Astana Given Until May

[ukpaul]

Looks like they can ride the Giro then they'll need to cough up


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8037598.stm

 

[Anonymous]

well they better win the giro then.. and get lance up off his bum and contesting some of those intermediate sprints... 500e each some of em..

 

[bikepure]

loyalty is the sign of a good, decent human.


"I've already said that all I know about Kazakhstan is Astana and Borat. I don't know anything more," Armstrong told the Guardian. "It's not my team, it's not my sponsor. I've got nothing to say about it ."




And Africa is just full of Zulus- right Lance?

 

[krebs303]

And Africa is just full of Zulus- right Lance?

And Paul Sherwin!

 

[mr. tibbs]

And Paul Sherwin!

God bless the Paul Sherwins--they're a happy, productive people.

I'm looking forward to seeing a new team in the pro ranks. But they better not have black kits. I'm sick of the black kit trend. (As you all know, the kits are the most important part of the sport for me )

 

[BroDeal]

Bad mouthing the financial backers of the team you are riding for? Using Armstrong's past behavior as to how he treats people when they are no longer any use to him, I think we can safely say that relations between the kazakhs and Bruyneel/Armstrong have completely broken down.

 

[Test Team Too]

The Hand of Vino

I'm no conspiracy theorist (usually), but does anyone else see the hand of Vinoukorov moving behind the scenes in regards to the Astana $$$ troubles. The team was originally set up for him, he recently announced his intention to come back to pro-cycling, and I've little doubt the current Astana setup (Bruyneel, Armstrong, etc.) has any interest in him--but his original financial backers might.

OK--time to put my tinfoil hat back on, THEY might be listening . . .

 

[BikeCentric]

Bad mouthing the financial backers of the team you are riding for? Using Armstrong's past behavior as to how he treats people when they are no longer any use to him, I think we can safely say that relations between the kazakhs and Bruyneel/Armstrong have completely broken down.

Seems to me Armstrong's not doing himself any favors by badmouthing them. The Kazakhs hold the ProTour license. They have him by the ball!

 

[benpounder]

I'm no conspiracy theorist (usually), but does anyone else see the hand of Vinoukorov moving behind the scenes in regards to the Astana $$$ troubles.

Not Vino's hand, but quite likely those that set up the team for Vino. After last year's TdF snub, I've no doubt that Bruyneel would NOT sign Vino - he has enough trouble with Kloden. Therefore, Vino goes elsewhere if Bruyneel is running Astana, though I dont think many other teams would want Vino - way too much baggage. I dont think Kazak sponsors realize this, and are afraid of seeing Vino racing against their "national" team.

 

[nightfend]

Seems to me Armstrong's not doing himself any favors by badmouthing them. The Kazakhs hold the ProTour license. They have him by the ball!

Actually, if Armstrong angers the Kazakh's enough, they'll pull their sponsorship, and the UCI will rescind the Protour license that Astana holds for non-payment. At which point Lance can swoop in and pick up the license for the re-badged Livestrong team.

 

[ridley]

Man, I love this forum !!!

Everyone is quick to jump on LA nad JB here - but let's look at some facts here. The riders HAVE NOT BEEN PAID !!!!

So, all of you that have comments on who is badmouthing who and who is at fault, how many of you have been employed and not received any salary/cpmpensation dfor a while ???

I bet you all would either end up whining and DEMAND salary, or, quit and look for another job to get paid.

Here, where it is a group of guys riding bikes for a living, it is ok not to get paid and let's jump on the guy that has enough money to support himself and make him the nasty -

Wll, that is my $0.02 - because that is all I get paid to write this !!

 

[ElChingon]

The key words are "this is a forum"

The fact that most people don't like that team is just a point of view, not everyone's but just why these particular threads live on for a long time. The love Lance thread is already on page 2. Just the facts.

 

[hfer07]

Man, I love this forum !!!

Everyone is quick to jump on LA nad JB here - but let's look at some facts here. The riders HAVE NOT BEEN PAID !!!!

So, all of you that have comments on who is badmouthing who and who is at fault, how many of you have been employed and not received any salary/cpmpensation dfor a while ???

I bet you all would either end up whining and DEMAND salary, or, quit and look for another job to get paid.

Here, where it is a group of guys riding bikes for a living, it is ok not to get paid and let's jump on the guy that has enough money to support himself and make him the nasty -

Wll, that is my $0.02 - because that is all I get paid to write this !!

Well- for someone like LA-who's not getting paid by Astana, but profits millions on the side only for "his cause"-not the team's--and dares to say he feels bad for the Astana's crew? it looks to me as fake as Rockefeller taking about poverty,unemployment, or starvation
Now the case here is the 2 million euro safety deposit required by UCI-- the salaries were paid a week ago with that money---

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Seems to me Armstrong's not doing himself any favors by badmouthing them. The Kazakhs hold the ProTour license. They have him by the ball!

LOL!

But really, no one has that many card here, except that the UCI loves Lance, and he's helped them financially in the past, so they are likely to give him any benefit of the doubt in the future.

I still think they're going to go under. It's only a matter of time between May 31st and July to see just how many temporary sponsors Lance can come up with, before he puts up for the rest of the team to pay them through July, so he can ride the Tour and have a shot at winning.

The "Astana" team that Vino and Kashi ride for next year will not be the same we're seeing, at all. Similar subordinate riders, and a Continental team, riding in races in Asia, and that's it. LA, JB, Levi, AC, Chris, Popo, Klodi, Zubeldia, they will all be elsewhere.

 

[gatete]

LOL!

But really, no one has that many card here, except that the UCI loves Lance, and he's helped them financially in the past, so they are likely to give him any benefit of the doubt in the future.

I still think they're going to go under. It's only a matter of time between May 31st and July to see just how many temporary sponsors Lance can come up with, before he puts up for the rest of the team to pay them through July, so he can ride the Tour and have a shot at winning.

The "Astana" team that Vino and Kashi ride for next year will not be the same we're seeing, at all. Similar subordinate riders, and a Continental team, riding in races in Asia, and that's it. LA, JB, Levi, AC, Chris, Popo, Klodi, Zubeldia, they will all be elsewhere.

amen to that brother!!!!!!

 

[benpounder]

...LA, JB, Levi, AC, Chris, Popo, Klodi, Zubeldia, they will all be elsewhere.

Yeah... except Klodi likely won't be happy with the elsewhere he finds himself.

 

[Test Team Too]

it's officially a rumor now

The Kazakh Conspiracy!

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/r...%.+_+hikjp&utm_term=What's+New+article+051409

scroll down to rumor of the week.

 

[bianchigirl]

The Kazakh Federation have already said they'll find the money - the only team having to ride under a conti license will be the one that Boss Hog find themselves running - the PT license will be staying with the KF and Astana, a team built around Vino & Kash and the young Kazakh riders it was set up to showcase and develop. Bruyneel made a huge mistake sidelining the Kazakhs in the team and the 'cancer awareness' hijack was just the last straw. The Kazakh Government has given the green light to continue funding the team with its original remit - Boss Hog will either have to deal with that or get out and wait for their own PT license. However, if their major selling point is Armstrong he's going to have to pay a visit to his old family friend pdq because he simply isn't looking worth the money and the rest of the aging 'dream team' maybe have one season left in them. With Contador almost certain to either jump ship or stay with Astana (can you seriously see him going to a team run by Armstrong?) the Hogstrong team simply don't look the surefire proposition they once did - not without that precious license.