2005 DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRO CYCLING TEAM LED BY LANCE ARMSTRONG MAKESWORLDWIDE DEBUTSilver Spring, Md. – Discovery Communications announced todaythe beginning of a new era in professional cycling with the worldwide unveilingof the 2005 Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team led by six-time Tour deFrance Champion Lance Armstrong.  Following a nine-year sponsorshipagreement with the United States Postal Service, the only American professionalcycling team ever to win the Tour de France begins its new global partnershipwith Discovery Communications.“Today marks the beginning of a special partnership that allows Discoveryto support an inspiring and dedicated group of athletes who represent thevery best in sports,” said Judith A. McHale, president and CEO, DiscoveryCommunications, Inc. “Discovery looks forward to developing with Lanceand the entire Team Discovery Channel the highest quality programs abouthealthy living, medical breakthroughs, the science of sports, and cancersurvivorship and education for our worldwide audience.”Armstrong added, “We could not be more happy that our new title sponsoris Discovery Communications.  Since its beginning almost 20 yearsago, Discovery has represented the highest standards of quality media andthe values that our international cycling team also represent -- the pursuitof excellence and a commitment to help people become better, smarter citizens.”Today’s worldwide team presentation included an introduction of the28 cyclists from 15 countries as well as the global unveiling of the newteam uniform, bicycle and the 2005 race schedule.The 2004 cycling season was historic as the team recorded its best seasonever, winning 33 international events including Armstrong’s record sixthconsecutive Tour de France victory.Led by Armstrong, the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team begins 2005with an even stronger line up than last season.  Key returning ridersinclude: Portugal’s Jose Azevedo, who finished fifth in the 2004 Tour deFrance; Classics team leader and key Tour de France performer George Hincapieof the United States; 14-time Tour de France finisher and Athens Olympicmedalist Viatcheslav Ekimov of Russia; and Max van Heeswijk of the Netherlands,who won a career best 13 races last season.  One of cycling’s mostexciting young riders and potential Tour de France contender Yaroslav Popovychof the Ukraine and 2002 Tour of Italy champion Paolo Savoldelli are amongseveral new riders joining the team in 2005.Team Discovery Channel will begin the 2005 professional cycling seasonracing for the first time in Malaysia’s Tour de Langkawi from January 28to February 6 and the Doha Classic and Tour of Qatar from January 29 toFebruary 4.  The team will also participate in all three Grand Tours,which include the Tour de France, the Tour of Spain and Team DiscoveryChannel’s first Tour of Italy.Under the global partnership agreement, team leader Lance Armstrongserves as an on-air personality across Discovery’s networks in the UnitedStates and around the world.  Armstrong, already part of episodeson Discovery Channel’s AMERICAN CHOPPER and TLC’s OVERHAULIN’, will alsobe featured in programming on Travel Channel and The Science Channel, aswell as Discovery’s television properties dedicated to health, wellnessand fitness – Discovery Health Channel and FitTV.

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The OutdoorLife Network broadcasts live coverage of the Tour de France.Discovery Communications, Inc. is the leading global real-worldmedia and entertainment company.  DCI has grown from its core property,the DiscoveryChannel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current globaloperations in more than 165 countries and territories with over one billioncumulative subscribers.  DCI’s 65 networks of distinctive programmingrepresent 21 entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, TravelChannel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel,The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discoveryen Español, Discovery HD Theater and FitTV.  DCI’s other propertiesconsist of Discovery Education, Discovery.com and 120 Discovery Channelretail stores.  DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States.DCI’s ownership consists of four shareholders: Liberty Media Corporation(NYSE: L), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications andJohn S. Hendricks, the company’s Founder and Chairman.Capital Sports & Entertainment (www.planetcse.com) manages and co-owns the Discovery Channel Pro CyclingTeam.  Based in Austin, Texas, CSE is an integrated management andmarketing agency providing services to athletes, artists, events and entertainmentbrands.  Along with Team Discovery Channel, marquee clients includesix-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, National Medal of Artswinner Austin City Limits and the Austin City Limits Music Festival andthe Saveur Texas Hill Country Wine & Food FesitvalTailwind Sports (www.tailwindsports.com)co-owns the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, the successor to the UnitedStates Postal Service Pro Cycling Team (1996-2004).  San Francisco-basedTailwind Sports also co-produces the popular U.S. cycling event, the SanFrancisco Grand Prix, known the past two years as the T-Mobile International.Capital Sports & Entertainment and Tailwind Sports jointly own andmanage the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team.Visit the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team on the Web: www.teamdiscoverychannel.com