Possible Astana Squad for the tour

Clemson Cycling

I was just looking at their roster and came to the realization that there is no way they are going to loose. Especially if they put a squad like this together

Alberto Contador
Lance Armstrong
Levi Leipheimer
Andreas Klöden
Janez Brajkovič
Haimar Zubeldia
José Luis Rubiera
Yaroslav Popovych
Chris Horner

dennisn

Clemson Cycling wrote:

I was just looking at their roster and came to the realization that there is no way they are going to loose. Especially if they put a squad like this together

Alberto Contador
Lance Armstrong
Levi Leipheimer
Andreas Klöden
Janez Brajkovič
Haimar Zubeldia
José Luis Rubiera
Yaroslav Popovych
Chris Horner

You'd think so, but stranger things have happened. They seem to have their fair share of
heavy hitters.

Dennis Noward

secretsqirrel

I think there would be a couple of Kazakh's in there to please the sponsors?

Probably Bazayev and Iglinsky.

dave_1

I reckon too many cooks spoil the broth...Kloeden chasing Vino with Ullrich on his wheeel, Bauer and Hampsten chasing down Hinault for Lemond 86. Fingers crossed the full Astana team get to the TDF, a clash of egos regardless of what they say...Astana will be long gone and the 09 TDF winner remembered forever...their shallow team talk hides personal amibitions, egos

the team is too equal in ability too...bound to lead to conflict

ACMadone

Clemson Cycling wrote:

I was just looking at their roster and came to the realization that there is no way they are going to loose. Especially if they put a squad like this together

Alberto Contador
Lance Armstrong
Levi Leipheimer
Andreas Klöden
Janez Brajkovič
Haimar Zubeldia
José Luis Rubiera
Yaroslav Popovych
Chris Horner

You'd have thought that would be the team. Just hope there isn't any in house fighting and we get a good race

timoid.

Hopefully Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans will have a say.

ACMadone

Everyone hopes, but don't see it happening

teagar

ACMadone wrote:

You'd have thought that would be the team. Just hope there isn't any in house fighting and we get a good race

I am hoping for in house fighting! The best fighting is always in house! Look at Simoni and Cunego or LeMond and Hinault! C'mon!

Arkibal

Most of these guys are riding the Giro, lets see after that.....

iainf72

Arkibal wrote:

Most of these guys are riding the Giro, lets see after that.....

It's an excellent point. It's not the usual preperation race for most of them. Usually it would be a big rest / training after this weeks classics until the Dauphine.

GroupOfOne MkII

Active rest is that?

I doubt Brajkovic will be in the Tour line up (in fact has he ridden the TdF yet?) and similarly I could see Horner missing out too.

As SSquirrel say's, I would've thought there'd be a Kazak or two in the team , plus I'm sure they'll be looking for a rider or two who can take on the diesel role for flat stages.

Would be nice to see them field that line-up and the whole lot implode as Levi, Janez, Berti and Klodi all decide they want to go for GC

blazing_saddles

Now, I'll admit,
I've seen nothing first hand and the rumour mill is churning, but the fact that Astana might be having problems with this bio passport announcement.
Kloden is being muted, possibly more.
Anybody come across anything tangible?

Meds1962

GroupOfOne MkII wrote:

Active rest is that?

I doubt Brajkovic will be in the Tour line up (in fact has he ridden the TdF yet?) and similarly I could see Horner missing out too.

As SSquirrel say's, I would've thought there'd be a Kazak or two in the team , plus I'm sure they'll be looking for a rider or two who can take on the diesel role for flat stages.

Would be nice to see them field that line-up and the whole lot implode as Levi, Janez, Berti and Klodi all decide they want to go for GC

No way will that happen, everyone will know their role.

GroupOfOne MkII

I know it won't, but we can but dream heh

timoid.

ACMadone wrote:

Everyone hopes, but don't see it happening

Why not? Saxo Bank will be strong and focussed on one man. I would prefer to have the likes of Voigt and Cancellara helping me to the likes of Kloeden.

Evans will be outnumbered, but Silence should form an alliance with Saxo Bank.

Also Nibali will have a strong team behind him and will stir it up.

This won't be the cakewalk people fear. Lepheimer is overrated, Kloeden's fragile and Armstrong is too damn old and crocked.

That said, Bertie is still the man to beat. Question is: will he be treated like Lemond at La Vie Claire 85 or 86? or worse Roche a la Giro 87.

Monty Dog

Timoid, most of the people on this post have a cycling memory that doesn't go before 1999, so there's no point in quoting 'pre-history'

Anonymous

Clemson Cycling wrote:

I was just looking at their roster and came to the realization that there is no way they are going to loose. Especially if they put a squad like this together

Alberto Contador
Lance Armstrong
Levi Leipheimer
Andreas Klöden
Janez Brajkovič
Haimar Zubeldia
José Luis Rubiera
Yaroslav Popovych
Chris Horner

:roll: not another one...

Anonymous

I wish they'd have let Leipheimer and Contador battle it out proper at the Giro last year...

missingmillar

Astana have to have a certain number of Kazaks in their team as part of their contract so a couple of these guys will make to step aside.

I reckon Armstrong wil blow up on the Giro - he looks to be carrying far too much weight to get over those Alps in one piece. Leipheimer will win the early timetrial and have his few days in yellow before Bertie rides an epic Ventoux.

frenchfighter

Astana's performances so far this season have been far from convincing and I think there is too much hype about them in the magazines etc.

Contador is still the number one man though and my major favourite.