Ed, that's pretty funny.
I'd be willing to bet that out of sight - out of mind rules here. Lance
won't want to talk to anyone for a month and then he'll be a manager of
some sort and will be so tightly focused on that he won't want to
discuss what HE might have done in any particular situation.
George has now won the hardest mountain stage in the Tour on one of the
hardest years in memory. Anyone think that won't have some really good
effect on his classics riding?
Azevedo really can ride Tour-leader level if given the chance. Manual
Beltran is also someone who could win a grand tour.
Tom Danielson is a big unknown but since he won the Tour of Georgia he
has to be considered as a possible GT winner. Popovych looked good in
his first Tour but no one on Discovery could look too good standing in
Lance's great shadow.
The Spring Classics lineup is even more enviable: Stejn Devolder, Roger
Hammond, Ryder Hesjedal, Leif Hoste and Max van Heeswijk are a
spectacular group both as team leaders which all of them are capable of
being, to supporting George Hincapie. I'm not sure that Bruyneel is a
great a spring classics strategist as he is for grand tours. Perhaps he
can think about that over the winter since maintaining a team the size
and cost of Discovery Channel is going to take a lot of wins keeping
them in the spot light. Mapei and Quick Step certainly had a good
strategist and hopefully someone in Discovery could match them.