VDB?

In article <[email hidden]>,

Bob Schwartz said:

One impact of the ProTour is that it has restricted
the number of Continental teams that are capable of
supporting a squad in a Grand Tour. The TdF does
not have many options if it has to replace Liberty
Seguros. Wildcards have already gone out to
Agritubel and Comunidad Valenciana. There are no
additional French teams that could support a team
in a Grand Tour.

There are a few possibilities. Chocolade Jacques,
Soap 'n' Water. Ceramica Panaria-Navigare will be
stretched by their Giro participation. Selle Italia
might be able to pull off two grand Tours, even
without Rujano.

And of course things could change depending on when
current Liberty Seguros riders get released and
where they wind up.

But my pick is... Unibet.

Bob Schwartz

Well, they may not have a title sponsor (I suppose Wurth is a sort of sub title
sponsor) anymore, but the team still exists - Active Bay SL. I imagine that the
riders have a clause in their contract that would allow them to bail in this sort of
event. I wonder if they would try to get a new title sponsor and carry on - that'd
be a tough one to pull off (understatement!). AIS would likely reject them as a TdF
entrant in any case.

--
tanx,
Howard

Never take a tenant with a monkey.

remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok?

Bob Schwartz said:

One impact of the ProTour is that it has restricted
the number of Continental teams that are capable of
supporting a squad in a Grand Tour. The TdF does
not have many options if it has to replace Liberty
Seguros. Wildcards have already gone out to
Agritubel and Comunidad Valenciana.

Comunidad Valenciana spot in the TdF is in danger, too. I mean, their
second director is still under arrest, and there seems to be more
serious charges against him than against Saiz.

Jenko

Bob Schwartz <[email hidden]> wrote in news:1Stdg.17382
[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

But my pick is... Unibet.

Bob Schwartz

Unibet have already expressed interest in Vinokourov.