This year's transfer rumors are becoming almost as insane as last year's. Last year we had Sony-Ericksson w/ riders under contract but no sponsor or pro-tour license. This year, Astana at least has a sponsor, but will they have a license? Laurent Dufaux has turned down the job as a DS for Astana, but the UCI refused to ratify the transfer of Kazakh rider Dmitriy Muravjev, due to the team's ongoing problems.

Anyway, the rumors:

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• Velo-Club is reporting that both Gerolsteiner and Discovery are trying to sign Dave Zabriskie. I don't see any sourcing on the rumor, but it is intriguing, non? Disco want more yanks, it seems and Gerolsteiner could possibly duplicate their monster chrono duo of Michael Rich and Uwe Peschal w/ Dizzy and Lang.
  

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• Rumors keep swirling about Godefroot signing unhappy/unwanted T-Mobile talent. Kessler, Wesseman, Klier and Nardello are frequently mentioned. At least Astana seems to be moving forward, despite the unknowns.
• Speaking of T-Mobile, Milram is trying to sign Sinkewicz, who is, IMHO, the Mob's solid, bankable star of the present and future.
• Happily for T-Mobile, Tristan Hoffman is joining as a DS. We saw him last on the Paris-Roubiax podium, then injuries caused him to retire and work as a DS for CSC. Now he's joining countryman Brian Holm in Germany.
• Discover keeps trimming their 'experienced' riders, and Rabo keeps signing veterans. The rumors about Max Van Heeswijk returning home to Holland are stronger than ever. This makes sense as Rabobank's junior varsity squadra keeps tearing up the Continental circuit, and vets Wauters and Dekker retired. So bringing on Van Bon and Van Heeswijk keeps some old salts around to keep the young 'uns in check.
• other rumors: Moerenhout may be moving from Phonak to Disco (although Rabo is also mentioned); Liquigas is not renewing a bunch of older riders making room for Murilio Fischer, Beltran and Robert Petito; Stephan Roche's kid Nicolas is switching from Cofidis to Credit Agricole;