As you all know, the scene for 2010 is starting to take shape. Contador stays at Astana along with Vino and others, the rest go somewhere else.
Who goes where, how much of the current team remains, and who is hired to replace them- these are things we’ll soon find out.
It’s unsettled and strange, true. But it is what it is.
A mentally-healthy tactic could be to jump ahead to some fun speculation about Astana next year. Who’s going to make up a team for Contador? Directors, riders, staff…who?
Got any good ideas? Who are the best people in the sport currenlty not under contract? Who do you think would be a perfect DS for Contador?
It’s an honor to join with fans from Kazakhstan in support for Contador and Astana in 2010.
It is hard to answer these questions. The best riders left Astana, because of a certain person, leaving Alberto and a very few persons back. I don’t think there are quality riders without contract, I suppose it will be hard to build a new team around Alberto in such a short time! Because that team has to be good enough to help Alberto in 2010 to win his 3rd Tour. But all those riders who are expereinced enough are on other teams, together with the best DSs. I hope Benjamin and Jesus stay with him, which would give him the moral boost. There is no word about Andreas, yet, would be good if he stayed, too. As I heard Alain will remain as DS and there is still silence about Sean’s future. Anyway good luck to the Kazakhs in building that new team, as fans won’t be happy if Alberto hasn’
Sorry, couldn’t finish my sentence as I have problems with my internet connection. So, fans won’t be happy if Alberto hasn’t got the real possibility to win the Tour without quality team members.
Here is a winning 2010 TDF team roster for Astana:
Alberto Contador – Overall win and team leader.
Alexander Vinokourov – 1 or 2 stage wins
Maxim Iglinsky
Assan Bazayev
Haimar Zubeldia
Jesús Hernández
TBD – Climber – Luis León Sánchez
TBD – Climber – Egoi Martínez
TBD – Climber/TT – Alejandro Valverde – Points Classification
This team will beat Saxo Bank and Radio Shack.
Johnny Oregon
We trust in you and we wish to see you in Astana! Forward, Alberto, to new victories!
Alberto / Brunell and Armstrong leave from ASTANA.all team will work on you so told Vinokurov and he holds it. Prolong the contract all fans riders and boss want to see youin Astana. Sorry for my easy English
I think Benja、Jesus can be helpers.Hope Vino also can…
I haven’t seen any news about Kloden,so hope he stay with Astana.
I hope Andreas Klöden stays. To be honest, I rather had seen him on the third place in the last Tour de France. Maybe next year?
And I guess, wherever Alberto goes, Jesus goes… Or at least that’s what I’m hoping.
Totally agree with the staff offered by Johnny Oregon. If Astana will have the offered structure, the team and Alberto will be the champions again.
However, all team mates will help to Alberto, so I think that we have a very big chance to be happy again next year.
If you think long terms, Staying with Astana in 2010 might be a very good idea. Alberto can then create a team around him for the 2011-2016 seasons. Jumping to another team that will need to endure a major expense will just enable them to keep a good hold on the decision making.
With Albertos wins, he can take 1 year to form an squad that will enable him to win another 6-10 grand tours.
Stay with Astana and take your beatings. You will be much more powerful in 2011. This is what Bernard and Eddy did. They took a pounding and came back so very strong.
Johnny Oregon
This entire situation with team radio shack recruting members of Astana seems a lot like urban warfare. Team radio shack has started the first battle.
If you have noticed most of team radio shack’s roster are cyclists over the age of 32. This seems to be a very short term gain. Team radio shack seems to be looking for the TDF win in 2010 and not much more. If that effort fails, it will lead a clear path for Alberto to continue his quest to become one of the greatest grand tour champions ever. He has age on his side to win more grand tours than Eddy Merckx. He would be considered the best of the best in the grand tours.
Johnny Oregon
I would strongly suggest you get everything you can from Astana both power and money until your contract expires. You have one year to set up a very strong team. The prospect with Fernando Alonso is just simply facinating. What if you and Fernando had a new team in 2011? You would need to have a fancy contract that gives you power and leverage. With Fernando’s background, and one year to cultivate a team, I really think that might be one of your best options for freedom in the grand tours.
I would love to see Alejandro Valverde on your team among others. With the two of you, you can pick and choose your races and wins. A fully backed spanish team with a roster full of the best spanish riders seems very exciting.
Johnny Oregon
Nieuwsblad confirms Team Astana to be run by Rini Wagtmans, Theo de Rooij, & Michael Boogerd http://tinyurl.com/mtqbw3
I still hope that Alberto will be able to leave Astana. Caisse D’Epargne would be a great option with Spanish riders that he trusts. I’ve also seen stories that suggest Team Sky might be willing to give cash to Garmin to release Bradley Wiggins. Garmin would then pass the cash over to Astana to set Alberto free. It would give Contador a chance to work with Dr. Allen Lim, the guy who got cyclists to wear NornaTec “space legs” for daily recovery, masks designed for recovery from surgery to help them get quality sleep in hot hotels, the hand-held devices that help start cooling down blood immediately after stages, the home made ice wrings for riders to wear around their necks on really hot days, etc.
But the Caisse D’Epargne riders have the best uniforms and get to ride the Pinarello Dogma:)
Hey, swordsman, welcome. You have a nice blog.
Michael Boogerd emerged as an interesting possibility at the early signs of Astana 2010 going with Dutch organization. So, what do you know.
We liked Boogerd when he was in career.
Just hear Zubeldia will leave Astana to the RadioShack.
It seems that everyone can break the contract except Alberto…
Really hope things can change……
What Zubeldia did could serve as a precedent for Alberto.
Alberto should break this contract because I think that the Kasakh side is not trustworthy and I have a bad feeling when I think of Alberto staying with Astana for another year.
It after all remains in a team Astana! Also will win all contenders in next year! Forward Alberto! Forward Vino! Forward Astana!)))