zippyjuan
07-23-2009, 06:01 PM
Lance Armstrong announced the new team he is putting together- but other than himself it is unknown who else will be involved. The timing at first seems a bit odd- during the middle (well, near the end) of one of the biggest races of the year where he should be putting his efforts into trying to help his team secure victory- even if it won't be his own personal win. The team will probably win the Yellow Jersey for best rider and also most likely take home the team title. The team coach, Johann Bruyneel said he was quitting Astana at the end of the season but has not said if he will join any other team or be a part of Armstrong's. But then again, Armstrong is pretty media savy and chose to make the announcement during a time when other people not seriously into cycling are paying attention. Lance riding the Tour de France is like a golf tournament with Tiger Woods. People who would not normally watch the sport tune in anyways.
At first glance, the head sponsor of the team seems odd too. Radio Shack- your baasic small selection local electronics shop. But then again, the sponsor of the first internationally succesful team was 7-11. A store more known for selling slurpies, candy and comic books than a more athletic oriented business. That team established the credentials and standards which eventually brought us to Lance Armstrong's success in the sport. Without 7-11 Armstrong may have not had the inspiration to become the rider he is now. He might have gone into another sport. Nike and Trek who have personal sponsorship deals with Armstrong will also be sponsors of the team. Few riders in the sport have been able to get the endorsement contracts that Armstrong has- most are strictly tied to the team sponsors only.
His team will have to get aproval from the International Cycling Federation to be able to participate in races like the Tour de France or the Giro d'Italia. Lance said he intends to skip the Giro next year anyways and ride the Amgen Tour of California.
In most cases, you would probably dismiss a team started by another rider- especially one which has no riders signed to it but with Armstrong one thing is certain. You can never count him out. His personality and drive have earned him respect and connections in the sport which are stronger than probably any other cyclist in the world. If anybody can make this work, he certainly can. I hope it does work. For both him and US cycling in general.
Link to press release: http://www.velonews.com/article/95712/lance-armstrong-to-race-for-team-radioshack-in-2010
(the rest of this is my own).
At first glance, the head sponsor of the team seems odd too. Radio Shack- your baasic small selection local electronics shop. But then again, the sponsor of the first internationally succesful team was 7-11. A store more known for selling slurpies, candy and comic books than a more athletic oriented business. That team established the credentials and standards which eventually brought us to Lance Armstrong's success in the sport. Without 7-11 Armstrong may have not had the inspiration to become the rider he is now. He might have gone into another sport. Nike and Trek who have personal sponsorship deals with Armstrong will also be sponsors of the team. Few riders in the sport have been able to get the endorsement contracts that Armstrong has- most are strictly tied to the team sponsors only.
His team will have to get aproval from the International Cycling Federation to be able to participate in races like the Tour de France or the Giro d'Italia. Lance said he intends to skip the Giro next year anyways and ride the Amgen Tour of California.
In most cases, you would probably dismiss a team started by another rider- especially one which has no riders signed to it but with Armstrong one thing is certain. You can never count him out. His personality and drive have earned him respect and connections in the sport which are stronger than probably any other cyclist in the world. If anybody can make this work, he certainly can. I hope it does work. For both him and US cycling in general.
Link to press release: http://www.velonews.com/article/95712/lance-armstrong-to-race-for-team-radioshack-in-2010
(the rest of this is my own).