justcycling.myfastforum.org

[Drongo]

May simply be a nasty rumour, but ...

Bambi at DPF posted this link to a translation of the Astana fan page:

http://translate.google.com/trans...&tl=en&hl=ru&ie=UTF-8.

It suggests Astana is in financial trouble and might fold.  A bit like Coast/Bianchi in 2003, I cannot believe that this would, even if it occurred, stop their best riders from getting into a squad to race.

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[HuwB]

Time for McQuaid to announce that Vino's ban has come to an end, methinks!
Or maybe LA will donate his Giro fee to keep things afloat?

There will be tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth all over the forums.

[Mysterion]

The team's biggest non-Kazakh sponsors are Nike and Trek. Nike and Trek are both undergoing layoffs and Trek workers have been taking unpaid weeks off to save the company money. Armstrong owns part of SRAM but I'm not sure what the SRAM situation is since they sold a large interest in the company to a section of Lehman Brothers, which is now attempting to make it's way independent of the bankrupt Lehmen parent.

[last km]

Best news Ive heard this season      
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Last km a.k.a "The Tewkesbury Badger"!!

SMarauder Memorial Trophy Winner 2008

[kit]

Alberto Contador is now affordable!  

[igmeister]

Boss Hogg and Armstrong out of a job in one fell swoop?  Must be too good to be true.  I won't be crying any tears over the loss of a bunch of Human Rights violators, thats's for sure.
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Do something pretty while you can.


Perhaps my best years are gone. When there was a chance of happiness. But I wouldn't want them back. Not with the fire in me now. No, I wouldn't want them back.

[HuwB]

JB and son, selling dope on street corners, to make ends meet!

I just wonder as to if the timing of this is perfect.
No way were the Kazakh's going to continue to shell out millions of Euros to fund America's team.
That cash was set aside for Kash.....and of course Mr Big.

De-railing McQuaid's golden child, just as his return to the GT's arrive.
I'd bet they be having a chat with Pat regarding Vino's early comeback.
Then, the money might suddenly re-appear.
I said this would happen, months ago, when he said he was coming back from.....erm.....retirement.

[Superbagneres]

How strong is this story? I found it bizarre when the team carried on after Vino and Kashechkin departed, and I have always thought they could just drop out of the sport at a minute's notice.

[Mysterion]

Vino isn't technically suspended right now. He just got a year from the Kazakh federation. The UCI has threatened to take him to the CAS if he comes back before two years is up in the middle of July, this year. So all McQuaid has to do is let Bruyneel know that he won't contest Vino's return. No way the ASO lets him in the Tour if that happens so a returned Vino might not be the bargaining chip he once was.

Not sure what ever happened Kashechkin. He was supposed to get two years from the Kazakh federation but I never saw anything made official.

[mr shifter]

Interesting though with the Bruyneel "Circus"

Where will pharmstrong hitch a ride now as voluntary unpaid racing cyclist.
Who will have him for nothing and a slight inconvenience.

Maybe my Luck's In, for some real GT racing.
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It's all Publicity "Money" and Cycling is only a Thread it runs along.

[Bartali]

Ummm ... surely LA would be able to hitch a ride with anybody who doesn't have strong GC aspirations.

Any of the French teams?  Maybe not!
QS / Milram ?

[mayofan]

if astana were to fold i could easily see a situation where armstrong, bruyneel and selected others "merged" with lances livestrong team.

[mr shifter]

[kathy]

[Fontfroide]

I guess I thought that ONCE sold lottery tickets for their main income.  And like Kathy I thought they now give money and support loads of causes and people, not just the blind, although the logo is a blind person with a stick.  In that sense they are like Francaise des Jeux, Loto, any other  other national lotteries that encourage poor people to gamble.  Although this might not make me very popular, I find that whatever they do with the money, and of course they all say they do wonderful things, they are basically gambling groups.  I suppose it is better to gamble with the national lotteries than with the Mafia or other overt criminals, but really in the end they just encourage you to send money down the drain.  In little tiny chunks.   I think most research shows clearly that it is the money of poor people that lotteries take.  so like sales tax (VAT) it hits the poor hardest, it is ultimately regressive.  I am very suspicious and critical of such practices, but most people who do it say it is "just a bit of fun".

[Boogerd_Fan]

Ah here's a bit of bright news to cheer up a dull day!

Armstrong is so good he doesnt need a team, he'll be a "sponsored individual" on the start ramp. Hi5.
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03-11-2007 = the end

[Mrs John Murphy]

[Mysterion]

More links from Astanaphile bambi. Kazakh fed chief Proskurin confirmed that the situation is serious and Astana riders missed a month of paychecks. He also says that Bruyneel has a major US corporation lined up if they need it. The Amgen Cycling Team presented by Livestrong?

Forbes reports that the Kazakh federation has received some money owed from sponsors and has resumed payments but the threat of disbanding is still there.

http://translate.google.com/trans...&tl=en&hl=ru&ie=UTF-8
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/16/ap6297546.html

There is another link at the end of the Proskurin interview, I can't get a translated page to link for this post.

He also says Vino will not contest the UCI and won't return until August. He'll ride the Vuelta if Astana still exists.

[Bartali]

Doesn't suprise me.  JB and his team have rather hijacked the Kasakh's party.  Time to get rid and rebuild around Kash going forward ... ?

[HuwB]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2009-04-16-1559872264_x.htm

Gives a more positive spin. Not surprising, seeing the source.
Basically, says the same as Forbes link....

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