Speaking of good interviews (see Granny's interview below), VeloNews has a one-on-one with Levi Leipheimer:

Following Discovery Channel boss Johan Bruyneel to the new-look Astana team will keep Leipheimer in the familiar - and winning - team ambiance, where he'll join defending Tour champ Alberto Contador with a two-year contract.

Leipheimer hopes to hit the repeat button in 2008, with the Tour of California, the Tour de France and a chance at Olympic gold in Beijing top his list of goals for the upcoming season.

And I Say Hello...
On the day, 9/11, that has unfortunately become synonymous with the United States, the American cycling community will begin to say goodbye to Discovery Channel Pro Cycling at the inaugural Tour of Missouri.

Although the stage has been set for a 6 day long swan song, there exist the real danger that this infant race may never live up to its initial offering. So while we're all saying goodbye to America's lone Pro Tour team, let's make sure that we're not saying goodbye to the growth of the American racing circuit as well.

Today's 137km out and back in Kansas City, was won by Toyota-United's Ivan Dominguez. And when Ivan wins, he ususally does so in a fast and convincing manner.

From Sean Weide (Communications Director for Toyota-United):

"With 250 meters to go, Dominguez was still 20 riders back, but moving up fast. He went from the right side of the road, across to the center, then attacked on the left to earn his 13th victory of the season, the team’s 35th this year and the 90th win overall for Toyota-United in its second season.

Dominguez likewise seemed surprised by his effort and victory saying, “Coming out of the last corner I was in 40th wheel and I did not expect to pass so many guys so fast. I realized it was a long way but I said to myself, ‘I’m going to try!’ ”

Photo: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

Having read all the accounts of Tailwind Sports' decision to fold up Discovery Channel and walk away from the European cycling table, I was frankly disappointed that the decision seemed to be so business-like, so cut and dry. Although Lance Armstrong and his partners made it a point to relay the difficulty with which they made their decision, it seemed as vacuous as one of Armstrong's looks while climbing in the Pyrenees.

The tradition, the sentimentality, the undevoted fan loyalty, and the responsibility to the riders Armstrong once battled with, wasn't enough to sway the decision in favor of staying in the game, despite the fact that "...it wasn't about sponsorship."

Rather, the decision hinged on the profitability of investing in a machine that is in need of fixing. "We couldn't in good conscience ask someone to spend the sort of money that it would require to sponsor the team in the current situation. It's not an environment conducive in our opinion to make an investment," said Bill Stapleton, general manager of Tailwind Sports.

But juxtaposed against the Unibet.com season long saga [which ended with Unibet folding today after being effectively sanctioned against racing any of the big races despite having paid for a Pro Tour license], the inability of governing bodies, race organizers, and an organization of team managers to agree on superflous matters, and the persistent battle to clean up the sport, it is difficult to argue against Tailwind's less than popular decision.

In the United States, civil engineers have long recognized the need to address the crumbling infrastructure of our cities. Perhaps Discovery Channel's departure can be likened to the Minneapolis Bridge collapse; the ultimate signal to cycling's governing bodies like the UCI, AIGCP, ASO, IPCT, etc., that the infrastructure is in dire need of fixing.

Although highly speculated, but not formally confirmed or announced, George Hincapie will not go down in the books as the first Discovery Channel rider to find a new employer [T-Mobile]. That distinction belongs to Antonio Cruz, who inked a new contract with American Continental Professional team BMC. Right on the heels of his signing was that of the precocious talent, Slovenian Jani Brajkovic who will ride with T-Mobile next year.

The movement of riders from the soon to be defunct Discovery Channel Professional Cycling team isn't quite on par or as dramatic as the fire sale that engulfed the Florida Marlins after their 1997 World Series victory [afterall, its not like the team won and then disappeared the next year], but for fans of American cycling its close.

The nationalistic pride that once accompanied following an American team in the European peloton is quickly being reduced to keeping tabs on individuals. Twenty years later American cycling is back to where it began.

You can't beat a major stage race to pique your interest in professional cycling, and we get just that May 12-June 3 with the 2007 Giro d'Italia.

The Discovery Channel Team has just announced its roster for the race -- sans Ivan Basso, who left the team last week in light of what has become never-ending doping allegations (however, his bio still appears on the team website).

But let's focus on the riders who will ride, starting with team leader Yaroslav Popovych.

The full team:
1. Yaroslav Popovych
2. Volodomyr Bileka
3. Steve Cummings
4. Pavel Padrnos
5. Jose Luis “Chechu” Rubiera
6. Tomas Vaitkus
7. Brian Vandborg
8. Jurgen Van Goolen
9. Matthew “Whitey” White

According to the Daily Peloton, the nine Discovery Channel riders have started 58 Grand Tours, 25 in the Giro d’Italia. Popovych, a 27-year-old Ukrainian, has competed in five Grand Tours (3 Giros and twice in the Tour de France), finishing third and fifth in the 2003 and 2004 Giros. Popovych also won the best young rider competition at the 2005 Tour de France, finishing 12th overall.

“Basso leaving our squad was certainly a loss but is not a disaster,” said Sean Yates, Discovery Channel lead Sports Director for the Giro (that's interesting in itself). “Popo was always preparing to do a good Giro and I think he is on form. If all goes right for him I think he can be on the podium like he has been in the past.”

Noticeable by their absence (obviously, we'll see them in the Tour de France beginning July 7 in London) are George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, Tom Danielson, Albert Contador and Egoi Martinez.

OK, so I'll write our 500th post since the Triple started cranking about one year ago.

How about that?!

Also celebrating: With two victories in arguably the biggest stage races of the season to date -- the Tour of California and Paris-Nice -- the Discovery Channel team may actually find a new sponsor for 2008. Unfortunately, it won't be Triple Crankset.

Director Sportif Johan Bruyneel must be pleased with the post-OBL era. "We have new riders, new goals and new objectives and I could not be happier with the how the guys have performed so far. The Tour of California and Paris-Nice wins were a direct result of our guys riding as a team behind their leader," Bruyneel said of victories for Levi Leipheimer and Alberto Contador (picture by Graham Watson).

"Alberto pointing at the Discovery Channel on his jersey was his way of thanking his teammates and showing how happy he is on this team," Bruyneel said. "This was a tremendous win for our entire organization. Winning races can only help us as we look to solidify a new title sponsor for 2008."

Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Lance Armstrong and the other owners of the Discovery Channel team will have to find a new primary sponsor for next season.

I'm surprised.
But should I be?

Discovery Channel will drop its sponsorship of former Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong's team after this season.

Maybe that's why Discovery Channel is dropping the team after just three seasons: The team is still referred to as "former Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong's team" two years after Our Boy Lance retired.

Obviously, the team has not created its own identity since OBL called it quits.

The team will still race under the Discovery banner in 2007, including the Tour de France, but must find a new sponsor for 2008, according to Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's long-time agent and general manager of the team. Stapleton said the change coincides with this week's resignation of Billy Campbell, president of Discovery's U.S. networks.

I guess the new folks don't bike.

Discovery took over title sponsorship from the U.S. Postal Service before Armstrong won the Tour de France in 2005, the last of his record seven consecutive victories.

Discovery had a poor season in 2006 when Armstrong retired, but the team has been aggressive in signing top riders, including Ivan Basso, who finished third in the 2004 Tour and second in 2005.

Stapleton said it will be harder to find a new title sponsor with Armstrong retired. Armstrong remains a co-owner of the team. "He's still incredibly commercially marketable and viable," Stapleton said. "And beyond that, our team is going to be really good this year. We'll be the favorite to win the Tour de France."

They better hope so.

Good story on the revamped Discovey Channel team on the VeloNews site.

Wondering how the 2007 inception of Discovery Pro Cycling will perform with all the recent turnover...wondering if they signed the right guy(s) in the off-season? Well this picture by CorVos for Pezcyclingnews.com kind of speaks for itself, as Ivan Basso is already back to training in full Discovery regalia days after his signing.

Its a cliche, but Oude Granny couldn't help having a bit of fun with the news of Discovery's latest signing...Will Johan Bruyneel ever reach the leadership status that Tony Soprano has achieved (albeit through the cycling world's Belgian Mafia) or is he forever saddled with the epitaph of having the best gun on the toughest crew??? The 2006 TDF did nothing for his reputation as one of the greatest Director Sportifs, and Basso's signing is sure to lessen that credibility.