From a Reuters article by Gilles Le Roc’h:
Johan Bruyneel: “I can even tell you that we have found a sponsor for the team next season when U.S. Postal service stop their involvement,”
http://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=reu-dc&prov=reuters&type=lgns
Any speculation?
Russ
I’m guessing that Berry Floor will pick up the main sponsorship with another company as secondary.
Since Lance uses Dura Ace AX brakes anyway I guess he qualifies for the TSR team by default. Will the team have to use the same equipment next year? Not a big fan of their current uniforms…can they go back a year or two please.
as long as they didn’t use the Bunnyman Institute logo anywhere on their equipment…patent infringement city
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quick…someone grab a pair of wildebeast…tie one arm and one leg to each of the beasts (doesn’t matter the order) and we’ll interrogate toadpalmer…he’ll crack. One way or another.
no need to say who it is, given your swearing to secrecy.
But more interesting, is how it is that you have the inside line to this info? Are a you a personal friend of Sheryl Crow? or of Armstrong’s divorce attorney? And how do you manage this all while chasing literal wild dogs in Africa? That is far more interesting (to me) than who the sponsor actually might be…
What is Berry Floor anyway??? Like Pergo???
I see them still as a secondary, with Disney or Sony as the Primary. Maybe Comcast or Verizon, what with all the telecom (sorry) companies in Europe sponsoring.
Thanks … do they have it at Home Depot??? More importantly, does Lance have it in his house in Spain???
Dell Computers as the title sponsor, Berry Floor, Subaru, Trek, Nike, and so on…BTW, just my guess.
Dangit… Now you’ve got me curious. 
From their website:
"The name Berry immediately suggests flooring, in the widest sense of the term. The Berry Group has been the undoubted specialist in this field for twenty years.
"The Berry Group, with its head office in Belgium, is widely represented throughout the world. It has production units in Belgium, France, Norway and the United States. Distribution and sales are handled through a vast network with branches both in Europe and the United States, South America and Asia.
"In 2001, the group turned over 502 m € and employed 2021 persons.
"The widest range
"The Berry Group offers an almost complete range of floor coverings and heating elements. Among other products you will find needle-punched, tufted and woven fitted carpet, printed carpets and rugs. The choice is just as limitless from the point of view of intensity of use: there are products that are easy to maintain for the house and others for more intensive use, specially designed for office and shop spaces.
"Laminate floors, laminates that mimic ceramic and parquet tiles are also a Berry Group speciality. In recent years, laminates and parquet have been increasing in popularity. Why? Because they are pleasing products, easy to maintain and suitable for all types of interior. Added to this, more and more people are suffering from allergies and actively seek a dust-free environment. Laminates and parquet are ideal solutions in these cases as they ensure perfect hygiene in the house.
Discover more about the Berry Group by visiting www.berry.be"
I certainly hope Lance got a break on that floor of his…
(Edit: a search of www.homedepot.com produced a children’s rug manufactured by “Berry Tapis.” I don’t know if “Tapis” is a contraction for “tapistry,” but I’d bet “Berry” is the same Berry we’re discussing. It’s probably a subsidiary.
(I hate it when I get curious…)
my guess is nike and/or a major pharmaceutical firm. getting their name on lance’s chest for number seven would be a major marketing coup d’etat. although it would be awesome to see some stupid belgian tile company like latexco or a flemish supermarket like sarma or delhaize get the gig…
Okay mister toad, don’t tell us what it is, just tell us everytime we are wrong. Okay? No problem there, right?
My guesses, here they be in no real order:
NIKE,
SPRINT (or another phone company not already tied up),
Suburu (or a comparable car company),
SlowTwitch (we can all pitch in five bucks, right?)
Sports Illustrated (they write enough about him),
Miller light, (hey there could be worse choices.)
UPS Baby! I can see it now, the Turd Train!
Nike doesn’t need to become the title sponsor. They have Lance, the Tour and supplier to the team…everything gets covered. I think it’s Dell. Texas based company with plenty of dough. I think I remember reading that Mike Dell and Lance are friends, and Dell could want to see some growth overseas. Lance even said in interviews during TdG, and I’m paraphrasing, that it would probably be a computer techie type company based in the US that would want to expand business/marketing in Europe.
if i told you how i knew, i’d have to kill you.
my curious gopher friend,
puzzling it is (yoda voice).
toad
I always thought that playboy jerseys would look cool. pink with a black bunny. Get Bianchi as bike sponsors. Their light green frames would match as well. Could it be that the money from all the jerseys sold around the world would cover the expense? That would certainly increase the sports popularity in the US.
IBM Global Services - 60% of their business is in Europe.
Have you noticed the increased advertising by IBM on OLN during cycling events?
The blue train would remain as the ‘Big Blue’ train.
I always thought that Playboy jerseys would look cool. pink with a black bunny.
So, you’ve never seen the Playboy Extreme Team???
