
T-Mobile
No longer a sponsor and so the old T-Mobile is now High Road. Georege Hincapi the former lieutenant for Lance will be riding for High Road this year. For George's sake I sure hope he wins the Paris Roubaix as this has been his goal since he started racing! Ulrich is fighting his doping charges yet and it sounds like a HUGE quagmire.
Robobank
Mixed up with the whole Rasmussen issue of "where was Micheal" during whatever month. Rasmussen had later said that the team knew where he was and that after all this blew up in the press during the tour he thought about killing himself. Not sure what that would have solved but a widow raising their kid alone. Micheal Boogert "Boogie Man" retired. We will miss his HUGE WHITE TEETH gleaming during this years tour.
Slipstream / Chipolte
The new kid on the block and one to watch. This is an American sponsored team run by an old 7-11 team member Vaughters that signed a lot of players at the end of last years tour. David Zabriski, David Millar, Chris Vande Velde, Julian Dean, Magnus Backstedts (former lead out guy for Thor Husvold) and others. This team will need an invite to ride in the TDF yet but with the players they have signed there should be NO QUESTION! They are also a team that does a lot of blood testing and have implemented their own testing to make sure their team is CLEAN.
These are just some of the teams out there making news but looking ahead to July, for all you non tour junkies that is when it starts, it should be a very interesting tour! Not sure who I will cheer for this year. Slipstream would be cool but OK I am going to sound like a girl here....not crazy about their uniforms! (picture at top of the entry)...I do have certain riders I like to see do well. Hincapie, Husvold (can't help it I am Norwegean), Levi, Zabriski or anyone that wins a break-away ROCKS!
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