Management

RADIOSHACK-NISSAN (RNT) - LUX

At a stroke, the fusion of last year’s RadioShack and Leopard Trek squads into RadioShack Nissan Trek team in 2012 has created what is arguably the most powerful line up in cycling for both the Grand Tours and many of the Classics.

Fabian Cancellara’s record in the Spring Classics and as the dominating force in time trialing for the last five years is too well known to be worth recounting. At 30, ‘Spartacus’ ability to blow apart a race with a devastating late attack is far from waning, and after 2011 where he had several near misses in the cobbled Classics, 2012 the Swiss star has a point to prove.

Furthermore, the presence of Andy and Frank Schleck, second and third in the 2011 Tour de France in the team’s line-up automatically makes RadioShack-Nissan one of the strongest Tour contenders this summer. And Fabian Cancellara is, of course, the number one favourite for the opening prologue in Liege, where he won in 2004. Add Andreas Klöden, a seasoned veteran with two Tour podiums to his name, to the mix, as well as familiar Grand Tour figures like Jens Voigt, Chris Horner, Yaroslav Popovych and Haimar Zubeldia and RadioShack-Nissan’s potential 2012 Tour line-up looks more than impressive.

A team with so many stars sometimes has its risks but if anybody can handle that, it is RadioShack-Nissan team manager Johan Bruyneel. Bruyneel oversaw Lance Armstrong’s seven-year run of Tour de France wins, and also managed the Astana squad when it contained both Armstrong and Spanish Tour de France winner Alberto Contador.

“Sometimes managing egos can be difficult but at the end of the day the team's goal is the most important,” says Bruyneel.
“So when you have two riders who are contenders, one will know if the other is better, and I also have the experience to recognise that.” Should Bruyneel’s behind-the-scenes diplomacy RadioShack-Nissan bear fruit, there is every chance of a very rich cycling harvest indeed.