With Lances retirement it will be interesting to see what Dicovery team decides to do. Discovery chose Yaroslav Popovych to take over as team captain I believe. I am a bit suprised that Discovery chose a younger rider, when there is such a wealth of talent.
One possible scenario is would Paolo Savoldelli Discovery's lead rider until until other rider such as Tom Danielson or Antonio Cruz develop. I am waiting to see who Discovery hires this year. I don't know if Discovery has the money to hire another big time rider like Ivan Basso. Now I know that Discovery signed a contract with the team, but I am not certain if they committed to a funding level.
One likely scenario is send a exceptionally strong team to the Vuelta and the let the riders see who is strongest. Another possiblity is to re-position the team as primarilly a classics team.
One possible scenario is would Paolo Savoldelli Discovery's lead rider until until other rider such as Tom Danielson or Antonio Cruz develop. I am waiting to see who Discovery hires this year. I don't know if Discovery has the money to hire another big time rider like Ivan Basso. Now I know that Discovery signed a contract with the team, but I am not certain if they committed to a funding level.
Basso has one year more with CSC, and is happy there.
Quoted message said:
One likely scenario is send a exceptionally strong team to the Vuelta and the let the riders see who is strongest. Another possiblity is to re-position the team as primarilly a classics team.
Good question, Discovery doesn't seem focused on developing the current younger riders. They hardly race them. It's all about Lance until 7/24 at least.
Just look at Pat McCarty, who was 6th U23 two years ago and some of his peer group of that era are riding the Tour and he gets to ride what is probably his second European race this year in Austria. Dave Z. had to go to CSC to get some attention. Tom B. was deemed to have a big head. The team they sent to the Giro was a place holder, with Savo able to support himself.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
With Lances retirement it will be interesting to see what Dicovery team decides to do. Discovery chose Yaroslav Popovych to take over as team captain I believe. I am a bit suprised that Discovery chose a younger rider, when there is such a wealth of talent.
One possible scenario is would Paolo Savoldelli Discovery's lead rider until until other rider such as Tom Danielson or Antonio Cruz develop. I am waiting to see who Discovery hires this year. I don't know if Discovery has the money to hire another big time rider like Ivan Basso. Now I know that Discovery signed a contract with the team, but I am not certain if they committed to a funding level.
One likely scenario is send a exceptionally strong team to the Vuelta and the let the riders see who is strongest. Another possiblity is to re-position the team as primarilly a classics team.
Actually Discovery does have a development program. It's just that Discovery has chosen to acquire the majority of their talent as opposed to developing their riders. As a result a great many of their riders are older and approaching retirement.
The challenge will be how to deliver publicity value and results while transitioning to a new generation who can deliver victories. One should remember however that Discovery has a 2 year contract I believe.
Possibly, the real problem is for Trek and it's factory dealers. Trek currently requires it's Trek branded stores to carry and purchase 80% from Trek. Because so much of Treks brand equity is based on Lance it puts the Trek stores in precarious position. The Trek dealers need to work together to force Trek to renogitate their contracts.
9 channels in 20 languages. So it's an obvious conclusion that Discovery gets plenty of advertising and marketing mileage out of its cycling team in Europe, and does not need to replace Lance with another American rider to meet its marketing goals.
The current team must drive OLN nuts. Every time they show Lance on TV they give their competitor a free plug.
On Fri, 08 Jul 2005 03:30:27 GMT, "Wannagofast" <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
Good question, Discovery doesn't seem focused on developing the current younger riders. They hardly race them. It's all about Lance until 7/24 at least. Tom B. was deemed to have a big head.
Yeah, it's shocking how the team kicked him out.....
JT
**************************** Remove "remove" to reply Visit http://www.jt10000.com ****************************
If that's the case, then the day after Armstrong has retired, the rumors will begin that Discovery is making him an offer he "can't refuse" to go one more time.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
With Lances retirement it will be interesting to see what Dicovery team decides to do.
Does this team, in its current incarnation, really have a future without an American star ?
I think Discovery wil try and try to find an American champion; they will then market him for the following year or 2 with a reality based series focusing so-and-so's quest.
"Carl Sundquist" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
PanFan said:
The current team must drive OLN nuts. Every time they show Lance on TV
they
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
give their competitor a free plug.
Not exactly. it's not like Discovery shows bike racing, bull riding, and fishing shows.
Here in the Netherlands, Discovery does show fishing shows. And quite a few shows that may be targeting the same audience as the bull riding programs, like programs about tanks, fighter planes, crocodiles and motorbikes. In television, you're competing for audience, not for content.
> The current team must drive OLN nuts. Every time they show Lance on TV
they
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
give their competitor a free plug.
Not exactly. it's not like Discovery shows bike racing, bull riding, and fishing shows.
Here in the Netherlands, Discovery does show fishing shows. And quite a few shows that may be targeting the same audience as the bull riding programs, like programs about tanks, fighter planes, crocodiles and motorbikes.
But since OLN does not broadcast to Europe, that's a moot point.
Quoted message said:
In television, you're competing for audience, not for content.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
With Lances retirement it will be interesting to see what Dicovery team decides to do.
Does this team, in its current incarnation, really have a future without an American star ?
I think Discovery wil try and try to find an American champion; they will then market him for the following year or 2 with a reality based series focusing so-and-so's quest.
Laz
That's a good thought about the reality series. It's too bad Mike Creed has been sick and isn't ready for that level yet, that'd be a hell of a show. Bill C
"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
That's a good thought about the reality series. It's too bad Mike Creed has been sick and isn't ready for that level yet, that'd be a hell of a show. Bill C
But the show won't take off- Lance had serious potential from the get-go- the rider discovery will select will be for all the wrong reasons, namely pretty-boy looks to begin followed by a sensitive reserve that will capture the hearts of thousands of women, luring them into an audience base. The team will falter and be relegated to a B-team status, Disney will turn out their pockets to show they have no more money for Team Discovery, and Lance's legacy will fold ( unless someone like FedEx picks them up ).
