Contador leaving Astana

[Ryaguas]

Add Cancellara (if he isn't sold to make room in the budget for Contador)

Actually in the news from L'Equipe they said that Contador's salary will be payed by Specialized, so Siemens - Sungard can afford to have Cancellara and Contador in the same team... some ppl are leaving with the Schlecks but the Spanish mountain goats climbing squad are joining the team (and we know that they can do the job)... This new team I'm pretty sure that is going to sign more ppl.. not only Contador and his crew...

 

[Road Hazard]

The press releases are issued in Spanish, and written by Contador's press agent. If Alberto says something, it would be in quotes. He doesn't speak about himself in the third person - it's a press agent telling the story of what's going on. There are lots of examples at his official website. [/url]

I know that dude. I was pointing out that the US press made it look like he was speaking of himself in the 3rd person. So much for being facetious on internet.

 

[jilbiker]

Perhaps explains ACs tour form

I got the feeling that there was something on ACs mind during the tour, i thought maybe he had some romance issues or some family issues, his concentration wasn't all there. I had noticed in during a race in April, I think something must have happened then that made him start thinking about leaving. Before that AC was firing away.

Strange though that with all the distraction in last year's tdf, Astana not paying salaries, LA gyrations, he was still strong. I think this one was different because he thought it would work out, he had played a role in the selection of Director etc.

I think it weighed heavy on his mind because he had to present a face of its all good to Vino, meanwhile Vino is asking him in front of the whole team at tdf "Are you staying?"

After the tdf, he said, forget this, its being two tough years with the team, no peace, I am done. I am glad he is leaving. Although there is no perfect team, but go somewhere where you are the clear leader/captain. Not sure Riis is the best selection, I think he should go to a spanish side, he will be fully welcome and treated as a hero.

 

[Dedelou]

Contador rode this one last year too. IIRC it was his last race of the season so guess he just wants to say hello to the Basque and Spanish fans after his tour win

I must admit it does bring something to SS when Contador says he will ride in it

 

[Azdak6]

Me, I'm all in favor of professional athletes making the best deals they can--and if they have the leverage to exercise control over their destiny, so much the better. Especially in a sport like cycling where careers can be cut short in a instant and traditionally team management has been able to exploit the cyclists to suit their own ends.

But let's stop with the "soft-spoken, humble" crap when it comes to AC. Right now, he is much closer to LeBron James than Miguel Indurain. Doesn't make him a bad guy, but it does show that he and his "team" can manipulate people and spin the media with the best of them.

 

[Francois the Postman]

Wow, OK, a couple of days behind the news. but Contador's move away from Vino's Astana does surprise me. Something outside the team on the road must have ****ed 'em off in those TdF days then, or otherwise Specialised has done some smooth talking behind the scenes with the yes-men that surround him.

I do recall a rumour that all of us were poo-pooing, that Schleck and Contador were gonna be on the same team.

Maybe it actually was Contador to Riis, and someone got the wrong end of the stick. That the Schleck's team does not always equal with the Schlecks.

Since Riis seemed to be struggling to get the sponsor money on the table to get Contador + entourage in the fold, I certainly didn't consider the Riis option, and couldn't see Contador join the Schlecks on a Luxembourg team. Specialized footing AC's bill, that helps!

On a related note, I now am suddenly very pessimistic about seeing Menchov in Rabo colours next years too. I hadn't considered a freed up Astana in the mix. This seems to be the new standard, one big new sponsor looking to capitalize on a single identity, and their head-hunt triggering a big shake-up all around.

 

[Bicicleta]

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5...g-in-talks-with-Denis-Menchov-and-others.aspx


.....Spanish newspaper El Tiempo spoke to the general secretary of the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation, Valentin Rejert, and the team confirmed that it has not completely given up hope on Contador. "The matter is still not one hundred percent closed, but we cannot wait forever," he said. "The deadline is next week.....

As the cycling world turns

 

[Azdak6]

This seems to be the new standard, one big new sponsor looking to capitalize on a single identity, and their head-hunt triggering a big shake-up all around.

Obi LeBron has taught them well.

 

[Publicus]

Obi LeBron has taught them well.

Your LeBron analogy is a poor one. It's not as if Nike orchestrated the move to Miami.

 

[saganftw]

just give contador money,he ll stay

 

[nowhereman]

You got that right. Every LanceFanboy I know is on AS' jock now.

Absolutely!!!! I've lost a "friend" over that very silly fanboy mania! 50+ yrs. old and acting like a little boy, pouting and all!

 

[Dedelou]

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5...g-in-talks-with-Denis-Menchov-and-others.aspx


.....Spanish newspaper El Tiempo spoke to the general secretary of the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation, Valentin Rejert, and the team confirmed that it has not completely given up hope on Contador. "The matter is still not one hundred percent closed, but we cannot wait forever," he said. "The deadline is next week.....

As the cycling world turns

Same old story. A lot of people talking but nobody knows for sure what will happen untill everything is sealed , signed and delivered. However is Contador not riding Classica San S. because he didn't want to or because it was not allowed?

 

[nowhereman]

Alberto has been stringing Astana along all season for two reasons:

1) To get undying Team Support during the Tour.
2) To maximize his and fran's monetary paychecks.

Some forum members recognized this all season long. No big deal.
It is a business for most riders. Big Business for some riders.

Others felt he would stay with Astana lol.
Loyal Alberto. Thank you Team Alberto.
Tweet Tweet Bang Bang.

But after attacking Vino in one stage and attacking during "The Mechanical" in another stage - maybe Vino does not WANT Alberto on the team anymore.

It will be interesting to hear what Vino has to say about this....
"Alberto wants to spend more time with his family" maybe?

On one hand you seem to understand the business end of being an in demand athlete. Then you sarcastically describe an Alberto that is incapable of any loyalty. Then you go on to describe a world that revolves around Vinokourov.
It seems that you have conveniently forgotten that Alberto would have preferred to be rid of Astana last year. They held him down til very late in the year. At which point I think he finally decided (probably reluctantly) to ride out his contract there. Did he have to continue to shout out his reluctance, to satisfy fans like you? NO! He played it wisely, he rode in the Astana kit, til he took his 3rd TdF and now it's time for him to go,Silly season is well underway, so he hasn't jumped the gun, but he's not waiting a minute more.
As far as Vino is concerned. It will be interesting to hear what he thinks, but bottom line is ultimately....WHO CARES!? AC will fulfill his obligation to Astana, and then move on, just as many other riders do, without half the fanfare, or criticism.
I'll tell you one thing, if they lied to him about his splits in the ITT to "motivate" him. That's an insult to his intelligence, and professionalism that borders on the intolerable. And quite possibly, the straw that broke the camels back, and sent him packing, without regret or guilt.

 

[hrotha]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astana-start-their-post-contador-rebuild
Vino is not amused.

Speaking to L'Equipe, team captain Alexandre Vinokourov disclosed that he had asked Contador if he was planning to stay with Astana in front of the whole team after the Tour's final stage in Paris. "I really hope so," Contador is reported to have said.

"We did all we could for Alberto for three weeks by sacrificing ourselves for him. I only hope that he didn't take the decision before the start of the Tour," said Vinokourov. He added that the team had never put pressure on the Spaniard to extend his contract, contradicting Contador's claims that he'd been given an ultimatum to agree to a new deal by July 27. "Alberto had been pushing for a new contract for four months, and it was he who was pressing to re-sign with us," Vinokourov stated.

 

[peloton]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astana-start-their-post-contador-rebuild
Vino is not amused.

And I was just starting to like Vino again...

 

[Publicus]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/astana-start-their-post-contador-rebuild
Vino is not amused.

Is he implying that if Alberto HAD made the decision prior to the Tour he would have ridden differently? That seems to me the height of unprofessionalism. Why would it matter when the decision was made?

 

[hrotha]

Is he implying that if Alberto HAD made the decision prior to the Tour he would have ridden differently? That seems to me the height of unprofessionalism. Why would it matter when the decision was made?

I think he'st just saying that if Contador had made the decision before the Tour that would mean he lied to him.

 

[reubenr]

There is no such thing as a "team." The money has creeped in and the creeps creep along. Contador should have been out of there last year, but where was he to go? If I was Specialized I would want to see him on a good, stable "team." A team that would last a while and would be able to attract the kind of riders that are needed to be dominant on the Grand Tours and enable him to race effectively in some of the other events. I am not particularly interested, however, in seeing a repeat of the TDF being dominatied by one man, one team, rather I would like to see something altogether different. The TDF is an important event but it is not the only event. Personally, I would not like to see any real GC contender do the TDF, if they set it up the same way again. It was ridiculous. If you have an investment in a rider, would you want to see him torn up on the cobbles? And the Giro was almost equally as ridiculous. I mean, so much for the cobbles and dirt roads. They have no place in a Grand Tour. These events are hard enough. The TDF was set up to dump Contador this year, but it didn't work. The Giro was set up to basically put Basso back on the map. When you really analyze the whole thing, the Grand Tours are kind of boring. The guy drops his chain and the race is over, and all the whiners go on for days about respect for the MJ. It is such BS, as I am sure Chavenel will attest. Cycling, in general, is having a mechanical.

 

[Publicus]

I think he'st just saying that if Contador had made the decision before the Tour that would mean he lied to him.

Again, why would that matter? If AC had told him the truth would he have ridden for his own interest?

And for the record, the only person I've heard introduce this notion is Martinelli. AC and his brother we negotiating the new deal up until Tuesday (and reportedly have until next week to reconsider). Doesn't seem like he had made a decision in any event, but I don't like the implication of Vino's statement.

 

[Francois the Postman]

but i also don’t see berto (and his team within the team) as automatically compatible with riis’s authoritarian methods and his strong personality.
yes, they are professionals but the egos could get in a way.

He could well be the 2nd Spaniard telling Riis that a smart computer needs to understand him, not the other way round.

 

[hrotha]

Again, why would that matter? If AC had told him the truth would he have ridden for his own interest?

And for the record, the only person I've heard introduce this notion is Martinelli. AC and his brother we negotiating the new deal up until Tuesday (and reportedly have until next week to reconsider). Doesn't seem like he had made a decision in any event, but I don't like the implication of Vino's statement.

I guess Vino wouldn't like being lied to.

Not saying his version of the story is true, just that I don't see any hint of unprofessionalism in Vino's statement.

 

[jilbiker]

He could well be the 2nd Spaniard telling Riis that a smart computer needs to understand him, not the other way round.

I agree. Riis and AC will be a mismatch. Riis is another LA like egocentric. I have won the tour before so bow to my every whim. AC wants to be the leader, Kapitan, chief, like LA was for his teams.

 

[Weapons of @ss Destruction]

Your LeBron analogy is a poor one. It's not as if Nike orchestrated the move to Miami.

It's also a poor comparison because LeBron never delivered the goods. he took the big bucks, never brought home the bacon, then bailed on his team.

AC was hired to win. He did exactly that, making good on Astana's investment in him. People can't fault an athlete who delivers in spades providing good value for their contract, then decides to move on afterwards.

 

[Polish]

Is he implying that if Alberto HAD made the decision prior to the Tour he would have ridden differently? That seems to me the height of unprofessionalism. Why would it matter when the decision was made?

Vino's behavior this July were "the height of unprofessionalism"??

Is that what Alberto is now saying?

It is no wonder Alberto has little respect among the Pro peloton.
Ex-managers, riders, and ex-team mates alike....

 

[Francois the Postman]

Vino's behavior this July were "the height of unprofessionalism"??

Is that what Alberto is now saying?

It is no wonder Alberto has little respect among the Pro peloton.
Ex-managers, riders, and ex-team mates alike....

The only wonder here is how you can keep bridging the gap from wilful misreading posts and statements that have anything to with Contador and Lance, to outrageous claims with little foundation in actual reality (on Earth at least).

You don't miss a beat, I'll give you that.