Financial troubles, Astana disbanding? Options

[Who'sear]

Such courtesy on the Astana team! Armstrong respects Contador, Contador is glad to learn from The Master, Klodi & Levi work selflessly with nary a complaint, & Zubeldia & Horner serve up bottles with a smile. Couldn't you just see JB & the rest cheering and patting Vino on the back as he rejoins the Astana camp?

Somehow I can't either.

Won't that have to be the picture that the public sees or 'Astana' will withdraw sponsorship.

JB must be making some noise with the Kazakhs about having to 'accept' Vino (Or more likely he's getting pressure about it from the his buddy, McQuaid and relaying it to his bosses) I can't see Vino fitting into the heavily controlled racing tactics of JB. I mean AC doesn't show that robot-like racing tactic we're used to seeing(see armstrong quote re: Paris-Nice)

Maybe the whole thing is about putting pressure on the JB and UCI to get Vino racing again?

[Burkni]

"This team was built for Vinokourov, so its only logical he will make his comeback at Astana," said Bruyneel. "

That is a very interesting statement coming from the same Bruyneel who claimed that this was an entirely different team to that which Vino created.

[rational head]

That is a very interesting statement coming from the same Bruyneel who claimed that this was an entirely different team to that which Vino created.

Burk, c'mon, take a look at the date of that statement and the link: - 4 month ago when Armstrong's return to Astana was on everyone's speculation menu.

Here is an interview with Vino taken 6 days ago:
http://sports.kz/news.php?type=main&id...04338&st=26

Properly translated (by a reliable source) the article's title reads: Vinokurov: "They hardly are waiting for me in Astana'. And he goes on to complain about the UCI, and the fact that he has a hearing at the end of April.

It's amazing how easily rumors get started and spread.

Regarding the Astana troubles: the same source reports that one Kaz sponsor (Kazair) pulled out. The riders have not been paid for over one month. The Kaz federation is currently hectically searching for a domestic solution including the high level government contact. If none will have been found, the team may change its name as several European companies are very interested. Next week, according to the link, will bring clarity. The same link also refers to the Armstrong-AFLD spat as not helping the things.

[bambi]

Kazakh federation to resume paying Astana wages
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/16/ap6297546.html

more google nonsense, Proskurin interview
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=ht...ru&ie=UTF-8

[Burkni]

Burk, c'mon, take a look at the date of that statement and the link: - 4 month ago when Armstrong's return to Astana was on everyone's speculation menu.

Here is an interview with Vino taken 6 days ago:
http://sports.kz/news.php?type=main&id...04338&st=26

I am referring to JB's statements regarding ASO's Astana snub for the Tour last year, on the grounds of Vino/Kash/Kessler's ... doping problems.

edit: wrong name

This post has been edited by Burkni: Apr 16 2009, 11:52 AM

[VdB]

Astana going to pay March wages 'soon'

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza.be/wielrenn...416_Astana_loon

[rational head]

According to the email I got this morning (from a guy who reads all local sources and forums), Astana's financial troubles started in August last year. They still have two million euros debt and no one was paid since February. The problems stem form two main sources:

- 3 domestic sponsors stopped paying due to economic crisis
- UCI holdover of Astana's escrow account due to ongoing suit by Gusev and Vino/Kash-related arbitration between UCI/WADA and Kaz fed. The last one, according to Astana Belgian lawyer's advice, is being dropped which should free the escrow money (is 'escrow' the right term here?)

A special government fund is being tapped so that Astana's racing commitments are not affected. At least for now. I am not sure how it all interplays but that's what I hear from normally a reliable source.

[MacRoadie]

They still have two million euros debt and no one was paid since February.

A special government fund is being tapped so that Astana's racing commitments are not affected.

If only they had a multi-millionaire closely associated with the team, someone who could step in and assist in securing the salaries of the less fortunate riders and staff members. Possibly someone with a strongly professed and much-publicised committment to assisting others. Of course, Aspen and Malibu are a long way from Kazakhstan...

[Wheelclub]

If only they had a multi-millionaire closely associated with the team, someone who could step in and assist in securing the salaries of the less fortunate riders and staff members. Possibly someone with a strongly professed and much-publicised committment to assisting others. Of course, Aspen and Malibu are a long way from Kazakhstan...

Michael Ball?

[rational head]

While some speculate about Levy's Giro chances (which I personally doubt anyway), Astana may collapse midway through the Giro. At least that's the opinion of two of its main curators in the Kaz Fed - Proskurin and Antyshev.

According to today's interview with Proskurin, provided Astana finish the race at all, the Giro will most likely be THE LAST race for the team named Astana.

Thanks to Google (and cross and reverse translation), I surmised the following:

• The UCI had issued an ultimatum to pay up salaries or lose PT license
• The $2 million 'untouchable' UCI reserve fund is down to zero.
• The UCI ultimatum to refill the reserve fund expires midway through the Giro
• 5 of Astana's 6 sponsor refused to continue their contributions
• The defense minister/Kaz Cycling boss, Mr Danialov has not succeeded in secureing new money..yet

[Andrew]

Looks like Lance won't be the only one riding for free...

[smug]

can't imagine lance and a team containing lance could ever have problem raising 2 mil.

[Who'sear]

can't imagine lance and a team containing lance could ever have problem raising 2 mil.

Maybe they should get a whole bunch more "Mellow Johnny's" team kit silk screened??

[MacRoadie]

can't imagine lance and a team containing lance could ever have problem raising 2 mil.

Kinda begs the question, then, why they would let it get to this point...

[zekeydekey]

can't imagine lance and a team containing lance could ever have problem raising 2 mil.

Yeah, can't either. Something tells me that they will re-emerge Phoenix-like under a new name, w/o too much hassle.

[Drongo]

Bruyneel would probably be happier if the team was not Astana, but something under his own banner. Those pesky Kazakhstanis wanting to control their team and get Vino racing again. He would not wish for such trifles to interfere. As the old 12th man quote goes: 'We work as a team, and we do it my way.'

With his appearance money this year alone, Armstrong could personally fund a team for the Tour. It might actually be (gasp) an American team. And the ASO would be hard-pressed to leave it out. Forget the Armstrong presence: it would have the 2007 winner and reigning Giro and Vuelta champion, and the 2007 third-placed rider. How could you leave such a team out?

[rational head]

.. why they would let it get to this point...

Why? Because Kazakh Fed and the UCI are at odds over several things (see my post above).
So, having Astana disappear and resurface under another title holder would not be inconsistent with the traditional McQuaid/Verbruggen pro-JB/Armstrong line that, incidentally, would also strengthen UCI’s hand against never-pliant ASO.

It would, at the same time, fit with the JB/Armstrong plans of unburdening themselves of Contador and his loyal Spanish domestiques who don’t necessarily play along.

If one recalls Liberty Seguros and how Saiz was displaced despite his unwillingness to sell the license to Astana's new owners...there is a doable precedent with almost the same players.

[MacRoadie]

Why? Because Kazakh Fed and the UCI are at odds over several things (see my post above).
So, having Astana disappear and resurface under another title holder would not be inconsistent with the traditional McQuaid/Verbruggen pro-JB/Armstrong line that, incidentally, would also strengthen UCI’s hand against never-pliant ASO.

Actually, my question was rhetorical, but that's a pretty good synopsis of my thoughts as well.

It's been obvious since day one that everything about the Bruyneel/Kazakh had an odd uneasiness about it, given the original premise under which the Astana team was built (a Kazakh team built around Vino).

[Drongo]

It would, at the same time, fit with the JB/Armstrong plans of unburdening themselves of Contador and his loyal Spanish domestiques who don’t necessarily play along.

I hadn't thought of that angle. That would be Machiavellian even by their standards.

[Andrew]

It would, at the same time, fit with the JB/Armstrong plans of unburdening themselves of Contador and his loyal Spanish domestiques who don’t necessarily play along.

In one way that would make sense, in that the difference between AC's abilities and Levi's are pretty thin--as seen in last year's Vuelta. But since Lance has at most another year or so as a cyclist in him (if he's even capable of performing at the top level, which remains a question mark) and Levi is getting up there too, if JB and LA screw over Contador, they are essentially jettisoning anything like a future that the team has. Contador is going to continue to get better (especially if he's going to keep turning in Cancellara-like TT times ) and in three years there's every reason to think he'll be better than he is now, given the way GT riders mature. In three years Lance and Levi will be sitting in team cars yelling at into radios--if they're still involved in the sport at all. Who do you see as the future of the new no-longer-Astana JB LA team? Kid Phinney? If they're going to try to turn the team into a new American post-Postal affair, first they've got to find the riders, and I don't see any American GT prospects on the horizon.