New Discovery Channel Team

[tricycling]

http://www.teamdiscoverychannel.com/

I like the videos..... ok anyway.....

I looked on the Calender, I didnt see the Tour de France... should I be worried???

[CorsairMac]

no hun - the Discovery Team will be riding the TdF - they just don't know Who is riding it yet.

[tricycling]

Awesome. Thanks.

[jobob]

I wonder who the team leader will be if LA doesn't ride the Tour...? :cool:

[MightyMitre]

If Armstrong doesn't ride the Tour I'll eat my hat! As he's so fond of telling us it's his job to win the Tour and I don't think the new sponsors would be too pleased if he didn't turn up.

Also, as Ullrich pointed out in a recent article, why would he bother to keep training if he wasn't going to ride it. I know he's mentioned he wants to do some of the Spring Classics, but he's a slippery fish and untill I seem them all roll down the start ramp on 3rd July I wouldn't believe a word of it. :p

[spazzdog]

Here's the link to the 2005 Pro Tour calendar:
http://www.uciprotour.com/home.asp?1stLevelID=za&level1=3&level2=0&idnews=3014

From all the hoopla I read last year, I'm thinking Lance will do the Paris-Rubaix (sp) and the Giro d Italia instead of TDF. He (Lance) also intimated he' like to do more of the events in the states so he can be close to the kids. On the USA front there's the Tour of Georgia and a couple others.

I think, if Lance chooses some other events, a couple of the other guys might get a chance to "lead" TDF.

On the other hand, if its not on the team schedule, it could very well infer that the new team won't be doing TDF, but rather taking this new multi-national team on a more Discovery like "around-the-world" inaugural season.

[aka_kim]

I don't really understand all the rules of the ProTour, but isn't there something that if a ride is on the ProTour calendar the teams in the tour *must* compete in it??

I like that Discovery team web site -- the Madone is gorgeous. And Tom Danielson, Jason McCartney (of SF Grand Prix "fame") and Ryder Hesjedal! Whoo hoo! Now if only Floyd Landis were still on the team...

[MM_QFC!]

Didn't the UCI or whatever the international cycling union is correctly named, send out a new requirement last year? That pro teams are mandated to participate in the 3 'grand' tours: Giro, TDF and Vuelta? I don't see any of those on the Discovery team sked yet, but anticipate the participation by various members of the team at each, no? Lance and coaches have recently said that he won't make a final decision on whether he'll race in the TDF until May or so; that's the last I've heard re: him.
Mary

[jobob]

I wonder who the team leader will be if LA doesn't ride the Tour...? :cool: Uh, AG, what gives, are you sleeping on the job? (You'd think she'd get the hint....)

I don't think Lance wants to do the Giro at this point - or more specifically, he doesn't want to race in Italy. I read that he's been sucked into in some lawsuit going in Italy (the Simeoni hoo-hah?), and he doesn't want to give the Italian press & officials the opportunity to hound him. Or something like that.

Such a bummer that Floyd is gone. Poor bunkie, what incredibly bad luck he's having w. Phonak.

But way cool that Tom Danielson joined Discovery. I'll certainly be rooting for him - and Michael, and Chechu, and Eki, and ... uh... gee, who am I forgetting :rolleyes: .... :cool:

And Ivan, and Bobby, and Jens (go CSC!) I wish the season would start already.

[CorsairMac]

yes - if you're part of the Pro-Tour you Have to ride the 3 big guns so Discovery has to ride it. It isn't on their schedule yet coz none of the teams have received their "official" invites. Of Course, as the winning team for Lance last year, Discovery has an automatic invite. Also, per Johann, Discovery hasn't really planned anything past May - they do their schedules in 2 segments, Spring and then Summer/Fall. I'm guessing Azevado will be the "leader" this year and I"m also guessing LA Won't ride it this year - taking a rest from all that planning stress (and I'm guessing shhhhhh: hes tired of hearing "thats ALL LA ever does is the TdF so he's proving he can do more than that) Anyway, thats my .02 from a postie/discovery camp follower!
(re: cyclingnews.com.....it has interviews etc and Pro Tour rules there)
and yes: LA has already said he can't ride the Giro at least this year coz of the legal battle with Simeoni