Which riders could be entering The Shack?

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

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