Astana Kit replaced

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  • secretsqirrel
    secretsqirrel Posts: 2,043
    SpaceJunk wrote:
    DavMartinR wrote:
    Should LA be leading the protest about wages? When he's not getting a wage from Astana?

    http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/15052009/ ... otest.html

    And the only rider not to protest is Andrey Zeits the only rider from Kazakhstan. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place??

    Must of been fun for him on the team bus this morning. :)

    Poor bugger!

    This smacks of divided loyalties within the roster. What is the betting that the team will split in 2?
    I can see a full blown Disco re-union, along with a scaled down perhaps pro-continental Kazakh team on the cards.
  • micron
    micron Posts: 1,843
    Shouldn't that be a full blown ProTour Kazakh team formed around Vino and a continental Disco reunion team - let's not forget that team Livestrong don't have the all important ProTour license and the Kazakh Federation do...
  • secretsqirrel
    secretsqirrel Posts: 2,043
    micron wrote:
    Shouldn't that be a full blown ProTour Kazakh team formed around Vino and a continental Disco reunion team - let's not forget that team Livestrong don't have the all important ProTour license and the Kazakh Federation do...

    Too right it should.

    The divorce settlement should see the Kazakh's keep the license, the big blue bus, and if they play it cool...............Contador.

    Discos can have Lance.

    Sadly, I think the Kazakh contingent will have a lot of obstacles thrown in their way by JB, McQ and ASO :cry:
  • micron
    micron Posts: 1,843
    If the KF pay the money - and the Government have already said they're committed to financing a team that showcases and develops eastern European cycling - then Boss Hog are screwed. McQuaid is facing an election in the autumn - can he really afford to be seen to supporting the demands of one rider over developing the sport worldwide?
  • Arkibal
    Arkibal Posts: 850
    This might be the first time the UCI and ASO are actually working together. Neither want Vino back, anyone think the ASO would allow a team with Vino in their races? They might as well invite OUCH.... :)
  • micron
    micron Posts: 1,843
    Agreed, Arkibal - the chances of an Astana with Vino back in the ranks ever riding in the TdF again are nil. But Vino has said he intends to ride Vuelta and Worlds and then retire which would leave the way open for a Vino free Astana - possibly with Contador? - riding onwards.

    ASO and UCI working together? Who'd have thought :lol:
  • leguape
    leguape Posts: 986
    micron wrote:
    Agreed, Arkibal - the chances of an Astana with Vino back in the ranks ever riding in the TdF again are nil. But Vino has said he intends to ride Vuelta and Worlds and then retire which would leave the way open for a Vino free Astana - possibly with Contador? - riding onwards.

    ASO and UCI working together? Who'd have thought :lol:

    One slight problem there: ASO hold a 49% stake in unipublic, organiser of the Vuelta, a controlling stake in all but name. I don't see them letting Vino jog back on from the wings so easily. The UCI will struggle to keep him out of the Worlds if his paperwork is all in order (which the KF will almost certainly make sure is the case, by hook or by crook).

    Contador's option is almost certainly up this year and the noise is that his management have already been intimating that he wants to go elsewhere. There's at least two generously funded teams who will be in the market for a GT leader for next season and he'd be a fool not to at least see what they're putting on the table.
    http://www.atomicecho.com/cycling
  • micron
    micron Posts: 1,843
    L'Equipe reports Astana wages to be paid Monday at the latest - and Vino has had an OOC test adminstered by the UCI.

    Looks like Team ?? are just going to have to wait for that precious license.

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