Reigning World Time Trial champion Fabian Cancellara is rumored to have been at the top of Rabbobank's recruitment list, but as reported by De Telegraaf the purported 1.5 million euro offer wasn't enough.
Harold Knebl, Rabbobank's team manager, is on the hunt for some more firepower after loosing several key riders over the last couple of seasons including Michael Boogerd, Erik Dekker, and former 2007 Tour de France leader Michael Rasmussen.
Over the last few years it has become obvious that Bjarne Riis is a director that commands respect from his riders. He has taken several talented individuals that had seemingly clocked out mentally, and single handedly built them into champions. Riis' teambuilding efforts have been emulated by others, and he has raised the bar with his survival camp sessions used towards building a cohesive unit.
What's more impressive is the former Tour de France winner's doping admission last May. Think what you will about it, but it certainly sent a message that the "old way" was indeed a thing of the past. It was the realization that in order to be the director of a team with such a focus on riding sans dope he risked it all to clean the slate.