Giro could be last race for Astana

RobFowl

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Giro_could_be_last_race_for_Astana_says_team_boss_article_282285.html

At least Vino wouldn't have an easy route back, I can see Armstrong as UCI president in 10-15 years !! Not a happy thought :eek:

Chips Lovell

There's an interesting conspiracy theory going around that the non-payment is down to Vino. He wants to come back, Brunyeel doesn't want him, so Vino is using the sponsors to squeeze him.

I've no idea if that's true or not, but entertaining nonetheless.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

There's an interesting conspiracy theory going around that the non-payment is down to Vino. He wants to come back, Brunyeel doesn't want him, so Vino is using the sponsors to squeeze him.

I've no idea if that's true or not, but entertaining nonetheless.

If it is true, he pobably picked the wrong man to squeeze. Can't see Brunyeel giving in too easy.

RobFowl

Raam wrote: »

If it is true, he pobably picked the wrong man to squeeze. Can't see Brunyeel giving in too easy.

He could end up on Lances blacklist as well :eek:
(the one that never existed !!!!!!)

lukester

If Astana ceases, which seems likely, I can't see Bruyneel and Armstrong having any difficulty finding another sponsor.

"Armstrong's cancer awareness foundation Livestrong is likely to feature heavily in the team name."

With LA's media appeal, and being associated with a team that's fighting cancer, corporates will be falling over their billfolds to sign.

ROK ON

lukester wrote: »

If Astana ceases, which seems likely, I can't see Bruyneel and Armstrong having any difficulty finding another sponsor.

"Armstrong's cancer awareness foundation Livestrong is likely to feature heavily in the team name."

With LA's media appeal, and being associated with a team that's fighting cancer, corporates will be falling over their billfolds to sign.

How ironic would it be for the potential new team to be sponsored by a pharmaceutical company.;)

Junior

Doesn't the Kazakh Federation have the license for the Team not Bruyneel so either way there's more than a struggle between Bruyneel and Vino..

BaBiT

Junior wrote: »

Doesn't the Kazakh Federation have the license for the Team not Bruyneel so either way there's more than a struggle between Bruyneel and Vino..

Nope, Bruyneel holds the ProTour license so he'll take it with with him

Junior

BaBiT wrote: »

Nope, Bruyneel holds the ProTour license so he'll take it with with him

On May third, the newspaper's website quoted Kazakhstan's cycling federation vice president Nikolai Proskurin as saying that even if the team takes part in the Giro as planned, it is likely to be the final Grand Tour in the history of the Astana project. The only way to save the current incarnation of the squad appears to be for one or more Kazakh backers to move in and commit to supporting it. Alternatively Johan Bruyneel, the team's manager, will have to find funds to enable the team to continue and take over the ProTour licence from the Kazakh cycling federation.

Link Here

TinyExplosions

ROK ON wrote: »

How ironic would it be for the potential new team to be sponsored by a pharmaceutical company.;)

Amgen-LiveStrong-Trek anybody?

lukester

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Amgen-LiveStrong-Trek anybody?

Euro rules be damned, that's one team kit I'd buy. Hope it has stars and stripes on it, and a picture of Lancey.

ROK ON

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Amgen-LiveStrong-Trek anybody?

Thats what I was thinking.
Amgen has a cancer franchise (the sponsor would need cancer drugs - so realistically Roche, GSK and Amgen). Also Amgen has an Erythropieten franchise:D.

TinyExplosions

ROK ON wrote: »

Thats what I was thinking.
Amgen has a cancer franchise (the sponsor would need cancer drugs - so realistically Roche, GSK and Amgen). Also Amgen has an Erythropieten franchise:D.

Best way to get CERA to Lance

cunavalos

I think the livestrong foundation have publicly stated that it would be inappropriate to use money donated to a charitable foundation to fund a professional cycling team. Currently speculation is rife the a Livestrong Team presented by Nike-Twitter is a distinct possibility. I will try to dig up the link and post it.

TinyExplosions

cunavalos wrote: »

I think the livestrong foundation have publicly stated that it would be inappropriate to use money donated to a charitable foundation to fund a professional cycling team. Currently speculation is rife the a Livestrong Team presented by Nike-Twitter is a distinct possibility. I will try to dig up the link and post it.

I don't think that livestrong will provide money, but I reckon they may get the name -possibly Tailwind management will have something to do with it too -doesn't Lance have a large share in them