Vino: Astana is my Team, Now

[Mellow Velo]

Vinokourov announces return to cycling after doping ban

• Thirty-five-year-old aims to rejoin Astana next month
• Kazakh sets sights on 2010 Tour de France

Alexander Vinokourov says he will return to competitive action when his two-year doping suspension ends this month and hopes to ride with his former Astana team.

"I want to announce that I will return to competitive cycling on July 24," said the Kazakh rider, who is in Monaco where the Tour de France starts on Saturday. "I do not see myself anywhere else than Astana. This team was created in 2006 with the Kazakh cycling federation; it is our baby."

Vinokourov, 35, who was banned for two years after testing positive for blood doping in the 2007 Tour de France but has denied any wrongdoing, said negotiations were underway with the Kazakh cycling federation and team manager, Johan Bruyneel.

"There are ongoing discussions," he said. "This team has been created for me, I do not see how an agreement could not be reached. If there is no deal, Johan will have to leave the team."

Vinokourov said he would probably take part in the Tour of Spain from 29 August and in the world championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, in September. He is also hoping to ride the Tour de France in the future.

"I am back for one or two years and I would like to do one more Tour de France and wear the yellow jersey, although I am realistic: I know I cannot win it," he said. "I am doing this for my family, for the people of Kazakhstan and to regain the image I had before my ban."

If this doesn't cause fanboys to do a "lemmings off a cliff", nothing will.

Whats left? No team, no licence, phantom sponsors. I feel a double re-retirement coming on...

Let the hating the haters commence....

 

[Ninety5rpm]

Duplicate thread.

Let's all comment on Vino's announcement in the first thread posted on this topic, shall we?

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=1720

 

[linenoiz]

Although the "You gotta love this guy" .. thread title kinda sucks.

 

[racerralph]

Vinokourov announces return to cycling after doping ban

• Thirty-five-year-old aims to rejoin Astana next month
• Kazakh sets sights on 2010 Tour de France




If this doesn't cause fanboys to do a "lemmings off a cliff", nothing will.

Whats left? No team, no licence, phantom sponsors. I feel a double re-retirement coming on...

Let the hating the haters commence....

Not quite sure what that "hating" sentence means, but I think I get it.
One thing that I do know is, the inventors of Pop language love to de-value the original intent of our vocabulary. "Hate" has become such an over used, and improperly used word, that it reveals more about the user than anything else.
That being said,( and I'm sure I'm going to catch hell for that absolutely accurate assessment) I think it's all finally rounding out to a very ugly wreck over at Team Astana. What, with all the people who don't like Lance. Those who don't give a hoot about Contador. And those who think the whole team is doping(Kloden, Armstrong and Contador). Oh, And now the whole,rather distasteful threatening being bandied about by Vinokourov! I personally, can't wait for the Tour to begin. For a while all the talk will fade to the background and I think we'll have a very exciting three weeks. But, when the Tour ends, I'm taking bets that this team will simply explode. There isn't enough room on this entire planet for all those celebrities. And so I say, Goodbye and Good riddance.