Radio Shack Cycling announcements continue

There was quite a bit of news about Lance Armstrong’s Radio Shack Cycling team that came out today. Certainly enough to justify an article all of it’s own.

The first and foremost came from Lance himself, when he announced via Twitter that the team would make its debut at the Tour Down Under. Fans of Armstrong will not have to wait long to see him in the red and black colors (we assume) of The Shack. He made the announcement from Dublin with Mike Rann, the premier of South Australia by his side.

Next, there were more team announcements today. Quick Step’s Sebastien Rosseler will join the team in 2010 and will bolster the team’s strengths for the spring classics. Rosseler certainly has the credibility, having won the fourth stage in the Four Days of Dunkirk this year as well as the fifth stage of the Tour of Belgium.

Gert Steegmans is also expected to join the team. Steegmans was, as of earlier this week, still embroiled in a contract struggle with the Katusha team, where he refused to sign an anti-doping contract addendum that would have fined him 5 years salary for any doping infractions. He feels that his refusal to sign the addendum made his primary contract null and void, but Katusha does not agree, and has retained a lawyer to hold him to his contract.

Rosseler and Steegmans join Thomas Vaitkus, Sergio Paulinho, both of whom are said to be confirmed.

James Raia over at the Cycling Examiner seems to think that Floyd Landis may be headed to The Shack as well. We mentioned Landis as an 8:1 chance of joining up when we handicapped the possibilities several weeks ago. As we said at the time, Landis would certainly love to return to the Pro Tour peloton and the roads of Europe, but it’s a risky move for Radio Shack as Landis has yet to prove himself against a domestic field.

Hopefully, we’ll see a more formal announcement of riders from Lance and Radio Shack soon. Until then, check back for all of the rumors and innuendo.

Tags: Belgium, doping, Dublin, floyd landis, four days of dunkirk, Gert Steegmans, katusha, Lance, Lance Armstrong, lance armstrong radio shac, pro tour, Quick Step, radio shack, radio shack cycling, Sebastien Rosseler, sergio paulinho, South Australia, The Tour