Phonak was to pull out as the team’s main sponsor, but Andy Rihs couldn’t help himself and decided to go on for another year. So the team’s immediate future is secure again. From being a small team in 2000, Phonak grew bigger by getting big names like Hamilton and Landis. Hamilton was sure to win the Tour de France one day, but we all know he was caught with his hands in the “cooky-jar”. So Landis will now be their main protagonist in the Giro and the Tour.


Phonak didn’t buy that many riders, but did lose a few good ones to other teams. Oscar Pereiro (Illes Balears) had a good 2005 season...