Contador's off
Despite a contract for another year with Astana, Contador says he wants out.
I'm not surprised given Vino is back. They get on well together on personal terms, having ridden together at Liberty Seguros, but the Spaniard wants out. Apparently Contador was offered €4 million net a year from Astana but Vino says he knows nothing of this, perhaps a sign of the confused communication in the team?
It'll be interesting to see who flexes their chequebook, basically Contador is saying "come and get me" and he'll take any reasonable offer. Given his dominance in the Grand Tours, he's worth a fortune, even a small team could buy him and get value in publicity terms from July alone.
I'm not surprised given Vino is back. They get on well together on personal terms, having ridden together at Liberty Seguros, but the Spaniard wants out. Apparently Contador was offered €4 million net a year from Astana but Vino says he knows nothing of this, perhaps a sign of the confused communication in the team?
It'll be interesting to see who flexes their chequebook, basically Contador is saying "come and get me" and he'll take any reasonable offer. Given his dominance in the Grand Tours, he's worth a fortune, even a small team could buy him and get value in publicity terms from July alone.
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Astana and Discovery were basically Spanish teams and he's done his time under Saiz.
What do people think about the possible Alonso team?
I'd be surprised if they can get that off the ground in time for next year. I'd have thought he'd have to go to an existing team. Caisse looks a possibility, especially if Contador can bring a few other guys in to help out.
Strava is not Zen.
I can't see them letting him go unless he pays off his contract in full. Think of the sponsorship revenue they can get for winning the TDF.
The reason Valv.Piti couldn't ride the Tour was because it went to Italy this year.
If things remained as they are and the Tour didn't enter Italy he could ride...
Surely it's only a matter of time before this is extended worldwide.
If his only defence is CONI didn't have the right to use the Puerto sample then the UCI has to sort it.
Who's to say that even if they don't ASO won't just send the Tour through Italy again?
That's what I'm wondering. Will they respect the CONI decision? They've had the file for quite some time now and no action has taken place.
Why respect CONI in one regard but not the other?
ASO couldn't let him ride. It would damage the Tour...no matter how big a Tour sponsor CE is.
I disagree here -- in Europe, Garmin is rooted in Spain, AC considers CVV a good friend (per Pro Cycling), and Vaughters gets on well with him (per the Denver Post). Garmin may have the riders, organization, attitude, TTists, and money to compete.
There is a lot of pressure on Vaughters -- two fourths last two years, the success and arrogance of Columbia, and now the RadioShack vortex. It is going to take a special rider to keep Garmin from getting ignored.
I will not comment on whether AC's blood values pass the test.
Astana and Discovery were Spanish teams??? I don't follow you there. A few Spanish riders don't make them a Spanish Team. Geez, the way Phil and Paul went on for the last few years -- I thought they were the US national squad.
I meant they way they were run was very much like a Spanish team. After all, Bruyneel picked up a lot of things from Saiz over the years. Very organised etc, not shambolic like Italian teams for example.
But I doubt he will go to an Anglo team.
Very true.
I don't know about that. He's been around and more than likely knows pretty much everyone. I would guess most of the other riders are OK people to be around. I'm thinking he's not going to pick a Spanish team just because he's Spanish. That doesn't make sense. If, as claimed, Astana has a bunch of "*ssholes" on it, what's to say some Spanish team won't have the same. Most of us "common folk" don't have the luxury
of picking and choosing who we work for(well, to a point we do). If it was me I'd pick the team that I thought could help me win it again. And of course demand the big dollar.
With me? What the h*ll happened? Is it the END OF EVERYTHING? Or are we just in a temporary Twilight Zone?
I didnt realise that it ever changed from them :roll:
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Plus - most of the big salaries on the team will have left. The budget should be much more reasonable next year!