UPDATE: Welcome to everyone visiting from this week's installment of the Carnival, courtesy of PunditGuy. If the sport of cycling interests you, I hope you'll take the time to poke around a bit while you are here!
Recent rumors, and discussions with various friends in the racing world have led me to want to speculate, as a topic for dissection, what teams we may see in the TdG this year. Once again, the TdG staff has decided upon a total of 15 teams, with 8 riders each. As noted in my previous post, one hot rumor (with a little bit of confirmation behind it) is that Liberty Seguros will come, and with them will come Roberto Heras. I think this would be a huge step for the TdG, but that’s not what we’re here to look at. First, let’s have a look at the 2004 teams, as this provides a starting point - who will be invited back?
2004 Dodge Tour de Georgia Teams:
| Landbouwkrediet–Colnago | Saeco-Saunier Duval | Team CSC | US Postal |
| Barloworld | Domina Vacanze | Navigators | Colavita-Bolla |
| HealthNet | Jelly Belly | Jittery Joes | Ofoto/Lombardi |
| Sierra-Nevada | Webcor | TIAA-CREF |
Here’s my speculation. There are 5 teams (Now 6) that are a 100% lock for an invitation. They are:
1) Discovery
2) CSC
3) Phonak
4) HealthNet
5) Navigators
6) Team TIAA - CREF
Discussion:
Discovery is a no-brainer. CSC is also - they are a US-presence company, were aggressive last year, they are a Pro Tour Team, had the runner-up in the overall, and were the best team in the '04 edition of the TdG. HealthNet won three stages last year, and in addition to Gord Fraser, they’ve added Ivan "Cuban Missile Crisis" Dominguez, who was 2nd several times in ’04. Navigators are the only US-Based Continental UCI team (formerly known as Division II), and have added Caesar Grajales, who one the epic stage 6 on top of Brasstown Bald last year. Finally, last year’s only amateur team (TIAA-CREF), has registered as a UCI professional team. They rode in the Stars and Stripes last year, but this year they’ll ride in team colors. With one rider severely injured in last year’s edition (during the ITT when a car drove onto the course), this team captured many hearts with their gutsy riding - how can you not invite the kids back?
UPDATE: Moved Phonak to the "definite" list due to confirmation from an inside source. The Pink Floyd will be racing in Georgia!
The “99%-ers”:
7) Jittery Joe's / Kalahari
8) Kodak/Sierra-Nevada
9) Colavita
10) Jelly Belly
11) Webcor Builders
12) Saunier Duval
Discussion:
These teams are almost 100% locks, but not quite. Jittery Joe’s / Kalahari are the local (based in Georgia) heroes, and were the darlings of last year’s race. They benefit from Caesars Grajales Win on Brasstown last year, even though he’s no longer with the team. Kodak/Sierra-Nevada is the merger of two of last years team - Ofoto/Lombardi and Sierra-Nevada. Kodak purchased Ofoto (thus the name change) after the two teams merged after last year’s season, in which they were one of the more aggressive squads during the year. Colavita gets credit for Ivan Dominguez. Sure, he doesn't race for them any more, but the team gets the name recognition from his sprinting last year. Jelly Belly is one of the longer-running US pro teams, and so most likely will be asked to attend. Webcor Builders no longer has Chris Horner, but count on them being there. Finally, Saunier Duval, who raced in a combined squad with Saeco last year, will most likely be here in full force this year, because they now have Chris Horner, Bane of the US Peloton.
This leaves four slots for other teams. Here's my thoughts on those four slots:
The Rumor Mill:
Liberty Seguros
Phonak*
Liquigas-Bianchi
Saeco
Discussion:
If any of these teams comes, bump everyone except CSC and the Disco Pros down a notch on the above list. The hot rumor right now is that Liberty Seguros will be here with Roberto Heras and Benjamin Nozal. This is almost a definite, and it will be a huge step for the TdG to have another Pro Tour team added to its roster. There’s also lot's of heavy rumorage that we'll get "Pink" Floyd Landis. Phonak is an international company, and Landis is American. We’ll see. Liquigas-Bianchi? Cipo! Cipollini REALLY liked Georgia last year, and this year he's going great guns. Count on this one - nothing like warm weather training for the Giro! As far as Saeco goes, they were here last year (as part of the combine with Saunier). Simioni went down under. Will a visit to America be next? Who knows, but if they accept the invitation they will surely get, we could get to see one or both of Saeco’s “Italian Stallions.”
*UPDATE: Since writing this, Phonak has been confrimed as participating in the TdG, with Floyd Landis riding.
The “Bubble-Boys”:
Barloworld
McGuire-Langdale
SeaSilver
Monex
Discussion:
Barloworld was here last year. That’s about all you can say for them. McGuire-Langdale has Erik Saunders (one of the most aggressive riders from 2004) on their roster. SeaSilver and Monex are established US-based Pro teams. These teams invitations depend on the four teams listed above - if all four of those teams accept invitations, these guys will sit. This is a good reason why the TdG needs to go to 18 teams.
Extraordinarily Unlikely:
Advantage Benefits - Endeavor
Subway
Nerac.com
Snow Valley - Seal-On
Any amateur team.
Discussion:
These guys will need a lot of help to get in. They are going to have to get recognition early in the year, and have a LOT of luck. Finally, since there are so many US-based Pro teams waiting on the sidelines, I think there’s no chance for an amateur team to get in this year.
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