Professional Cycling - So who will be the new Discovery leader?

Do you think that Discovery will try to buy a new leader, or appoint one from inside?

Is Hincapie strong enough to be a Tour contender on his own?

During the OLN interview with Lance, he stated that another famous and talented cyclist (whom he did not name) said that he thought George would WIN the Tour next year... doesn't mean that he'll be the team leader but interesting nonetheless.

Is Hincapie strong enough to be a Tour contender on his own?

No, no and no.

Is Hincapie strong enough to be a Tour contender on his own?
Not without a serious amount of help from his team.

No, no and no.



^^

What he said.

No, no and no.

ditto!

I thought they (discovery) were grooming Popovich as the next big thing.

ditto!

I thought they (discovery) were grooming Popovich as the next big thing.
This is correct.

True but I doubt anyone believes that Popo will be ready to be the team leader next year. He is a couple of years out.

I met Hincapie at our local MS150 ride a few weeks back. I told him I emailed Discovery channel to tell Johan the team better ride for him next year at the tour. He smiled the biggest smile I saw that day and told me, 'that would be nice'. It's grassroots support that will do it!!!!!! Come on peeps!

They need to throw everything behind Tom Danielson. It needs to be an American on an American team. George would be the sentimental favorite, but his age is a factor. I'm not saying I think Danielson can win it next year, but he needs to be groomed ASAP.

They need to throw everything behind Tom Danielson. It needs to be an American on an American team. George would be the sentimental favorite, but his age is a factor. I'm not saying I think Danielson can win it next year, but he needs to be groomed ASAP.

Thats an interesting angle... There is more buzz about Popo than TD though.. Leads you to suspect that TD isnt in the big picture yet...I think they might support Savoldelli...

George for the one day spring classics. Popo and Savodelli for at least one grand tour each. Would be nice to see them run TD for another grand tour (not sure he's ready though).


Hill Climber:
They need to throw everything behind Tom Danielson. It needs to be an American on an American team. George would be the sentimental favorite, but his age is a factor. I'm not saying I think Danielson can win it next year, but he needs to be groomed ASAP.

So Should the teams of Levi and Floyd not support these guys as they are not the "right" Nationality for the team. Leadership should be earned. An American on the podeum would be great but not requiered.

I'd support Levi and Floyd or Bobby J or Zabriski on their teams before I'd support Popo leading Discovery. I'm sure most Germans support Ullrich and it makes is extra nice he's riding for a German team. The Italians support Basso.
It's a matter of personal preference. And me personally, I want to see an American leading and American team.

Merckx mentioned the winner of the Tour needs to be a "killer."

george n'est pas un tueur

I never thought of Hincapie winning the Tour....but some things he did in the 2005 Tour sure did get my attention.

David Z can't win as long as he rides with Basso.

I hope an American wins for the next 5 years. Boy would the French hate that!

DAve Z is great, but he's no team leader.CSC has not resigned Basso yet, he could go to Discovery, although latest rumors are also that Discovery channel is trying to get out of sponsorship contracts, thye got surprised by Armstrong's retirement.

Was always gonna happen.

In the US, bike racing IS (or rather, was) Lance Armstrong.

No Lance = no media = no return for sponsorship $$$ = bad business decision to keep the team going.

Americans love a winner, not little sports played out 1000's of km away by foreigners.

dirty foreigners.

Frankly, I think Europeans could care less about US involvement or interest in cycling.

dirty foreigners.

Frankly, I think Europeans could care less about US involvement or interest in cycling.


Correct.

Akin to their interest in F1.

DAve Z is great, but he's no team leader.CSC has not resigned Basso yet, he could go to Discovery, although latest rumors are also that Discovery channel is trying to get out of sponsorship contracts, thye got surprised by Armstrong's retirement.


wow. you must be some cycling fan. And your 'latest rumors' are REALLY REALLY Late. Riis resigned Basso a few days after CSC committed long term to the team.

If Disco-Lance wants Basso, he'll be waiting until 2007.

Big George wins ONE stage, ONE! Singular. Uno. Not two. and he is then a GC man in a grand tour :rolleyes:

2006 Toor Day France:

Basso v. Ullrich

news at eleven.

2006 Toor Day France:

Basso v. Ullrich

news at eleven.

Or Basso v. Vino v. Ullrich

Or Basso v. Vino v. Ullrich

don't think so. Vino might be TOO insane. I love the guy for it. the one rider willing to fling himself off the front just to see what happens. But its exactly that (burning too much energy) which will keep him from the Basso v. Ullrich main event.

He'll slug it out for top 5 IMO.

If Hincapie led Discovery, he'd have to forgo the Spring Classics such as Flanders and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, according to Lance.

Since Popo needs a year or two to develop further (or so I've heard), giving Hincapie the chance to lead Discovery would be a well-deserved reward for his loyal service.

I think Basso has the next tour, and I think Lance thought so as well since he was trying to sign him this year. I would loveto see big George come through but, I think he is better off as a supporter. Remeber stage 15, he was a 1000 meters away from winning and kept looking to see if Lance was coming. He doesn't have the killer instinct. He won the stage but it was really a joke since he never pulled on the break away.

I agree. George is a talented, awesome rider, but winning a stage by sitting on a wheel (which I'm sure was tough enough as it was) does not make someone a grand tour GC contender. Last I heard, Discovery was looking at keeping George protected during the Tour so he could focus on stage wins, which is a great plan. He'd be remembered more for winning a couple of stages than for working his butt off and finishing in the lower part of the top 10 overall. I think that Popovich, Savoldelli, or Danielson would be much better contenders for the GC.

Vino might be TOO insane. I love the guy for it. the one rider willing to fling himself off the front just to see what happens. But its exactly that (burning too much energy) which will keep him from the Basso v. Ullrich main event.

He'll slug it out for top 5 IMO.

You have to love Vino, the patron saint of attacking cyclists everywhere! :beer: After 7 years of methodical, calculating attacks by Armstrong, it will be great to see a contender upsetting the apple cart. He reminds me of Chiappucci in that respect.

You have to love Vino, the patron saint of attacking cyclists everywhere! :beer: After 7 years of methodical, calculating attacks by Armstrong, it will be great to see a contender upsetting the apple cart. He reminds me of Chiappucci in that respect.

exactly. I honestly have more respect for Vino as he seems to race with the race radio turned off.

Moment of coasting? Vino off the front.

Gap to the leaders on a decent? Vino off the front.

Suicide attack when Kloden is pulling Der Kiaser right behind you? Vino off the front.



St. Vino



Parton Saint of Baby Blue Uniforms, Attacking, and ridiculously defined quads :D

Too bad Cafe Press can't make medallions to wear around your neck.

exactly. I honestly have more respect for Vino as he seems to race with the race radio turned off.

Moment of coasting? Vino off the front.

Gap to the leaders on a decent? Vino off the front.

Suicide attack when Kloden is pulling Der Kiaser right behind you? Vino off the front.



St. Vino



Parton Saint of Baby Blue Uniforms, Attacking, and ridiculously defined quads :D


Who was the patron saint of ill advised yet successful attacks anyway? I have a small pic of him on the bars of my race bike. I've taken to wearing skin tight Ban Lon shirts with wide lapels and a big gold chain. I've even taken to talking mostly in monosylabic phrases:

"Was hard."

"I go now"

"Was fast and hard".

I honestly think, or at least thought Vino had a chance, BECAUSE he was that insane. If he could avoid the one bad day like he had in this year's tour I thought he'd have a shot. Very good team with climbers that have shown they can ride for others...an on form Beloki and Heras supporting Vino? Plus Vino's shown a great improvement in his TT's, which are going to be a big factor in 06. With Heras questionable though I'm rethinking.

I'm also looking for Valverde to shake up Basso a bit. Without Discovery clamping down the front there should be a lot of attacks on the mountains. That's why I'm thinking Jan (god luv 'em) could lose big amounts of time, though he'll get a lot back in the TT's.

As for Hincapie, no way. Unless you know nothing about cycling but have to root for an American, then by all means. Love him for the Classics, blow milk out my nose in laughter for the Tour.

And Cunego's shown he has no sack after his "relieved" comment in last years Giro...where he'll probably come down with bad form er, I meant Gladular Epstien Barr Rocky Mountain Tick fever...or some female disorder. And finishing 28th in the TT sure ain't going to get it.

My fantasy winner? Mancebo. Any guy who rides like the hunchback who opens the door to the castle of horrors would look great up on that podium.

I think:

Basso
Vino
Ulrich
Valverde

I'd like:

Vino
Basso
Valverde

I wish:

Beloki
Mancebo
Vino

Kill me because the aliens have taken over the earthe and forced us into an alternative universe:

Cunego
Hincapie
Any Frenchmen

don't think so. Vino might be TOO insane. I love the guy for it. the one rider willing to fling himself off the front just to see what happens. But its exactly that (burning too much energy) which will keep him from the Basso v. Ullrich main event.

He'll slug it out for top 5 IMO.

There may be method to his maddness. He's never ridden as a protected rider in the Tour before, but now he's earned his chance. No one knows what full capabilities are, or how he will play out that scenario.

There may be method to his maddness. He's never ridden as a protected rider in the Tour before, but now he's earned his chance. No one knows what full capabilities are, or how he will play out that scenario.

yes, but can he keep himself in the cage when every cell in his body is screaming 'take a flyer off the front'?

It takes disciple to do what you're saying. to go against a lifetime of Vino Tactics in exchange for Lance tactics would be tough. and Liberty is no Disco squad at the front. There is no Liberty answer to Ekimov and Padrnos pushing all that wind for the climbers to pace whoever Discovery will put in there.

I think discovery will mix it up for the GC, but CSC & T-Mobile will have their moral above the Col du Galibier by a mile.

I'm trying to have no expectations.

Regarding Tom Danielson...

Johan Bruyneel made a comment recently regarding his participation in the Tour de France. It's somewhere on www.thepaceline.com. Anyway he was saying that he was very impressed with Tom's performance in the Vuelta and thinks he will do well there to start off with. Johan said that he thinks Tom needs a few more Grand Tours in his legs before going for the Tour de France but oneday he said he would be good in the Tour too.

This was encouraging. I'd like to see TD as the lead rider over popo.

"I'm available!"
:D

Discovery channel is trying to get out of sponsorship contracts, thye got surprised by Armstrong's retirement.
Surprised. If they were making a financial bet on Lance riding for many more years to come they sure aren't very smart. His age alone.

Discovery surprised? I don't think so.

I think LA had a two-year deal with them that included at least one Tour. I think they knew up front that he wasn't sticking around long-term. Next year supposedly he is around to do mentoring or something like that, or be an advisor.