Vino's Back

[Kodiak]

Astana announced the team lineup and Vino's back. Wonder how long it takes before the drama starts between AC and him. You'd think after what happened when he got booted three years ago the owners of Astana would have treated him like he had the plague.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Astana announced the team lineup and Vino's back. Wonder how long it takes before the drama starts between AC and him. You'd think after what happened when he got booted three years ago the owners of Astana would have treated him like he had the plague.

Thanks for that brilliant piece of analysis.

 

[131313]

Astana announced the team lineup and Vino's back. Wonder how long it takes before the drama starts between AC and him.

That's pretty funny. Let's see. Armstrong started trying to undermine his own teammate starting at Paris Nice last year, and continued up until Contador had a clear lead in Le Tour.

I don't see any possible way that Contador will face anywhere near the "drama" he faced last year, regardless of how much the Armstrong chamois-sniffers try to manufacture.

Astana is Vino's team. It's in his best interest for the team to win the race. Contador is by far the team's best rider. I expect Vino will ride in full support of Contador, and I think people are dreaming if they think otherwise. Time will tell.

 

[Kodiak]

I've never thought of Vino as the team player. While I agree that AC's the best rider on that team or any other team for that matter I don't see Vino playing second fiddle for too long. Especially with the stories out there about AC looking at leaving Astana.

 

[Anonymous]

I've never thought of Vino as the team player. While I agree that AC's the best rider on that team or any other team for that matter I don't see Vino playing second fiddle for too long. Especially with the stories out there about AC looking at leaving Astana.

I think you will find that, unlike The Uniballer, Vino will respect the fact that he is not the strongest rider on the team. I know it is easy to project the immaturity of a narcissistic mama's boy onto everyone, but in this case, I think your prediction is misplaced.

 

[bobs nob]

I've never thought of Vino as the team player. While I agree that AC's the best rider on that team or any other team for that matter I don't see Vino playing second fiddle for too long. Especially with the stories out there about AC looking at leaving Astana.

I think you're way off.

 

[markene2]

I just hope that Vino gets a chance to win the Gap stage that he won 7 years ago.
But it wont be a problem between Vino and AC. You see the spirit in the team is much better than before

 

[metaCYCLE]

let's keep in mind that Vino is not an idiot. a doper for sure, but not an idiot.

 

[Rip:30]

let's keep in mind that Vino is not an idiot. a doper for sure, but not an idiot.

Transfusing someone else's blood is considered shrewd?

Or did the forum decided it was an accidental mix up blood bags?

 

[Wallace]

Wow, another "Vino is not a team-player" thread. That's a novel topic. I think we really, really need to go over this in detail for several pages, because no one has ever discussed this before.

The real piece of Astana news is that Pereiro was left off the Tour squad. I wonder if that means that Alberto will try for the Tour/Vuelta double, with Pereiro as his lieutenant there?

 

[Kodiak]

I think you will find that, unlike The Uniballer, Vino will respect the fact that he is not the strongest rider on the team. I know it is easy to project the immaturity of a narcissistic mama's boy onto everyone, but in this case, I think your prediction is misplaced.

Uniballer should have stayed retired and last year's astana team was definitely a train wreck waiting to happen. You can't have two people like LA and AC on the same team. The fact that LA was on the podium last year was a fluke and without AC on the team he most assuredly have not even been inside the top 5.

 

[Kodiak]

Wow, another "Vino is not a team-player" thread. That's a novel topic. I think we really, really need to go over this in detail for several pages, because no one has ever discussed this before.

The real piece of Astana news is that Pereiro was left off the Tour squad. I wonder if that means that Alberto will try for the Tour/Vuelta double, with Pereiro as his lieutenant there?

I was surprised at OP not getting selected as well but the Vuelta is a sure bet that he's on the team then. At least I hope so.

 

[erader]

I was surprised at OP not getting selected as well but the Vuelta is a sure bet that he's on the team then. At least I hope so.

i wasn't surprised at all.

ed rader

 

[Wallace]

i wasn't surprised at all.

ed rader

Why not? His condition? His lack of results? Something else?

 

[Publicus]

Why not? His condition? His lack of results? Something else?

Yes. Both.

 

[Anonymous]

I think you will find that, unlike The Uniballer, Vino will respect the fact that he is not the strongest rider on the team. I know it is easy to project the immaturity of a narcissistic mama's boy onto everyone, but in this case, I think your prediction is misplaced.

Its also vinos team essentially. His biggest aim is success for the team and the astana brand. Its his baby, hes not going to screw that up.

 

[forty four]

Uniballer should have stayed retired and last year's astana team was definitely a train wreck waiting to happen. You can't have two people like LA and AC on the same team. The fact that LA was on the podium last year was a fluke and without AC on the team he most assuredly have not even been inside the top 5.

ok that makes no sense in any way. so ac helped la get 3rd?wtf

 

[Andrichuk]

The fact that LA was on the podium last year was a fluke and without AC on the team he most assuredly have not even been inside the top 5.

Not Necessarily, I'm sure he will ride into Paris with a top 10 result. Armstrong rides consistent and has a very very strong team that will back him up 100% of the way. All he has to do is suck wheels and perform decent in the TT.

Even without the direct help of AC last year he still had 7 (6 without Horner) to ride for him.

Watching him is very boring because other than his comments on twitter he brings nothing to the race, but he knows what he has to do to keep the fan boys motivated and I'm fairly certain he is capable of doing so.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I've never thought of Vino as the team player. While I agree that AC's the best rider on that team or any other team for that matter I don't see Vino playing second fiddle for too long. Especially with the stories out there about AC looking at leaving Astana.

Vino would have it in his best interests to work as hard as he can for AC to try to stop him from leaving, by showing him how hard he and the team are willing to work for him. Vino's getting up there in terms of age and hasn't got many years left, so it's in his interest for Astana to still be a power in the cycling world after he's gone. The team, with the loss of the Bruyneel guys, now reads like a split between Kazakh hopes and AC's loyal lieutenants who've been with him since Liberty Seguros - Hernández, Navarro, Novál...

 

[Parrot23]

Surely Vino feels indebted for Contador's support at Liege?

Vino has also said I think that he recognizes he can't climb in the highest mountains with the climbers, so I doubt he has illusions about the Tourmalet and the killer day before in the Pyrenees.

 

[Parrot23]

Surely Vino feels indebted for Contador's support at Liege?

Vino has also said I think that he recognizes he can't climb in the highest mountains with the climbers, so I doubt he has illusions about Bales and the Tourmalet two days later in Pyrenees.

Tour prob. will be won/lost here if the final TT doesn't have a major upset.

 

[BullsFan22]

What about Vino's back?