Let me start by writing to you all that I'm glad to be back after an extended absence. Also, this overview is originally created for my cycling club, but I thought I should share it with all of you as well. Enjoy.
The new season has brought along with it anger and belief. We've seen some new riders emerge as top talents while others are cast off into the darkness. Floyd Landis, winner of the Tour de France 2006, has his title in jeopardy due two testosterone test failures and still testifies his innocence. Pereiro should be considered as the reigning champion, but now we'll have to wait until the official hearing is carried out by the International Cycling Union (UCI). We cycling fans are obviously angered by the continuous drug doping in this sport and it has been nice to see Cycle Sport America magazine start a drug-free sport campaign. Creating clear wristbands you can wear in support of drug-free sports. Not just for cycling, but for all sports.
We also have belief that the Operación Puerto drug scandal is the sign of better things to come. This is undoubtedly the worst in history and if teams aren't careful enough in preventing this from happening again, the sponsors may leave and that would mean the death of the professional sport. However, many of the teams, backed by their sponsors, have taken a turn for the better looking to clean riders to finish up the races and pick up clean wins. Many riders are in full support on drug-free sport, but undoubtedly some out there are of course contemplating using drugs in order to help perform better or work harder and longer. These people will be hunted out and fired by the teams without a doubt.
Discovery Channel P.C.T. has a burden over their heads bringing in Ivan Basso who although was cleared of any wrong doing by the Italian government, is still linked to the Operación Puerto case and until June of this year we do not know his full involvement with the case. If he were to win the Giro d'Italia and/or the Tour de France this could mean yet another large blow to cycling and likely the demise of the Discovery Team. Truthfully that wouldn't be so bad considering that they are the only team to break the pact made by all of the teams to not sign any riders linked to drug scandals like Operación Puerto.
Whatever happens this year I hope for clean riders like Thor Hushovd and Jens Voigt to climb high and reach their pinnacle performances on the road. I in fact hope to see Voigt possibly contend for the Tour title, though I strongly believe Alejandro Valverde will claim that title. He is bound for glory sooner then later and now seems like the perfect opportunity for him to strike. I'm excited to see the Paris-Nice outcome this year.
Pro Teams Overlook
Ag2r Prévoyance
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 219
Rank: 14
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.ag2r-cyclisme.com
Bosses
General manager: Vincent Lavenu
Team manager: Laurent Biondi
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: A2R
Kit design: C
Number of riders: 27
French riders: 18
Average age: 27.3
Bikes: Decathlon frames, Campagnolo components
Timeline
2000 - present: Ag2r Prévoyance
1996 - 1999: Casino
Star Riders
Cyril Dessel FRA 29.11.1974
John Gadret FRA 22.04.1979
Christophe Moreau FRA 04.12.1971
Jean-Patrick Nazon FRA 01.18.1977
Roster
José Luis Arrieta Lujambio ESP 15.06.1971
Sylvain Calzati FRA 01.07.1979
Philip Deignan IRL 07.09.1983
Samuel Dumoulin FRA 20.08.1980
Hubert Dupont FRA 13.11.1980
Martin Elmiger SUI 23.09.1978
Simon Gerrans AUS 16.05.1980
Stéphane Goubert FRA 13.03.1970
Yuriy Krivtsov UKR 07.02.1979
Julien Loubet FRA 11.01.1985
Rene Mandri EST 20.01.1984
Laurent Mangel FRA 22.05.1981
Lloyd Mondory FRA 26.04.1982
Carl Naibo FRA 17.08.1982
David Navas Chica ESP 10.06.1974
Jean-Patrick Nazon FRA 18.01.1977
Rinaldo Nocentini ITA 25.09.1977
Stéphane Poulhies FRA 26.06.1985
Christophe Riblon FRA 17.01.1981
Nicolas Rousseau FRA 16.03.1983
Blaise Sonnery FRA 21.03.1985
Ludovic Turpin FRA 22.03.1975
Alexandre Usov BLR 27.08.1977
Astana Team
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 258
Rank: 9
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.astanateam.com
Bosses
General manager: Pablo Anton
Team manager: Neil Stephens
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: AST
Kit design: B
Number of riders: 29
Swiss riders: 4
Average age: 26.9
Bikes: BH frames, Campagnolo components
Timeline
2006 - present: Astana Team
2006: Astana-Würth Team
2004 - 2006: Liberty Seguros-Würth Team
1990 - 2003: ONCE
Star Riders
Andrey Kashechkin KAZ 03.21.1980
Andreas Klöden GER 06.22.1975
Paolo Savoldelli ITA 05.07.1973
Alexandre Vinokourov KAZ 09.16.1973
Roster
Igor Abakoumov BEL 30.05.1981
Assan Bazayev KAZ 22.02.1981
Antonio Colom Mas ESP 11.05.1978
Koen de Kort NED 08.09.1982
Thomas Frei SUI 19.01.1985
Maxim Gourov KAZ 30.01.1979
René Haselbacher AUT 15.09.1977
Maxim Iglinskiy KAZ 04.18.1981
Serguei Ivanov RUS 05.03.1975
Benoît Joachim LUX 14.01.1976
Aaron Kemps AUS 10.09.1983
Matthias Kessler GER 16.05.1979
Alexey Kolessov KAZ 27.09.1984
Julien Mazet FRA 16.03.1981
Eddy Mazzoleni ITA 29.07.1973
Guennadi Mikhailov RUS 08.02.1974
Andrey Mizurov KAZ 16.03.1973
Steve Morabito SUI 30.01.1983
Dimitry Murajev KAZ 02.11.1979
Daniel Navarro Garcia ESP 08.07.1983
Grégory Rast SUI 17.01.1980
José Antonio Redondo ESP 05.03.1985
Michael Schär SUI 29.09.1986
Evgeniy Sladkov KAZ 15.12.1983
Sergey Yakovlev KAZ 11.04.1976
Bouygues Télécom
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 184
Rank: 18
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.equipebouyguestelecom.fr
Bosses
General manager: Jean-René Bernaudeau
Team managers: Dominique Arnould, Christian Guilberteau, Christoph Faudot,
Ismaël Mottier, Philippe Mauduit, Benoit Genauzeau
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: BTL
Kit design: C
Number of riders: 30
French riders: 24
Average age: 26.9
Bikes: Time frames, Campagnolo, Stronglight, and Mavic components
Timeline
2005 - present: Bouygues Telecom
2003 - 2004: Brioches La Boulangére
1999 - 2002: Bonjour
Star Riders
Laurent Brochard FRA 03.26.1968
Pierrick Fedrigo FRA 11.30.1978
Anthony Geslin FRA 06.09.1980
Thomas Voeckler FRA 06.22.1979
Roster
Julien Belgy FRA 06.05.1983
Giovanni Bernaudeau FRA 25.08.1983
Olivier Bonnaire FRA 02.03.1983
Franck Bouyer FRA 17.03.1974
Dimitri Champion FRA 06.09.1983
Mathieu Claude FRA 17.03.1983
Stef Clement NED 24.09.1982
Aurélien Clerc SUI 26.08.1979
Nicolas Crosbie FRA 02.04.1980
Pierre Drancourt BEL 10.05.1982
Andy Flickinger FRA 04.11.1978
Xavier Florencio Cabre ESP 26.12.1979
Yohann Gene FRA 25.06.1981
Saïd Haddou FRA 23.11.1982
Vincent Jerome FRA 26.11.1984
Arnaud Labbe FRA 03.11.1976
Yoann Le Boulanger FRA 04.11.1975
Laurent Lefevre FRA 02.07.1976
Rony Martias FRA 04.08.1980
Alexandre Pichot FRA 06.01.1983
Jérôme Pineau FRA 01.02.1980
Erki Pütsep EST 25.05.1976
Franck Renier FRA 11.04.1974
Didier Rous FRA 09.18.1970
Matthieu Sprick FRA 29.09.1981
Johann Tschopp SUI 01.07.1982
Caisse d’Epargne
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 350
Rank: 2
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.cyclisme-caisse-epargne.fr
Bosses
General manager: Jose-Miguel Echavarri
Team managers: Eusebio Unzue, Alfonso Galilea, Jose Luis Jaimerena
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: GCE
Kit design: B
Number of riders: 25
Spanish riders: 16
Average age: 27.3
Bikes: Opera frames, Campagnolo components
Timeline
2007 - present: Caisse d’Epargne
2006: Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears
2005: Illes Balears
2004: Illes Balears-Banesto
2002 - 2003: Ibanesto.com
1991 - 2001: Banesto
1981 - 1990: Reynolds
Star Riders
José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios ESP 11.27.1978
Vladimir Karpets RUS 09.20.1980
Oscar Pereiro Sio ESP 08.03.1977
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte ESP 04.25.1980
Roster
David Arroyo Duran ESP 07.01.1980
Eric Berthou FRA 23.01.1980
Florent Brard FRA 07.02.1976
Vladimir Efimkin RUS 02.12.1981
Imanol Erviti ESP 15.11.1983
Marco Fertonani ITA 08.07.1976
José Vicente Garcia Acosta ESP 04.08.1972
Joan Horrach Rippoll ESP 27.03.1974
Pablo Lastras Garcia ESP 20.01.1976
David Lopez ESP 13.05.1981
Alberto Losado ESP 28.02.1982
Alexei Markov RUS 26.05.1979
Aitor Pérez Arrieta ESP 24.07.1977
Francisco Perez Sanchez ESP 22.07.1978
Mathieu Perget FRA 18.09.1984
Nicolas Portal FRA 23.04.1979
Sébastien Portal FRA 04.06.1982
Vicente Reynès Mimo ESP 30.07.1981
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ESP 12.05.1979
Constantino Zaballa Gutierrez ESP 05.15.1978
Xabier Zandio Echaide ESP 17.03.1977
Cofidis
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 249
Rank: 11
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.cofidis.fr
Bosses
General manager: Eric Boyer
Team managers: Francis Van Londersele, Bernard Quilfen, Alain Deloeuil, Lionel Marie
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: COF
Kit design: C
Number of riders: 30
French riders: 14 (46.6 per cent)
Average age: 27
Bikes: Wilier Triestina frames, Campagnolo components
Timeline
1997 - present: Cofidis
Star Riders
Sylvain Chavanel FRA 06.30.1979
David Moncoutié FRA 04.30.1975
Nick Nuyens BEL 05.05.1980
Ivan Ramiro Parra Pinto COL 10.14.1975
Roster
Stéphane Augé FRA 06.12.1974
Frédéric Bessy FRA 09.01.1972
Mickaël Buffaz FRA 21.05.1979
Kevin De Weert BEL 27.05.1982
Hervé Duclos-Lassalle FRA 24.12.1979
Leonardo Duque COL 10.04.1980
Michiel Elijzen NED 31.08.1982
Tyler Farrar USA 02.06.1984
Bingen Fernandez Bustinza ESP 15.12.1972
Nicolas Hartmann FRA 03.03.1985
Maryan Hary FRA 27.05.1980
Mathieu Heijboer NED 04.02.1982
Frank Høj DEN 04.01.1973
Yann Huguet FRA 02.05.1984
Geoffroy Lequatre FRA 30.06.1981
Sébastien Minard FRA 12.06.1982
Amaël Moinard FRA 02.02.1982
Maxime Monfort BEL 14.01.1983
Damien Monier FRA 27.08.1982
Cristian Moreni ITA 21.11.1972
Staf Scheirlinckx BEL 12.03.1979
Christopher Sutton AUS 10.09.1984
Tristan Valentin FRA 23.02.1982
Rik Verbrugghe BEL 07.23.1974
Bradley Wiggins GBR 04.28.1980
Steve Zampieri SUI 04.06.1977
Crédit Agricole
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 253
Rank: 10
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.au-veloclubdeparis.fr
Bosses
General manager: Roger Legeay
Team managers: Serge Beucherie, Denis Roux, Jean-Jacques Henry
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: C.A
Kit design: C
Number of riders: 28
French riders: 16
Average age: 26.9
Bikes: Look frames, Shimano components
Timeline
1999 - present: Crédit Agricole
1993 - 1998: GAN
1990 - 1992: Z
1987 - 1989: Z-Peugeot
1963 - 1986: Peugeot
Star Riders
Alexandre Botcharov RUS 26.02.1975
Pietro Caucchioli ITA 08.22.1975
Patrice Halgand FRA 02.03.1974
Thor Hushovd NOR 01.18.1978
Roster
Francesco Bellotti ITA 06.08.1979
Laszlo Bodrogi HUN 11.12.1976
William Bonnet FRA 25.06.1982
Anthony Charteau FRA 04.06.1979
Julian Dean NZL 28.01.1975
Christophe Edaleine FRA 01.11.1979
Jimmy Engoulvent FRA 07.12.1979
Dmitriy Fofonov KAZ 15.08.1976
Angelo Furlan ITA 21.06.1977
Sébastien Hinault FRA 11.02.1974
Jonathan Hivert FRA 23.03.1985
Mads Kaggestad NOR 22.02.1977
Christophe Kern FRA 18.01.1981
Christophe Laurent FRA 26.07.1977
Christophe Le Mevel FRA 11.09.1980
Cyril Lemoine FRA 03.03.1983
Jean Marc Marino FRA 15.08.1983
Rémi Pauriol FRA 04.04.1982
Benoît Poilvet FRA 27.08.1976
Saul Raisin USA 06.01.1983
Mark Renshaw AUS 22.10.1982
Nicolas Roche IRL 03.07.1984
Pierre Rolland FRA 10.10.1986
Yannick Talabardon FRA 06.07.1981
Team CSC
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 388
Rank: 1
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.team-csc.com
Bosses
General manager: Bjarne Riis
Team managers: Kim Andersen, Alain Gallopin, Scott Sunderland, Tristan Hoffman
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: CSC
Kit design: B
Number of riders: 28
Danish riders: 10
Average age: 28.4
Bikes: Cervélo frames, Shimano components
Timeline
2001 - present: CSC
2000: Memory Card-Jack and Jones
1998 - 1999: Home-Jack and Jones
Star Riders
Fabian Cancellara SWI 03.18.1981
Carlos Sastre Candil ESP 04.22.1975
Fränk Schleck LUX 15.04.1980
Jens Voigt GER 09.17.1971
Roster
Kurt-Asle Arvesen NOR 09.02.1975
Lars Ytting Bak DEN 16.01.1980
Michael Blaudzun DEN 30.04.1973
Matti Breschel DEN 31.08.1984
Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro ESP 03.06.1969
Matthew Goss AUS 05.11.1986
Volodymir Gustov UKR 15.02.1977
Juan José Haedo ARG 26.01.1981
Allan Johansen DEN 14.07.1971
Bobby Julich USA 11.18.1971
Kasper Klosertgaard Larsen DEN 22.05.1983
Alexandr Kolobnev RUS 04.05.1981
Karsten Kroon NED 29.01.1976
Marcus Ljungqvist SWE 26.10.1974
Anders Lund DEN 14.02.1985
Lars Michaelsen DEN 13.03.1969
Stuart O’Grady AUS 08.06.1973
Martin Pedersen DEN 15.04.1983
Luke Roberts AUS 25.01.1977
Andy Schleck LUX 10.06.1985
Chris Anker Sørensen DEN 05.09.1984
Nicki Sørensen DEN 14.05.1975
Christian Vandevelde USA 22.05.1976
David Zabriskie USA 01.12.1979
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 327
Rank: 4
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.teamdiscoverychannel.com
Bosses
General manager: Bill Stapleton
Team manager: Johan Bruyneel
Assistants: Dirk Demol, Sean Yates, Lorenzo Lapage
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: DSC
Kit design: B
Number of riders: 28
American riders: 5
Average age: 27
Bikes: Trek frames, Shimano components
Timeline
2005 - present: Discovery Channel
1996 - 2004: United States Postal Service
1989 - 1995: Montgomery
Star Riders
Ivan Basso ITA 11.26.1977
George Hincapie USA 06.29.1973
Levi Leipheimer USA 10.24.1973
Yaroslav Popovych UKR 01.04.1980
Roster
Fumiyuki Beppu JPN 10.04.1983
Volodymyr Bileka UKR 06.02.1979
Janez Brajkovič SLO 18.12.1983
Alberto Contador ESP 06.12.1982
Antonio Cruz USA 31.10.1971
Steve Cummings GBR 19.03.1981
Tom Danielson USA 03.13.1978
John Devine USA 02.11.1985
Stijn Devolder BEL 29.08.1979
Vladimir Gusev RUS 04.07.1982
Fuyu Li PRC 09.05.1978
Trent Lowe AUS 08.10.1984
Egoi Martinez De Esteban ESP 15.05.1978
Jason McCartney USA 03.09.1973
Gianni Meersman BEL 05.12.1985
Uroš Murn SLO 09.02.1975
Benjamin Noval Gonzalez ESP 23.01.1979
Pavel Padrnos CZE 17.12.1970
Sérgio Paulinho POR 26.03.1980
José Luis Rubiera Vigil ESP 27.01.1973
Tomas Vaitkus LTU 04.02.1982
Jurgen Van Goolen BEL 28.11.1980
Brian Vandborg DEN 04.12.1981
Matthew White AUS 22.02.1974
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 208
Rank: 16
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.fundacioneuskadi.com
Bosses
General manager: Miguel Madariaga
Team managers: Julian Gorospe, Gorka Gerrikagoitia
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: EUS
Kit design: A
Number of riders: 27
Spanish riders: 26
Average age: 27
Bikes: Orbea frames, Shimano components
Timeline
1998 - present: Euskaltel-Euskadi
1994 - 1997: Euskadi
Star Riders
Igor Antón Hernandez ESP 02.03.1983
Inigo Landaluze Intzaurraga ESP 05.09.1977
Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez ESP 02.05.1978
Haimar Zubeldia Agirre ESP 04.01.1977
Roster
Benat Albizuri Aransolo ESP 17.05.1981
Lander Aperribai ESP 15.06.1982
Andoni Aranaga Azkune ESP 01.01.1979
Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau ESP 17.11.1979
Jorge Azanza ESP 16.06.1982
Jon Bru ESP 18.10.1977
Unai Etxebarria Arana VEN 21.11.1972
Koldo Fernández ESP 13.09.1981
Aitor Galdos Alonso ESP 08.11.1979
Dioni Galparsoro ESP 13.08.1978
Aitor Hernandez ESP 17.05.1982
Iban Iriondo Uranga ESP 01.05.1984
Markel Irizar Aranburu ESP 05.02.1980
Iñaki Isasi Flores ESP 20.04.1977
Andoni Lafuente ESP 06.09.1985
Anton Luengo Celaya ESP 17.04.1981
Ivan Mayoz ESP 30.09.1981
Aketza Peña Iza ESP 04.03.1981
Ruben Pérez Moreno ESP 30.10.1981
Amets Txurruka ESP 10.11.1982
Unai Uribarri ESP 28.02.1984
Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui ESP 04.11.1978
Joseba Zubeldia Agirre ESP 19.03.1979
Française des Jeux
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 173
Rank: 19
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.fdjeux.com/institutionnel/cyclisme/actualities
Bosses
General manager: Marc Madiot
Team managers: Yvon Madiot, Martial Gayant, Frank Pineau, Thierry Bricaud
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: FDJ
Kit design: B
Number of riders: 26
French riders: 17
Average age: 26.5
Bikes: Lapierre frames, Shimano components
Timeline
1997 - present: Française des Jeux (fdjeux.com)
1998 - 1999: Home-Jack and Jones
Star Riders
Sandy Casar FRA 02.02.1979
Philippe Gilbert BEL 07.05.1982
Frédéric Guesdon FRA 14.10.1971
Bradley McGee AUS 02.24.1976
Roster
Ludovic Auger FRA 17.02.1971
Sébastien Chavanel FRA 21.03.1981
Carlos Da Cruz FRA 20.12.1974
Mickael Delage FRA 06.08.1985
Christophe Detilloux BEL 03.05.1974
Rémy Di Gregorio FRA 31.07.1985
Arnaud Gerard FRA 06.10.1984
Timothy Gudsell NZL 17.02.1984
Lilian Jegou FRA 20.01.1976
Sébastien Joly FRA 25.06.1979
Mathieu Ladagnous FRA 12.12.1984
Johan Lindgren SWE 13.08.1986
Thomas Lövkvist SWE 04.04.1984
Thierry Marichal BEL 13.06.1973
Ian McLeod RSA 03.10.1980
Christophe Mengin FRA 03.09.1968
Cyrille Monnerais FRA 24.08.1983
Francis Mourey FRA 08.12.1980
Fabien Patanchon FRA 14.06.1983
Jérémy Roy FRA 22.06.1983
Benoît Vaugrenard FRA 05.01.1982
Jussi Veikkanen FIN 29.03.1981
Gerolsteiner
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 294
Rank: 6
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.gerolsteiner.com/cycling
Bosses
General manager: Renate Holczer
Team manager: Hans-Michael Holczer
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: GST
Kit design: C
Number of riders: 26
German riders: 16
Average age: 26.4
Bikes: Specialized frames, Shimano components
Timeline
2002 - present: Gerolsteiner
Star Riders
Markus Fothen GER 09.09.1981
Heinrich Haussler GER 25.02.1984
Davide Rebellin ITA 08.09.1971
Stefan Schumacher GER 21.07.1981
Roster
Robert Förster GER 27.01.1978
Thomas Fothen GER 06.04.1983
Johannes Frohlinger GER 09.06.1985
Oscar Gatto ITA 01.01.1985
Torsten Hiekmann GER 17.03.1980
Tim Klinger GER 22.09.1984
Bernhard Kohl AUT 04.01.1982
David Kopp GER 05.01.1979
Sven Krauss GER 06.01.1983
Sebastian Lang GER 15.09.1979
Andrea Moletta ITA 23.02.1979
Volker Ordowski GER 09.11.1973
Matthias Russ GER 14.11.1983
Ronny Scholz GER 24.04.1978
Tom Stamsnijder NED 15.05.1985
Marcel Strauss SUI 15.08.1976
Fabian Wegmann GER 20.06.1980
Carlo Westphal GER 25.11.1985
Peter Wrolich AUT 30.05.1974
Oliver Zaugg SUI 09.05.1981
Beat Zberg SUI 10.05.1971
Markus Zberg SUI 27.06.1974
Lampre-Fondital
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 327
Rank: 5
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.lampre.com/cycling
Bosses
General manager: Giuseppe Saronni
Team managers: Giuseppe Martinelli, Fabrizio Bontempi, Maurizio Piovani
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: LAM
Kit design: C
Number of riders: 25
Italian riders: 19
Average age: 27.9
Bikes: Wilier Triestina frames, Campagnolo components
Timeline
2006 - present: Lampre-Fondital
2005: Lampre-Caffita
Star Riders
Alessandro Ballan ITA 11.06.1979
Daniele Bennati ITA 09.24.1980
Damiano Cunego ITA 09.19.1981
Danilo Napolitano ITA 31.01.1981
Roster
Fabio Baldato ITA 13.06.1968
Matteo Bonomi ITA 11.11.1983
Paolo Bossoni ITA 02.07.1976
Marzio Bruseghin ITA 15.06.1974
Giampaolo Caruso ITA 15.08.1980
Jaime Alberto Castaneda Ortega COL 29.10.1986
Claudio Corioni ITA 26.12.1982
Giuliano Figueras ITA 24.01.1976
Paolo Fornaciari ITA 02.02.1971
Enrico Franzoi ITA 08.08.1982
Francesco Gavazzi ITA 01.08.1984
David Loosli SUI 08.05.1980
Marco Marzano ITA 10.06.1980
Massimiliano Mori ITA 08.01.1974
Morris Possoni ITA 01.07.1984
Daniele Righi ITA 28.03.1976
Gorazd Stangelj SLO 27.01.1973
Sylvester Szmyd POL 02.03.1978
Paolo Tiralongo ITA 08.07.1977
Tadej Valjavec SLO 13.04.1977
Francisco Javier Vila Errandonea ESP 11.10.1975
Liquigas
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 247
Rank: 13
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.teamliquigasbianchi.it
Bosses
General manager: Roberto Amadio
Team managers: Mario Chiesa, Stefano Zanatta, Dario Mariuzzo, Mario Scirea
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: LIQ
Kit design: B
Number of riders: 29
Italian riders: 18
Average age: 27.9
Bikes: Bianchi frames, Campagnolo components
Timeline
2006 - present: Liquigas
2005: Liquigas-Bianchi
Star Riders
Magnus Bäckstedt SWE 01.30.1975
Danilo Di Luca ITA 01.02.1976
Luca Paolini ITA 17.01.1977
Filippo Pozzato ITA 09.10.1981
Roster
Michael Albasini SUI 20.12.1980
Manuel Beltrán Martinez ESP 28.05.1971
Leonardo Bertagnolli ITA 08.01.1978
Patrick Calcagni SUI 05.07.1977
Eros Capecchi ITA 13.06.1986
Kjell Carlström FIN 18.10.1976
Dario Cataldo ITA 17.03.1985
Francesco Chicchi ITA 27.11.1980
Mauro Da Dalto ITA 08.04.1981
Francesco Failli ITA 16.12.1983
Antonio Murilo Fisher BRA 16.06.1979
Enrico Gasparotto ITA 22.03.1982
Roman Kreuziger CZE 06.05.1986
Aleksandr Kuschynski BLR 27.10.1979
Vladimir Miholjevic CRO 18.01.1974
Matej Mugerli SLO 17.06.1981
Vincenzo Nibali ITA 14.11.1984
Andrea Noè ITA 15.01.1969
Franco Pellizotti ITA 01.15.1978
Roberto Petito ITA 01.02.1971
Manuel Quinziato ITA 30.10.1979
Alessandro Spezialetti ITA 14.01.1975
Guido Trenti USA 27.12.1972
Alessandro Vanotti ITA 16.09.1980
Charlie Wegelius GBR 26.04.1978
Frederik Willems BEL 08.09.1979
Team Milram
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 185
Rank: 17
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.team-milram.com
Bosses
General manager: Gianluigi Stanga
Team managers: Antonio Bevilacqua, Vittorio Algeri, Oscar Pellicioli, Jan Schaffrath
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: MRM
Kit design: B
Number of riders: 27
Italian riders: 11
Average age: 27.7
Bikes: Colnago frames, Shimano components
Timeline
2006 - present: Milram
Star Riders
Igor Astarloa ESP 29.03.1976
Andriy Grivko UKR 07.08.1983
Alessandro Petacchi ITA 01.03.1974
Erik Zabel GER 07.07.1970
Roster
Mirko Celestino ITA 03.19.1974
Alessandro Cortinovis ITA 11.10.1977
Volodymyr Dyudya UKR 06.01.1983
Sergio Ghisalberti ITA 10.12.1979
Ralf Grabsch GER 07.04.1973
Dennis Haueisen GER 13.09.1978
Matej Jurco SVK 08.08.1984
Christian Knees GER 05.03.1981
Brett Lancaster AUS 15.11.1979
Mirco Lorenzetto ITA 13.07.1981
Martin Müller SUI 05.05.1984
Alberto Ongarato ITA 24.07.1975
Enrico Poitschke GER 25.08.1969
Elia Rigotto ITA 04.03.1982
Fabio Sabatini ITA 18.02.1985
Fabio Sacchi ITA 22.05.1974
Björn Schröder GER 27.10.1980
Sebastian Schwager GER 04.01.1984
Carlo Scognamiglio ITA 31.05.1983
Marcel Sieberg GER 30.04.1982
Sebastian Siedler GER 18.01.1978
Niki Terpstra NED 18.05.1984
Marco Velo ITA 09.03.1974
Predictor-Lotto
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 214
Rank: 15
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.davitamon-lotto.com
Bosses
General manager: Geert Coeman
Team managers: Mark Sergeant, Herman Frison, Hendrik Redant, Allan Peiper, Eric Van Lancker
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: PRL
Kit design: A
Number of riders: 29
Belgian riders: 21
Average age: 27.2
Bikes: Ridley frames, Campagnolo components
Timeline
2006 - present: Predictor-Lotto
2005 - 2006: Davitamon-Lotto
2003 - 2004: Lotto-Domo
2000 - 2002: Lotto-Adecco
1997 - 1999: Lotto-Mobistar
1995 - 1996: Lotto-Isoglass
1993 - 1994: Lotto-Caloi
1992: Lotto
1990 - 1991: Lotto-Super Club
1989: Lotto
1985 - 1988: Lotto-Eddy Merckx
Star Riders
David Dario Cioni ITA 12.02.1974
Cadel Evans AUS 02.14.1977
Leif Hoste BEL 17.07.1977
Robbie McEwen AUS 06.24.1972
Roster
Mario Aerts BEL 31.12.1974
Christophe Brandt BEL 06.05.1977
Dominique Cornu BEL 10.10.1985
Wim De Vocht BEL 29.04.1982
Dries Devenyns BEL 22.07.1983
Bart Dockx BEL 02.09.1981
Nick Gates AUS 10.03.1972
Christopher Horner USA 10.23.1971
Nick Ingels BEL 02.09.1984
Josep Jufré Pou ESP 05.08.1975
Olivier Kaisen BEL 30.04.1983
Björn Leukemans BEL 01.07.1977
Matthew Lloyd AUS 24.05.1983
Pieter Mertens BEL 28.08.1980
Fred Rodriguez USA 03.09.1973
Bert Roesems BEL 14.10.1972
Roy Sentjens BEL 15.12.1980
Tom Steels BEL 02.09.1971
Geert Steurs BEL 24.09.1981
Greg Van Avermaet BEL 17.05.1985
Jurgen Van Den Broeck BEL 01.02.1983
Preben Van Hecke BEL 09.07.1982
Wim Van Huffel BEL 05.28.1979
Johan Van Summeren BEL 04.02.1981
Wim Vansevenant BEL 23.12.1971
Quick•Step-Innergetic
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 248
Rank: 12
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.qsi-cycling.com
Bosses
General manager: Patrick Lefévère
Team manager: Alvaro Crespi
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: QSI
Kit design: B
Number of riders: 30
Belgian riders: 13
Average age: 27.6
Bikes: Time frames, Campagnolo components
Timeline
2005 - present: Quick Step-Innergetic
2003 - 2004: Quick Step-Davitamon
1994 - 2002: Mapei
Star Riders
Paolo Bettini ITA 04.01.1974
Tom Boonen BEL 10.15.1980
Gert Steegmans BEL 30.09.1980
Peter Van Petegem BEL 01.18.1970
Roster
Serge Baguet BEL 18.08.1969
Carlos Barredo ESP 05.06.1981
Wilfried Cretskens BEL 10.07.1976
Steven De Jongh NED 25.11.1973
Addy Engels NED 16.06.1977
Mauro Facci ITA 11.05.1982
Juan Manuel Gárate ESP 24.04.1976
Dmitry Grabovskiy UKR 30.09.1985
Kevin Hulsmans BEL 11.04.1978
Alessandro Proni ITA 28.12.1982
Sébastien Rosseler BEL 15.07.1981
Ivan Santaromita SUI 30.04.1984
Leonardo Scarselli ITA 19.04.1975
Hubert Schwab SUI 05.04.1982
Kevin Seeldraeyers BEL 12.09.1986
Bram Tankink NED 03.12.1978
Andrea Tonti ITA 16.02.1976
Matteo Tosatto ITA 14.05.1974
Jurgen Van de Walle BEL 09.02.1977
Kevin Van Impe BEL 19.04.1981
Cédric Vasseur FRA 18.08.1970
Geert Verheyen BEL 10.03.1973
Davide Vigano ITA 12.06.1984
Giovanni Visconti ITA 13.01.1983
Wouter Weylandt BEL 27.09.1984
Maarten Wynants BEL 13.05.1982
Rabobank
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 346
Rank: 3
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.rabobank.nl
Bosses
General manager: Theo De Rooy
Team manager: Erik Breukink
Assistants: Adri Van Houwelingen, Joop Zoetemelk, Frans Maassen
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: RAB
Kit design: D
Number of riders: 28
Dutch riders: 17
Average age: 27.5
Bikes: Colnago frames, Shimano components
Timeline
1996 - present: Rabobank
1995: Novell
1993 - 1994: WordPerfect
1990 - 1992: Buckler
Star Riders
Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni ESP 09.17.1977
Óscar Freire Gomez ESP 02.15.1976
Denis Menchov RUS 01.25.1978
Michael Rasmussen DEN 06.01.1974
Roster
Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano COL 05.21.1979
Michael Boogerd NED 05.28.1972
Jan Boven NED 28.02.1972
Graeme Brown AUS 09.04.1979
Bram De Groot NED 18.12.1974
Marc De Maar NED 15.02.1984
Thomas Dekker NED 09.06.1984
Theo Eltink NED 27.11.1981
Rick Flens NED 11.04.1983
Robert Gesink NED 31.05.1986
Mathew Hayman AUS 20.04.1978
Pedro Horrillo Munoz ESP 27.09.1974
Dmitri Kozontchuk RUS 05.04.1984
Sebastian Langeveld NED 17.01.1985
Gerben Löwik NED 29.06.1977
Koos Moerenhout NED 05.11.1973
Grischa Niermann GER 03.11.1975
Joost Posthuma NED 08.03.1981
Kai Reus NED 11.03.1985
Leon Van Bon NED 01.28.1972
Max Van Heeswijk NED 03.02.1973
Thorwald Veneberg NED 16.10.1977
William Walker AUS 31.10.1985
Pieter Weening NED 05.04.1981
Saunier Duval-Prodir
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 268
Rank: 8
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.saunierduvalteam.com
Bosses
General manager: Mauro Gianetti
Team managers: Pietro Algeri, Matteo Algeri, Sabino Angoitia, Joxean Fernández
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: SDV
Kit design: C
Number of riders: 28
Spanish riders: 16
Average age: 27.2
Bikes: Scott frames, Campagnolo components
Timeline
2004 - present: Saunier Duval-Prodir
Star Riders
José Angel Gomez Marchante ESP 05.30.1980
Iban Mayo Diez ESP 08.19.1977
David Millar GBR 01.04.1977
Gilberto Simoni ITA 08.25.1971
Roster
Raivis Belohvoščiks LAT 21.01.1976
Jose Alberto Benitez Roman ESP 14.11.1981
Rubens Bertogliati SUI 09.05.1979
Iker Camaño Ortuzar ESP 14.03.1979
David Cañada ESP 11.03.1975
Juan Jose Cobo Acebo ESP 11.02.1981
David de la Fuente Rasilla ESP 04.05.1981
Jesus del Nero ESP 16.03.1982
Arkaitz Durán Aroca ESP 18.05.1986
Alberto de la Puebla Ramos ESP 17.09.1984
Koldo Gil Perez ESP 01.16.1978
Ángel Gomez ESP 13.05.1981
Ruben Lobato Elvira ESP 01.09.1978
Piotr Mazur POL 02.12.1982
Javier Meijas Leal ESP 30.09.1983
Manuele Mori ITA 09.08.1980
Luciano Pagliarini BRA 18.04.1978
Leonardo Piepoli ITA 09.29.1971
Riccardo Ricco ITA 01.09.1983
Christophe Rinero FRA 29.12.1973
Guido Trentin ITA 24.11.1975
Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi ESP 06.05.1982
Remmert Wielinga NED 27.04.1976
Carlos Zarate Fernandez ESP 19.07.1980
T-Mobile Team
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: 269
Rank: 7
Contact
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.t-mobile-team.com
Bosses
General manager: Bob Stapleton
Team manager: Rolf Aldag
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: TMO
Kit design: D
Number of riders: 29
German riders: 11
Average age: 28.3
Bikes: Giant frames, Shimano components
Timeline
2004 - present: T-Mobile
1991 - 2003: Deutsche Telekom
Star Riders
Serhiy Honchar UKR 03.07.1970
Kim Kirchen LUX 07.03.1978
Michael Rogers AUS 12.20.1979
Patrik Sinkewitz GER 10.20.1980
Roster
Michael Barry CAN 18.12.1975
Eric Baumann GER 21.03.1980
Lorenzo Bernucci ITA 15.09.1979
Marcus Burghardt GER 30.06.1983
Mark Cavendish GBR 21.05.1986
Gerald Ciolek GER 19.09.1986
Scott Davis AUS 22.04.1979
Bernhard Eisel AUT 02.17.1981
Linus Gerdemann GER 16.09.1982
Bert Grabsch GER 19.06.1975
André Greipel GER 16.07.1982
Giuseppe Guerini ITA 14.02.1970
Roger Hammond GBR 01.30.1974
Adam Hansen AUS 11.05.1981
Greg Henderson NZL 10.09.1976
Andreas Klier GER 15.01.1976
Servais Knaven NED 06.03.1971
André Korff GER 04.06.1973
Axel Merckx BEL 08.08.1972
Aaron Olsen USA 11.01.1978
Jakob Piil DEN 09.03.1973
Marco Pinotti ITA 25.02.1976
František Raboň CZE 26.09.1983
Stephan Schreck GER 15.07.1978
Thomas Ziegler GER 24.11.1980
Unibet.com Cycling Team
Numbers Game
ProTour points of 2006: None (The team did not participate)
Rank: 20
Contact
E-mail: Coming later
Web: www.unibetcycling.com
Bosses
General manager: Koen Terryn
Team manager: Jacques Hanegraaf
Statistics & Facts
UCI code: UNI
Kit design: C
Number of riders: 26
Swedish riders: 2
Average age: 25.5
Bikes: Coming later
Timeline
2006 - present: Unibet.com Cycling Team
Star Riders
Jimmy Casper FRA 28.05.1978
Baden Cooke AUS 12.10.1978
Víctor Hugo Peña Grisales COL 10.07.1974
José Rujano VEN 18.02.1982
Roster
Matteo Carrara ITA 25.03.1979
Arnaud Coyot FRA 06.10.1980
Markus Eichler GER 18.02.1982
Gorik Gardeyn BEL 17.03.1980
Michal Golas POL 29.04.1984
Jeremy Hunt GBR 12.03.1974
Pieter Jacobs BEL 06.06.1986
Alexander Khatuntsev RUS 11.02.1985
Sergey Kolesnikov RUS 10.03.1986
Gustav Erik Larsson SWE 20.09.1980
Jonas Ljungblad SWE 15.01.1979
Luis Pasamontes ESP 02.10.1979
Matheus Pronk NED 01.07.1974
Niels Scheuneman NED 21.12.1983
Gil Suray BEL 29.08.1984
Laurens Ten Dam NED 13.11.1980
Erwin Thijs BEL 06.08.1970
Rigoberto Uran COL 26.01.1987
Stijn Vandenbergh BEL 25.04.1984
Troels Ronning Vinther DEN 24.02.1987
Matthew Wilson AUS 01.10.1977
Marco Zanotti ITA 21.01.1974
