Road Bike Racing - Freire: future Postie???

Apparently, Oscar Freire isn't happy with Mapei and contract negotiations and the way Mapei is providing a lack of support in races. I reaad in VN this:
"Just like what happened in 2000, the team left him alone at the decisive moment. It seems Mapei is more interested in seeing an Italian win before Freire," he continued, adding that teams such as Domo or U.S. Postal Service would be ideal for the two-time world champion."

This would be sweet as hell if the Postal got someone like him.

Here's the link: http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/1975.0.html

postal can't afford to keep Levi or Tyler (ok, they want to be GC riders too). Friere would be expensive.
Hincapie would be domestique to Friere in all the 1 day races. Don't think he would like that.
Postal likes to hire alot of Americans and TDF helpers. Friere has never gone more than 8 days in a row racing and would not compete in the TDF.

postal can't afford to keep Levi or Tyler
Tyler signed with CSC/Tiscali last year (at end of TdF?).

Marty

Freire on Postal? Not in this lifetime.

Freire is the two-time world champion and a top-level classics sprinter. Postal is completely focused on the TdF and Lance Armstrong. There'd be nowhere for him to fit.

More likely, Freire could find his way into an Italian team like Tacconi Sport that's looking to upgrade inside of division 1, or Aqua e Sapone when Cipo retires. I think a team like Coast, when Zulle and Escartin retire probably next year is a more liekly stop, or even a Spanish team like Banesto or ONCE, seeking to recapture past glories.

Not Postal. Postal IS Armstrong. It exists to support Armstrong in one race. When Armstrong retires, it will cease to exist. Freire wants a future.

Money talks. Riders have to pay rent just like you and me and have to worry about futures more than us.

USPS doesn't have an impressive roster and I wonder why? (I know)

They took Heras and no one would have guessed that.

George may be on his way out to another team next year, He is not very happy with the organization. J. Weltz leaving along with key riders this years. It is not the same.

If Freire goes anywhere it'll be to a spanish team like Banesto or Kelme, or maybe ONCE. The guy is twice world champ, n way would he go to USPS- he isn't going to want to be a domestique for Armstrong and they have a classics captain. Tacconi would also be a good bet.

USPS has a lot of issues that are not coming out to the press. Thank God.

It would not surprise me if they opt to hire Freire for points.

What about George? Well as many may know he is loyal. Maybe too loyal and he is making it be heard. I would hate to see him go but cyclists have a short shelf life and he has to take full advantage of his demand now.

George is the type of rider that would do well in any team. Spanish, Italian or northern European.

I would like to see Team Coast actually ride up to their potential and pick George up next year. However Team Coast is having major problems getting a head start.