He wasn't the first...Lance was the first.

In yr eyes, but to most Americans, Landis was the first big doper.

Fu and Billz, I get it, really I do. As an avid cyclist myself and big fan of pro cycling, I'd like to see it get more exposure in the U.S. as a sport worthy of lauding. The U.S. is cranking out some amazing competitors in cycling (Tyler Hamilton is back in the game again, Tom Danielson, Dave Zabriskie, George Hincapie and Bobby Julich- although both are getting older, Levi Leipheimer). I guess it's just a WISH on my part that another American firm will step up and sponsor a team that is worthy of winning, because I hate to see it all be only European-sponsored teams.

Right, but how is McDs getting exposure? By advertising. The point is, Discovery obviously wouldn't have put money into the expenditure if it didn't look like they weren't getting something out of it. That something was publicity for their programming.

eh, not quite true... Lance WAS the first one to get more notoreity, but he was a 7 time "winner," so in a lot of people's eyes, that absolved him of any guilt. Tyler Hamilton succumbed to the doping accusations shortly thereafter, and is only now getting back on the scene.

And Fu... F.U. mofo!

Actually, when I think of it, its a moot question because most Americans don't watch cycling so there you go.

Discovery Searching

No names of potential new sponsors have been announced for America's team in elite ProTour cycling. All that's certain is that Discovery Channel has said it will end its support at the end of the year.

The announcement was a surprise to the team and is being blamed on a massive corporate shakeup at Discovery Network rather than a reaction to pro cycling's association with doping.

The sponsorship cancellation came just days after Discovery Network president Billy Campbell fell victim to corporate restructuring by new Discovery Communications president and CEO David Zaslav. Also gone are four other division heads.

Campbell led Discovery's takeover of the team from the U.S. Postal Service in 2005, and he supported the signing last November of tainted Italian star Ivan Basso. Basso is the only Disco rider to be implicated in the Spanish doping investigation called Operation Puerto, which involves more than 50 pros.

Basso was brought in to replace Lance Armstrong as Discovery leader and Tour de France contender. With Armstrong retired in 2005 the team floundered in that showcase race. Discovery took a stage win and one yellow jersey but its best-placed rider was 19th in the final standings.

Bill Stapleton, part-owner of the team with Armstrong, said their management company, Tailwind Sports, hopes to find another U.S. sponsor for the team.

He noted to the New York Times, however, that Floyd Landis's positive drug test while winning the 2006 Tour "took the wind out of a lot of peoples' sails" around cycling. He admitted that some Discovery co-sponsors have "expressed their displeasure and doubts about continuing."

"Nobody asked to be let out of their contract," he said. "What we said to all of our sponsors was that Floyd wasn't on our team, and we never had a positive test."

Stapleton said discussions have begun with several potential sponsors.

"Right now, it's an easy 'no' because of everything that has gone on in the sport," he told the NYT. "The good news is we have plenty of time. We have a number of target companies, and we've already talked with some of them, but I think it could be more difficult than the last time [the team's main sponsor was replaced]."
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Meanwhile, it'll be business as usual this season for the Discovery riders and support staff.

"We are just going to keep our heads down and work away," Disco director Sean Yates told cyclingnews.com.

"I think we are pretty confident that we are going to find a replacement sponsor. Individual riders know that if they are going to perform, they are going to find a job somewhere else. So it is more the staff . . . at the end of the day we will find a job, one way or another. But I can't imagine a team of this size not finding a sponsor.

"For now, we will just get on with what we are paid to do, which is to work with Discovery until the end of the season."

To continue in its current form, it's estimated that the team needs around $19.5 million (15 million euros) per year in cash, goods and services.