monosierra

https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...IUuOpYbLrNUXRw

So it looks like AC is starting a new team next year.

New teams next season:

(Unnamed Spanish team): Led by AC
Team Sky: British team
Nike Livestrong: LA, Leipheimer etc

And Astana led by Vinokourov

lukasz

Wow. It would be great if Astana would now split into two unofficially in this tour. We'd have a race rather than an Astana paced spin through France.

wearyourtruth

good. Contador deserves a team that is actually there to support him

Pharmr

+1,000

JoelS

But in the meantime, I hope he learns from his time at Astana how to go from being a really good racer to being a great one. He makes a lot of mental errors.

flyingheel

The big "if"...BIG "IF"...is IF Bruyneel will release him from his contract. Remember Contador's contract is through the 2010 season. It is doubtful that Bruyneel would release argubly the best GC contendor in pro cycling now (or at least one that could dominate for more years than just the next 1 to 2) so he would have to face him in the future. Besides LA, Contador is one of the most marketable names in pro cycling (also add Boonen, Cavendish and perhaps Cancellara) - and one in which would make it much easier to bring in big sponsorship dollars for your team...which Johan is used to having the moolah.

Remember, Johan doesn't have a history of releasing riders from contracts early simply so they can further their careers or ride events they want to ride (Horner). Johan also has an obvious history of signing as many legitimate opponents to his own team, thereby reducing the other teams contendor pools (Pena, Hoste, Salvodelli, Heras, etc) and forcing those contendors into support roles with promises of support for lessor races.

merlinextraligh

The odds are extremely good that Astana in its current form does not exist next year.

Vinokourov will be back come August. The chance that ASO will ever invite a Vinokourov led team to any of its races is deminimis.



Bruyneel would have no interest in directing an Astana led by Vinokorouv, and some second rate Kazaks.

Armstrong would have zero interest in riding for an Astana led by Vinokorouv, and some second rate Kazaks.

The Kazak sponsors can barely pay the bills as they are.

Odds Vino is back on Astana 99%

Odds Armstrong is gone from Astana 95%

Odds Bruyneel is gone from Astana 95%

Odds Cantador is gone from Astana 90% (only because he doesn't have the leverage of just threatening to quit)

Odds Astana folds shop 50%.

Odds Astana is at most a hack team with an ex doper, and a bunch of no name kazaks if it continues to exist. 95%

GV27

Wow - that was a strong article. Contador would be delighted to tale Fernando Alonso's money!

Now if you wanna see some really wild rumors - check out those surrounding ALONSO's whereabouts next year!

monosierra

Cycling teams come and go ... unlike other sports. I'm pretty sure LA, Leipheimer & Popovych will decamp to LA's new outfit along with Bruyneel.

The question for Contador is: what kind of team mates will he try to get? One must remember that before LA'a return, Astana was a perfect vehicle for AC: with strong TT performers and climbers to support him. Will he be able to assemble such a balanced team?

Or will he be let down like Evans?

Garthr

How good is Contador though really? His successes have come with a Bruyneel led team. Before that he was talented, but lacked discipline to succeed. How would he do on a team without JB? Who knows..... but it sure would be interesting.

If he was on Caisse d'Epargne this year, he'd be down on time big time. Would they be able to support him like Astana does? . . I think not.

If/when he gets out of his contract with JB, I can't imagine they'd have a team as well put together as a JB led team. People debate the talent of JB as a team director, but if you look at his record of GT wins it speaks for itself. So, if AC wants to leave . . . I say good luck . . .you're gonna need it.

DMF 

What, Astana's not supporting him??

What more do you want them to do, ride behind him and push?

monosierra

He's friends with Valverde isn't he? Possibly a team of Portugese and Spanish riders then ... but the likes of Sastre, Perreiro, Ferre, Valverde, Sanchez seem pretty settled. Zubeldia might join him.

bigfred 

It would be interesting, but. I think it would surprising to see a Spanish sponsor with pockets deep enough to bring together several of the hot latin prospects and a DS strong enough to neutralize their ego's.

bigfred 

I'll be surprised if that new article turns out to be anything more than nationalistic spin. Contador is out shopping around, as he should be. He needs everyone to believe that he has other options whilst still maintaining at least some support from JB and Astana.

kwrides

I'm praying you are being sarcastic?

monosierra

If Vinokourov returns to lead Astana as a GC contender, and LA leaves with Leipheimer, Horner, Popovych and Bruyneel, then surely AC has to leave Astana as well.

He doesn't seem to need that strong a climber to help him out in the mountains. I doubt Valverde wil be a good partnership though - they migth wok together when they're on different teams but when they're in the same team .... ?

bigfred 

Vino seems pretty sure that he'll be back to lead the team this fall and for a couple years to follow "for his children". So, can't imagine that the characteres listed above will stick around too long. Who knows where Alberto will end up?

800over

If Vino is on Astana then AC and LA are gone for sure. ASO will kick them out of the tour again....so no Tour for AC or LA.

bigfred 

Confusing you are.

kicked out Astana led Vino? Or, AC & LA for leaving?

Me suspects we see AC LA in tour next year.

dstrong 

If AC had been allowed to compete last year, it's possible he would have beaten Sastre to win the TdF. I think he'll win this year and with a half-way decent team, could win next year. Bruyneel's said in the past that AC has the chance to win for many years. If he had ridden last year and wins this year, this would have been 3 straight...with next year 4 straight. LA has a chance to become a "Cadel" or a "Jan" for the next year or two and might have no chance to assemble a team that will be able to beat an AC led team. Second place doesn't go over too well with Lance, so I think that idea will run out of steam.

Obviously, it's all speculation and we'll have to see how this tour plays out. Thankfully it's only 3 days of flats before they get back into the mountains where the differences in ability will become apparent.

DMF 

Not at all.

I want wearyourtruth and Pharmr to man up and say what they mean.