Following on from the confirmation that Trek will buy the current RadioShack Leopard WorldTour licence from Flavio Becca, more details have emerged about the likely structure of the team from 2014 onwards.
According to Swiss publication Blick, Fabian Cancellara will become the core of the team, particularly in light of the fact that it has been two years since Andy Schleck took any notable results.
It states that Cancellara has signed a new three year deal and will remain with the squad until at least 2016.
The Swiss rider is missing this year’s Tour in order to focus on the world road race championships, a big goal for him. Earlier this season he won both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and he believes that he can challenge for the rainbow jersey, despite the hilly nature of this year’s worlds.
Meanwhile the Schlecks’ stock is considerably less than it was when they joined the Leopard team in 2011. Frank Schleck tested positive during last year’s Tour and is nearing the end of a one year ban, while Andy Schleck last stood on a race podium when he was second in the 2011 Tour de France.
Since then he had a disappointing spring in 2012, then crashed and fractured his pelvis in last year’s Critérium du Dauphiné.
He is continuing to recover and has been showing signs of improving form, but still needs to do something to prove he can return to his past glories.
According to Blick, both Schlecks could be paid approximately three times less than they were on before. If true, such a salary restructuring would likely have to have bonuses built in, enabling them to earn more if they return to their previous level.
The publication states that Trek wants to market Cancellara as its new figurehead, with the company keen to move on from the troubled image of its former icon Lance Armstrong.