Guided by team boss Marc Coucke and the promising results, Silence-Lotto, formerly known as Predictor, gains confidence. Both in the spring classics as in the Tour de France they starting to realise that they have a chance of winning. Until recently the red-jerseys mostly were trying to stand up against the success of their rival country-men from Quickstep. This season should bring a change. Not that it’s likely for manager Hendrik Redant to count on many victories in the top races, but by winning the Tour de France, the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix the season would already be a success. Cadel Evans and Leif Hoste are the riders to bring that success. The aim for glory did not go without action. Several experienced team mates were left out, while young talents were bought to fill their places.


Tour captain Cadel Evans wanted Yaroslav Popovych from the ended Discovery Channel team to support him in his quest for the yellow jersey and he got the Ukranian. The price for this signing was paid by two of his most faithful team mates, Horner and Jufre. The American had a chance to go to Rabobank, but he was more attracted by the American approach of Bruyneel. Besides that, the Belgian offered a lot more money. Jufre sought warmer regions and found them at the Spanish Saunier.


The Belgian core of the team was however not at all damaged. Gardeyn, Jacobs (Unibet.com), De Greef and Roelandts (Davitamon-Win for Life) found their way up and were rewarded with a Protour contract. The last three are still young, so they have plenty of time to grow into the general classification riders (Jacobs, De Greef) and sprinter (Roelandts) that they are. The fast Gardeyn (27) couldn’t really show his qualities yet, but will probably be able to count on a spot in the squad for the classics.


Next to them, also Bileka (came with Popovych), d’Hollander (family of Van Avermaet) and Tjallingii were added to the team. So it has been a busy transfer season for the anti-snoringpotion manufacturer. Fast Freddie Rodriguez left for Rock Racing and Steels for Landbouwkrediet. Other leaving riders like Ingels, Van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen), Leukemans (suspended) and Pieter Mertens (retired) never brought what they were expected to. Zanini may have retired, but he was soon added to the technical staff as a director sportif.


Overall the team seems to have made some smart buys with a mix of talent and experience on the one hand, while on the other hand the balance of the team wasn’t disturbed. With the impressive Van Avermaet and captain Hoste, Silence-Lotto shouldn’t have to do any less then rivals Quickstep in the spring classics. With amongst others Gardeyn, Sentjens, Roelandts, Tjallingii and Van Summeren, Redant has a strong supporting squad. In the grand tours Evans will have a stronger team mate in Popovych, but overall the base is quite thin. Perhaps a reborn Van Huffel or a fast growing Lloyd and of course world class sprinter McEwen can take some attention from the final goal: winning the Tour.


In
Volodymyr Bileka, Yaroslav Popovych (Discovery Channel), Glenn d'Hollander (Chocolade Jacques), Francis de Greef, Jurgen Roelandts (Davitamon-Win for Life), Gorik Gardeyn, Pieter Jacobs (Unibet.com), Maarten Tjallingii (Skil-Shimano)


Out
Chris Horner (Astana), Nic Ingels, Preben van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen), Josep Jufre (Saunier Duval), Björn Leukemans (suspended), Pieter Mertens (retired), Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing), Tom Steels (Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner), Stefano Zanini (retired)