This story first broke here is beginning to gain some steam.
USA Professional team Slipstream has big plans for next year and gives
some hope for a new future of pro-cycling. Under the management of
ex-pro rider Jonathan Vaughters, assisted by a.o. ex-pro Frankie
Andreu, the team seems to have (pre-)contracted already several
top-riders for next year. Named are a.o.
Marcus Backstedt (Swe) = Liquigas; David Cañada Gracia (Spa) and David
Millar (GBr) = both Saunier; Christophe Laurent (Fra) = Crédit
Agricole; David Zabriskie (Usa) = Team Riis; Martijn Maaskant (Ned) =
Rabo Continental, who should have signed for 2 years leider, while also
Jérôme Pineau (Fra) and Thomas Voeckler (Fra) = both Bouyges Telecom
seems to be contracted.
New sponsor of the team will be Chipotle (a Mexican restaurant chain)
and as co-sponsor ABN AMRO is named. The budget should be around 8
million Euro next year.
They aim for a doping-free cycling world. Each year - each rider will
go through 50 bloodtests and 50 urine tests; which seems to be much
more (5 times) than the average team is doing. The costs (around 20.000
dollar per rider) are payed by the Agency for Cycling Ethics, which got
their money from gifts and (co-)sponsors.
This team will not apply for a Pro Tour licence as - in their opinion -
the participation in the 3 Major Tours it too much for the team. But
they are now lobying already for a wild-card in the biggest event, The
Tour de France.
Clearly the team is trying to gain some French Horsepower to earn a bid in the 2008 Tour de France.
Who was the guy they tried to sign that was the final wildcard: The team was hoping to sign Hincapie as the major coup. But Big George could not pass up the promise of a Classic win with T-Mobile.
Andreu being on the team is news to me. He still is not listed on the staff roster. He still carries too much baggage in the PR side of the business so I would be surprised if he made the team.
Depending on how Levi does he may sign with this team or go Euro gain if Johan and the guys cannot find new sponsors.
Contracts cannot be official (per UCI rules) until sometime during the Tour de France. So wait for the announcement.
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