There are big changes at Team Columbia-HTC in time for the 2010 season, with ten new faces arriving to replace the eight riders who are leaving.
Mark Cavendish will continue to lead the team, which has notched more wins than any other this season. But he loses one key member of his lead-out train, George Hincapie, who is joining the BMC team run by Jim Ochowicz and former Phonak team owner Andy Rihs.
Although Team Sky has yet to confirm the line-up for its debut season, Columbia's boss Bob Stapleton confirmed a batch of riders leaving his squad were likely to join the British outfit.
Stapleton told Cycling Weekly: "A certain amount of turnover is good. We're looking for people who want to be here who'll take advantage of the environment. We're trying to do what we do best, and that's create this environment and structure where riders can come in and improve.
"These new teams should be looking hard at our riders. They've got reputations and they are good. I am not offended by that or hurt at all.
"What we're trying to do is grow young GC [general classification] talent. You saw the good job Tony [Martin] did and with a more focused plan next year I think he can be a top five rider. I think you can put a GC contender in and support a sprinter quite well.
"Can we win the Tour? Well, I don't see anyone beating [Alberto] Contador any time soon, regardless of his team-mates. I think we've got an almost optimal formula where we can continue our sprint dominance, be it with Mark [Cavendish] or André [Greipel] and challenge overall."
As Rolf Aldag, the team's directeur sportif, pointed out, Columbia have kept hold of most of the riders who earned them victories this season. The riders choosing to remain with Columbia account for more than 80 per cent of the team's wins so far this season.
The biggest loss is likely to be Boasson Hagen, the hugely talented young Norwegian who won Ghent-Wevelgem in fine style in the spring and added a Giro d'Italia stage in May.
The line-up for the women's team has also been confirmed.
André Greipel (Germany) 27
Patrick Gretsch (Germany) 22 new pro from Thüringer Energie
Hayden Roulston (New Zealand) 27 from Cervélo Test Team
COLUMBIA WOMEN'S TEAM 2010
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1