hope that was more interesting than Long Way Down.

http://www.astanagroup.com

I can't get any of the English versions of their holdings to open up.

No wiki entry on the company.

Must be run by SMERSH alumni - that's the only explanation ;)

I hate websites with background music...

Having lived in Almaty, it amazes me that their team cars aren't old Nivas or Volgas and that their mussettes aren't filled with shashlik, plov, and kvass.

:beer:

My understanding that the consortium of companies that sponsors the team is just that - no links to the government. I completely agree with you about the questionability of the Kazakhi human rights record, etc. but I think that Atsana Group is (at least) an arms length away from the government.

With SRAM of course:

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos...m/red-levi.jpg

+1 Trek is making a terrible move. I won't buy another bike from them.

Bullets to the back of the head are so twentieth century. It's all about polonium soup these days.

How about Thallium Sushi?

Yes, I know Kazakhstan is not Russia.

New pic of Trek Astana bike...

http://reviews.roadbikereview.com/bl...-bike-sponsor/

I wonder what Chris Horner is going to do with his old Ridley?

I'm one of the very, very few here who willingly and openly prefers Trek....but I'm not a big fan of the new paint job.

Regardless, I'm glad to see Trek back in the action and the team somewhat intact.

Sounds like Kitaro. I'll have to play some COD4 now to flush that out of my head.

cuz......

BMC = Bikes Made for Cheaters


sux to be them

Take it to foo.

It adds that extra something to the taste. :p

i'm soooo much more excited about slipstream... all those riders on astana are far too quiet about doping... maybe i'm just not very well read when it comes to cycling news.. i'm a fan of high road, csc, and slipstream, they hate teh doping... andy schleck shoulda won the giro, too bad danilo was on crack...

http://reviews.roadbikereview.com/fi...stanatrek1.jpg

MV

It's up on Trek's website now.

The prime backer of the new Trek team is the government of Kazakhstan...run by a dictator who now claims to be "God" reincarnated...those who question that claim have a short lifespan. He claims to have won the 2002 election with 99% of the vote and it has already been announced that he has won the 2008 election. A major source of the funding for his reign of terror is the transfer of opium from Afganistan to Europe.

Trek needs to seriously rethink a business partnership with the Central Asian version of "Murder Incorporated".

Most folks don't care one way or the other, but I prefer my bikes without bloodstains on the frame. I've bought ten Treks in the past decade for myself, friends, and family members. But, I will never buy a Trek product while Trek is partnering with thugs and criminals.

Folks such as UmneyDurak seem to think morals and ethics should NEVER have anything to do with cycling or bikes...the "morals are just one hour on Sunday at church" school of thought. But, for many people, moral issues are important every single day, with every single choice we make.

Take it to foo.

Stunning Announcement from Trek.
 

You coulda knocked me over with a feather...

Now returning to your regularly scheduled Trek/Astana thread, already in progress:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=370114

;)

Ya, this is like the third thread on the subject, but the first I've seen with a pics, so way to go.