Will Astana Financial Collapse Lead To Armstrong Owning The Team?

[nathan_peace]

possible sponsors

I definitely think that Armstrong will take over Astana, I think that he could get nike on board and have the livestrong-nike team.

Any other opinions?

 

[Mellow Velo]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/may09/may06news


5th paragraph

So it does. Thanks for that.
Well, that's a major hurdle out of the way.
Although, in anycase, isn't there one "spare" in Pat McQuaid's back pocket?

 

[ridley]

I agree with all the comments here, but think this is a plan waaayyyy longer coming than just over the last few months when LA decided to make a comeback.

It was too easy for him to pull out when he had a share in the team (with Discovery) when that tower came crashing down. And, as stated above, JB is no nutcase, he is a very bright guy, plus a good businessman to say the least.

Whatever it is called, and with JB holding a license - there will be a team with some involvement of Lance himself

 

[Anonymous]

what are the implications for the tour if astana becomes a new team?
issues like racing licence and tour invitation?
could a new team even race at this late date?

 

[peloton]

what are the implications for the tour if astana becomes a new team?
issues like racing licence and tour invitation?
could a new team even race at this late date?

It won't be a new team, just a new sponsor.
I see no problem there.

 

[BroDeal]

As for the $2 mill, If someone has to supply a new bond, they still have to stump up this cash before they can get underway, no?
Sounds very much like a debt to me.
Of course, they can all hang around, waiting for a legal resolution.....

If I were the sponsor I would not cover any of Astana's obligations beyond what was absoltely required to keep the team going forward at the size of the new team. Let people sue Astana's sponsors for what they are owed. A new bond would have to be posted with the UCI but that would be for the new team and its new budget.

 

[VeloFidelis]

this situation was already planned by LA & JB to have their own team-which will be something like Astana-Livestrong-SRAM-Trek at the beginning, just to retain the Pro-Continental licensing active, then it will be dropped afterward.
the real question is the AC factor--he'll depart before he becomes LA's puppet

Wow! Fascinating reading. I'm just curious about your source for all this insider information.

 

[VeloFidelis]

I definitely think that Armstrong will take over Astana, I think that he could get nike on board and have the livestrong-nike team.

Any other opinions?

Nike! Hmmm... film at 11:00

 

[LadManrahan]

Return on Invsetment?

So is it official that LIVESTRONG will become the official Tour Team? And if so what would the return on such an investment be? Have you seen these new shirts? http://www.cafepress.com/returndelance.383960979

Bad ***!

 

[whiteboytrash]

So is it official that LIVESTRONG will become the official Tour Team? And if so what would the return on such an investment be? Have you seen these new shirts? http://www.cafepress.com/returndelance.383960979

Bad ***!

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[Anonymous]

So it does. Thanks for that.
Well, that's a major hurdle out of the way.
Although, in anycase, isn't there one "spare" in Pat McQuaid's back pocket?

i was just about to point that out until i noticed someone else had done it...

"On May third, the newspaper's website quoted Kazakhstan's cycling federation vice president Nikolai Proskurin as saying that even if the team takes part in the Giro as planned, it is likely to be the final Grand Tour in the history of the Astana project. The only way to save the current incarnation of the squad appears to be for one or more Kazakh backers to move in and commit to supporting it. Alternatively Johan Bruyneel, who owns the ProTour licence, will have to find funds to enable the team to continue."

the interesting thing is when, and how did JB take control of that licence, or was that part of the deal he signed when he took over.. in which case, it looks like it may always have been the plan..

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Nike! Hmmm... film at 11:00

I'm still going to be really surprised if this happens. Nike recently went through a round of layoffs and reported financial losses. They weren't interested in putting more money into a team in years past when cycling wasn't as tainted and tarnished as it is now and they had more cash. Lance fits the arrogant profile they like, but I don't see it being a smart investment. They already have Lance sponsored as Lance wearing swooshes everywhere. I mean, think like a board member. Who would you put your money into Tiger Woods and LeBron James, or even Tyler Hansbrough or Blake Griffin, or in a pro cycling team?

Though I do think Astana will go under, there is however no possible way Lance won't be riding in the Tour, and trying everything he can to win it with the team and JB fully in support of him. AC will pretty much be on his own.

Thanks Susan for the clarification on Coast/Bianchi two pages ago. I was posting a 2am!

Someone joked(?) that AC would leave Astana and mysteriously test positive. That's not just silly, it's not even necessary. Though there's no indication his blood was in the vault, his name is in the Operation Puerto books. So once they're done with Valverde they could certainly go after Contador. Having him completely out of the way would certainly help Lance's shot at #8, whether or how it happens or not.

 

[TrapperJohn]

Perhaps we'll see the Mellow Johnny's colors at the Tour?

heh heh...

 

[LugHugger]

Though I do think Astana will go under, there is however no possible way Lance won't be riding in the Tour, and trying everything he can to win it with the team and JB fully in support of him. AC will pretty much be on his own.

Someone joked(?) that AC would leave Astana and mysteriously test positive. That's not just silly, it's not even necessary. Though there's no indication his blood was in the vault, his name is in the Operation Puerto books. So once they're done with Valverde they could certainly go after Contador. Having him completely out of the way would certainly help Lance's shot at #8, whether or how it happens or not.

God, that logic is infallible. The thought of LA winning another tour depresses the crap out of me.

 

[bikepure]

TREK as headline sponsor (sales are down 29% in their topline bikes {the most profitable}) since LA retired. SRAM Livestrong team will be riding the TDF with Alberto jumping ship.

mc quaid will bend over backwards (forwards!) to let lord armstrong get his wicked way

 

[Bala Verde]

So is it official that LIVESTRONG will become the official Tour Team? And if so what would the return on such an investment be? Have you seen these new shirts? http://www.cafepress.com/returndelance.383960979

Bad ***!

Ha that shirt, isn't that little puppet bending over a toilet to see his blood being flushed away?

 

[Zoncolan]

I feel for Contador, if this stuff about Astana losing funding is true and LA takes over, AC won't have much of a choice-bow your head and do as you're told or get lost!
If he leaves the team, he'll end up as many before him who left Postal/Disco/Astana - getting caught for doping.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Me too LugHugger. Seems like cycling was finally moving forward. Why in the world anyone in the world would want to take us back?

Zoncolon - read my previous post as to what's more likely to happen with AC. Either way, if he's on Astana, he'll pretty much be riding solo with one teammate and a few quiet supporters from other teams. Astana belongs to Lance, with Johan insuring he gets full, priority support.

BikePure - I don't see SRAM as a title sponsor either. They are in financial straights as well. Recall they were going to pull out of the Tour of Gila due to lack of funds until Lance came along to race. This probably simply made the race break even - not give them the millions needed to fund this team.

Lance fronting most of the cash himself seems most likely at this point. Perhaps getting small extra cash from some of these others, and maybe someone new, like Twitter, to hold them through the Tour.

 

[Zoncolan]

Zoncolon - read my previous post as to what's more likely to happen with AC. Either way, if he's on Astana, he'll pretty much be riding solo with one teammate and a few quiet supporters from other teams. Astana belongs to Lance, with Johan insuring he gets full, priority support.

Many new posts, didn't have time to go through them all.

Agreed, if AC is forced to leave, he'll be left all alone without JB's and McQuaid's protection and will suffer the same fate Valverde will soon.
Which brings me back to Puerto and your suggestion for a level of amnesty for those involved in exchange for full cooperation. Of course, we'd need to get rid of Pat first.
Sorry for straying off topic.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Hard to have much sympathy for Contador.
Even the average forum pundit was saying he should get out, just as soon as lance announced he was coming out of retirement.
If we could see the writing all over the wall, then so should he.

Now, having not been paid for 3 months, he's getting shafted all over again.

Must have had a pretty good reason for staying within the team.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

You're not so off topic that you're wrong Zoncolon. Actually, everything you say there is true, sadly enough IMO.

Still hoping for the day that Sylvia Shenk heads the UCI. Or (gasp!) Greg Lemond.

Agree Mellow. Everyone was saying early in the year that AC needed to leave as soon as Lance showed up. Anyone who still believes AC will get full team support, or even half the team's support at the Tour is delusional. Astana belongs to Lance, and the man he made big (JB) will forever be indebted to him.

 

[Anonymous]

God, that logic is infallible. The thought of LA winning another tour depresses the crap out of me.

but why.. surely the best rider over those three weeks deserves to win...
im not a great fan of cadel as a person, but the thought of him winning the tour does not depress me, if he wins, fair do's, the only thing that depresses me is someone winning and a week later having it voided for a failed drugs test...

or are you still bitter and think someone who "allegedly" failed a drug test ten years ago shouldnt be allowed to win clean.. so im guessing the idea of basso winning the giro depresses you as well...

personally i think its impossible that he can, i dont think he will be strong enough, but if he does, after four years out, coming back from retirment, what the hell will that say for the current crop of so-called contenders, cos if, and its a big if, lance won the tour this year i dont think there would be any doubt he did it clean.. if i was cadel, or schleck, or anyone else i would be practically bricking it at the idea of lance winning, cos if some old guy four years out of the game can whup my **** over three weeks in france i should be looking for another job... wouldnt surprise me if there are a couple of people running scared of lance who take that little something extra themselves...

but anyway.. irrelevant cos theres no way he win the tour... and if he does.. well its just another paragraph in the fairy tail..

(someone whos got over 99, and if he was anti every single person who had ever doped would have nobody left to support.. its what they do now matters to me)

anyway.. no doubt.. LA and JB will have something lined up for astana.. just please please please, when you do the team kit, something other than blue and white.. its getting confusing..

 

[Anonymous]

Hard to have much sympathy for Contador.
Even the average forum pundit was saying he should get out, just as soon as lance announced he was coming out of retirement.
If we could see the writing all over the wall, then so should he.

Now, having not been paid for 3 months, he's getting shafted all over again.

Must have had a pretty good reason for staying within the team.

excessive salary demands that mean nobody else can afford him... or maybe nobody else wants him... hes not the most personable fellow...

i actually find him slightly objectionable, i just cant pin my finger on why..

 

[ridley]

The other alternative is to bring back Vino early - maybe not as a rider, but some role on the team and see if that opens up some purses in the Kazach Republic to have their hero involved. That way, the immediate need gets fulfilled, the GT gets underway and the new team can get formed and AC can stay or go !!

Well, that was a daydream - now I just spilled my coffee !!!

 

[BroDeal]

cos if, and its a big if, lance won the tour this year i dont think there would be any doubt he did it clean.

Uh-huh. Tell me more fairy tales.