Long before the owners of the pro cycling team sponsored by the Discovery Channel announced they were abandoning their search for sponsors, they had promised to race in the inaugural Tour of Missouri (Sept. 11-16).
Now they've announced that US cyclists Levi Leipheimer and George Hincapie will be racing in Missouri, as will Tour de France winner Alberto Contador.
Other Discovery teammates slated to race in Missouri include Americans Tony Cruz, Jason McCartney, and John Devine, and Fuyu Li (China) and Yaroslav Popovych (Ukraine).
In a press release posted at Paceline.com website (free registration) Leipheimer said:
“I have had an amazing 2007 season which started out when I won the Amgen Tour of California, followed by a successful showing at the Tour de Georgia and then finishing on the podium at the Tour de France. It is only fitting to close it out my season with a U.S. homecoming at the Tour of Missouri. I have always said that there is nothing that compares to racing at home and it will be very special for me to have guys like Alberto, Popo and George riding next to me in my final race as a Discovery Channel Team member.”
Who goes where
This is Discovery's last race in the US, although they're planning for a couple of more elsewhere before the season ends.
In the meantime, teammembers are trying to line up new teams. Leipheimer — whose resume includes US Postal, Rabobank and Gerolsteiner — is being sought by Predictor-Lotto. Meanwhile, Hincapie — 12 Tours de France — has been associated with T-Mobile.
Returning in future?
Apparently, Tailwind Sports is leaving a slight chance that they'll return, which the Cycling Fans Anonymous blogger finds totally bizarre.
“… First they say they're leaving because the state of cycling is so bad. Then they say that they might rethink this in a year and change their minds? How does that make any sense whatsoever? “
He found the possibility that Tailwind might return in the response to a question on the Paceline.com fan website:
“I think this is certainly a possibility. The experience is there so it is a matter of, once again, assembling the right group of staff and riders. I think the door is open for this to happen. We will have to wait and see what happens over the next 12 months.”
I'd have to agree with Cycling Fans. If conditions are so bad now, how are they going to improve in a year?
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