Discovery Communications Announces 2006 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team

Discovery Communications Announces 2006 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team

- Lance Armstrong and Sports Director Johan Bruyneel Discuss Team's Future Aspirations -

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery Communications announced today the 2006 roster that will lead cycling's greatest team into the post-Lance Armstrong era. The Discovery Channel Team has won seven Tour de France titles over the course of its history -- an accomplishment no other team can claim. Sports director Johan Bruyneel and organization leadership are aiming for top contention in all three of the 2006 Grand Tour races -- the Tour of Italy, Tour de France and Tour of Spain.

"The continued partnership between the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team and Discovery Communications allows us to bring our important values of excellence, perseverance and exploration to our global audience," said Judith A. McHale, president and CEO, Discovery Communications, Inc. "We also look forward to more participation by Lance Armstrong and his teammates in innovative content initiatives across our networks."

"I am retired from racing, but my love for the sport and my commitment to the organization that has afforded me so much success motivates me to take the next step in my career evolution," said Lance Armstrong. "There is rarely a day I don't talk to [Sports Director] Johan Bruyneel about the team, the sport, and what it takes to win."

The 2006 team made their debut with all 27 cyclists from 15 countries and unveiled their 2006 uniform, bicycle and tour schedule. The 2006 season will begin in February at the Vuelta Andalucia in Spain, followed by the inaugural Tour of California -- a rare showcase on American soil. Other highlights on the schedule include the brutal and legendary Tour of Flanders and Paris -- Roubaix as well as all three Grand Tours-the Tour de France, the Tour of Spain and the Tour of Italy.

The 2005 cycling season was another monumental one for Team Discovery, as the team logged 21 international race victories, an overall Tour of Italy win by Paolo Savoldelli, a Tour de Georgia win from Tom Danielson, and an unprecedented, crowning accomplishment for Lance Armstrong's career-a seventh Tour de France title.

The 2006 Discovery Channel Team begins their racing campaign with several riders who hold promise to lead them to victory in both Grand Tour stage races as well as single day Spring Classics. Key returning riders include George Hincapie, American Classics team leader and key Tour de France performer who won a mountain stage of the 2005 Tour de France; U.S. hopeful Tom Danielson, winner of the Tour de Georgia and eighth-place overall at the Tour of Spain; Viatcheslav Ekimov of Russia, a 14-time Tour de France finisher and Athens Olympic medalist; Italian Paolo Savoldelli, the 2005 Tour of Italy winner; and Yaroslav Popovych of the Ukraine who had an outstanding 2005 season highlighted by his Best Young Rider designation at the 2005 Tour de France.

Discovery Communications, Inc.

Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-world media company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 160 countries and territories with 1.3 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's over 100 networks of distinctive programming represent 27 network entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery Kids En Espanol, Discovery HD Theater, FitTV, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), Discovery Home & Health and Discovery Real Time. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates more than 100 Discovery Channel Stores in the U.S. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ:DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Tailwind Sports

Tailwind Sports Corporation, headquartered in San Francisco, California, was founded by Thom Weisel, the founder and chairman of Thomas Weisel Partners and the former founder and chairman of Montgomery Securities from 1971 until 1998. Tailwind has owned and managed a men's professional road cycling team since its inception in 1989.

Most recently known as the United States Postal Service Pro Cycling Team(R) (1996-2004), Tailwind's team is the only American team ever to have won the sport's premier event, the Tour de France, as well as the prestigious Tour of Spain. Lance Armstrong's record-setting seven consecutive victories at the Tour (1999-2005) have taken cycling to new heights and helped revitalize the sport in America.

In 2001, Tailwind Sports entered the event management side of the sport, creating the San Francisco Grand Prix. The Grand Prix brought European-style racing to one of the premier U.S. markets and featured Armstrong competing in his first American road race in over three years. Since then the event has continued to grow in stature and popularity, regularly attracting crowds in the several hundreds of thousands and a reputation as America's top professional cycling event. Tailwind Sports currently has a consulting relationship with both USA Cycling and the USA Cycling Development Foundation to help identify and nurture future American cycling professionals.

Visit the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team on the Web:

http://www.teamdiscoverychannel.com/

International: 1-617-801-6888, Passcode: 72115419

Source: Discovery Communications, Inc.

CONTACT: Diana Kurnit of Discovery Communications, Inc.,
+1-240-662-2945, +1-240-893-9974, Diana_Kurnit@discovery.com; or P.J. Rabice:
+1-512-478-7211, prabice@planetcse.com, or Shelby Meade: +1-310-313-7200,
Shelby@freshcleanmedia.com, both for Discovery Communications, Inc.

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/
http://www.teamdiscoverychannel.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Press conference call replay is available until Thursday, January 26. Dial-in numbers: U.S. Toll Free: 1-888-286-8010

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