Team Samruk-Kazyna

[Polish]

It is time to start calling Astana by it's new name:
Samruk-Kazyna

http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav063009b.shtml

Why is there a feeling that the Team is somehow doomed?
It looks very well funded to me - should last at least as long
as a Mapei or Postal should it not?

Is it because of it's Doping Legacy?

Is it because the name sounds Klingon?

What gives?

 

[issoisso]

It's another sponsor, but the team will continue to be named Astana. Just as last season they had quite a few major sponsors, yet the name was Astana.

Just as Katusha has a few extra sponsors next year but it's still Katusha.

 

[filipo]

It's another sponsor, but the team will continue to be named Astana. Just as last season they had quite a few major sponsors, yet the name was Astana.

Just as Katusha has a few extra sponsors next year but it's still Katusha.

Don't confuse him.

 

[Anonymous]

I think they'll be good

I believe they'll use the new name, and I hope they change colors and design for the kit as well.
I think the sense of doom comes from months of obstacles and challenges. Radio Shack cleaned out all the riders they wanted, including every member of the 2009 Tour de France squad not named Contador. They got the management except for Sean Yates who went to Sky and apparently staff that would include mechanics and infrastructure. Bruyneel owns the vehicles. It seems the people running the website & twitter are pro-Shack.
While other teams were filling their rosters, Bruyneel was recruiting for the new team, and Astana didn't have a leader to sign people. And every day Bruyneel insisted on staying delayed recruiting, and more quality riders signed elsewhere.. Rini Wagtmans worked hard, but they didn't want the leader he chose. The UCI got involved. Contador wanted to leave and there was nothing left to save.
Then Yvon Sanquer and Martinelli were hired and went to town recruiting. They still had to face uncertainty about their license and Contador. Martinelli has won Alberto over with a number of visits, including at least one to his home, where he pointed out the four names on the Giro trophy he helped win. They recruited De la Fuentes at his request, and started adding others. Oscar Pereiro could be a great addition.
So basically, Team Sky had two years to build their team from scratch. Radio Shack took over everything they wanted from an established team, including half of the riders, and added others.
Except for some returning riders, mostly the Kazakhs, Samruk Kazyna is starting from scratch. They need to buy everything, and have riders who don't have experience with each other. But the bright side is, they're there to support Contador. Instead of going into races as favorites, they need to fight for everything and prove themselves, to each other and the world, like the Bad News Bears or Mighty Ducks. I can't wait to watch.

 

[issoisso]

I believe they'll use the new name

Only if the capital of their country gets renamed...

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

I have also heard that the name of the team will change. However, at the moment it is difficult to get reliable information about the 2010 team.

Susan

 

[KazakhNeRider]

Astana forever!

the name of Astana team will not be changed, nobody and never had those plans! - vice-president of KCF Nikolay Proskurin today to astanafans.com
google-translation

 

[yakko!]

I'm not worried about the name, I just hope they keep that "killer" color scheme...

 

[thehog]

Alberto is helping with the new design. Dark blue will be prominent.

 

[zoeart]

They got the management except for Sean Yates who went to Sky and apparently staff that would include mechanics and infrastructure. Bruyneel owns the vehicles. It seems the people running the website & twitter are pro-Shack.

Rini Wagtmans worked hard, but they didn't want the leader he chose.

As part of the separation agreemenet b/w Bruyneel and the Kaz. Fed, the KCF kept some of the team infrasrtructutre.

I believe it was Rini Wagtmans was who signed the releases for Zubeldia, Kloden, Popovich and Rast.

 

[hardline]

I think the team will last longer than radioshack, the kazakhs have an interest to develop cycling in kazakhstan, as long as the money is good they will keep building a team. will it be as powerful as before I doubt it but they have a long term interest in cycling, not a short term interest in a cyclist