COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP)—Johan Bruyneel has a new team but an old feeling as he gets ready to go for a 10th Tour de France title this year.
Bruyneel helped lead Lance Armstrong to seven straight Tour de France titles from 1999-2005. He also won eight team Tour titles with USPS and Discovery before winning with Astana last year.
Now, he is the director of Armstrong’s newly formed RadioShack Cycling Team and said he’s happy to have total control after a tough year with Astana.
“It’s my team, it’s the team I built, and it’s going to be a good atmosphere,” Bruyneel said Friday. “That’s the main reason I’m back into my team. Astana has never felt as my team.”
Bruyneel was in Colorado as the featured speaker at the USA Triathlon International Coaching Symposium. During his nearly two-hour speech, he talked about his relationship with Armstrong and his struggles with Astana in 2009.
Despite winning the team title, and coaching overall winner Alberto Contador, it wasn’t a fulfilling experience for Bruyneel. He clashed with Contador and the sponsors, and his loss of control led to his decision to leave the team.
“It was not a very hard decision because of the sometimes stress-filled relationship with Alberto, and the difficulties within the team and with the sponsors of the team. It was a very difficult relationship I had,” he said.
There was tension between Contador and Armstrong, who finished third. Contador said publicly he “never had admiration for Armstrong,” and Armstrong countered that Contador had “lots to learn.”
Bruyneel and Armstrong left Astana to form RadioShack.
“It’s basically the same relationship with the same people. It’s a co-partnership with Lance and his management,” Bruyneel said. “It’s like Discovery and Postal again.”
Bruyneel said Armstrong, even at 38, is motivated to win his eighth Tour. The cancer survivor came out of retirement last year.
“He’s super motivated to beat Alberto, but at the same time he knows it’s going to be difficult,” Bruyneel said. “I think that brings his motivation to a higher level.”
Showing posts with label Johan Bruyneel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Johan Bruyneel. Show all posts
High Five Events to speak at 2010 USAT Race Director Symposium
Saturday, December 12, 2009 0 comments
We always like to post good news about our friends. Dan puts on amazing events and we are proud to be involved with him and High Five Events...
Dan Carroll of High Five Events has been selected to speak at the USAT Race Director Symposium Feb. 12-14th in Colorado Springs. Dan will be presenting on "Volunteer Recruiting and Management". Also presenting at the event is Johan Bruyneel, team manager for 9 Tour de France championship squads including US Postal, Discovery Channel, and Astana. Sure, Johan is the keynote speaker and Dan is just a breakout session presenter, but it's still pretty cool.
Dan is also on track to achieve the new Level 2 Race Director certification by the end of the year. Dan is already a certified RD, but Level 2 is the new advanced certification. He will be one of the first race directors in the country to reach this level of certification.
Anyone can attend the RD symposium, although it's probably pretty boring unless you're into race directing. Info is available here.
Dan Carroll of High Five Events has been selected to speak at the USAT Race Director Symposium Feb. 12-14th in Colorado Springs. Dan will be presenting on "Volunteer Recruiting and Management". Also presenting at the event is Johan Bruyneel, team manager for 9 Tour de France championship squads including US Postal, Discovery Channel, and Astana. Sure, Johan is the keynote speaker and Dan is just a breakout session presenter, but it's still pretty cool.
Dan is also on track to achieve the new Level 2 Race Director certification by the end of the year. Dan is already a certified RD, but Level 2 is the new advanced certification. He will be one of the first race directors in the country to reach this level of certification.
Anyone can attend the RD symposium, although it's probably pretty boring unless you're into race directing. Info is available here.
Presenting Team RadioShack
Monday, November 23, 2009 0 comments
Lance Armstrong’s new RadioShack racing team is getting ready to ride.
Team manager Johan Bruyneel announced a 26-rider lineup for 2010 on Monday, including Armstrong’s former Astana teammates Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloeden and Yaroslav Popovych.
Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France champion, came out of retirement to race the 2009 tour with Astana and finished third at age 37, making him the second-oldest rider to make the podium.
But there was friction with teammate and race winner Alberto Contador, and Armstrong struck out to form his own team where he could be the lead rider again. Bruyneel directed all of Armstrong’s seven tour victories and was with Astana in 2009.
RadioShack draws riders from 16 countries, and Bruyneel called it a good mix of experience and youth.
Kloeden finished sixth at the 2009 Tour de France. Leipheimer was in fourth after 12 stages when he broke his wrist and had to withdraw. Also joining RadioShack from Astana is Haimar Zubeldia.
“Our main goal will be the Tour de France and other stage races, but I am confident that, with these riders, we can perform very well in the one-day races as well,” Bruyneel said.
The team has scheduled a two-week training camp in Tucson, Ariz. in December. It is scheduled to make its racing debut at the 2010 Tour Down Under in Australia.
Team manager Johan Bruyneel announced a 26-rider lineup for 2010 on Monday, including Armstrong’s former Astana teammates Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloeden and Yaroslav Popovych.
Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France champion, came out of retirement to race the 2009 tour with Astana and finished third at age 37, making him the second-oldest rider to make the podium.
But there was friction with teammate and race winner Alberto Contador, and Armstrong struck out to form his own team where he could be the lead rider again. Bruyneel directed all of Armstrong’s seven tour victories and was with Astana in 2009.
RadioShack draws riders from 16 countries, and Bruyneel called it a good mix of experience and youth.
Kloeden finished sixth at the 2009 Tour de France. Leipheimer was in fourth after 12 stages when he broke his wrist and had to withdraw. Also joining RadioShack from Astana is Haimar Zubeldia.
“Our main goal will be the Tour de France and other stage races, but I am confident that, with these riders, we can perform very well in the one-day races as well,” Bruyneel said.
The team has scheduled a two-week training camp in Tucson, Ariz. in December. It is scheduled to make its racing debut at the 2010 Tour Down Under in Australia.
Armstrong’s Radioshack granted ProTour licence
Sunday, October 18, 2009 0 comments
PARIS, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Lance Armstrong’s RadioShack team has been granted a ProTour licence that guarantees the American outfit entry into next year’s Tour de France, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Friday.
“Following the examination of a request received, the Licence Commission has awarded a four-year UCI ProTour licence for the period 2010 to 2013 to Team RadioShack (USA),” the UCI said in a statement.
Seven times champion Armstrong, announced the creation of RadioShack during July’s Tour de France, which he finished in third place overall.
The 38-year-old returned to the sport in January, riding for the Astana team, after 3-1/2 years in retirement.
For next season, Armstrong, will be able to rely on experienced riders, notably American Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden of Germany.
Leipheimer, 35, has finished in the top 10 on the Tour four times—including third in 2007. Kloeden, 34, finished second overall in the Tour de France in 2004 and 2006.
Belgian manager Johan Bruyneel, the man behind Armstrong’s seven Tour titles, is set to leave Astana to join RadioShack when the American starts his 2010 season at the Tour Down Under in January.
RadioShack, however, will also bank on promising young riders.
“Sam Bewley (age 22) and Bjorn Selander (21) make the jump from the Trek-Livestrong U23 team, while Daryl Impey (24), Ivan Rovny (22) and Ben Hermans (23) all come from major European teams,” RadioShack said on their website on Friday (www.teamradioshack.us).
“Janez Brajkovic who comes with Armstrong from Astana, will be only 26 in December,” the team said.
“Following the examination of a request received, the Licence Commission has awarded a four-year UCI ProTour licence for the period 2010 to 2013 to Team RadioShack (USA),” the UCI said in a statement.
Seven times champion Armstrong, announced the creation of RadioShack during July’s Tour de France, which he finished in third place overall.
The 38-year-old returned to the sport in January, riding for the Astana team, after 3-1/2 years in retirement.
For next season, Armstrong, will be able to rely on experienced riders, notably American Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden of Germany.
Leipheimer, 35, has finished in the top 10 on the Tour four times—including third in 2007. Kloeden, 34, finished second overall in the Tour de France in 2004 and 2006.
Belgian manager Johan Bruyneel, the man behind Armstrong’s seven Tour titles, is set to leave Astana to join RadioShack when the American starts his 2010 season at the Tour Down Under in January.
RadioShack, however, will also bank on promising young riders.
“Sam Bewley (age 22) and Bjorn Selander (21) make the jump from the Trek-Livestrong U23 team, while Daryl Impey (24), Ivan Rovny (22) and Ben Hermans (23) all come from major European teams,” RadioShack said on their website on Friday (www.teamradioshack.us).
“Janez Brajkovic who comes with Armstrong from Astana, will be only 26 in December,” the team said.
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