Paco97

I really like Hincapie with Columbia and I hope he stays with them, but it wouldn't surprise if he jumps ship and head to TRS. After watching his interview on Versus, I'd say he will more than likely jump ship.

Laggard

Can I be the first to suggest that TRS maybe load up on something other than 30-40 year old riders?

sykerocker 

Go back a few postings, I've already mentioned the thought. Figure that the currently bandied about roster is for 2010. I seriously expect to see younger talent starting with the 2011 season.

Right now TRS (ghod, I always want to put an 80 after that!) main job is to convince the sponsor that they made the right move, and they'll want to continue on after 2010. Winning lots of races comes second. Yes, winning lots of races helps the convincing, but it's not necessarily mandatory.

sayn3ver

Laggard,

I am with you. Though I do not pretend to know about the intricacies of professional cycling, it just seems to me like a few sturdy young work mules would end up serving as a better base for a single GC contender team than a bunch of thirty year olds with experience and less leg. Unless of course 2010 has the TTT again with the same set of rules. Then it maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea.

txags92

Look at it this way. JB is the best tactical team director in the business. LA is probably the smartest tactical rider in the peleton today. You know the team won't be hurting for money for salaries. So as a rider looking around at options, if you know you aren't going to be a GC contender next year, why wouldn't you want to ride for a team where you know you will be in the thick of competition every day and get your name mentioned on TV every time you lead LA down the road? I think LA and JB will have their pick of just about any rider they want, and the team will wind up being full of solid experienced cyclists who know tactical racing along with a few young guys to help share the workload.

Contador has won two TDFs...one where the yellow jersey fell into his lap due to the withdrawal of the leader, and one where he benefitted from the support and assistance of the strongest team in the race. He is clearly the strongest climber in the world right now and arguably among the best time trialers...but how will he do when the strongest riders are riding against him instead of for him, and when he and his new team are up against a much stronger team full of veterans whose goal will be to bait him into making a tactical mistake on every stage? I can't wait to find out next year.

LTJ

And may the haterade drinking commence!!

botto 

DMF 

Aren't their contracts with Bruyneel rather than with the team? JB won't fire them, for sure.

And add Gregory Rast to the list. I've heard no positive indication, but they'd be fools to let him go. The man's a bulldozer!

DMF 

Lance mentioned Tyler Phinney and said he wants him in the development program.


The problem with discussing young guys is that none of us know who they are .. yet. Rumors only swirl around well-known guys.

DMF 

Riders don't reach the peak of endurance until their late 20s, so those 30 year olds are in their prime for stage racing.

botto 

stage racers peak at +/-28.

Boleyn

But those 30 year olds are 35, 36, 37....