Discovery Channel Team

Let the "silly season" begin. Pro-Tour Cycling is starting to look like Nascar with all of the team moves. It seems to me like there is much more movement among teams going on than normal.

Cyclingnews.com is reporting that Roger Hammond (Gbr) has not revealed his future plans but he will definitely not be returning to the Discovery team for the '07 season. That is a bit suprising to me.

Discovery has lost several riders for next year, whether it is by their choice or not. The flowing riders will not be with Discovery Channel in '07.

Roger Hammond (Gbr) - Unknown
Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) - Astana
Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) - Davitamon-Lotto
Leif Hoste (Bel) - Davitamon-Lotto
Manuel Beltran (Spa) - Liquigas
José “Ace” Azevedo (Por) - Benfica (Portugal Domestic Team)
Max van Heeswijk (Ned) - Rabobank
Viatchslev "Eki" Ekimov (Rus) - Retirement (to remain with the team as DS)

I hate to see Hoste and Van De Broeck leave. Hoste is a very strong classics rider and VDB is a young rider with great potential.

Discovery has already announced the addition of 3 riders to the '07 squad.

Levi Leipheimer (USA) - Gerolsteiner
Sergio Paulinho (Por) - Astana
Thomas Vaitkus (Lth) - Ag2r
Gianni Meersman (Bel) - Neo Pro