[James]

Contador to Katousha...
New team with a Canadian title sponsor which is *not* the Cervelo Test Team, which had been linked to Bettini, but guess he's going to go out in (hopefully) a blaze of glory.
Specialized is paying ~3.5 million Euro per year to Riis for the sponsorship, 10 million over 3 years. I knew it was a lot, but damn. This on top of the Quick Step $$$. Or rather €€€.

Some others, but I don't remember all of them, some juicy stuff.

 

[ire]

Is Katousha the Russian team? I hope Contador changes teams, it will make for a better Tour.

 

[Wumpus]

Is Katousha the Russian team? I hope Contador changes teams, it will make for a better Tour.

Russian Team Katusha Signs McEwen and Karpets
By editor on September 1st, 2008


PARIS, Sept 1, 2008 (AFP) - Future Russian cycling team Katusha, to be created from the Tinkoff formation, on Monday announced the recruitment of experienced Australian Robbie McEwen and Russian Vladimir Karpets.

McEwen and Karpets will join up with Italian Filippo Pozzato and Belgian sprinter Gert Steegmans at their new team.

Tinkoff, owned by Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov, said 36-year-old McEwen was joining from Silence along with the 27-year-old Karpets, who arrives from Caisse d’Epargne. Karpets won the Tour of Switzerland last year.

Katusha is the mainstay of a multi-million dollar new Russian Global Cycling Project foundation which enjoys the backing of muscular sponsors including energy giant Gazprom and energy and real estate company Itera.

Already snapped up were Alexandre Botcharov from Credit Agricole, Spaniards Antonio Colom (Astana) and Joan Horrach (Caisse d’Epargne), as well as Belgians Kenny de Haes (Topsport) and Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R).

 

[ire]

Bettini retiring after this year

http://www.velonews.com/article/83815/bettini-will-retire-after-worlds-road-race

Two-time defending world champion Paolo Bettini of Italy confirmed on Saturday he will retire after the final race of the world road race championships.

The 34-year-old Italian, a favorite to win gold in the men's road race here on Sunday, was emotional as he said the men's road race on Sunday would be the last race of his career.

"I've had a lot to reflect about the past few months and the idea has just grown in my head," said Bettini. "I've decided, in all serenity, to end my career."

Bettini has been one of the most successful one-day racers of the past decade, winning numerous classics as well as stages in all three major Tours.

Crowned the Olympic champion in 2004, Bettini lost his title last month to Samuel Sanchez of Spain.

The men's road race will be contested over 260.25km on Sunday.

The wearer of the coveted world champion's rainbow jersey the past two years, Bettini said it would be his last chance to put his world class on display.

"Cycling has given me a lot and I hope I've given something back. I've got no regrets," he added, fighting back the tears. "The world championship has kind of become my race. I'm here to give it one last shot, and I have the determination to go out and fight for another win, whatever it takes."

The Italian cycling star hinted at a possible end to his sterling career recently after his team, Quick Step, refused his request for a generous, final-season contract.

He added: "I'm sure I've made the right decision. I've given this a lot of thought over the past few days and I've felt nothing to contradict what I'm feeling."