We all know that Lance Armstrong will be riding in his new team next year, but what about the other candidates to ride for ‘The Shack’. In this article I analyse the riders who could be/are rumoured to be/confirmed to be riding for the American team in their debut season.
Janez Brajkovic
DoB: 18/12/1983
Nationality: Slovenian
Current team: Astana
Rider type: All-rounder
Major wins: World Individual U23 Time Trial Champion 2004, Tour de Georgia 2007, Slovenian Individual National Time Trial Champion 2009
Sergio Paulinho
DoB: 26/03/1980
Nationality: Portuguese
Current team: Astana (Confirmed as RadioShack rider for 09)
Rider type: Time-triallist
Major wins: Portuguese Individual National Time Trial Champion 2004/2008, Volta a Tras os Montes 2004
Yaroslav Popovych
DoB: 04/01/1980
Nationality: Ukrainian
Current team: Astana
Rider type: All-rounder
Major wins: World U23 Road Race Champion 2001, Porec Trophy 2 2002, GP de Geneve 2002, Trofeo Androni Giocattoli 2004, Volta a Catalunya 2005
Gregory Rast
DoB: 17/01/1980
Nationality: Swiss
Current team: Astana
Rider type: Classics specialist
Major wins: Grand Prix Istanbul 2008, Tour de Luxembourg 2007, Swiss National Road Race Champion 2006/2004, Swiss National U23 Road Race Champion 2002
Alessandro Ballan
DoB: 06/11/1979
Nationality: Italian
Current team: Lampre
Rider type: Classics specialist
Major wins: World Road Race Champion 2008, Ronde van Vlaanderen 2007, Three Days of De Panne 2007, Trofeo Laigueglia 2006, Vattenfall Cyclassics 2007, Tour de Pologne 2009
Stijn Devolder
DoB: 29/08/1979
Nationality: Belgian
Current team: Quick Step
Rider type: Time-triallist/Classics specialist
Major wins: Belgian National Road Race Champion 2007, Belgian Individual Time Trial Champion 2008, Ronde van Vlaanderen 2008/2009, Volta ao Algarve 2008
Chris Horner
DoB: 23/10/1971
Nationality: American
Current team: Astana
Rider type: All-rounder
Major wins: Tour de Langkawi 2000, Tour de Georgia 2003, USA Cycling National Racing Calendar Champion 2002/2003/2004
Andreas Kloden
DoB: 22/06/1975
Nationality: German
Current team: Astana
Rider type: All-rounder
Major wins: German National Road Race Champion 2004, Paris-Nice 2000, Vuelta al País Vasco 2000, Tirreno-Adriatico 2007, Tour de Romandie 2008
Levi Leipheimer
DoB: 24/10/1973
Nationality: American
Current team: Astana
Rider type: All-rounder
Major wins: Tour of California 2007/2008/2009, Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 2006, Deutschland Tour 2005, Route du Sud 2002, Vuelta a Castilla y León 2009
Taylor Phinney
DoB: 27/06/1990
Nationality: American
Current team: Trek-Livestrong
Rider type: Track rider
Major wins: Tour de l’Abitibi Juniors 2007, U23 Paris-Roubaix 2009
Tomas Vaitkus
DoB: 04/02/1982
Nationality: Lithuanian
Current team: Astana
Rider type: All-rounder
Major wins: U23 World Individual Time Trial Champion 2002, Lithuanian Individual Time Trial Champion 2003/2004, Lithuanian Road Race Champion 2004
Haimar Zubeldia
DoB: 01/04/1977
Nationality: Spanish
Current team: Astana
Rider type: Climber
Major wins: Euskal Bizikleta 2002
