Astana, reloaded..

[franciep10]

How many Astanas are on the LA/JB side? Leipheimer and Popovych are obvious, but the rest? Zubeldia and Paulinho are definitely siding with AC..

And Caisse d'Epargne, how openly will they support AC if there really is a divide in Astana? They do have Pereiro, but could he become a domestique extraordinaire if he has a bad day early (kind of like what AC did for Valverde at Dauphiné Libéré)?

As someone who doesn't care much for anyone on Astana I sort of hope that they really don't like each other... but on the other hand, if they do get along and everyone backs up AC 100%, that will be impressive too (but I consider that less likely).

Caisse has a sheer girth of spanish climbers, plus they consistently recruit the best young spanish riders every year, plus they would sign some of contadors current teammates.

 

[Mellow Velo]

From elsewhere:-

the Kazakh Cycling Federation (KCF), which paid off its debt to the team's managing company Olympus SARL.

Which raised the question who are Olympus SARL? Who owns them? What is their role in the team and why are they owed money?

A search shows that Olympus SARL are JB's Holding company - based depending upon what you read in either Belgium or Luxembourg. Olympus SARL hold the contracts for the riders - and is therefore responsible for paying them (and I assume also not paying them). Oympus SARL as the management company are also responsible for Gusev being sacked.

If some riders have been being paid then they will have been paid by JB's company, if riders have not been paid then they will have not been paid by that same company. Unless of course only some rather than all riders have their contracts with Olympus.

I would assume that JB can not be sacked without Olympus SARL being sacked as the management company. I would also assume that because Olympus holds the contracts any contract is between the rider and the company not the rider and the PT license holder.

What happens to rider contracts if the management company is sacked I have no idea.

So if this speculation is correct, it is a very greay area.

 

[sherer]

I imagine the contract is with JB and that if JB joins another team is contract will be that all his riders will join that team

 

[franciep10]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/team-leadership-still-an-issue-at-astana

Just off the front page it looks like LA is throwing a hissy fit because johan said contador is the leader on the website and didn't tell the team.

 

[Parrot23]

they look like their at their grandmother's funeral not the tour de france. But I agree Contador should bolt to caisse or stay with JB it would be dumb to stay at astana.

Bertie sure doesn't look happy in any of the pics at team presentation. Looks rattled. Lack of English surely can't help matters.

Lance is provocative here: now dissing JB. He must really think he can win this. Wow. Tough to tell his weight: he looks big on the bike but the team presentation pics make him look svelte.

Don't really think whether Bertie's unhappy or Lance is provocative is going to make much diff., unless someone is actively undermined. It's not exactly golf or tennis, where state of mind can make one tank in a sec. They've either got the legs or don't.

 

[Anonymous]

I sincerely hope Contador rips them to shreds. Tomorrow is going to be a fun first stage.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

From elsewhere:-



Which raised the question who are Olympus SARL? Who owns them? What is their role in the team and why are they owed money?

A search shows that Olympus SARL are JB's Holding company - based depending upon what you read in either Belgium or Luxembourg. Olympus SARL hold the contracts for the riders - and is therefore responsible for paying them (and I assume also not paying them). Oympus SARL as the management company are also responsible for Gusev being sacked.

If some riders have been being paid then they will have been paid by JB's company, if riders have not been paid then they will have not been paid by that same company. Unless of course only some rather than all riders have their contracts with Olympus.

I would assume that JB can not be sacked without Olympus SARL being sacked as the management company. I would also assume that because Olympus holds the contracts any contract is between the rider and the company not the rider and the PT license holder.

What happens to rider contracts if the management company is sacked I have no idea.

So if this speculation is correct, it is a very greay area.

From memory Olympus SARL(JB's company) has the contracts of the riders and that Olympus also took over the contracts of the riders from Marc Bivers company Zeus when he got the flick from the Kazakh Federation.

I believe this is where the problem of the unpaid wages comes in.
However the Pro-Tour licence is with the Kazakhstan Federation.

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/team-leadership-still-an-issue-at-astana

Just off the front page it looks like LA is throwing a hissy fit because johan said contador is the leader on the website and didn't tell the team.

Speaking of L'Equipe, didn't they claim a bunch more sanctions were coming out today?

I believe everything I read in L'Equipe, after it is verified somewhere else.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Speaking of L'Equipe, didn't they claim a bunch more sanctions were coming out today?

I believe everything I read in L'Equipe, after it is verified somewhere else.

Go read our new section, where your pal Susan explains all.
UCI at fault, once again.

 

[euphrades]

This is going to be a very intersting Tour.....

I think tomorrow will tell a good story.....looking at the pictures i see a very fit, relaxed Armstrong. Where Alberto is very tense. If Armstrong wants to win he is definitely winning the mind games.

Second, I think Armstrong, the Hog frustration is just another game from the two of them...maybe even the entire thing with Alberto is to.

 

[Anonymous]

Go read our new section, where your pal Susan explains all.
UCI at fault, once again.

jack never needs to know the whole story. Just part is enough for him.

 

[BroDeal]

JB and LA will support AC, half the team will defect with JB. LA should have let Livestrong come in and save the day for the tour when Astana didn't pay up. My prediction: LA supports AC, then targets the Vuelta for the win!...albeit, with another team.

When will this Livestrong crap ever end? There won't be a Livestrong bailout. First it would cost too much money. Second, as a charity, Livestrong cannot do it. Heck, their record so far is that only a disgraceful 55% of the money taken is spent on charity. Spend eight to twelve million and that percentage drops to 20%.