View Full Version : Lance says Team Discovery wants to sign Landis
Amazing what winning a few races will do for a person
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2006/news/story?id=2527718
boog
Socalcycling
07-23-06, 05:04 PM
Lame, of course he wants him now. Sounds like Floyd is happy with the team he is with.
cyclezealot
07-23-06, 05:09 PM
I still stay loyal to Hincapie. Just a bad couple weeks after a very bad spring.
kubla khan
07-23-06, 05:14 PM
Landis should stay at Phonak and give Discovery the finger...
I thought they wanted him last year.
I think I'd lose a little respect for Landis if he signed with discovery anyway....
jjmolyet
07-23-06, 05:26 PM
Landis should stay at Phonak and give Discovery the finger...
I know I sound like a homer, as a Disco fan but Landis should consider this, his team stunk and if a TTT is in next year's tour I would rather be on Disco, if Phonak(iShare) take back Hamilton as his first lieutenant to Phloyd, he might consider staying. iShares needs a better team, because next year Phloyd will be considered the biggest threat and will be attacked.
georgiaboy
07-23-06, 05:28 PM
Trek has input on these matters as well. Trek wants a representative for their market brand. They want 1) An American 2) A GC contender. Floyd Landis meets both requirements.
FL is building bridges that Armstrong never built. The French have warmed up to FL. Eddy Merckx loves the guy.
I don't know much about why Floyd left the USPS/Discovery team, as I am new to following cycling. My understanding is that Floyd wanted a chance to develop on his own, out of Lance's shadow. He did that, and then went on to win the TdF. Lance saw some potential in Floyd, and would have liked to have him on the team already. Now with Lance retired and part owner of the team, he definately wants Floyd. It's like any pro sport, an organization with a history of winning wants to continue to do so right away, not groom talent for a few years before returning to glory.
I think it is funny that they want to sign Floyd, but aren't sure about his hip yet. Wouldn't they want to know more about his health before announcing that they would like to sign him? Want does that say to Hincapie and the rest of the Disco team? How will they react to this? The whole thing is just silly to me, but I guess that such silliness is partly why I am a fan of pro sports.:rolleyes:
Does this mean that Team Discovery is becoming the team fans love to root against? Is Steinbrenner preparing to buy a portion of them?
boog
Novara Buzz
07-23-06, 05:48 PM
I don't know much about why Floyd left the USPS/Discovery team, as I am new to following cycling. My understanding is that Floyd wanted a chance to develop on his own, out of Lance's shadow.
boog
This is true, and Tyler Hamilton left for the same reason: to see what heights he could scale on his own and never wonder, "What if..."
Landis said a year ago that he felt less pressure at a team leader at Phonak than he did at Postal; to paraphrase, anything short of a Tour de France win would be a failure for the Postal team, whereas at Phonak, he was just expected to lead the team as best he could.
Thanks, Novara Buzz! That makes alot of sense to me, and seems to fit in with my basic understanding of TdF cycling and team dynamics. I love sports! They are like soap operas, reality tv, and religion all rolled into one! ;)
boog
FL is building bridges that Armstrong never built.... Eddy Merckx loves the guy.
I was under the impression that Eddy and Lance are best friends. There's a picture in "It's Not About The Bike" of Eddy visiting Lance in his hospital room.
I thought it was LeMond who didn't like LA, not Merckx. I seem to recall that Lance has called Eddy the best rider ever to under the sun for all time, or some such. ;)
Amazing what winning a few races will do for a person
As noted, he was pursued by Disco before this season.
I wouldn't fault him for going to Disco or staying with Phonak. As a hometown guy, I guess I'd prefer to see him on Disco, heavens knows he'd have a better team around him. But I understand the loyalty and freedom he experienced with Phonak (I-shares), so whatever makes him happy.
bigskymacadam
07-23-06, 06:42 PM
he's going to have a lot of offers from the all the big budget teams. more power to him. i don't have a preference where he rides. he's got a lot of advisors on this end and i'm sure he'll make a fine choice. it's a business decision.
on the hip thing, there will be a part of the contract that's contigent on his health so it really doesn't come into play unless he's not up to form because of the operation.
Berg417448
07-23-06, 07:10 PM
Amazing what winning a few races will do for a person
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2006/news/story?id=2527718
boog
Phonak riders extend contracts...including Landis:
http://www.phonak-cycling.ch/index.php?id=5&L=1&uid=307
Maybe he wanted to ride more than one race a year too.
;)
j/k, but he said in an interview he wasn't happy with the role he was playing and Discovery's lack of effort to sweeten his contract. A friend of mine is a friend of Ventura's, and one day, I went over and talked to Ventura when I was hanging with my friend. Robbie told us that Landis just wanted a team where he would be able to lead, and he felt that he had more potential and would be happier with Phonak.
If you ride with Discovery, your focus is probably only on the Tour anyway- and if you want to ride several races, I get the feeling that would be frowned upon. I'm sure they want to train one guy "Lance style", but not everyone wants to live and die by that agenda.
Koffee
Landis should stay at Phonak and give Discovery the finger...
Landis left the first time by his own decision, he wasn't sacked. Publicly it sounds like he and Armstrong are trying to mend fences.
mrballistic
07-23-06, 09:33 PM
ditto
http://www.isharesprocycling.com/news_detail.php?news_id=226&menuid=3
Just like any professional athlete, could you blame Flandis if Disco held out more $ and he jumped ship. Remember, this very well may be his last contract at his age and the questionable hip in his future, well I say take the money and run. Personally I would like it as I think he would have a better chance of repeating again.
Stallionforce
07-23-06, 10:56 PM
I guess Floyd has opted for Phonak. Good for him. This is the team that brought him success; and, flaws or not, he should be praised for his loyalty. I'm sure Phonak/iShares has payed him a princely sum. He deserves it.
I do hope that they are thinking of actively pursuing at least one reliable billy-goat/lieutenant for him though. Merckx was heroic in his efforts, and will be valuable next season; but I do feel that Landis requires someone really reliable to pace him to the foot of the final climb.
They will need to add at least one more solid TT rider as well. Cancellara must be miffed at being left out of the Tour roster for CSC. I feel he may jump ship, especially after being snubbed following an incredibly impressive Roubaix. His omission proved a bad move by Riis, as he could have used at least one stage win in the TT's this year. Zabriskie also fell short there, although he was game. Zabriskie would also be an excellent fit for iShares, given Dave's friendship with Floyd. I am wondering about Riis' grasp on his riders given the Puerto affair.
It's a very interesting year, with Discovery, CSC, and T-Mobile (the three powerhouses) basically left looking for a winning GC rider. Sastre and Kloden do not fit the bill. I think it's a sure bet that Evans will land on one of these teams, given his obvious displeasure with the composition of DL's Tour squad. What of Astana? It is possible also that Vino could end up on one of these teams. Puerto really has to sort that out yet.
Should be an interesting off season, as far as signings go.
cydewaze
07-24-06, 05:17 AM
Knowing Disco's luck, Floyd would get his new hip and be slow for the couple of years. Then he'd leave for another team and win his 2nd tour.
Should be an interesting off season, as far as signings go.
Ahh, the silly season, one more reason I love to follow pro sports! :D
I don't think it matters to me who Landis, or Hincapie, or Ullrich rides for next year, if at all. I trully enjoyed following this years tour, and I hop next year comes close to the excitment this one provided. With that said, I am begining to draw parralells between cycling and other sports, and begining to learn how it works, at least on this level. Not much, but a begining. I am glad to hear that Landis resinged with Phonak/i-shares, just because of the loyalty factor. I would say I can't wait for next years tour, but I have alot to learn about pro cycling between now and then, so I am grateful for the time.
All in all, it was a very exciting few weeks, as I began to pay attention to cyling for the first time, and it will only get more engrossing from herer for me.
But I still think the Yankees and Team Discovery have something in common. ;)
boog
A busy server wiped out my previous attempt so let me try again.
Floyd is signed for another year.
Basso and or Ullrich if they escape unscathed will be huge free agents but that's a HUGE if.
The most interesting gossip I heard is that Cunego is not real happy with Lampre.
Now THAT would be a signing.
Trek would get over it or some other maker will be happy to step in.
Cunego with a huge future in front of him riding for Disco is definitely interesting though it does draw parallels to the Yankees buying everything as boog has pointed out.
Of course this is all conjecture....
:beer:
merlinextraligh
07-24-06, 09:35 AM
Publicly it sounds like he and Armstrong are trying to mend fences.
Funny now that Landis is the next big thing, Armstrong is trying to buddy up to him and claim the feud was overstated by the media.
Crack'n'fail
07-24-06, 10:18 AM
People leave teams before their contracts are up all the time don't they? They just have to buy them out. Not that I'm saying that Floyd will do that having just signed a 1 year deal, I'm just saying we really won't know who's going to go where until the smoke settles and next season is under way.
I too applaud Floyd for extending with Phonak (iShares) but they need to do something to protect him a little better. I understand what Floyd was talking about regarding what we don't see from the teams doing the work in the peloton. But I also know what we don't see Phonak doing for Floyd in the mountain stages. Of course, this was a weird Tour and you didn't see a whole lot of teams supporting their riders well in the mountains. Rabobank did a bang up job early, but Menchov just didn't have it to finish it off. T-Mobile seemed to be well positioned to help in the Mountains, but they kind of flubbed it as usual.
cyclezealot
07-24-06, 12:10 PM
Had not Discovery made a choice that HIncapie was their to be appointed new leader. The $'s were not enough then so Floyd left.
I wonder how the Hincapie/Landis UCI stats compared when Landis left for Phonak.
flythebike
07-24-06, 12:39 PM
Had not Discovery made a choice that HIncapie was their to be appointed new leader. The $'s were not enough then so Floyd left.
I wonder how the Hincapie/Landis UCI stats compared when Landis left for Phonak.
I'm sure that had nothing to do with it, although I'm sure George was ahead at the time. Johan took Floyd out to lunch over last winter and made him an offer. Floyd refused it.
Not to get all religious on you, but there is a well known quote in the bible. A prophet has no honor in his hometown.
It is hard to rise from humble status and become team leader, and I'm sure that is one reason Floyd left. I don't have any evidence of this, just my own opinion really.
While it would be nice if Phonak could sign a super domestique for Floyd, things did turn out well enough for them this year. A Blue Train like USPS/Discovery is probably the exception rather than the rule in cycling, not sure if it is reasonable to expect that anymore. However, transfer season is upon us, so perhaps we will hear something soon. As my grandfather used to say "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Floyd won the Tour this year with Phonak so why change?
While it would be nice if Phonak could sign a super domestique for Floyd, things did turn out well enough for them this year. A Blue Train like USPS/Discovery is probably the exception rather than the rule in cycling, not sure if it is reasonable to expect that anymore. However, transfer season is upon us, so perhaps we will hear something soon. As my grandfather used to say "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Floyd won the Tour this year with Phonak so why change?
Reading between the lines, it sounds like Lance is still trying to keep his fingers in the Discovery team. My guess is that Floyd wants to be out from under his shadow, and Phonak seems to be a good place for him to be right now.
You are right though - it would be nice to have a super domestique to add to the team. I think Merckx was the closest one, and still couldn't be as much help as he probably would have liked.
skinnyone
07-24-06, 02:07 PM
Zabriskie also fell short there, although he was game. Zabriskie would also be an excellent fit for iShares, given Dave's friendship with Floyd. I am wondering about Riis' grasp on his riders given the Puerto affair.
Precisely what I was thinking.. By all indications they are best friends...
Don't forget that Floyd himself says in the BICYCLING mag interview with DZ that his leadership style and ways he works with his team are completely different then the way usps/disco has ever worked and floyd wants to be original and run his team as his team.......that would be hard with such a public team with so much outside influence (lance etc)
mnutini
07-24-06, 02:49 PM
The Paceline is saying that Discovery is going to have a big announcement about signing a rider tomorrow (Tues).
http://www.thepaceline.com/members/chrisb_item.aspx?cid=2587
Karlotta
07-24-06, 02:55 PM
Search for Levi on the Paceline site and you'll find this...
Following the completion of the 2006 Tour de France - the first one in seven years that the team did not win - the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team is already making plans to move forward and regain their winning ways. And as a step towards that future, Sports Manager Johan Bruyneel today announced the signing of three new riders for the 2007 season - and a new role for one of the true legends of the sport of cycling.
American Levi Leipheimer returns to the squad from Gerolsteiner, Portugal's Sergio Paulinho arrives from the former Wurth squad, and Lithuanian Tomas Vaitkus arrives from AG2R.
Adding to the team's managerial staff, Russian iron man Viatchslev "Eki" Ekimov will retire as a rider and become an Assistant Sports Manager along with Dirk Demol, Sean Yates, and Lorenzo Lapage.
"Eki is Eki - he is an amazing rider with one of the greatest palmares in the modern era," Bruyneel said. "We are very proud to have his cycling knowledge, experience, and leadership as part of the team as we move forward with great expectations for the opportunities ahead."
Looking ahead to the next year, Bruyneel said there is more still to come. "There are still changes that need to be made, and we can expect to probably sign two or three more riders to the roster."
Levi Leipheimer - Levi is not only one of the top American riders but one of the best riders in the pro peloton, period. 1st overall in the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré, 1st overall in the 2005 Tour of Germany, and 3rd overall in the 2001 Vuelta a España, Levi also has three top-ten finishes in the Tour de France and rode for Team USPS several years ago. "There was definitely interest in him returning to our team from both sides. His palmares are excellent - he won the Dauphine Libere this year and probably should have won it last year, too. He'll definitely be a Tour de France rider for us in 2007," noted Bruyneel.
Sergio Paulinho - 2004 was the breakout year for the 26-year old rider. 6th in the Tour of Portugal and then a silver medal in the road race at the Athens Olympics, he was soon signed by Liberty Seguros-Würth. "I think he's a talent and we know some things about him from Jose Azevedo. He rode a good Dauphine Libere this year and I think he will do well in our environment," said Bruyneel.
Tomas Vaitkus (AG2R) - the 2002 junior Time Trial world champion, he also won a stage in the 2006 Giro d'Italia. "He's a good one-day rider and a solid sprinter," said Bruyneel. "I expect him to primarily be one of our riders for the Classics."
cyclezealot
07-24-06, 03:12 PM
Fly the bike. Can't say I blame Floyd, nor do I condemn him for what he did. But, I appreciate loyalty and have been impressed by the rarity of Hincapie to lessen his chances to be Lance's domestique. I think that's part why Lance ended his career last year. To give his loyal domestique a chance for the ring before he turned 35.
Since I think George could have been on that podium without his bad luck at Roubaix, I hope George will still have his chance. Nothing against Floyd. Heck, the rest of the USPS team had not that loyalty, so why dump on Floyd.
Some of us change horses in mid-stream for the pot of gold, why others stay true to those who helped to nuture us.
Maybe Discovery will be impatient with George and not give him another opportunity as leader. But, if they do- I hope HIncapie can be a come back kid like LA.
The Paceline is saying that Discovery is going to have a big announcement about signing a rider tomorrow (Tues).
http://www.thepaceline.com/members/chrisb_item.aspx?cid=2587
That could be interesting.
I keep wondering what's going to happen with Vino. He signed a 3 year deal last year, but he has to be quite upset at how this season ended before it even started. I don't know if he has an escape clause to cover the inability to field a team for the tour.
Since Discovery is signing Leipheimer one has to assume they aren't going to sign Landis.
a_fire_inside
07-24-06, 05:53 PM
Since Discovery is signing Leipheimer one has to assume they aren't going to sign Landis.
I think this was a great move. I think the Disco train could help Levi greatly... maybe enough to keep the yellow jersey in the US for a ninth year (although it's a little early to say).
I don't believe Floyd will be able to compete for a podium spot next year because of the hip-replacement surgery. Maybe in the following years though.
looks like Levi was already getting a feel for what it will be like behind them. from here:
http://www.velonews.com/tour2006/gallery/articles/10506.0.html
http://www.velonews.com/images/gallery/10506.15872.f.jpgLooks like Levi was already
cyclezealot
07-25-06, 01:58 AM
Levi and Hincapie on one team. How does that work.
Was it not Lamond and Hinault as team mates. Makes training fun.
Karlotta
07-25-06, 04:53 AM
From a Velonews article:
"This is a Tour in a period of transition," said Discovery Channel director Johan Bruyneel. "We wore the yellow jersey and won a stage but our objectives were greater than that. Popovych is a rider with a lot of class who is also very aggressive. Right now, however, we will consider some changes that should allow us to be better next year. I believe we need to be more focused on having just one leader."
roadwarrior
07-25-06, 05:09 AM
Trek has input on these matters as well. Trek wants a representative for their market brand. They want 1) An American 2) A GC contender. Floyd Landis meets both requirements.
FL is building bridges that Armstrong never built. The French have warmed up to FL. Eddy Merckx loves the guy.
Merckx loves Armstrong, too.
Merckx loves Landis because Landis got Axel on the TdF winning team.
Man, it's amazing how the last thing that happened is only what people remember.
I've told this story before, but I was at an awards ceremony the fall after Lance won his first Tour. It was honoring athletes of differing sports (women's Olympic hocky team, women's World Cup team, a bunch of skiers, track people...)and Lance didn't win. A snowboarder won. A snowboarder beat out a guy who won the most difficult sporting event in the world after coming back from cancer.
Afterward, I stood and talked to him. And virtually nobody else did...a few, but not many. I look back on that now...
It was not that compelling for the masses until the press got a hold of it. Armstrong could barely get a cup of coffee after his first win. Remember, back then OLN was not on live every day. It was not in the general consciousness of America like now...
roadwarrior
07-25-06, 05:17 AM
This is true, and Tyler Hamilton left for the same reason: to see what heights he could scale on his own and never wonder, "What if..."
Landis said a year ago that he felt less pressure at a team leader at Phonak than he did at Postal; to paraphrase, anything short of a Tour de France win would be a failure for the Postal team, whereas at Phonak, he was just expected to lead the team as best he could.
Remember that when Landis went to Phonak, the team leader for GC's (TdF for example) was Tyler Hamilton.
merlinextraligh
07-25-06, 08:07 AM
Levi and Hincapie on one team. How does that work.
Was it not Lamond and Hinault as team mates. Makes training fun.
Levi and Hincapie on one team works fine. Hincapie goes back to what he does; Compete to win in the classics, and ride support in the TDF. The question is hows does Levi work with Popovych, Savoldelli, and Danielson. Savoldelli is a proven winner at the Grand Tour level, and both Popo and Danielson are newer riders on the upswing with GC aspirations. I'm not certainthat Levi ends up being their team leader for the TDF next year.
USAZorro
07-25-06, 09:50 AM
Levi and Hincapie on one team. How does that work.
Was it not Lamond and Hinault as team mates. Makes training fun.
Neither Levi nor George are Greg or Bernie. No comparison there.
Everyone seems to forget that Phonak did have a rider that seemed to be capable of giving Floyd support in the mountains - Gutierrez - but we all know what happened there. They have two seasons (because I think it's a stretch to think Floyd will recover top form following surgery) to find one or two riders to help there, and in a TTT.
donrhummy
07-25-06, 11:15 AM
Landis will NOT sign with Discovery as long as Bruyneel is there. It's not Lance he had a problem with (not saying he loved Lance, but he doesn't dislike him either from what I gather) but it has been VERY obvious from numerous interviews/quotes, etc that Landis HATES Bruyneel and the way he runs the team and treats the riders. Read "Lance Armstrong's War, " or read his interview in Bicycling mag, or almost any other mag where he mentions Bruyneel...he strongly dislikes him and his style.
rufvelo
07-25-06, 01:34 PM
...
I think I'd lose a little respect for Landis if he signed with discovery anyway....
I won't. He has earned more than enough respect already. He will surely step up and run things at Disco as Lance did, and Johann will have to just accept it. Look at the guy all pumped up when he stepped off his bike after dropping the entire field the other day - you don't want to mess with him :)
You have a limited active career and he may as well make the most money while he can - bad hip and everything. Only thing that will really hurt (everybody) is allegations of substance abuse. While the going is good make all the money you can - he deserves it.
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