Yesterday Belgian media broke the story that Peter Van Petegem, Brakel's most famous citizen since the Braekel chicken, was poised to join the Garmin-Cervelo classics juggernaut as a replacement for the departed Matt White. Today another name is thrown in the hopper: Eric Van Lancker, a former Lotto coach and winner of Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Amstel Gold Race. Van Lancker confirmed the story to Sporza, giving them a few job-interview answers about how he has something to teach the team. Personally, he had me at "Born in Oudenaarde, East Flanders...". Anyway, I don't know if this is just media sleuthing or if this is the start of the withdrawal of Van Petegem from consideration. PVP hasn't sounded very certain, citing his other activities, and the sudden interest in the former contents of his blood are also a deterrent to a team role. Maybe Van Lancker, whose career milestones occurred before EPO took hold of cycling, will bring fewer headaches, and just as much coaching heft.
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