Go Team Radio Shack!

[Triskeliongirl]

I posted this in the TDF spoiler thread, but re-posting here in case anyone missed it:

http://www.teamradioshack.com/getready/
http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/
http://www.velonews.com/article/95712/lance-armstrong-to-race-for-team-radioshack-in-2010

[denda]

Good Luck to them. It was nice to see that it was a Texas company.

[arielmoon]

Yay! Another American Team!

[Running Mommy]

I bet I can guess one person who will NOT be a part of the team...:rolleyes:

[tab123]

Does Radio Shack still ask for your name and address for cash transactions? I used to say "Janet Jackson" because it was easy to remember.

[RockChickRides]

Exactly! I haven't been in a RS in years, but my abiding memory is of them asking for my address when buying batteries. Um, why?


Does Radio Shack still ask for your name and address for cash transactions? I used to say "Janet Jackson" because it was easy to remember.

[redrhodie]

Yay! I'm trying to support cycling sponsors, and Radio Shack is an easy one (nearby, and I can always find something useful there).

[Jo-n-NY]

Yay! I'm trying to support cycling sponsors, and Radio Shack is an easy one (nearby, and I can always find something useful there).

me too!!!

[Jo-n-NY]

I bet I can guess one person who will NOT be a part of the team...:rolleyes:

not 100% sure if we are on the same page, but will take a chance here...I wonder also

[Aggie_Ama]

Astana is already negotiating to keep Contador. I wonder if Levi and Popo will jump ship?

[jobob]

Of course they will

[tulip]

Why in the world is this being announced now, while the TDF is still going on? Isn't there any kind of respect for the current teams and the race itself? Totally uncool.

Oh, of course, how could I be so naive? Make a splash while the Tour is still on because the minute it's over, the US "fans" forget about cycling until next year.

Great, whatever, but really tacky in terms of timing.

[papaver]

Why in the world is this being announced now, while the TDF is still going on? Isn't there any kind of respect for the current teams and the race itself? Totally uncool.

Oh, of course, how could I be so naive? Make a splash while the Tour is still on because the minute it's over, the US "fans" forget about cycling until next year.

Great, whatever, but really tacky in terms of timing.
+++++1

[Eden]

Astana is already negotiating to keep Contador

I've been under the impression that there has been really no real Team Astana for a while now - I heard that they weren't even making the payroll...

[Kalidurga]

Vinokourov announced sometime around the beginning of the Tour that he's coming back to "his" team and that if Brunyeel didn't like it, then Brunyeel would be the one to go. Based on that, this isn't at all surprising. And I'd bet that none of the big names currently on the team would want to ride with Vino, so Radioshack's basically got a ready-made roster. Personally, I'm withholding my excitement until there's word of who signs, especially since I don't think there's been mention of where Johann plans to go. Will he end up going with Lance?

There was mention earlier this week, too, that Contador has been in talks with a new Spanish-based team that's forming.

And the timing doesn't surprise me, either. This seems to be the time of year that contracts get renewed or riders go looking. There were a lot of similar announcements during the last few tours, though maybe none of quite this magnitude.

This is just one more thing to make this TdF interesting ;)

[papaver]

There are indeed rumours that Contador will ride for Alonso's team (the formula one rider).

[Mr. SR500]

GREAT! I never really cared for Contador, glad to see what should be a strong US based team. I made need to start shopping the local RS.

[papaver]

GREAT! I never really cared for Contador, glad to see what should be a strong US based team. I made need to start shopping the local RS.

ehm... it will be an US/Belgian team... :)

[Aggie_Ama]

I've been under the impression that there has been really no real Team Astana for a while now - I heard that they weren't even making the payroll...

I am aware of that but apparently the Kazak federation lives in denial, they said they envisioned a "spanish/kazahk" team in the article I read on Cyclingnews. Maybe Contador can go to Euskatel, they seem to only want to attack of course he isn't Basque but I think every once in a while they will take just Spanish. :p I actually find the boys in orange extremely entertaining.

[Norse]

I don't think even Contador wants to be around for Vino's return. He'll have no trouble finding a new home but, of course, it won't be RadioShak.:D I think it was yesterday that Brunyeel indicated he would direct Lance's new team - he sure the heck doesn't want to be around for Vino's return either. And I think Vino's suspension ends at the end of this month.

I also don't quibble with the timing of the announcement. Contador has not been much of a team player during this Tour (I bet Kloden is still thanking Alberto for pretty much getting him kicked off the podium) and the folks behind Astana are apparently owned by Vino, according to Vino. :rolleyes:

[Norse]

More on Brunyeel and Astana parting ways: http://velonews.com/article/95588/bruyneel-astana-to-part-ways.

[jobob]

ehm... it will be an US/Belgian team... :)


LOL, details ... ;)

It'll be another opportunity to rally around the stars & stripes and as such it'll get high visibility for cycling in the US, so it's all good. :)

And who knows, maybe the Radio Shacks in Fremont & Redwood City will even be less crappy than they are now. :p

[papaver]

LOL, details ... ;)

Well it's obvious that Johan Bruyneel will be in charge. And I've noticed that he talks very highly of Jurgen Van den Broeck (in almost every interview with the Belgian tv). And he isn't on the Astana team. :D

And there are talks that there will be a Belgian sponsor too. But those are only talks.

[tulip]

I doubt many here would say "details" if we neglect to mention that a team has US ties. Besides, isn't Garmin considered a US team? And Columbia?

[Cataboo]

I doubt many here would say "details" if we neglect to mention that a team has US ties. Besides, isn't Garmin considered a US team? And Columbia?


No, no US team = Lance = tour de france.

Anything beyond that are details.

[Possegal]

Well it really is kind of "details". Garmin and Columbia aren't considered US teams, they ARE US teams, and RadioShack will be as well. Each team has a country they are actually registered in for their UCI license.
http://www.uciprotour.com/templates/UCI/UCI2/layout.asp?MenuId=MTU2MTU&LangId=1
Garmin and Columbia are registered in the US. No one says Astana is a US team due to Lance, or a Spanish team due to Contador, or a Belgian team due to Bruyneel. It is a Kazakhstan* team because that is where it is registered. RadioShack, by all I've read, will be registered in the US, so it will be a US team. The nationality of the DS or the team members or any minor sponsors, will be "details".

* - though in an odd twist, the listing of teams from the Tour of California lists Luxombourg as its country, but that is the only place I have seen that and the UCI site doesn't say that
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Peloton/teams/2009-team-astana.html

I think we can all agree though that in most cases (perhaps excluding Euskaltel) the team may have a country due to where it is registered, but the reality is a very international team. That's one of the coolest aspects of cycling to me. :)

[papaver]

2 belgians have signed up for RadioShack:

Sébastien Rosseler
Gert Steegmans

Expected for 2011 : two times Tour de Flanders winner Stijn Devolder.

[PinkBike]

i thought they weren't allowed to announce until september 1st?

why would steegmans go to radio shack? they have no sprinter for him to lead out and no one to lead out for him. why would stijn devolder go there? they have no real classics interests. hmm, no real sprinters, no real climbers, no real classics riders, anyone who signs on will be there solely for lance to win the tour. and i cant see him beating alberto OR a schleck. and then in 2010, lance will realize he's just too old and where will that leave the team? i just dont see it as longterm. if they were they would be seeking out younger talent, and i read taylor finney was not going there after all.

astana is loudly announcing to everyone who will listen that alberto is indeed under contract to them next year.

vinokourov will be riding the vuelta according to velonews. oh boy. (snark)

and jens voigt will be riding the tour of missouri! as will mark cavendish! i would love to be there for that!

i like stijn devolder right where he's at, with boonen and chavanel at quick step.

i just hope i can find a way to watch the vuelta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[papaver]

Well, it's officially announced here so.... and who says they are only interested in the tour? That would be silly. There's a lot more to pro-cycling than just the tdf pleezzzzz.

Those three cyclists are very close to Johan Bruyneel. Steegmans would be perfect to help out Devolder in de classics.

Devolder and Quickstep, it's not exactly a perfect marriage. There's a lot of critisism on both sides. By the way, QS is seriously trying to sign contador. There's even a chance that Boonen will leave QS.

[Possegal]

UCI regulations forbid 'official' notification of anything prior to Sept 1. Teams and riders can be fined for doing so. Doesn't mean that the info isn't leaking out there, because it is. But nothing "official" has come out and won't until Sept 1. But radioshack has said they have an interest in riders for the classics. We don't know who else they have signed or are trying to sign, but they don't seem to be just building a TdF team for Lance. Only time will tell, but they seem to be trying to build for a longterm future, as well as to help Lance compete for the podium in 2010. And Taylor Phinney has said he isn't ready to move up from the U23 development team, though it seems that is the future intent.

I've never been so anxious for September 1st to roll around. :)

[carinapir]

Well it really is kind of "details". Garmin and Columbia aren't considered US teams, they ARE US teams, and RadioShack will be as well. Each team has a country they are actually registered in for their UCI license.

It's kind of scary to me that no one seemed to notice that Garmin and Columbia were strong American teams in this year's TdF. I suppose that you could stay that both of their top performers were British but is Lance really all we Americans can pay attention to?

I kind of hope that Contador goes to Garmin, as is also rumored, but only if he could fit in. Those boys are great!

Carina

[papaver]

Another young talent has signed up for Team RadioShack. Ben Herman is 23 and a promising climber. That's Belgian number 3... :D