RadioAndySchleckTrekNissan are IN!

Phew, big sigh of relief, I have just come in and checked the cycling news, and at last, we have a licence, as do GreenEdge.

The UCI are calling the team RadioShack-Nissan, so alas, no more RaNT acronym, looks like we're stuck with RSN which doesn't really convert easily into an insult pet-name. I suspect we are going to be calling them The Shack....

But I'm telling you all now, I am NOT going to be shouting "Up the R's ! "  I won't! I won't!

The full list of teams will be released on the 12th, which is next Monday: and already there are subtle attempts to lure Leopard fans to other teams - thanks to @DivingCaroline for bringing this to my attention:

Clever, huh?

Their blurb describes it as being "white, black and Blizzard Blue".

Good to know that shade of blue has a name.

They also waffle on about how this will make them stand out in the peloton: hmm, they are betting that Leopard are going to be shoved into red-and-black Shack kit, aren't they?

They're also copying the idea of having the riders' names on the back.

Now I am a big fan of this idea, but I prefer the way Sky have done it, with the rider's name along the side panel, so that it is clearly legible when they are in the cycling position.  Great for camerabike shots.

Still no news on the new Shack kit: but Mr Bruyneel has issued the team roster, so at least those questions have been answered. Now we just have to learn the faces of all the Shack riders!  Well, all but one: there's no point trying to learn the face of poor Markel Iriza, as he did a major face-splat in training and wasn't able to go to the first meet-the-team outing in Calpe (to which I was not invited, surprisingly) due to a broken jaw, broken finger, and multiple stitches in his eyebrow and lip. Ouch!

I'm not quite prepared to publish the photo of him, all stitched and bruised, but if you follow this link, you can check it out for yourself.

Other news today? Andy says he might do the Giro after all. This could be a good thing, especially if Contador doesn't do it, and if Andy can therefore concentrate on winning the race, instead of beating Contador...

I don't mind what he does, as long as he gets lots of coverage: so, Attack, Andy, Attack! There, that's my tactical advice for the year.

More Other News: Jakob has been told to lose weight! Oh no, those dimples are at risk.... Kim Andersen says that he needs to shift a few kilos in order to get up the mountains better, and is dangling a carrot in front of him in the form of leadership of the Giro team, if he loses the weight. Otherwise he'll be sent to the Tour as a super-domestique again.  So brace yourself, Leelu and Nim, for a skinny Jakob.

Here he is at the Calpe meet'n'greet session, sucking in his cheeks to try to look thinner.