Contador leaving Astana

[goonermatt]

This is all over sky sports news and their website, however there are no sources? anyone got any ideas.....?

 

[Kodiak]

on the news page here it says he's to team up with Riis but when you hit the link you get a 404 not found error message.

 

[theswordsman]

Yeah, there's an official press release. The conversation is in the Transfer Rumors sticky thread

 

[bjaelkesex]

Spanish press: http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo...-acerca-equipo/dasclm/20100728dasdascic_1/Tes

 

[luckyboy]

CN says Astana gave him an ultimatum? That didn't sound like a great idea.

 

[Nickbeam]

interesting, who's gonna replace Conta in Astana as a GC man. or will they keep Vino as their main GC contender for TDF. but vino's staying in cycling for 1 more year only.

 

[Ferminal]

interesting, who's gonna replace Conta in Astana as a GC man. or will they keep Vino as their main GC contender for TDF. but vino's staying in cycling for 1 more year only.

Menchov, S. Sanchez, Kreuziger.

Or throw everything behind Vino like the good ole days!

 

[delbified]

CN says Astana gave him an ultimatum? That didn't sound like a great idea.

you have to tee up other riders if he isn't staying, so you can't wait forever to hear he's leaving.

 

[icefire]

The OP would have been even better if it said Contador going to Footon, quoting from the AS article

 

[indurain666]

It is all over Spanish press apparently it is "official", it seems to me he is getting closer and closer to Bjarne Riis's project.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

if a rider leaves a team they can not sign a contract before september 1st. so all of this is way premature.

 

[hrotha]

Forget about that! This is the important bit:

ya que también tiene ofertas del Abarca Sports de Eusebio Unzúe

Has he found a new sponsor?

 

[Cerberus]

if a rider leaves a team they can not sign a contract before september 1st. so all of this is way premature.

I'm pretty sure he can sign whatever he wants, he just can't announce it, though these things have a tendency to leak out somehow.

 

[icefire]

Forget about that! This is the important bit:

Has he found a new sponsor?

If he has, it's not yet public

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Forget about that! This is the important bit:

Has he found a new sponsor?

yes indeed. probably around 8 million budget. so he has to lose some riders.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

CN says Astana gave him an ultimatum? That didn't sound like a great idea.

Must admit, that was my first reaction.

But if Astana had waited and lost out on Contador then they would have missed the oppurtunity to sign other key riders as some sort of replacement.

 

[theswordsman]

Must admit, that was my first reaction.

But if Astana had waited and lost out on Contador then they would have missed the oppurtunity to sign other key riders as some sort of replacement.

Yeah, they went through Hell last year, so I can't blame them, especially if he might take four guys with him. It sounded early on like they just wanted the publicity of the Sunday announcement of an extension. But I think it was Cyclismag that said the "nuances" to be worked out in the contract was actually a million Euros. They insisted earlier that even if he won the Tour this year, his salary was high enough.

 

[outrage9]

Right here on Cyclingnews;

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-to-leave-astana-at-end-of-season

 

[La Vie Claire]

It would be a master stroke if Riis gets Contador after the Schlecks jumped ship. Even better if Riis wins the TdF next year.

 

[sherer]

Contador has a personal sponsorship deal with Spezialized so I can't see him going to just any team due to that. Seems Spesh may team up with Sunguard and the mystery sponsor Riis announced for next season

 

[Cerberus]

Contador has a personal sponsorship deal with Spezialized so I can't see him going to just any team due to that. Seems Spesh may team up with Sunguard and the mystery sponsor Riis announced for next season

Actually the prevailing theory is that Specialized is the mystery sponsor.

 

[python]

It would be a master stroke if Riis gets Contador after the Schlecks jumped ship. Even better if Riis wins the TdF next year.

yes, it seems to make the 'logistical' sense since contador moves with 3-4 of 'his' spaniards plus marti plus his mechanic and his personal masseuse.

and riis is losing at least that many riders and staff.

the only question i have will martinelli move with contador too ?

 

[saganftw]

contador and his possy ,that will cost a lot of money,i wonder how will american sponsors treat AC after another TdF win

 

[theswordsman]

Contador has a personal sponsorship deal with Spezialized so I can't see him going to just any team due to that. Seems Spesh may team up with Sunguard and the mystery sponsor Riis announced for next season

Yep. One of the Italian stories said (if the translation was right) that his contract with Specialized limited his choices. I imagine Specialized would be willing to go with him to a team that doesn't already have a bike sponsor for next year. When the Riis rumors first hit, some sites posted amounts and said Specialized money would be part of the salary. It also led me to believe that Specialized would only supply one team next year. Some said it would be a Cervelo type of arrangement. I think keeping Cancellara would mean a lot.

 

[Ryaguas]

Giving an Ultimatum to Le Tour Winner, specially if that guy is AC??? That doesn't sound pretty smart...