The Friday Rumour.
29 May 2009

Latest from the world of cycling before it happens

Pro bike racing runs on rumours and gossip, but this year’s Giro d’Italia has been an ear-wigger’s feast. These three were rumbling around the last
rest day.

Johan Bruyneel is a rumour favourite. The current Bruyneel story holds that he is still talking to the Kazakhs and not worried at all by the Astana team’s reported cash shortfall for this year. Could he and Lance Armstrong be parting company? Have Bruyneel’s new friends from the east made him an offer he cannot refuse, and will Astana carry on into 2010? But that would make him Alexandre Vinokourov’s probation officer, overseeing the Kazakh’s return to racing. No one would take that job, surely? Bruyneel might, just out of spite.

The people involved in the new British team for 2010, Team Sky have been talking to the people from Garmin, a lot. Is a lock stock and barrel takeover on the cards? Garmin have the structure, the places in races and a lot of English speakers.

Every LPR rider is on the phone at the moment. It’s wages again. Rumour is they’ve not been paid for four months. We’ve heard that Alessandro Petacchi will jump ship at the end the Giro and is looking for passage into the Tour de France. Quick Step have already said no, but Silence-Lotto haven’t won much this year have they? They must dream of the days when Robbie McEwen could ride into any Grand Tour and guarantee them a stage win.