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The sinking ship that is Astana...

ire

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
Any bets on how this comes out? I still think they'll end up swapping sponsors with Contador leaving and Armstrong/Levi being the leaders of the new team

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astanas-hour-cometh

While talk has been of Astana's prospects for the Tour de France, if the team doesn't honour its financial commitments by 5pm today (European Central Time) it may not be competing at all.

According to Dutch daily De Telegraaf, the International Cycling Union (UCI) requires payment of six million euro by the deadline to ensure Astana's ProTour licence for the remainder of the season. Failing this payment, the team runs the risk of having this 'permit to race' suspended and its Tour plans thrown into jeopardy.

Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer are currently two favourites for the Tour de France podium, although the cloud of pending financial doom has lingered over the team for several months.

No comment has been made by team manager Johan Bruyneel or star riders Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer.
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Westy

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,620
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It was noted by some that Contador spent a lot of time riding with the CasaDePorn guys during the Dauphine.
 
Westy

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,620
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Garmin almost won the TDF!!!

http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2009/06/23/lances-team-in-turmoil/

by Joe Lindsey

With the news last week that its Kazakh sponsors had finally made good on their financial obligations after months of non-payment, it seemed like the Astana team could face its biggest goal of the season, the Tour de France, without distraction. But the team that takes the start in Monaco could be a badly fractured squad, riven with trust issues and power struggles that, under the pressure of the Tour, could explode.


A source within the team told Bicycling that when Astana looked like it would default on its obligations, a new structure had been set up to supercede it. Two different sources close to the team confirmed, also anonymously, that the team name was going to be Livestrong-Nike. Seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong raced last Sunday’s Nevada City Classic on an all-black Trek Madone wearing Livestrong kit; his teammates, Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner, rode in Astana team clothing.

“About three weeks ago, we learned that there could be a new sponsor, and that it was Livestrong-Nike,” said one of the outside sources, while the other said that they first heard the possibility of the new team structure about two days before the team switched to its “faded” Astana logo outfits at the Giro d’Italia.

The source within the team said that 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador assured manager Johan Bruyneel of his desire to stay with Livestrong-Nike, but was at the same time also quietly talking with Garmin-Slipstream about switching teams should Astana default on his contract. Garmin manager Jonathan Vaughters could not immediately be reached for comment. Sources have also confirmed that Contador was in discussions with Caisse d’Epargne.

Significantly, the Astana team source said, Garmin was said to be not only signing Contador, but also his Astana teammates Benjamin Noval, Sergio Paulinho, and bringing aboard Contador’s preferred mechanic and soigneur from Astana. Herbalife, which sells weight loss and nutritional supplements via multi-level marketing, was said to be willing to contribute $2 million as a co-sponsor to sign the riders and staff for the remainder of 2009.

That deal was initially set to be announced last Saturday (and, according to the team source, Felt bikes were already on the way to Contador), and the Livestrong-Nike deal, said two of Bicycling’s sources, was also alive until just before the weekend.

But unexpectedly, Astana’s Kazakh sponsors derailed all those plans. In conjunction with the federal government and, according to some reports, an unnamed American corporation with business interests in the region, Astana managed on Thursday to make good on the $6 million bank guarantee that the UCI required.

What this makes clear is that the team’s uncertain sponsorship was not its biggest potential problem. Astana is far from a cohesive unit. Although the strongest team in the race on paper, with Armstrong, Contador, Leipheimer and Andreas Kloden all confirmed to start, their internal divisions could fracture the team and cost them the Tour de France.

Paulinho and Noval are among seven riders who are competing for three remaining spots on the team’s Tour squad. If Paulinho and Noval make the Tour roster, it could mean that the team could develop an even sharper split in allegiances, with riders such as Leipheimer, Yaroslav Popyvych and Horner backing Armstrong, and others backing Contador. If Bruyneel leaves Paulinho and Noval off the Tour team (for that reason or others), then it could mean Contador would be isolated, vying for a second Tour win against his own team.

There has also been discussion of Contador forming alternate alliances, with Caisse d’Epargne leader Alejandro Valverde saying he would help Contador where possible – provided Valverde, who is banned from racing in Italy, even starts. The race’s 16th stage crosses briefly into Italy.


It also seems clear that Contador will switch teams when his contract is up after 2009. And Astana’s problems are far from past as well. The UCI announced in a brief statement today that its License Commission was provisionally suspending its procedure to withdraw Astana’s ProTour license. But the UCI said that the suspension was for an “unspecified length of time” and could be reactivated if necessary.

With just 12 days to go before the start in Monaco, the only thing that seems clear at this point is that, for all its strength, Astana’s biggest opponent at the Tour may be Astana. Whether Armstrong, Contador or some other challenger will emerge victorious, only the race will tell.
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loco-gringo

loco-gringo

Crusading Clamp Monkey
Sep 27, 2006
8,887
14
Deep in the heart of TEXAS
ire said:
What a cry baby :) He should blame Lance for coming back to racing...that was really his spot
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I disagree. He should blame Contador, who does have a right to be there, but was publicly a whiny cunt about it all. As much as I can't believe I'm saying it, Horner is a more suitable candidate in a support role than Kloden. I know Kloden has shined before, but I'm not sure that he'll be in the true thick of things, but whatever, they'll race all the same and politics will keep any of them from doing well. At least whiny ass Cadel may have a shot with all of the other GC contenders having a pissing match.
 
Squeak

Squeak

Get your pork here.
Sep 26, 2001
1,546
0
COlo style
Wow, Vino's a Peen.

Sounds like he has not changed, and has an entitlement complex. I bet he dopes again, and gets busted again.
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
loco-gringo said:
Me thinks he must not read the same articles we do. He's right, he will ride for Astana, and it will be "his" team, but no one else will be on the squad. He'll be riding in insignificant tours in Mexico.
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Make no mistake, Astana is Vino's team, not Bruyneel's. So Vino will be on the team next year whether Johann is in charge or not. Nike-Livestrong with Lance, Levi, some of the other knuckleheads, and Bruyneel in charge, and then Astana with Vino, Kashechkin, some other Kazakhs. I doubt that Astana will be able to hold onto the ProTour license, but they could go the ProContinental route no problem. Sure, they're probably not getting back into the Tour anytime soon, but there are plenty of other races.
 
Westy

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,620
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Sleazattle
Not sure if their the rider contracts will allow it but I can definately see Lance forming a team and having Bruneel and his cronies all move over with Contador going his own way.
 
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