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Tour de France, France

2 - 24 July

Discovery Channel Profile

by Paco of BiciRace.com

Main

Think that Armstrong and his teammates just show up to the line and ride as hard as possible without any regard to tactics? Think again. It is a carefully orchestrated operation that takes months to perfect. Each rider is selected based on how their talents will ensure that Lance arrives in Paris in yellow. Some are climbers and some are flat-landers. Each rider follows a different programme that is designed for them to peak at different parts of the race according to their talents. For example, the climbers will aim to peak later since the mountains usually come later on in the race. Read on to find out what each rider brings to the table.

Johan Bruyneel

Bruyneel is the brains behind the whole operation. He's the one driving the team car at the Tour. He managed to do something that few director sportifs have done: win the Tour de France in his first year as a director. He was a top ex pro himself for many years and is a master tactician.

Lance Armstrong

His role is obvious. His domestiques are the board members and he's the chairman of the board. He simply has to have what it takes to get the job done when the proverbial gauntlet is thrown down. Sounds easy, but it's monumentally difficult. Lance is perhaps one of the greatest cyclists this sport has known. But don't be confused. He could not win without the support of his team.

(News special: Why Lance Armstrong Will Win the Tour de France)

Benjamin Noval

This is Benjamin's second Tour in the service of LA. To many's surprise he made the squad last year, but did not disappoint. He's no climber like his other Spanish counterparts on the team. But what he does offer is firepower. He's a big engine capable of driving the pace on the flats. Look for big Benjamin to be protecting Lance on the flats, keeping him out of the wind and fetching bottles and clothing. Doesn't sound like very glamorous work, but it's vitally important and Noval is an expert.

George Hincapie

Big George's original role was to protect Armstrong on the flats and the low mountains. He's gotten so effective at hauling his massive 6'3" frame over France's mountains that you'll often see George turning the screw on the lower parts of the alpine stages. He's a big engine with loads of experience.

 

José Azevedo

Azevedo is an outstanding GC rider in his own right. He placed 5th last year while merely riding as a domestique for Lance. He is the high mountain axe man. When Rubiera pulls off the front, Azevedo takes over and is responsible for setting the pace so impossibly high that not even the pure climbers can come around him.

José Luis Rubiera

"Chechu" has been at Armstrong's side for 4 of his 6 Tour wins. He is a domestique par excellence. Along with Azevedo and Beltran, Rubiera's job is to turn the screw in the high mountains for as long and as hard as possible, then pull off the front and let Azevedo take over. Think back to that scorching lead out Armstrong was given on the foot of Alpe d'Huez in the 2001 Tour. That was vintage Chechu.

Manuel Beltran

Next to Azevedo and Rubiera, Beltran is one of Lance's trusted high mountain domestiques. As a support rider, he is one of the best. He's responsible for setting a blistering tempo in the mountains. Then he pulls off for Rubiera and Azevedo to finish his dirty work.

 

Paolo Savoldelli

This will be "Il Falco's" first appearance at Armstrong's side at the Tour, but he is no newbie to grand tours. He, of course, just won the Giro d'Italia for the second time and brings loads of experience to the Discovery squad. He climbs with the best of them and should contribute big time in the team time trial.

 

Pavel Padrnos

He's as big as an ox and strong as one too. Padrnos is a man of few words and prefers to let his legs do the talking. His job is to protect Lance on the flats and shelter him from the wind. He's capable of taking seemingly endless pulls. His work often goes unnoticed because it is often done at the point in a stage where there's little TV coverage. Make no mistake though, he's worth his weight in gold.

Yaroslav Popovych

Popovych is young at 25, but brimming with talent. He is THE future of stage racing. This is Popovych's first Tour de France and his job will be to learn from the master. He is capable of following the sport's best climbers and can time trial like nobody's business. Popovych's talents against the clock will be vital for the team time trial.