in slightly brighter news: Danielson to Disco

Pretty big pick-up for them to have a young, American stage racing puppy in the kennel!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?...ep04/sep23news

Danielson to Discovery
Tom Danielson en route to a record at the Mt. Evans Hill Climb
Photo ©: Beth Seliga
Tom Danielson has confirmed rumours that he will ride for the Discovery Channel team (currently know as US Postal) in 2005. "I've signed the letter of intent to ride for two years with Discovery, which is basically the same as signing the new contract," Danielson told Cyclingnews. "I'm out of my existing contract with Fassa - we came to an agreement and that's how it is. I don't have any hard feelings against them at all, and I thank them a lot for everything they have taught me this year."

After dominating US domestic racing in 2003 with Saturn, Danielson moved to Italy in 2004 to ride for Fassa Bortolo, but - while the affable Coloradan is too polite to criticise his current employers - it's clear the experience hasn't lived up to his expectations. Danielson had hoped to ride the Tour de France, and when that didn't materialize was told by the team he would be sent to the Vuelta. But he was not named to Fassa's Vuelta squad, with the team apparently preferring to concentrate on supporting Alessandro Petacchi to stage victories than go after a general classification or mountains placing.

Danielson therefore jumped at the chance to go the team of six-time Tour de France winner lance Armstrong.

"Johan Bruyneel and Discovery came to me in August with the dream," said Danielson. "I was more than excited by it, and the first time I got off the phone I told myself that I needed to make this happen, even though it might not be the easiest thing. But with Johan Bruyneel, Dirk Demol, Sean Yates and of course Lance Armstrong... the whole infrastructure of the team, it all became clear to me that this was where I wanted to go."

Probably a good move for Tommy D. He seemed to get some good Euro racing experience with Fassa, but it looks like he never would have gotten much support, as they concentrate on the likes of Pettachi, Flecha and Cioni and do not necessarily go for GC in the grand tours but more for stage wins.

Lance called the signing of Danielson a "major coup", so it looks Postal will try to develop him. I don't know if he be the next superstar, but he has shown some potential, for a climber he has shown some good efforts in a few TTs.

He is racing in the World Championships on 10/3, but probably in support of some of the other guys, maybe they'll get an American on the podium.