Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/21/sports/EU_SPT_CYC_Discovery_Channel.php
PARIS The Discovery Channel is parting ways with several riders who helped Lance Armstrong win one or more of his seven straight Tour de France titles.
Portuguese climber Jose Azevedo, Manuel Beltran of Spain, Viatcheslav Ekimov of Russia, two-time Giro d'Italia champion Paolo Savoldelli of Italy and Benoit Joachim of Luxembourg are among the 11 cyclists leaving the team.
George Hincapie of the United States, long considered Armstrong's key teammate, is staying, however.
"After the retirement of Lance in 2005 it was natural for our team to begin making changes," Discovery Channel manager Johan Bruyneel said Thursday in a statement. "The team was built around Lance for seven years and as we move out of the Lance era we are now looking at new objectives in addition to the Tour de France."
The six other riders leaving are Michael Barry, Roger Hammond, Leif Hoste, Gennady Mikhaylov, Jurgen Van Den Broeck and Max Van Heeswijk.
"It is natural that we will make changes and that some riders will also look to make a change. I am very confident that we will continue to win big races in 2007 with our new roster," Bruyneel added.
Discovery said Uros Murn of Slovenia and Gianni Meersman of Belgium are joining the squad.
Murn, who comes from the Swiss team Phonak, took third in the eighth stage of the Spanish Vuelta.
"Anytime you get a rider with his experience you have to be happy. Judging by his performance at the Vuelta I see a bright future for him," Bruyneel said.
Meersman is making his Pro Tour debut. Bruyneel said the 21-year-old Belgian "will definitely need time to develop as a rider but we believe he has what it takes to be successful."
Ekimov, who announced his retirement from racing during the Tour de France, will stay at Discovery as a deputy to Bruyneel.