Postal replaces Heras
--from ProCycling
After numerous rumours all through this week, both Roberto Heras and the US Postal team have confirmed that the Spaniard has accepted an offer to join Manolo Saiz’s Liberty Seguros team on a three-year contract.
The official confirmation came on the US Postal website. The indications are that 29-year-old Heras will continue to earn his current salary of 1.2 million euros a season for the next three years. Some sources are reporting that Liberty will have to pay US Postal a buy-out requirement of 1.38 million euros to secure Heras.
Heras effectively replaces Joseba Beloki at the head of Saiz’s team, which now has a much stronger look than it did earlier in the week when it was still lacking an outstanding figurehead. Heras joins Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano and Isidro Nozal in a three-pronged attack that should prove very exciting if the trio all line up at the Tour de France.
Bizarrely, Heras’s place as Lance Armstrong’s first lieutenant at US Postal will be taken by a rider recently discarded by Saiz. José Azevedo, who finished sixth in the 2002 Tour, has opted out of a pre-agreement he made to lead the Portuguese Milaneza-MSS team in favour of a guaranteed Tour spot with US Postal.
US Postal team boss Johan Bruyneel told Reuters: "A few days ago Heras’s lawyer told us that he wanted to leave the team. Apparently he has received an offer of a three-year contract to lead another team. We aren't happy with the situation, but if Roberto wants to leave there is nothing we can do to stop him."
With Heras on his way, the next rumour is already starting. Spanish papers are saying that Kelme are negotiating to sign Alexandre Vinokourov instead of Angel Casero. You can understand the thinking, but statements from Kelme today suggest nothing could be further from the truth…
Opinion
Good move by USPS given the late date. There is no one available that would completely fill the role of Heras in the mountains. Azevedo, though, is a strong rider and should do well in setting a tempo during the early and mid sections of the high mountains.
--from ProCycling
After numerous rumours all through this week, both Roberto Heras and the US Postal team have confirmed that the Spaniard has accepted an offer to join Manolo Saiz’s Liberty Seguros team on a three-year contract.
The official confirmation came on the US Postal website. The indications are that 29-year-old Heras will continue to earn his current salary of 1.2 million euros a season for the next three years. Some sources are reporting that Liberty will have to pay US Postal a buy-out requirement of 1.38 million euros to secure Heras.
Heras effectively replaces Joseba Beloki at the head of Saiz’s team, which now has a much stronger look than it did earlier in the week when it was still lacking an outstanding figurehead. Heras joins Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano and Isidro Nozal in a three-pronged attack that should prove very exciting if the trio all line up at the Tour de France.
Bizarrely, Heras’s place as Lance Armstrong’s first lieutenant at US Postal will be taken by a rider recently discarded by Saiz. José Azevedo, who finished sixth in the 2002 Tour, has opted out of a pre-agreement he made to lead the Portuguese Milaneza-MSS team in favour of a guaranteed Tour spot with US Postal.
US Postal team boss Johan Bruyneel told Reuters: "A few days ago Heras’s lawyer told us that he wanted to leave the team. Apparently he has received an offer of a three-year contract to lead another team. We aren't happy with the situation, but if Roberto wants to leave there is nothing we can do to stop him."
With Heras on his way, the next rumour is already starting. Spanish papers are saying that Kelme are negotiating to sign Alexandre Vinokourov instead of Angel Casero. You can understand the thinking, but statements from Kelme today suggest nothing could be further from the truth…
Opinion
Good move by USPS given the late date. There is no one available that would completely fill the role of Heras in the mountains. Azevedo, though, is a strong rider and should do well in setting a tempo during the early and mid sections of the high mountains.
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