Vinokourov talking to Discovery Channel?

French newspaper Le Parisien/Aujourd'hui is reporting that T-Mobile's Alexandre Vinokourov is on Discovery Channel's short list as a replacement for Lance Armstrong. Both the team and the rider have gone directly in to the "neither confirm nor deny" mode.

Team Manager Johan Bruyneel said, "Every great rider at the end of his contract interests us." Armstrong said, "Ask Johan." Armstrong's manager Bill Stapleton said, "There exists a list of riders, but we can't tell you if Vino is on it or not."

Vinokourov is equally noncommittal: "It's hard to say. It's true that I'm at the end of my contract with T-Mobile but for the moment, I'm not committed. Come what may, I'm going to wait to see the results of the Tour to make a decision."

Courtesy of Susan Westemeyer