Bruyneel: Life after Lance

Lance Armstrong may be about to retire but Johan Bruyneel, the other half of a highly successful seven year collaboration, has no intentions of following suit just yet. Speaking to Dutch TV on the rest day, he said that he was going to carry on in the same role for at least the next couple of seasons.

"Well, I myself have got another two year contract with the team and after that I'll see," he stated, before paying tribute to his star rider. "If it weren't for Lance I don't think I would have become a team director to start with. It was because of his idea to work together in '98 that I am where I am today."

Bruyneel thinks that the future is solid for the Discovery Channel squad. "To be a good team director first of all you need a team of good riders. You need to stand close to them and understand their different situations. The team looks good for next year. With Popovych and Savoldelli we have great men for the coming seasons. I really think that Popovych is a great talent. Sure, I would like to have a Vinokourov but I've heard he's likely to stay where he is. For him it would be a hard decision to leave, I think."