Professional Cycling For the Fans - Team BMC - Leipheimer and Hincapie?

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monosierra
08-11-09, 09:54 AM
Haven't seen a BMC winning the Tour since Landis in '06.

Rumours link Hincapie and Leipheimer to growing BMC team

By:Cycling News (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rumours-link-hincapie-and-leipheimer-to-growing-bmc-team)

"No transfers confirmed as BMC looks toward future Tour de France participation

Rumours that Columbia-HTC's George Hincapie and Astana's Levi Leipheimer are entertaining the possibility of joining the fast-growing, American-based BMC Racing Team continue to circulate as the hustle and bustle of rider-team transfers for the 2010 season builds momentum.

The Professional Continental team is based in Leipheimer's hometown of Santa Rosa, California. Although Leipheimer could not confirm what team he will race for in 2010, he acknowledged his fondness of BMC's program. "I can't make any formal announcement about my next team right now," Leipheimer said to Cycingnews. "As you know, we are both based in Santa Rosa, and I think very highly of them so I'm not surprised by these 'rumblings'."

Leipheimer's current contract with Astana expires at the end of 2009, leaving the path open for the three-time Tour of California winner to make a transition from the team where he has ridden for the past two years. "He [Leipheimer] has a contract until the end of 2009," Philipe Maertens, Astana's press officer, told Cyclingnews on Tuesday. "So he will find a new contract either with Astana or another team."

Hincapie is in a position similar to Leipheimer's, with his contract to Columbia-HTC due to end this season. Cyclingnews spoke to Hincapie about his future plans, but the 36-year-old declined to comment on where he would ride next year.

If Leipheimer and Hincapie sign with BMC, it will not be the first time that they have ridden on the same team. Both riders have spent periods of their professional careers with the former US Postal/Discovery Channel formation. Hincapie rode for the American squad for ten years (1997-2007), while Leipheimer was a member of US Postal for two years (2000-2001) and Discovery Channel in 2007."


johnny99
08-11-09, 10:49 AM
How many American teams will there be in the Tour de France next year?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rumours-link-hincapie-and-leipheimer-to-growing-bmc-team

Laggard
08-11-09, 11:56 AM
Team Geritol.

Hopefully they're not given a place in the pro tour.


USAZorro
08-11-09, 12:20 PM
Merging threads.

embankmentlb
08-11-09, 12:22 PM
Maybe Armstrong will realize it's not all about Lance as he doe's the US crit circuit with Team Shack instead of the Tour.

chrisvu05
08-11-09, 12:29 PM
Maybe Armstrong will realize it's not all about Lance as he doe's the US crit circuit with Team Shack instead of the Tour.

you're crazy if you think the Tour won't extend and invitation to whatever team Lance is on. It instantly boosts the TV viewership and thus boosts the revenue generated.

monosierra
08-11-09, 12:32 PM
you're crazy if you think the Tour won't extend and invitation to whatever team Lance is on. It instantly boosts the TV viewership and thus boosts the revenue generated.

The Tour director was gushing over how much LA's return has boosted his race.

USAZorro
08-11-09, 12:33 PM
you're crazy if you think the Tour won't extend and invitation to whatever team Lance is on. It instantly boosts the TV viewership and thus boosts the revenue generated.

True. The only thing that could derail it is a doping scandal. (which I'm not insinuating is going to be the case).

Keith99
08-11-09, 03:53 PM
you're crazy if you think the Tour won't extend and invitation to whatever team Lance is on. It instantly boosts the TV viewership and thus boosts the revenue generated.

I wouldn't go quite that far. But I do find it hard to picture a team Lance would be seriously riding for which would not have enough firepower that the Tour management would not invite them.

Dubbayoo
08-11-09, 07:12 PM
Gee, invite Lance's team or Skil-Shimano? tough call.

KidSpinner
08-11-09, 07:54 PM
Personally I'd take the rumors with a grain of salt. For Levi it makes plenty sense in that as pointed out, they are based in his hometown. The second and bigger point is that this could be Levi's last chance to lead a team. If he goes to TRS as he already knows, his chances of being the boss is all but nil. I believe that in one respect it is a great opportunity for Levi since he's one of the good people in the peloton and deserves his chance. Unfortunately I doubt they could build a strong enough team to support him so would it really be worth his while? TRS likely will pay more as well.

Hincapie on the hand stands to gain nothing out of this. If you were to leave HTC why would you go to what is still an unproven entity. TRS makes the most sense if he is to leave HTC in that the money would be better and the team likely stronger. It doesn't hurt that he and Lance are good mates. My bet is he sits put at HTC.

changes2008
08-13-09, 01:11 PM
(which I'm not insinuating is going to be the case).

*wink* *wink*

perspixx
08-14-09, 11:04 AM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/14/lance-armstrong-george-hincapie-radioshack Says here that Hincapie is joining Lance's new team, which is no real surprise.

yellowjeep
08-16-09, 01:42 PM
What do you guys make of this little tidbit from LAs Twitter?

@LeviLeipheimer Leadville 2010, bro. What's the wager?? A month of your @teamradioshack salary to Livestrong?

hos13
09-01-09, 07:41 AM
no need to guess anymore (http://velonews.com/article/97306/hincapie-confirms-to-bmc-with-ballan-kroon-burghardt), Good luck Big George. :thumb:

monosierra
09-01-09, 09:29 AM
I guess Big George is going to be team leader this time around.

Laggard
09-01-09, 09:33 AM
I guess Big George is going to be team leader this time around.

Why wouldn't Ballan be the team leader?

save10
09-01-09, 09:43 AM
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/leipheimer-signs-with-radioshack-for-two-years

Laggard
09-01-09, 10:16 AM
So, is BMC hoping to move beyond being a continental team and possibly getting a Pro Tour license?

hopsing08
09-01-09, 10:42 AM
So, is BMC hoping to move beyond being a continental team and possibly getting a Pro Tour license?

lets hope, otherwise that would seem really strange for him to go to BMC after being on Columbia HTC. if it stays continental then i would consider that his retirement announcement. just an active retirement. we will see. just strange that he would go from having a great TDF, then win the National Championship, and go to a continental team, whether they are pro next year or not.

Laggard
09-01-09, 10:53 AM
if it stays continental then i would consider that his retirement announcement. just an active retirement. .

Agreed. It's not a bad way to end you career. Ballan though is near his peak but has said that this move is a personal thing. Something about wanting to learn English and live abroad.

FastFreddy
09-01-09, 03:45 PM
lets hope, otherwise that would seem really strange for him to go to BMC after being on Columbia HTC. if it stays continental then i would consider that his retirement announcement. just an active retirement. we will see. just strange that he would go from having a great TDF, then win the National Championship, and go to a continental team, whether they are pro next year or not.

To put a finer point on it, BMC is a Pro Continental team which is one step up from Continental but still not Pro Tour.

erader
09-01-09, 07:44 PM
the fact of the matter is big george's career is about over. what did he win this year besides the national jersey?

ed rader