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Belgium’s second-biggest team comes into 2009 with another hope at greatness at the Tour de France and the cobbled classics. Cadel Evans thought he had found an able mountain goat in Yaroslav Popovych last year, but the Australian again found himself without teammates at the front of the race, and for the second consecutive year finished as the runner-up. Popovych, meanwhile, has left to return to Astana. Other departures include Robbie McEwen to Katushya, which leaves a major hole in the team’s sprinting, and Dario Cioni (ISD), Cominique Cornu (Quick Step), Maarten Tjallingii (Rabobank) and Wim Van Huffel (retired).

Evans has his work cut out for him this year with no clear first lieutenant. The team appears to have bolstered its chances for the classics, however, adding firepower to help Leif Hoste’s chances at Paris-Roubaix and Flanders, and young gun Thomas Dekker will look to win back fans after doping allegations ruined his 2008 season.