The plot thickens...

VTGreg · 06-17-2009, 08:06 AM

http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderre...aga-continues/

Quote:

The Astana Saga Continues

Yet another deadline comes and goes as Astana limps on.

by Joe Lindsey

Since early May, when rumors first surfaced in the press that the Astana team was on shaky financial ground, the team has been whipsawed one way and another as its imminent demise is staved off time and again. Today brought one more such deadline.

In looking to resolve the Astana situation, the UCI reportedly wanted unspecified guarantees that the team would be able to continue through the end of the season - that is, that in making good on past debts, the team wouldn’t simply default again, conveniently solvent just through the Tour de France. Those guarantees, according to Astana spokesman Philippe Maertens, amounted to six million Euro from the sponsors deposited in an escrow account to back the team’s remaining financial obligations for the 2009 season. The deadline? 5PM European Central Time, today.

“We have no news from the UCI yet,” said Maertens in a brief e-mail to Bicycling in response to questions. “If KCF (the Kazakh cycling federation) does not pay, the UCI will probably ask its license commission to react.”

Directeur sportif Viatcheslav Ekimov told Sports.kz last week that he had not been paid for the month of May, but Maertens told Bicycling that, as of now, back salaries have all been paid.

There are several options if the payment isn’t made: the license can be suspended, transferred or revoked entirely. If it’s suspended or revoked, it could mean the team has to drop out of the Tour of Switzerland, and its Tour de France start would be in instant jeopardy. It might also mean a default on rider contracts, which would then leave Alberto Contador free to sign with another team.

Contador yesterday said that he considers his teammates Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer rivals as much as riders on other teams, and Caisse d’Epargne leader Alejandro Valverde added to the intrigue by saying that, if he rides the Tour, he would help Contador if possible. Contador was seen by some to be riding in league with Caisse d’Epargne at the recent Dauphine Libere, and has been linked to the team as a possible home should Astana default on its contracts.

Separately, Maertens confirmed that Johan Bruyneel is negotiating with other potential sponsors. “No news about it,” wrote Maertens. Bruyneel was actively looking “to see if the team can be saved if there is a bad end of the Astana story.”

In press reports last week, the Kazakh federal government had stepped in to fund some of the sponsors’ debts, and an unnamed American company with business interests in Kazakhstan was said to be involved as well. But confusion reigned over how much of the guarantees were paid, by whom, and with whose knowledge - according to the AFP report linked above, Bruyneel was unaware of the new American sponsor.

The situation strongly recalls the previous Astana blowup, when the Kazakh license owners and the management group - then Marc Biver’s Zeus Srl - were sending out conflicting messages. That was right before Biver was sacked as manager following the disastrous 2007 Tour when Alexandre Vinokourov and, later, Andrey Kashechkin tested positive for blood doping. Similar signs of a split appear now.

The team has made steps to distance itself from the Astana brand. Although the Dauphine Libere and Tour de Suisse riders are in the original Astana kit rather than the versions with faded sponsor logos that the team wore at the Giro, some riders have also switched to newer Trek Madones painted in a simple white and black color scheme, without the blue and yellow Astana colors, and Armstrong and Leipheimer were both running all-black Madones on a recent training ride. And Armstrong has made mention of starting a new team in 2010, not to mention rumors of a replacement sponsor for Astana taking over as soon as the Tour de France.

It’s just the latest chapter in the Astana saga, which also saw the team suspend Assan Bazayev for 15 days for poor whereabouts reporting and former leader Vinokourov’s bid to return to the sport early get shot down by CAS. Meanwhile, Armstrong posted on his Twitter account that he’s headed for the Nevada City Classic on June 21, and released a short list of 15 riders vying for nine Tour start spots.

It's amazing how much of a soap opera this has turned into. Especially with the recent quotes of Contador saying he sees his teammates as much as rivals as those on competing teams and that Alejandro Valverde said he would Contador if possible at the Tour (not that he'll be riding in the tour after being banned by the Italian Cycling Federation).

Should be very intriguing to see how this plays out leading up to Le Tour. Should also make for a very exciting month of July.

smeakim · 06-17-2009, 10:38 AM

Yup.... the drama is amazing. I hope it works out like this, Nike comes in and Bruyneel takes over the license. Alberto is a little immature for his age which is shows quite a bit. Waiting to see how this all plays out in the Tour.

Wheres the pic of the bike?

VTGreg · 06-17-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeakim

Yup.... the drama is amazing. I hope it works out like this, Nike comes in and Bruyneel takes over the license. Alberto is a little immature for his age which is shows quite a bit. Waiting to see how this all plays out in the Tour.

Wheres the pic of the bike?

Here you go.

Summary of the build:

09 Tarmac Pro
Easton EC90 crankset
Sram Red Shifters and derailleurs
Dura Ace Cassette (12-23 but I need to get something else for my other wheelset)
Easton EA SLX wheelset
Ritchey WCS 4-Axis Stem
Ritchey Prologic WCS Carbon Bar
Ritchey WCS Carbon Seatpost
TRP Carbon brakes
Fizik Arione Wing Saddle (will probably replace with my Gel Toupe)
Adding the white saddle and some white handlebar tape should add some nice contrast.

Still need to weight the build but I'm assuming around 16 lbs with cages and pedals.

smeakim · 06-18-2009, 07:18 PM

Well looks like the SAGA is over.... BTW what do you do for Oracle? Your pictures keep requiring a login screen to appear.

Nija · 06-19-2009, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeakim

Well looks like the SAGA is over.... BTW what do you do for Oracle? Your pictures keep requiring a login screen to appear.

So it's not just me. Damn that was driving me crazy.

VTGreg · 06-19-2009, 06:59 AM

Sorry. Didn't have anywhere else to host the photos so I put them up there. Obviously that didn't work too well.

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06-17-2009, 10:38 AM	#2
smeakim Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: CO Posts: 667	Yup.... the drama is amazing. I hope it works out like this, Nike comes in and Bruyneel takes over the license. Alberto is a little immature for his age which is shows quite a bit. Waiting to see how this all plays out in the Tour. Wheres the pic of the bike?

06-18-2009, 07:18 PM	#4
smeakim Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: CO Posts: 667	Well looks like the SAGA is over.... BTW what do you do for Oracle? Your pictures keep requiring a login screen to appear.

06-19-2009, 06:59 AM	#6
VTGreg Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,346	Sorry. Didn't have anywhere else to host the photos so I put them up there. Obviously that didn't work too well.

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