Some Astana questions

[Parrot23]

Where is Kloden? Is he injured, or lying low given the Freiburg clinic revelations, or one of the guys not getting paid?

Are Astana's financial problems not just due to the world credit crisis, etc., but also the consequence of the Kazaks pressuring Bruyneel, etc., to take Vino back again, and JB pushing back saying no?

 

[benpounder]

Even though Burnell took over Astana after Vino's screwups, he is the main reason Astana was excluded from last years TdF. Brunell knows that a reunion of Vino and Astana will make Astana's entry into further races problematic. And that is before the financial woes.

Kloden was never listed as a Giro participant - but then neither were many others - only Armstrong from an earily date. With the investigation into the 2006 Freiburg doping clinic incident back on the front burner, Astana will likely keep Kloden out of the media, and races, as much as possible..

 

[mr. tibbs]

Even though Burnell took over Astana after Vino's screwups, he is the main reason Astana was excluded from last years TdF. Brunell knows that a reunion of Vino and Astana will make Astana's entry into further races problematic. And that is before the financial woes.

Kloden was never listed as a Giro participant - but then neither were many others - only Armstrong from an earily date. With the investigation into the 2006 Freiburg doping clinic incident back on the front burner, Astana will likely keep Kloden out of the media, and races, as much as possible..

It'll be interesting to see their preliminary roster for the Tour. Any team that wants to win it would be foolish not to include Kloden as a super domestique.

But...what if the UCI's just waiting to pounce the day before the Tour again?That'd be a black eye that the (probably) brand-new sponsor won't appreciate, I'm sure.