Alexandre Vinokourov

[Bolder]

A good week for Vino. Not only does Cav get the record, but he secures a deal with a Chinese company to become one of the "haves." Now he will have the resources to go for the yellow jersey.


https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ex...in-astana-qazaqstan-to-create-new-super-team/
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ex...in-astana-qazaqstan-to-create-new-super-team/

You think they'll keep Vino and Astana around? Then again, Kazakhstan is probably more aligned to China than western Europe.

 

[FroomeWagon]

You think they'll keep Vino and Astana around? Then again, Kazakhstan is probably more aligned to China than western Europe.

Who knows, but Vino was the guy that negotiated the deal. I supposed he could have sold the team, but it doesn't sound that way. It really sounds like he will remain in charge.

If he is replaced, I would bet he secured himself quite the golden parachute.

Last week, Astana Qazaqstan general manager Alexander Vinokourov met with Chinese representatives in Florence ahead of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France. The deal could be finalised and announced during the Tour.

Astana Qazaqstan are determined to retain their WorldTour status for the next license period from 2026 to 2029 and the Chinese investment should allow Vinokourov to sign several other big-name riders and so score sufficient points to stay in the WorldTour.

According to a report in L'Equipe last month, as many as 18 of the team's current squad of 29 riders are out of contract at the end of the season, meaning an influx of funds could result in a revamp of the racing squad.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Knowing Vino, I bet he goes for the big splash. Didn't the Visma/Soudal merger fall through because Soudal's license couldn't be legally transferred until this year? Rumor was Lefevere wanted out last year, but also wanted to be paid first. Is Remco still being paid half the amount of Pogi, Vingo, Roglic and Froome ? Just imagine Remco and Vino working together, along with a sponsor that prioritizes winning over all else.

Of course I make this in jest, but if Vino has UAE's or Visma's budget, he will be bringing in top talent.

Now that's a merger/transfer that I could get behind!

 

[search]

once every couple of years I remember that I have a Vino avatar

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

the first page of this thread is hilarious

 

[rallybanana]

Wow, not everyone can win the Olympics and Liège with a dormant thread. Seriously, there has to be another.

There is a Vino Comeback Thread

But this is the New Vino Comeback Thread

 

[QueenStagiaire]

There is a Vino Comeback Thread

But this is the New Vino Comeback Thread

Wow, so the same guy who made the Vino comeback thread, revived this thread. That is what I would call a @tobydawq like classic

 

[Tim Cahill]

Mr. Excitement

Now though Vino has a different sport to come back to, if he actually does make a legit comeback: Blood doping is nearly over. I think it is obvious that the riders are clean if for no other reason than that the cheaters stand out so boldly. Everyone knew Ricco was cheating and Selle was cheating. It looked like DiLuca was cheating. Those guys were able to attack and attack and attack day after day after day. Clean riders can't do that, but we're so used to doped riders that clean races seem "boring." So can Vino race clean? His style is his style, so I think he will try to ride the same way; but can a clean rider do what he was so good at. That Tour where he was all beat up, bloody and bandaged yet coming coming coming, racing against impossible odds was incredibly entertaining. What a show Vino put on! But he was doped to the max and therefore NOT ACCEPTABLE! If he has completed the terms of his suspension, and if he can produce a biological passport, then bring him on.

Magical

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Congrats to Vino for gambling on Cavendish !

Best 15 year wait for a thread bump ever.

 

[FroomeWagon]

Wow, not everyone can win the Olympics and Liège with a dormant thread. Seriously, there has to be another.

I assumed it had been moved to another section on this forum. One that starts with the letter C.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I remember when he mugged Rigoberto Uran in 2012 thinking where the *** did Vino come from and how on earth is he still here, I had forgotten the man existed at that point..

12 years later I still find myself asking myself the same question, I've been dead certain he was done for at least like 5 times since then, Astana have been nowhere for ages and all of a sudden he's popping up in a moment of history, the Khazak/Chinese overlords will be loving this. Nine lives, truly the Grigori Rasputin of cycling.

 

[dobrien]

I have to say, despite the guy's history, watching him crash Cav's interview, just completely overjoyed, was pretty damn fun. Don't care if he was as prescient as an oracle, or whether this was the only desperation move he could afford, doesn't really matter. Today was a pretty magical day in Tour history and, just as I am able to suspend disbelief so I can enjoy certain movies, so today I can do the same thing with Vino and Astana. That was pretty awesome and I am genuinely happy for them; they needed that, and like it or not so did we, imho anyway.

 

[joe_papp]

In case it's been awhile since you watched it, here's Vino's own final TdF victory, 2010 stage 13 (aboard the magnificent "Golden Eagle"!!):

View: https://youtu.be/e8S_a4Z1UMs?si=tIC0eibayX5ejBb5


Absolutely sublime

(Cav' wins the bunch gallop for 2nd, btw!!)

 

[scribers]

And Cav in second

 

[SHAD0W93]

In case it's been awhile since you watched it, here's Vino's own final TdF victory, 2010 stage 13 (aboard the magnificent "Golden Eagle"!!):

View: https://youtu.be/e8S_a4Z1UMs?si=tIC0eibayX5ejBb5


Absolutely sublime

(Cav' wins the bunch gallop for 2nd, btw!!)

All part of the plan for so Cavendish can get the record win on Astana along with some other wins.

 

[Netserk]

Magical

extraordinary