Road Bike Racing - Leipheimer and Contador to Astana?

I saw this almost nonchalantly mentioned by cyclingnews:

American Levi Leipheimer is the next in a long line of Discovery Channel outcasts to have found a position for next season, the Deseret Morning News reported. In an interview with the Utah newspaper, Leipheimer hinted that he'd found a team, saying, "We just can't say anything yet, but I'm not really on the market anymore."

The newspaper quoted Leipheimer's coach, Dr. Max Testa, as confirming that the third place finisher of this year's Tour de France will accompany Johan Bruyneel and Alberto Contador for the 2008 season. "They just need to make sure everything is just right before they make it official," said Testa.

Yeah its all rumor at this point but I bet Kloden isn't loving this idea. This year he had to play second fiddle to Vino and now he would be Contador's lackey. Levi is moving closer to the end of his career so I don't see him doing much more than cashing in, other than maybe being a ringer at some of the U.S. events like the Tours of California & Georgia. On one hand, if all three show good form, its a good problem for Astana to have, but then you have three egos to manage which isn't always the best situation. Either way, should be interesting.

I saw that. It would also mean Bruyneel agreed to terms with them.

Yikes... Astana is still = dopers in my mind :(

http://www.fest21.com/files/images/borat4.jpg

Yikes... Astana is still = dopers in my mind :(

You're right. Everyone is clean, apart from Astana.

Doesn't Astana need to find a bike supplier in addition to a few good men.

Doesn't Astana need to find a bike supplier in addition to a few good men.

http://seasidecycle.com/merchant/847/images/site/madone69pro.gif

So Orbea should sponsor them.;)

See, I heard BD.com was sponsoring Astana this year.

Hope so, anyway. I'll probably buy the new Moto Ice when I get back to the states.

Doesn't Astana need to find a bike supplier in addition to a few good men.

There's a waiting list of companies that would like a PT team on their bikes. It's just a matter of who's going to cough up the most dough.

I'd love to see them sponsored by NEXT with frames custom built by Parlee.

Levi is moving closer to the end of his career so I don't see him doing much more than cashing in, other than maybe being a ringer at some of the U.S. events like the Tours of California & Georgia.

This year was clearly his best ever. In addition to third in the Tour and first at road nationals, he rode one of the fastest Tour TTs in history. That does not sound like a has been to me. I'm baffled why it does to you.

And, we're all getting older and closer to retirement. You need to think this statement through a little.

This year was clearly his best ever. In addition to third in the Tour and first at road nationals, he rode one of the fastest Tour TTs in history. That does not sound like a has been to me. I'm baffled why it does to you.

And, we're all getting older and closer to retirement. You need to think this statement through a little.

I don't mean to insinuate that he should pull the same move as David Millar and switch to a continental team and help out the young guys and I won't argue with his year. It was AWESOME to see what he did at the TT in the Tour, but the fact still remains that at 34 he's old by cycling standards and not likely to have two or three more "good years" left in him. He may be able to make one more run at the TDF, hell maybe two, but on his lack of aggressiveness and the fact that he would have a TDF winner on his team would make him a whole hell of lot less likely to be "the man" for Astana.

Just calling them like I see them.

Yikes... Astana is still = dopers in my mind :(

Yeah, not like Discovery. :rolleyes:

I don't mean to insinuate that he should pull the same move as David Millar and switch to a continental team and help out the young guys and I won't argue with his year. It was AWESOME to see what he did at the TT in the Tour, but the fact still remains that at 34 he's old by cycling standards and not likely to have two or three more "good years" left in him. He may be able to make one more run at the TDF, hell maybe two, but on his lack of aggressiveness and the fact that he would have a TDF winner on his team would make him a whole hell of lot less likely to be "the man" for Astana.

Just calling them like I see them.
+1. If he goes to a team with another established leader then he gets to follow wheels again, which is his preferred tactic by his own admission. I think 2008 is Levi's last real shot at the top step.

As well as he TT'd in 07, he TT'd equally as poorly in 06 TDF.

http://seasidecycle.com/merchant/847/images/site/madone69pro.gif
Trek...Top rated bike amongst people who've been nuked by their own country.

Now that it seems even more of Disco is making the leap to Astana, it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see them on Madone's next year

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/13438.0.html

I think I might know the new bike provider is......I can't say but they currently don't have a bike in the Peloton....and it is just a guess...lol

Experienced and trusted sport director Dirk Demol as well as Russian Viatcheslav Ekimov, who joined as a director after retiring in 2006, told VeloNews they would also prefer to stay with Bruyneel. Many of the team's mechanics, soigneurs and support staff would likely follow the move.

Many riders are waiting with bated breath to see what Bruyneel does, as only a handful of Discovery Channel racers have secured contracts for the 2008 season in what is an increasingly tight market.

Contador told VeloNews last month he was would prefer to stay with Bruyneel if the Belgian moves to Astana, and would bring teammates Sergio Paulinho and Benjamin Noval with him.

The Belgian website Sporza reported Monday that Leipheimer has already signed a letter of intent to join the team. Others linked to a Bruyneel move are Tomas Vaitkus and Janez Brajkovic.

Sweet, Eki's going too.

More news:

http://www.velonews.com/race/int/articles/13449.0.html

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/oct07/oct04news

Friggin Astana? The team with the Khazak Railways logo across their ass? I wonder how much $ Levi and Contador signed for? Let's hope that as Tour podium boys they get over $500K annually. From a financial standpoint pro cycling is a complete travesty. The UCI has seen to that with their brilliant efforts to 'clean up' the sport. Their first step was to scare off all the money. Now the Tour winner is on a team from the most Third World nation in Europe (if you call the former Soviet Union Europe I mean).

Mission accomplished comrades.

I wonder how much $ Levi and Contador signed for?

From VeloNews


The Spanish daily MARCA reported Wednesday that Contador will sign a two-year contract worth 1.5 million euros per season and bring Benjamín Noval and Sergio Paulinho with him. Other riders linked to Bruyneel's move to Astana include Janez Brajkovic, Levi Leipheimer and Tomas Vaitkus.

I read somewhere, I believe in ProCycling mag, that Contador's asking price was $3 million annual. Pretty ballsy in this market when you consider he wanted to bring several guys with him. I think Astana is about the only team left willing to basically write blank checks.

Yeah, not like Discovery. :rolleyes:

Maybe they won't get caught now with JB running things.

What's 1.5 million Euros, about 2 million bucks per year? Washed up MLB relief pitchers get paid that for blowing Mets games.

Trust me on that last point.

It should make for an interesting 2008.

... Brad

DISCANA

Doesn't Astana need to find a bike supplier in addition to a few good men.
http://seasidecycle.com/merchant/847/images/site/madone69pro.gif

interesting. http://velonews.com/tech/report/articles/13688.0.html