Discovery Team is here in Austin for their annual winter training camp. Johan was interviewed on local radio this week.
The most interesting part to me is Lance is riding with them. No big deal I guess since he lives here. But if he goes to Europe to train then one has to start wondering just exactly how does he define “retirement”.
I would not be shocked or surprised if he rides the Tour again.
won’t happen. I will bet you all the money in my pocket right now that Lance will not un-retire.
isn’t Lance still connected in some way with the team? Not so much as a rider but something behind the scenes? Maybe a part owner or something?
I think they have since left town.
They came to my work on Thursday; my employer is a sponsor. They were gracious enough to say hello, have a discussion.
Trek was there, too, talking about how they use technology to develop products. They passed around Lance’s TT frame (ttx7). No, it is not a rebadged Litespeed, (ha, ha).
The Nike rep had an interesting discussion with the team. Lot of Belgians on the team. Max Van Heeswijk had some interesting comments on sprinting. Tom Danielson talked about the Tour de Georgia.
The Nike rep had an interesting comment regarding the team. He had Pavel Padrnos and Trent Lowe stand side by side. Pavel is a bigger guy, and Trent is small; talked about how Pavel was the striker, while Trent was the climbing guy.
The team is currently owned by CSE (Capital Sports & Entertainment) and Lance is a part owner of CSE in partnership will Bill Stapleton.
Lance is still on contract with Discovery for two more years and will be involved in the team in someway, probably not as a DS but as an advisor of some sort…
I think he will be at the Solvang camp as well - the real training camp for the whole team.
Solvang as in CA?
When is this?
they do a team camp every year in january in Solvang just above Santa Barbara. I think this year it’s near the end of January.
Is the date on their website. I’m close by and would love to check that out.
last year it was January 11-21. I think it will be similar this year. I’m not sure if it’s on their site. The thing about the camp is that you don’t really see much unless you happen to be on the same roads as the team trains on. i think last year they normally split the team in two and have the Grand Tour guys train together and the classics guys together. no idea where George will end up… ha
Wonder if any of the local clubs would have their schedules and routes.
Damn! I got it wrong. I guessed that guy who wears pink and always gets the “look at the determination on his face” comment from Phil Ligget.
Whats his name? I can never remember the guy who comes in 3rd.
bump
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the German guy.
“Wonder if any of the local clubs would have their schedules and routes.”
I dont think they make that info available. Usually when someone tries to ride with them they up the pace and drop them. One person who cant ride can destroy a whole season.
and will be involved in the team in someway, probably not as a DS but as an advisor of some sort… <<
Yes he still has some input. He got Johann to keep Tricky Beltran, who was contract-less until recently.
clm
He (armstrong) is part owner of tailwind sports that manages the team.
Lance talked about this subject in a Dec.8th Velonews interview: