XDS Astana team

[RHRH19861986]

At least now when he fails to live up to all the hype (that he created over himself) he won't have anything or anyone to blame it on but himself.

Not so sure about this. Given my last post, about 2012, 2013 could be like this:

In April 2013 they issue a press statement, Fuglsang has slight knee problems.
Then he leaves Dauphiné after four days, due to a cold and his slight knee troubles. He starts the Tour, finishes 31st in Paris, still has 2 years contract. Then, in 2014, Astana announce they start the Tour with two captains, Fuglsang and Nibali.

 

[greenedge]

But maybe it's Vino's decision, then it's understandable. In 2011 Vino was Astana's GC rider, that's about as stupid as making Fuglsang leader.

He had just gone well in the Tour of Romandie/ the Dauphinie. He also wanted to wear yellow just once. Who else did they have, for GC?

 

[Pentacycle]

He had just gone well in the Tour of Romandie/ the Dauphinie. He also wanted to wear yellow just once. Who else did they have, for GC?

Kreuziger would have been more logical, since he was 9th in the Tour in both 2009 and 2010. Vino should've done the Giro, and then take the form he built up there to take yellow in the first week. It's possible for riders to stay in good shape for over a month after the finish of a GT, and at least Kreuziger would've had his own chance in the Tour.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Kreuziger would have been more logical, since he was 9th in the Tour in both 2009 and 2010. Vino should've done the Giro, and then take the form he built up there to take yellow in the first week. It's possible for riders to stay in good shape for over a month after the finish of a GT, and at least Kreuziger would've had his own chance in the Tour.

He had a peak for LBL

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Kreuziger would have been more logical, since he was 9th in the Tour in both 2009 and 2010.

Vino was the fifth strongest in the 2010 Giro, which compares favorably to Kreuziger's recent attempts, so it stands to reason that Vino was capable of that himself. AND win a stage or two.

 

[Stilletto]

So who will Astana take to the giro?
Nibali
Tiralongo
Kessiakoff (according to fuglesang @feltet)
Agnoli
Vanotti
Muravyev
Brajkovic
Iglinskiy
Ponzi

Res. Zeits ?

Reading fuglesangs comments looks like there is a gc split for tour and giro?
Maybe birdsongs group is;
Kangert
Grivko
Dyachenko
Seeldrayers

Looking forward to Guardini picking up a few W
But what kind of train could be used for him???

 

[hfer07]

So who will Astana take to the giro?
Nibali
Tiralongo
Kessiakoff (according to fuglesang @feltet)
Agnoli
Vanotti
Muravyev
Brajkovic
Iglinskiy
Ponzi

Res. Zeits ?

Reading fuglesangs comments looks like there is a gc split for tour and giro?
Maybe birdsongs group is;
Kangert
Grivko
Dyachenko
Seeldrayers

Looking forward to Guardini picking up a few W
But what kind of train could be used for him???

In a nutshell:

Nibali gets the best
Fuglsang gets the leftovers

Vino well knows who's likely to get results....

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

So who will Astana take to the giro?
Nibali
Tiralongo
Kessiakoff (according to fuglesang @feltet)
Agnoli
Vanotti
Muravyev
Brajkovic
Seeldrayers
Ponzi/Grivko/Aru

Res. Zeits ?

Reading fuglesangs comments looks like there is a gc split for tour and giro?
Maybe birdsongs group is;
Kangert
Grivko
Dyachenko
Seeldrayers

Looking forward to Guardini picking up a few W
But what kind of train could be used for him???

No way Iglinsky will do the giro after his classics season (Rvv to LBL). Would think Seeldrayers will do the giro next year too.

The train could easily be Bazayev, Bozic, and the fast italians (Ponzi and Gavazzi) + a tter like Grivko or Muravyev
edit: and Gaspa ofc

 

[Dazed and Confused]

So who will Astana take to the giro?
Nibali
Tiralongo
Kessiakoff (according to fuglesang @feltet)
Agnoli
Vanotti
Muravyev
Brajkovic
Iglinskiy
Ponzi

Giro team looks very strong.

They better take Guardini to France as backup.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

I was at official team presentation today in Astana today. Entire team plus a few officials plus Vino invited two other London Olympic champions.

New form is pretty cool. The sun and the eagle are still missing though D:

Nibali said he is still doing full Spring cycle with Tireno, Milan-San Remo and classic.

Nibali and Iglinsky both were asked how they and Gasparotto are going to share the classics. They said they will work as a team and will decide on the form inside the race.

They kept propping new kazakhstani guys, especially Lutsenko with him being world under champion and all.

Everyone were pretty cool, it was pretty informal. Everyone had a chance to talk with any rider a bit after QA and take photos.

Btw, it was -30 C (-22 F) today in Astana today. Some of the riders probably never ever felt a cold like this.

 

[Parrulo]

pics of the new kit on the kit's thread now or prepare face the wrath of a thousand suns!!!!!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

pics of the new kit on the kit's thread now or prepare face the wrath of a thousand suns!!!!!

wha?
Cant find it???!!??!

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

wha?
Cant find it???!!??!

There are no pics for now.

Astanafans from site who had cameras i think went to after-party to restaurant (it should start right about now) so the only pics online now would be from official news and actual journalists.

Have patience.

There is a some photo from this news article, but it's kinda hard to see the details:

http://vesti.kz/userdata/news/news_166954/photo_16643.jpg

"Astana" line now goes diagonally and there is a bleak logo for the main sponsor, Samruk in the centre (grey outline of a bird). They also have a new logo for local car retailer on the back.

 

[cineteq]

There is a some photo from this news article, but it's kinda hard to see the details:

There is no doubt who the main rider is!

 

[Netserk]

There is no doubt who the main rider is!

Nibali = 1 lady
Vino = 3 ladies

Indeed

 

[Parrulo]

nibali has a sicilian wife back at home, vino doesn't

 

[sherer]

still prefer the older jersey that had the eagle and sun. This one just seems too plain to me

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Some more pics of new form (click on images to make them huge):

For more pics from yesterday's presentation:
http://astanafans.com/pervye-foto-s-meropriyatij-v-astane.html
http://astanafans.com/astana-prezentovala-svoj-sostav-budushhego-goda.html

 

[calinmarian]

Some more pics of new form (click on images to make them huge):

For more pics from yesterday's presentation:
http://astanafans.com/pervye-foto-s-meropriyatij-v-astane.html
http://astanafans.com/astana-prezentovala-svoj-sostav-budushhego-goda.html

Astana will be very powerful in the 2013 giro.I can't wait to see Nibali riding Specialized.

 

[Jason_Mercier]

If he rides i think Fabio Aru will be the better domestique for Nibali in the Giro.

 

[Forunculo]

Bazayev is the main kazak now?


Are Fuglsang and Brajkovic confirmed as TdF leaders?

 

[The Hitch]

Some more pics of new form (click on images to make them huge):

Anyone want to show off?

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Bazayev is the main kazak now?


Are Fuglsang and Brajkovic confirmed as TdF leaders?

Iglinsky is main Kazakh.
Brajko is doing Giro

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Team Roster season 2013:

ARU Fabio
BAZAYEV Assan
BOZIC Borut
BRAJKOVIC Janez
DYACHENKO Alexsandr
GASPAROTTO Enrico
GAVAZZI Francesco
GRIVKO Andriy
GRUZDEV Dmitriy
GUARNIERI Jacopo
IGLINSKIY Maxim
KANGERT Tanel
KASHECHKIN Andrey
KESSIAKOFF Fredrik
MURAVYEV Dmitriy
PONZI Simone
SEELDRAEYERS Kevin
SILIN Egor
TIRALONGO Paolo
ZEITS Andrey

FUGLSANG Jakob < Radioshack - Nissan
GUARDINI Andrea < Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
KAMYSHEV Arman < Continental Team Astana
LUTSENKO Alexey < Continental Team Astana
NIBALI Vincenzo < Liquigas - Cannondale
TLEUBAYEV Ruslan < Continental Team Astana
VANOTTI Alessandro < Liquigas - Cannondale
AGNOLI Valerio < Liquigas - Cannondale
HUFFMAN Evan < California Giant


Now, what can we expect from this team of hardened men. Some epic racing? Yes without any doubt.
But can they deliver results as well? what do you think?

 

[ILovecycling]

I think it is important to do well in classics.At least podium from one of the ardenes and nice performance in MSR.After this they would have good confidence before Giro.Than hopefully win Giro and Top10 Tour and stage with Guardini.Afer that ,nice results from canad. classics(Gaspa,Maxim)