Andie_B said:
Hello!
Anyway,
When all is said and done, if Astana still exists as a team, are the cyclists who have a contract with the team obliged to honor it, or is this an opportunity to switch to another team with out penalty?
Like some other sports, can cyclists "be bought" by one team from another?
Does anyone know how long Kloden is under contract with Astana?
Which criteria does a team have to meet to become a professional team which is automatically invited to the Grand Tours not a wild card team?
What is a test team?
Thanks!
A contract with a team is much like a normal employer's contract. Cyclists are not actually 'bought', but sometimes contracts are made void and then the team is compensated. This is rare, however. Usually cyclists switch teams when their contract ends, or they get a new contract. If a cyclist doesn't fit in with a team, both parties can decide to terminate the contract.
Contracts are usually for two years.
I'm not sure about the criteria you mention; it takes a certain investment and performance. The decision which teams are invited has been the cause for a lot of power struggles; I'm not sure what the current status quo is.
You mean the word 'test' in Cervélo's name? I assume it is meant to indicate that the team tests the bikes of the manufacturer, Cervélo; i.e. they ride the newest material. Bikebrands that are first sponsors of teams are rare nowadays, so this is probably the team's way of drawing attention to what makes them different.
Other members probably have something to add to this.