Professional Cycling - Slipstream signs 3 new riders

News from Cyclingnews.com

Millar, Van de Velde and Zabriske


http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/jul07/jul30news2

I became a believer in Slipstream after Jason Donald's ride in the Tour of California prologue.

I'll be rooting for Slipstream, especially with the team's three most recent signings.

Best cycling jerseys in the UCI.

I'm not a huge fan of the jerseys (tastes differ), but I do like Vaughters and his mindset. Definitely a team to watch.

I'd love to see them earn a wildcard in next year's Tour, and a move to Pro Tour status by 2009...move over Disco/HP/Oracle, a new "American" team is in town ;)

It would be nice to have a non-DISCO / Lance Armstorng US team to root for.

It would be nice to have a non-DISCO / Lance Armstorng US team to root for.

Amen to that.

Popo is the only reason I've got any interest left in following Disco...his contract is up this year, but doubt he'll make a move off of the team.

I knew about Millar and Vande Velde, but now Zabriskie too. Wow, they're really taking a step up. It's great to see a fresh team on the way up. I wonder if they're going to stick with Felt bicycles. It would be nice to see Felts over there next year too - the best bang-for-the-buck bike out there. For whatever it's worth, I too like their jerseys.

A hurdle in signing riders that may be bigger than testing is the argyle team kits for this year.
"It's funny, most of the guys actually like it! And the uniform is going to much bolder next year," cautioned Vaughters.
"We are going to do some colours that are... this year was argyle, but the colors were subtle. Next year is going to pop!
The argyle is going to be in the tradition of great Scottish warriors!"
from: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/?id=/riders/2007/interviews/tour_jonathan_vaughters07

A hurdle in signing riders that may be bigger than testing is the argyle team kits for this year.
"It's funny, most of the guys actually like it! And the uniform is going to much bolder next year," cautioned Vaughters.
"We are going to do some colours that are... this year was argyle, but the colors were subtle. Next year is going to pop!
The argyle is going to be in the tradition of great Scottish warriors!"
from: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/?id=/riders/2007/interviews/tour_jonathan_vaughters07

I liked the understated colors this year. It would be ashame to change it.

Time to buy a Team Slipstream/Chipotle cycling cap now I guess :-)

It would be nice to have a non-DISCO / Lance Armstorng US team to root for.

What, you weren't rooting for Chris Horner or Fred Rodriguez at Predictor-Lotto? No love for Dave Z or Christian VdV over at CSC?

Broaden your horizons beyond what Vs. tells you to like. There are other Americans in the Tour.

Horner finished the Tour in 15th place overall and was a huge reason Cadel made the podium.

Horner's and Zabriskie's video diaries over at velonews.com were the best part of the coverage. Night and day personalities, from Horner's ebulent love of talking strategies and wearing his heart on his sleeve to DZ's dry comic wit boiled down to one line answers.

No offense, but nobody wants to hear a daily Levi or Hincapie video diary. Those guys are talented riders, but have no sense of fun about them, IMO.

What, you weren't rooting for Chris Horner or Fred Rodriguez at Predictor-Lotto? No love for Dave Z or Christian VdV over at CSC?

Broaden your horizons beyond what Vs. tells you to like. There are other Americans in the Tour.

Horner finished the Tour in 15th place overall and was a huge reason Cadel made the podium.

Horner's and Zabriskie's video diaries over at velonews.com were the best part of the coverage. Night and day personalities, from Horner's ebulent love of talking strategies and wearing his heart on his sleeve to DZ's dry comic wit boiled down to one line answers.

No offense, but nobody wants to hear a daily Levi or Hincapie video diary. Those guys are talented riders, but have no sense of fun about them, IMO.

Way to jump on someone for no reason. Key word: team.

What, you weren't rooting for Chris Horner or Fred Rodriguez at Predictor-Lotto? No love for Dave Z or Christian VdV over at CSC?

Broaden your horizons beyond what Vs. tells you to like. There are other Americans in the Tour.

Horner finished the Tour in 15th place overall and was a huge reason Cadel made the podium.

Horner's and Zabriskie's video diaries over at velonews.com were the best part of the coverage. Night and day personalities, from Horner's ebulent love of talking strategies and wearing his heart on his sleeve to DZ's dry comic wit boiled down to one line answers.

No offense, but nobody wants to hear a daily Levi or Hincapie video diary. Those guys are talented riders, but have no sense of fun about them, IMO.

I am actually a Barloworld/Liquigas fan since they ride Cannondales. I cannot stand Disco, so Vs. really had NO sway on me at all. I have rooted against Disco since I came to the conclusion that Lance was a fraud, who played the media to the "T", and was glorified while other riders were demonized.

And as the previous poster stated, there is only 1 US Pro Tour Team - Team Disco. So if I wanted to root for an American team, I was SOL.

Way to jump on someone for no reason. Key word: team.

So because the team's registered from Austin, TX, that means they are "America's Team?"

Please now.

It's funny that the "American" Discovery team had just as many American riders as CSC and Lotto did.

Last year's Tour featured CSC with 3 Americans (Julich, DZ, VdV), Lotto with 2 (Rodriguez, Horner), Gerosteiner with 1 (Levi), Phonak with 1 (Landis), and Discovery with just 1 (Hincapie).

Yet, due to sponsorships and buddying up to Lance, we who get coverage on Versus were all fed some crud about Hincapie having a shot at the podium last year. That was funny.

Cycling teams are international at that level (Euskatel being about as provincial as they get). Maintaining that such a conglomeration as Discovery is an "American" team is just drinking the Kool-Aid.

Not that Discovery aren't a great team, but I understand how the US sports media needs someone to root for to reel in the viewers. If they are going to get all nationalistic about an international sport, they should balance their "American" coverage across all the American riders. If not, then just cover the whole race, please.


[edit.... sorry for the threadjack.... Go Team Slipstream! Woo-hoo!! Burrito power!! :D )

So because the team's registered from Austin, TX, that means they are "America's Team?"

Yes

Mmmm. I love burritos.

You guys are talking like slipstream is going to be in the tour next year, they are not a pro tour team and there are only 2 wildcard entries. Might want to see if they get one of those first.

You guys are talking like slipstream is going to be in the tour next year, they are not a pro tour team and there are only 2 wildcard entries. Might want to see if they get one of those first.

+1...if Barloworld is able to keep Robbie Hunter and that goofy looking stork-like climber...Soler (couldn't remember the name), then I'd say they have a good shot at earning a wildcard.

You guys are talking like slipstream is going to be in the tour next year, they are not a pro tour team and there are only 2 wildcard entries. Might want to see if they get one of those first.

I don't think anyone said they WOULD be in the Tour next year... and I think everyone already knew there are traditionally only 2 wildcard spots(though with some of the things ASO has said about not working with the UCI next year, who knows?) We're HOPING they're a wildcard. Ive liked them ever since this year's ToC, and while I knew that Vaughters wanted to move the team forward, I didn't think it would be quite this extreme or fast. So do we think DZ will be their GC man in the 1 week races? He(DZ) has said he thinks he could be a real threat in them, and after his Giro climbing I don't doubt it.

Best cycling jerseys in the UCI.

The orange kills it for me. I'd love this version, though:

A hurdle in signing riders that may be bigger than testing is the argyle team kits for this year.
"It's funny, most of the guys actually like it! And the uniform is going to much bolder next year," cautioned Vaughters.
"We are going to do some colours that are... this year was argyle, but the colors were subtle. Next year is going to pop!
The argyle is going to be in the tradition of great Scottish warriors!"
from: http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/?id=/riders/2007/interviews/tour_jonathan_vaughters07

That's what I like to hear! LOUDER JERSEYS FTW!!!

So because the team's registered from Austin, TX, that means they are "America's Team?"

Please now.

It's funny that the "American" Discovery team had just as many American riders as CSC and Lotto did.

Last year's Tour featured CSC with 3 Americans (Julich, DZ, VdV), Lotto with 2 (Rodriguez, Horner), Gerosteiner with 1 (Levi), Phonak with 1 (Landis), and Discovery with just 1 (Hincapie).

Yet, due to sponsorships and buddying up to Lance, we who get coverage on Versus were all fed some crud about Hincapie having a shot at the podium last year. That was funny.

Cycling teams are international at that level (Euskatel being about as provincial as they get). Maintaining that such a conglomeration as Discovery is an "American" team is just drinking the Kool-Aid.

Not that Discovery aren't a great team, but I understand how the US sports media needs someone to root for to reel in the viewers. If they are going to get all nationalistic about an international sport, they should balance their "American" coverage across all the American riders. If not, then just cover the whole race, please.


[edit.... sorry for the threadjack.... Go Team Slipstream! Woo-hoo!! Burrito power!! :D )

Uh, Discovery is an American company, hence the team is considered American. The entire team, as opposed to the TdF squad, has more Americans as well.

pez is saying that they are going to have a recent paris-roubaix winner as well.. we'll know sometime soon !

Go Team Burrito, headed for the big time! Hopefully Chipotle stays on as a sponsor and the Argyle stays.

pez is saying that they are going to have a recent paris-roubaix winner as well.. we'll know sometime soon !

Recent Paris-Roubaix winners: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris-Roubaix#Winners)

2007 Stuart O'Grady
2006 Fabian Cancellara
2005 Tom Boonen
2004 Magnus Backstedt
2003 Peter Van Petegem

Let the speculation begin.

(Fabian, Millar, and Z on a TTT? Sweet.)

pez is saying that they are going to have a recent paris-roubaix winner as well.. we'll know sometime soon ! I'm also interested to see which Paris-Roubaix winner Slipstream signed.

Vaughters really has been busy recently!

o'grady or magnus FTW

Magnus is the rumor. Any word on how Stuart is doing?

Anyone know the prognosis on O'Grady's recovery?

EDIT: sorry to step on toes, Zorro. Posted at the same time.

dang.. magnus, millar, zabriskie, and Vande Velde would make a bad ass team. I wish/hope they get Hincapie as well..

A couple of things here:

As to whether Slipstream gets the invite for the Wildcard:
Vaughters has been working with the ASO, meeting with them and asking advise as to how to get onto the Tour. They are gunning for a Pro Tour slot in 2009, and when asked if they would go Pro next year, Vaughters stated that based on advise from ASO/UCI, he was told to grow a bit more slowly, and wait until 2009. I have a feeling, that based on the testing program Vaughters has created, and the publicity ganrered from it, after this year's tour, they are a shoe-in for the Wild-Card spot.

Secondly - Barloworld is going to get a Pro-Tour invite after this year. They have signed SOler and Hunter has already promised to bring a better sprinters team to the Tour next year. He sounds pretty confident that they are going to be back at the Tour next year, and I bet this is because he has been given assurances from either Claudio or others as to the prospects for Barloworld next year.

I wish I could get a Slipstream jersey for under $90!

Go Heels !

Next time I'm around a Chipotle, I will buy a burritto in support of the team... and my stomach.

No PEDs? If they get into the TdF, Slipstream has a great shot at the Lantern Rouge.

Recent Paris-Roubaix winners: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris-Roubaix#Winners)

2007 Stuart O'Grady
2006 Fabian Cancellara
2005 Tom Boonen
2004 Magnus Backstedt
2003 Peter Van Petegem

Let the speculation begin.

(Fabian, Millar, and Z on a TTT? Sweet.)

I'd guess Magnus Backstedt. Boonen and de Peet are stitched up for next year IIRC, plus I can't see CSC letting the last two P-R winners go.

I am actually a Barloworld/Liquigas fan since they ride Cannondales. I cannot stand Disco, so Vs. really had NO sway on me at all. I have rooted against Disco since I came to the conclusion that Lance was a fraud, who played the media to the "T", and was glorified while other riders were demonized.

And as the previous poster stated, there is only 1 US Pro Tour Team - Team Disco. So if I wanted to root for an American team, I was SOL.

If Barloword/Liquigas had any choice at all, they would not be riding Cannondales!!!!!!

Go Heels !Now I can never root for Slipstream again.

Go TwinSix!



And Go Duke!

Go TwinSix!



And Go Duke!

I'm wearing this jersey today. Wife bought it for me for xmas. Love it

Sadly, I got mine one size too small...oops.


/darn 5 extra lbs.

Uh, Discovery is an American company, hence the team is considered American. The entire team, as opposed to the TdF squad, has more Americans as well.

Not true. CSC the company is based in California, but the team is.....I believe Danish? NBA, MLB, and NFL teams have players from all across the country, the world even, but they're still the New York Yankees or the Chicago Bulls. People need a team to root for, not just individuals.

That Discovery Channel is somewhat of an American icon doesn't hurt the relationship between the team and Americans, but that's not what makes it American.

Ok. Somebody help me out here. A) An American pro level team has now signed a few European pros to their squad. B) It sounds like they will not be in the Pro Tour just yet. so C) What races can they enter then? Are the classics off limits and if so, why would a European Pro-Tour rider jump ship to join this team? More moola? anybody?

Well they just cant race the top pro tour races. There are thousands of races still to be raced.

Cassadamuis-I know what you mean, in the Stanley Cup final, this past year. Everyone here in Ontario was rooting for Ottawa to win, even though Anahiem had way more Canadians on the team.

Looks like Magnus Backstedt is on board as well.

And Julian Dean is coming too.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/aug07/aug07news

Nice to have a non-Lance, non-Popo, US team to root for! I am a big fan of Vaughters as well as Davey Z and David Millar!
~Nick

No PEDs? If they get into the TdF, Slipstream has a great shot at the Lantern Rouge.

Speaking of which, the Lanterne Rouge Blog is identifying Magnus as a former Lanterne Rouge. I don't see Magnus' name amongst former winners, what am I missing?

Edit:, now I understand, Magnus was the Lanterne Rouge for a single day following stage 4 of the 2006 Tour, but never red in Paris.