As Team RadioShack looks forward to its debut and the upcoming season it will see many of the opposing riders that it has seen before. However just like the RadioShack riders, many old foes will be riding in new team kits. The restructuring of teams, riders and organizations will change the landscape of cycling for 2010 and there may be more change to come. As teams begin to finalize their respective rosters, surprises and unthinkable transactions have and are bound to take place. Where will Alberto Contador end up riding, possible suspension for Alejandro Valverde and the signing of the new world champion Cadel Evans to BMC all cloud the future for Team RadioShack.
BMC prior to the signing of Evans had the look of a real force in the spring classics due to the new additions of George Hincapie, Alessandro Ballan, Karsten Kroon and Marcus Burghardt. While RadioShack would love to win some one day classics they are more focused on stage races, so it seemed as though these two teams would rarely cross swords. That all changed when Evans bought out his last year of his contract and joined BMC. Now they have strong classics team and potential Tour winner. Not only did BMC basically buy a wild-card slot for the Tour de France, but it guaranteed a spot on Lance Armstrong and Company’s radar. With Evans, BMC has a legitimate shot at a Tour podium and a threat to Armstrong’s Tour success.
With Astana missing deadlines, not turning in proper paperwork and still have yet to be awarded a new ProTour license it seems more likely than ever that Contador will find his way to a new team. Even though Alexander Vinokourov has returned, one would think RadioShack would prefer that Contador stay on a weakened Astana team. With Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloden as potential Tour winners, director Johan Bruyneel would be able to use a strength in numbers tactic to beat an isolated Contador.
Contador knows this and has been looking at some teams that can provide him lieutenants capable of neutralizing multiple attacks. Team Sky, Garmin-Slipstream and Caisse d’Epargne all could be potential homes for the Tour winner. Sky is still missing a solid Tour contender and would jump at the chance to support Contador. Caisse d’Epargne is dreaming of a two-pronged attack featuring Valverde and Contador, but would settle for having just Contador if Valverde is suspended. Garmin would present the biggest challenge to RadioShack if they could lure the Tour champ away to ride alongside Christian Vande Velde and Bradley Wiggins. Of course the usual suspects of Andy and Franck Schleck of Saxo Bank and Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger of Liquigas will also provide stiff competition for the Tour, but do not think that their respective managers would hesitate to bring Contador on board.
Armstrong must feel confident that he can beat the Schlecks, Evans and any other rider for that matter. The one exception is Contador. Where “The Pistol” goes will begin to determine RadioShack’s game plan for the 2010 Tour de France.
By Thomas Mendonsa, staff writer
There’s an article on Velonews that seems to indicate Astana is making Contador a difficult to refuse contract extension offer. More this coming week apparently.
http://www.velonews.com/article/99942/contador-rumored-to-have-big-deal-with-astana
Translate the Comment
No denying that Contador has amazing skills but as we all know its the team around you that gets you to the podium.Just as in any sport from football to formula 1 you have to have the complete team to get your man to the front of the field and not only get to the front but stay there and all the money thrown at contadors feet wont win races unless his team is top notch.
Translate the Comment
Seriously, RadioShack cannot take BMC lightly. The Evans signing is a far bigger deal than anyone seems to realize. If he can podium repeatedly with a notoriously weak team, he is going to be a monster with BMC. We will have to see how the Giro goes.
Translate the Comment
Velonews is now reporting the *large* Astana multi-year contract offer to Contador is fantasy. It’s looking more and more like he will ride for Astana for 2010 only. I’m sure more to come…
http://www.velonews.com/article/99970/alberto-contador-s-brothermanager-says-he-s-close-to
Translate the Comment
Gentlemen I am sure i witnessed the same race (TDF 2009)you did. The same crew Johanne lured away to create a “new” is the same whining, tired and excuse making bunch who could’nt keep up with Contador! Finally, Astana Club must have seen the behind the scenes (weak)games Johanne and “cohorts” were playing and put the writing on the wall. I’m betting Radio Shack will end-up “Radio Hack”.
Good Luck, Larry
Translate the Comment
How can LA be so confident he can take the Schlecks? Didn’t Andy beat him last year??? Plus the 2010 Tour has more mountains and mountain top finishes and no team trial. Advantage: Andy Schleck.
Translate the Comment