Lance Armstrong believes there is a “high” probability he will start a professional team of his own for the 2010 season. The American expects the announcement to come this July, after he races the Tour de France.
“I would like to have my own team: to be the owner, director and… cyclist. Because if I have a team I also want to race. It does not necessarily have to be the Giro and Tour, but only when I have the desire,” he said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport after the Tour of the Gila stage race in the USA.
Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, announced his comeback to the sport last fall. He joined his former team manger Johan Bruyneel at team Astana and announced his support of an Under 23 development team.
“The name? That of the principal sponsor. Its probability? High. You will know it in July. Even if it is hard to convince sponsors to give money with the economic crisis and news of doping.”
Armstrong travelled from USA and arrived in Rome this morning. Tomorrow, he will meet with Italy’s Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, to present his cancer foundation’s programme.
From Rome Armstrong travels to Venice for the Centenary Giro d’Italia, May 9 to 31. He will lead the team with USA’s Levi Leipheimer, winner of Tour of the Gila and Castilla y León.
The whole thing with Astana is a bit odd. My guess is that the key reason that this is the case is because of Bruyneel and that Trek is the Astana bike sponsor and contracts were already in place when Armstrong made his announcement of his return late last year.
When Armstrong did make the announcment last year, there was some speculation that this is what he was going to do - set up his own team and have full control. That’s more in keeping with the way he prefers to operate. I say that in a good way, because he does seem to be passionate about nurturing along the next generation of American road races( Taylor Phinney et al), and having the team based in the U.S. with U.S. sponsors makes much more sense.
I wonder if he could branch out and form a triathlon team. Seems like there is a lot of potential to form a Livestrong team and get his message out given the rising popularity of triathlon these days. Even though it’s an individual sport, I’m still a little surprised there aren’t more triathlon teams out there. Plus, he could tap into Carmichael’s stable of star triathletes for starters…
I wonder if he could branch out and form a triathlon team. Seems like there is a lot of potential to form a Livestrong team and get his message out given the rising popularity of triathlon these days.
That could be a distinct possibility as well - given Armstrongs past and some of his connections with the tri-scene. However, historically, the big corporate dollars have gone to road cycling, and triathlon has really been dealing with the scraps in this regards. But I think we may be at a bit of a tipping point with triathlon. The critical mass of participants is at the point now where it makes it more attactive. The problem is we have just entered a bit of a down cycle of sponsorship and marketing spending due to the economy, so it may be a few years before this really starts to take off.
I just wonder what sort of riders he will hire for his team. Will this be a USPS reunion tour, or will he surround himself with younger, up and coming riders. I wonder if Hincapie will make a return to Lance’s side…
I just wonder what sort of riders he will hire for his team. Will this be a USPS reunion tour, or will he surround himself with younger, up and coming riders. I wonder if Hincapie will make a return to Lance’s side…
Not sure how long everyone’s contracts are for but assuming they are all up next year I would guess that Levi would be there with Lance. The real question is where does Contador end up next year.
What will also happen is that they will lose Contador, because he almost assurely commands a large salary, and he surely isn’t happy with Levi and Lance on the team, both of which would be more than happy to be in yellow come July.
And last I checked, we weren’t drawing up succession plans!!! That talk is so 1850s.