For those of you who didn't follow the link to the Velonews story, this isn't the first time that Discovery has made a play for Floyd Landis. The Boss may be some things, but stupid he's not. Sure Lance Armstrong had a row with Landis, who sought to find his own path through the procycling world, but he wasn't going to hold too large of a grudge considering he was about to retire, and knowing how good Floyd is as a rider. The move to Discovery seemingly would've made sense for everyone involved.
But Floyd Landis is a different beast all together. If you haven't heard or read much about Floyd (or David Zabriskie for that matter), its not too hard to find an article on him these days (just pick up the latest Outside or Bicycling magazines). I'd highly recommend Daniel Coyle's article in Outside (he's the same author who took us inside the 2003 Tour de France with "Lance Armstrong's War").
Although I had the good fortune to meet the man once, knowing him is another matter. From all accounts, Floyd is a mixture of Pennsylvania Mennonite toughness and diligence with California eclecticism. He's the guy who if you told him (and heaven forbid if you challenged him to do so) that swallowing an entire tablespoon of salt would make you sick, he would steadfastly go about doing it just to see for himself. (By the way, did that, and it wasn't a good thing!)
So where does that leave Floyd and Discovery? I think the rumors are simply rumors, or more specifically leaks (in the vain of Discovery sending out "feelers" to determine if Landis would be willing to listen to an offer). I think Floyd Landis stays where he's at and becomes the leader of a whole new American run procycling squad (if you follow the Crankset, remember you heard it here first). Afterall, why would he want to return to a team where certain parts of his personality and actions will be forever compared and overshadowed by the former Boss of the Peloton?
Whoa, wait a minute Granny, back up a sec! Another American team in the European peloton? As a woman very close to my heart might say, YUPPERS! So sit back, relax and let Granny paint a picture (whose puzzle pieces you've already read about or have heard, but maybe haven't put together).
Let's begin with the not so overly surprising news that Phonak Hearing Systems, whose contract as the main sponsor of Floyd's current team runs out after this year, is still debating on whether to sign on again. The team, and therefore sponsor, has been besieged by not merely doping allegations but acutal doping positives during their tenure as sponsor (the latest with José E. Gutierrez Cataluna being caught up in Operacion Puerto. C'MON! a man who is nicknamed "The Buffalo" shouldn't be able to stay within shouting distance of Ivan Basso on the Giro d'Italia mountain stages. Even saying he comes from that great heritage of Spanish climbers doesn't hold water. And more prolifically, the suspensions and dismissals of Tyler Hamilton, Santiago Perez, and former world champion Oscar Carmenzind). For those not in the cycling world, it doesn't really look good if your name is being dragged through the mud with alleged cheaters who are supposed to be your spokepersons. Ah, not good!
Add to that this little tidbit from BMC's chief engineer who discussed the new line of bicycles for this year's Tour with Cyclingnews.com:
Cyclingnews: What changes have been made from last year's bikes?
Rolf Singenberger: Well, the paintjob is probably the first thing you will notice. Last autumn we were unsure as to who would be the main sponsors of the team, so we weren't certain what colours the clothing would be in 2006. Time was passing and so we were told that we could do up the new bikes in whatever colours we wanted. We went for red, black and white, which are more Swiss. I think it looks well.
Well, that's all nice and good Oude Granny, but that doesn't amount to a couple of beans let alone a hill of them?
Did I tell you who the secondary sponsor of Floyd's Phonak team is...no, well just take a look at the back of the riders' bib shorts the next two weeks. It's none other than iShares.com.
iShares is, without going into much detail (as I'm not too keen on following the financial scene as I am the cycling one) an online investment company in the Barclays Global Investors family who specializes in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) which are like mutual funds. iShares which is based in the US has been rumored (again with that word) to possibly take over as the main sponsor if Phonak chooses to leave the peloton (Now if Landis wins this year that "if" may go out the window).
Another interesting thing about the iShares.com portion of the sponsorship is the fact that one of the players behind it is none other than Jim Ochowicz. You all remember Jim Ochowicz right, creator of the first American team in the peloton, Team 7-Eleven, and the man who would later be responsible for creating teams Motorola and US Postal Service. Would it also be of any interest that Jim Ochowicz also resides on the board of USA Cycling, whose Champions Club (referred to as the Billionaire Cycling Club, which I mentioned back in a May posting) has invested heart, soul, and a great deal of finances into growing US Cycling. What better way to grow the sport than to have another team in the European peloton?
Need more circumstantial evidence? How about a deal that Jim Ochowicz once struck up with USA Cycling and BMC (makers of the bicycles Floyd Landis just happens to be sitting on right now). What about the bike Ochowicz was seen riding up the Alpe d'Huez with Lance Armstrong this May?
Want me to go a little farther...if Ivan Basso and CSC are caught up in Operacion Puerto to the point that they could be exlcuded from riding in the Pro Tour next season (as they seem to be the lastest flavor of a team to pick on since LA's departure), look for one David Zabriskie to join Floyd on the new iShares.com cycling inception. Afterall, its been a fairly good cycling axiom to hang your hat on...if Jim Och builds it, they will come.
All of this may be a stretch (or maybe something for the X-files), but after seeing my beloved BoSox win a World Series, isn't anything now within the realm of possiblity? Alright maybe the Cubs winning the Series is still out there (sorry KB).
Uh, makes sense to me, Granny. We don't cheer on ALL our Americans sometimes because we are so team-sport oriented and think of Discovery-U.S. Postal as THE U.S. team. So, why not a second U.S. team? And it's inevitable that Zubriske and Landis will team up. Landis needs to keep his image separate from Our Boy Lance, not because of ego, but because if you read the numerous stories about him these days (and both the Washington Post and L.A. Times had outstanding stories recently), he is, as Granny says, a bird of a different feather. Why be Lance's successor when you can be your own man, on your own team. I would like to see Floyd on an American team; Zabriske, too. So Granny's analysis makes a lot of sense -- at least to me. And yes, you read it here!
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