Professional Cycling - Discovery's Tour Squad (almost - 11 to be narrowed to 9)

From thepaceline.com:


TdF Finalists Announced

5/4/2005 - The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Sports Manager, Johan Bruyneel, has announced the names of the 11 men he will use to select the final 9-man squad for the 2005 Tour de France July 2-24.

Who are the rders potentially joining 6-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong? Jose Azevedo, Manuel Beltran, George Hincapie, Leif Hoste, Benoit Joachim, Benjamin Noval, Pavel Padrnos, Yaroslav Popovych, Chechu Rubiera, and Paolo Savoldelli. Final selection still to be determined...


I still can not figure out why Danielson isn't included. If he is to be the future of DC's Grand Tour team why wouldn't he get the experience of riding in Lance's last tour. He has shown that he is stong in TT and climbing.

I still can not figure out why Danielson isn't included. If he is to be the future of DC's Grand Tour team why wouldn't he get the experience of riding in Lance's last tour. He has shown that he is stong in TT and climbing.

I am with you there...doesn't make much sense unless they feel his riding of th Giro will keep him from being fresh for TdF. If he is THE man for Giro and Vuelta that could be another reason. There are 3 grand tours and we know Lance will only ride in one of them.

I am pretty pissed and sad at the same time. First my main man EKI hes out. He just had to hurt himself. Man I love thatr guy it sucks trhat he has to sit out of lances last tour. :( Also wtf why isnt danielson on the roster? are they crazy? I think danielson could probably do a better job than acevedo. Now not to say acevdo is bad. From what ive seen danielson would do better. Its just isnt right!

Danielson is already committed to the Giro. If I'm not mistaken, this will be his first Grand Tour. He needs more experience, first. And he probably won't be fresh for the Tour, anyway. He should set his sights on the Vuelta and ride the Tour in '06.

There are a couple other riders on the roster who would be a better choice to go to the Tour, anyway.

Jose Azevedo, Manuel Beltran, George Hincapie, Leif Hoste, Benoit Joachim, Benjamin Noval,and Chechu Rubiera are probably locks, especially Hincapie barring injury. I don't think Lance would want anyone else then Chechu on the climbs.

I think danielson could probably do a better job than acevedo. Now not to say acevdo is bad. From what ive seen danielson would do better. Its just isnt right!

that's crazy talk. acevedo placed 5th last year in GC. he is not riding the giro so he
should be fresh coming in to the tour, while it is not clear how fresh danielson will be
after racing around italy for 3 weeks.

Danielson is nowhere near Acevedo for experience and Tour smarts. Plus he can't do the Tour/Giro double...not yet, anyway.

No surprises really. I'd say its down to Hoste, Joachim, and Noval for the final spot. I thought Noval acquitted himself well after going down in the TTT. I'd say he's the favorite.

Danielson is nowhere near Acevedo for experience and Tour smarts. Plus he can't do the Tour/Giro double...not yet, anyway.

well Yah I know, I eman all things considered danielson prob cant do it with the giro before. But stil hes a crazy climber!

Danielson is not ready for a three week stage race as intense as the Tour (being fair, neither am I). It would be great if he was. Next year!

well Yah I know, I eman all things considered danielson prob cant do it with the giro before. But stil hes a crazy climber!



Still holds the record for Mt Evans?

Danielson could do better than Ace? No way! If Ace didn't give all for Lance last year he would have easily finished on the podium.

Danielson is already committed to the Giro. If I'm not mistaken, this will be his first Grand Tour. He needs more experience, first. And he probably won't be fresh for the Tour, anyway. He should set his sights on the Vuelta and ride the Tour in '06.

There are a couple other riders on the roster who would be a better choice to go to the Tour, anyway.

Very true, and this is dealt with in an article in the current Velo News.

No surprises really. I'd say its down to Hoste, Joachim, and Noval for the final spot. I thought Noval acquitted himself well after going down in the TTT. I'd say he's the favorite.

gcasillo, I would bet with you on this one! Noval's got the mo' going in, Joachim and Hoste are the long shots. Danielson is still not stong enough or quick enough to snatch the cricket from the palm of the master.

Yeah Danielson will be an aweosme Tour rider in the future...but even just based on the Armstrong training goes...if Danielson is peaking for the Giro...he will NOT be in the right shape for the TDF. Without doubt, the guys who go to the TDF for Discovery will be all peaking during those 3 weeks.

Danielson drops out of the Giro today. This could change everything in regards to his chances for riding the Tour...especially since Eki is definitely out. One more injury and they would have no choice to put him in. His tendonitis will have to heal up first.

From OLN's Giro coverage last weekend, it sounded like Leif Hoste is on track to take Eki's spot, and I think he'll fill that role nicely.

For climbers he has Beltran, Ruberia, Ace, YP, and il Falco. He does not need more climbers on the team than that, I do not think. Which one of these would you replace, given their performance and their experience. TD has not been to the big show yet and his Giro is not a true indicator because of his knee problems. The problem for Discovery is "who will be the top dog for GC next year at the TdF -- the top candidates are probably YP and il Falco.

Don't be suprised if they snatch someone up from another team to be their guy for the TDF next year. They're going to free up a lot of cash from the budget when Lance retires.

Maybe those rumored talks with Ivan Basso weren't for 2005, but rather 2006?

Don't be suprised if they snatch someone up from another team to be their guy for the TDF next year. They're going to free up a lot of cash from the budget when Lance retires.

Maybe those rumored talks with Ivan Basso weren't for 2005, but rather 2006?

They are not an organization with a fixed budget -- they have a higher budget this year with LA and it will decrease next year, even if they do obtain a "star". They already picked up Savodelli and YP as well as Tom D and they are groming these three for tours. In addition, they have Ace as a GC rider (he finished 5th while riding support), so it is not clear that they will go after a star. As other riders see what transformations take place under the leadership of Postal/Discovery l think they will consider the move. That is part of the reason that these four under-utilized semi-stars that have not have all of their skills developed made the move.

After reading Tom Danielson's account of his injury and subsequent pull-out from the Giro I could say a thousand things about Tom, and none of them would be good. His explanation cleary paints him as being completly focused on Tom and not a tem player. If I were on the Discovery team I would pray that Tom jumps ship for a better offer. You can read the full article at at http://www.thepaceline.com/members/staff_report_item.aspx?cid=1122


When asked when he started feeling pain in his knee, Danielson said - "It was in Georgia right after the hard mountain stage (to Brasstown Bald on April 23). It was super painful and even when I was sleeping, I could feel it throbbing. I thought it was just some of the aches and pains that come with racing. The next day, it was still there and all through the stage it was really painful. I didn't say anything, as I didn't want to worry anyone and even myself. I just wanted to block it out of my mind and ride through it."

He knew he was hurt and he didn't say anything to his manager, his trainer or his team. Not a team player

After reading Tom Danielson's account of his injury and subsequent pull-out from the Giro I could say a thousand things about Tom, and none of them would be good. His explanation cleary paints him as being completly focused on Tom and not a tem player. If I were on the Discovery team I would pray that Tom jumps ship for a better offer. You can read the full article at at http://www.thepaceline.com/members/staff_report_item.aspx?cid=1122


When asked when he started feeling pain in his knee, Danielson said - "It was in Georgia right after the hard mountain stage (to Brasstown Bald on April 23). It was super painful and even when I was sleeping, I could feel it throbbing. I thought it was just some of the aches and pains that come with racing. The next day, it was still there and all through the stage it was really painful. I didn't say anything, as I didn't want to worry anyone and even myself. I just wanted to block it out of my mind and ride through it."

He knew he was hurt and he didn't say anything to his manager, his trainer or his team. Not a team player

Your conclusions regarding Danielson are ridiculous based on the information available.

How come Joachim is on the team? He tested positive for steroids after winning the Luxembourg National Championships. He was on USPS when it happened too.

How come Jaochim is on the team? He tested positive for steroids after winning the Luxembourg National lChampionships. He was on USPS when it happened too.

I thought that Barry Bonds said steroids weren't a performance enhancer...that must be why because I am SURE WADA and the UCI would side with Barry on this...hell he is clean right? :D