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4 November 2005

5 November News ...

Matthew White Hears Disco Beat

Matthew White (31) will ride for Discovery Channel next season. White has signed a one-year contract (2006) with Team DS, Johan Bruyneel, with whom he raced under from 2001 to 2003. The Aussie was ready to join the new SonyEricsson squadra with his long time 'mate' Stuart O'Grady. In the last month the SonyEricsson deal went sour and the riders were forced to look for other teams. Fellow Aussie, O'Grady, has secured a spot with Team CSC, while White will now rejoin forces with Bruyneel. White, who spent the last two seasons with Cofidis, will be function as a powerful work-horse for Disco.

Read:
Team CSC and Stuart O'Grady, 28 October
What the heck? Ferretti Loses SonyEricsson, 14 October

Discovery Channel Builds After Armstrong

Team Discover Channel will continue next year minus one big name: Lance Armstrong. Team DS, Johan Bruyneel, has a long contract with the title sponsor, Discovery Channel (2005-8), and feels confident in continuing the success without the recently retired Armstrong. Bruyneel may have a hard time winning the Tour de France but his team is sure to make an impression with riders like: Hincapie, Hoste, Van Heeswijk Savoldelli, Devolder, Danielson and Popovych. Below is the list of riders coming and going for the new season.

Joining the Disco:
Egoi Martínez (from Euskaltel-Euskadi)
Janez Brajkovic (from Krka)
Jurgen Van Goolen (from Quick-Step)
Matthew White (from Cofidis)
Trent Lowe (from Jittery Joe's-Kalahari)
Vladimir Gusev (from Team CSC)

No More Disco:
Antonio Cruz (to Team Andreu)
Lance Armstrong (Retire)
Michael Creed (to ??)
Patrick McCarty (to Phonak)
Ryder Hesjedal (to Phonak)

Current Riders:
Benjamin Noval
Benoît Joachim
Fumiyuki Beppu
George Hincapie
Guennadi Mikhailov
Hayden Roulston
Janez Brajkovic
Jason McCartney
José Azevedo
José Luis "Chechu" Rubiera
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Leif Hoste
Manuel "Triki" Beltrán
Max Van Heeswijk
Michael Barry
Paolo Savoldelli
Pavel Padrnos
Roger Hammond
Stijn Devolder
Tom Danielson
Viatcheslav Ekimov
Volodymyr Bileka
Yaroslav Popovych

Read: T-Lo on the Disco Floor, 31 August

Igor González de Galdeano Continues with Euskaltel-Euskadi

Recently retired Igor González de Galdeano will continue in cycling next year, but his role will change from rider to team assistant with Euskaltel-Euskadi. The Basque joined with his new team last Wednesday and announced the position in a press conference.

Igor will manage the training and schedule the team's itineraries throughout the season, a role that was previously covered by Julian Gorospe (Team DS). It will be exciting to see the former wearer of the Maillot Jaune continue within the sport of pro cycling, and BiciRace.com wishes the Basque squadra the best of luck.

Read:
Euskaltel-Euskadi Update with Mayoz, Albizuri and Pérez, 29 October
Igor González de Galdeano Retires, 8 September

Swede Larsson to Française Des Jeux

Almost all of the former members of Fassa Bortolo have found new teams. Many of the riders wanted to continue with the Iron Sergeant, Giancarlo Ferretti, but were unable when a new team sponsor did not materialize.

Gustav Erik Larsson (25) is one such rider, but he has announced that he will switch to Française Des Jeux for the coming season. After riding three years in the blue and white colors of Fassa Bortolo the Swede has signed a one year contract (2006) with Française Des Jeux Team Manager, Marc Madiot.

3 November News ...