Team CSC was, just like in the first years of the ProTour, by far the best team when it came to overall performance. Riis’ riders achieved sixteen individual victories, not including the successful team time trials. Typically those victories aren’t coming from just one or two riders but from no less than six.


Besides all these positive things, the CSC body also showed some scars at the end of the year. Halfway into May, when Ivan Basso easily won the Giro, The Fuentes-scandal started to stir in the background and just before the start of the Tour de France it touched CSC by implicating their team leader Basso. The implications were heavy enough to withdraw Basso from the race, leaving Riis in a tough situation. Over six months later the Danish manager dismissed Basso from the team even when he wasn’t convicted of anything and Discovery Channel, apparently a lot less caring about the rules, took in his protégé.


It’s the power of CSC that the helpers can be team leaders and vice versa as the squad consists of high quality riders. It was because of this that even without Basso, the team still managed to ride an excellent tour followed by a great Tour of Germany won by Jens Voigt. The German rider who usually doesn’t go up-hill that great, mastered every aspect of cycling that week. Three stage victories and the main classification was not only a great achievement, but also reason for the critics to start doubting the way he won them.


This season Riis can, even without Basso, count on a very strong team. Maybe not the biggest names but in practice this bunch of riders are able to outperform themselves. Sastre has moved up in the ranks to become the new team leader for the Tour and with Fränk Schleck as backup a good classification seems certain. With Zabriskie and Cancellara Riis also has a good aim at the big time trials. Since Basso left it seems like the Giro, however, will not be a big target this year with the lack of a good classification rider to become team leader for that stage race.


The team attracted five fine new riders, but no main man for the Giro. With promising sprinter Haedo (Toyota United) CSC now has a second sprinter besides O’Grady with a shot at victory and Kolobnev (Rabobank) finally got his hands untied to start showing some great things just like Kroon last year. Goss is a big talent for one day races with a decent sprint and up-hill capabilities. Anders Lund is an all-rounder as well, he will aim for the spring classics and with Anker Sørensen Riis has brought in a very decent climber, especially for Danish standards.


Especially without Basso, the team doesn’t look as impressive as it did the past few years. However when it comes down to it, CSC can rely on the tricks of Riis who will undoubtedly make sure his squad will come out strong every single race.


New:
Matthew Goss (South Australia), Anders Lund (GLS), Chris Anker Sørensen (Designa), Juan José Haedo (Toyota United), Alexandr Kolobnev (Rabobank)


Departed:
Ivan Basso, Brian Vandborg (Discovery Channel), Jacob Piil (T-Mobile), Christian Müller (Skil-Shimano), Giovanni Lombardi, Andrea Peron (retired), Peter Luttenberger (unknown)