No Tour for Astana

by King of Doping on Feb 13, 2008 7:55 AM EST

Title says it all. According to several spanish media.

Update [2008-2-13 9:1:6 by King of Doping]: L'equipe confirms it.. here

Update [2008-2-13 10:17:36 by King of Doping]: HighRoad is invited to Paris-Nice. Astana is the only team banned from ASO RACES (so far...)

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Holy SHITE

THat's huge

Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.

by CannonDowell on Feb 13, 2008 9:22 AM EST reply actions

I was hoping that this would not ...

... be announced until after the start of the VDS season.

America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed. -Eleanor Roosevelt

by ELVISGOAT on Feb 13, 2008 9:34 AM EST reply actions

LOL

I steered clear of the Astanas. I was thinking the Levi, Contador teams would go down in flames, just like my Vino based team did last season.

-K-

by KevinK on Feb 13, 2008 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

Yep

My Vino hopes killed me last year. I think i only have a couple of 2 point guys that need to be changed. Feel sorry for Chris' inbox with all the revisions.

Ya think the Kloden factor played a part or this is all based on last year?

Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.

by CannonDowell on Feb 13, 2008 9:44 AM EST up reply actions

last year, imho

I was pretty surprised when Levi signed up with Astana after the mess from last year, because this seemed to be a probable outcome based on the comments made by the ASO honchos last year.

Can you imagine if, for two years in a row, Astana blew up as a big scandal in the middle of the Tour. There's no way they were going to let that happen.

At least they are being consistent by barring high road. I wonder if CdE will be spared.

-K-

by KevinK on Feb 13, 2008 9:48 AM EST up reply actions

aye...

...and I with The Basso-Matic

America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed. -Eleanor Roosevelt

by ELVISGOAT on Feb 13, 2008 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

muy grande!

Bummer for Levi, but he should have seen it coming before he inked a deal with Astana.

I guess I won't really believe it, though, until the first rider rolls off the prologue ramp.

VeloNews has it now:

http://www.velonews.com/article/72000

-K-

by KevinK on Feb 13, 2008 9:38 AM EST reply actions

Think Levi is out of bed yet

6:46 out there right?

Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.

by CannonDowell on Feb 13, 2008 9:47 AM EST reply actions

All ASO events?!?!?!?!

Eurosport is reporting that this applies to all ASO events!!!

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13022008/58/tour-de-france-2008-contador-miss-le-tour.html

Well, at least they are being consistent.

by Hons on Feb 13, 2008 9:48 AM EST reply actions

for High Road, Astana not so much. Yes they are both new teams with new internal checks and balances, but Stapleton has a much cleaner reputation that Johan so I'm sorry his team won't get a crack the big loop.

This will continue to drive the stake through the heart of German cycling, at least as far as television goes.

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Feb 13, 2008 9:49 AM EST reply actions

High Road is invited so far

Paris-Nice invites are the other 17 ProTour teams, Agritubel, Slipstream & Skil.

by lyne on Feb 13, 2008 10:04 AM EST up reply actions

where are you getting

the high road ban from?

I read all 3 articles, and there is no mention of high road in any of them.

by R Mc on Feb 13, 2008 9:54 AM EST reply actions

my fault

an article from AS mentioned that 'High Road' was also likely not to be invited to Tour. But that's not the case if they are invited to Paris-Nice...

by King of Doping on Feb 13, 2008 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

I was going on the story lead

having not read the articles yet. If High Road is in I'm happy as a clam.

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Feb 13, 2008 10:02 AM EST reply actions

Other races Astana can take part in

May

Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
Tour de Picardie
Int. Junioren Driedaagse van Axel
Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin
Tour of Japan
Bayern-Rundfahrt

July

Tour cycliste International de Martinique
Giro d'Italia Femminile
Tour of Austria
Tour of Qinghai Lake
Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid
Brixia Tour

Clearly there's plenty of racing on the calendar that they can salvage from their Giro and Tour non-starts. And I'm pretty sure they can win some of these too.

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Feb 13, 2008 10:42 AM EST reply actions

So . ..

do we think that Brajkovic could take Amber Neben in the Giro Feminile?

by R Mc on Feb 13, 2008 11:10 AM EST up reply actions

And what about the Texs Cup events? haha

Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.

by CannonDowell on Feb 13, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

Aww

no one's beating surfer at the memorial day crits . . .

But I bet Astana could light up the July t-shirt ride season . . .

by R Mc on Feb 13, 2008 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

No

Not if past history is anything to go off of. She's a machine.

"Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross." -Andrea Tafi

by Drew on Feb 13, 2008 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

They should consider

changing their team name to Natasa, then maybe the ASO would get past their collective blind spot and issue an invite.

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

by bethie on Feb 13, 2008 10:52 AM EST reply actions

It's not a blind spot

when your head is that far up your ass.

by Hons on Feb 13, 2008 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

What a joke

I've suddenly lost all interest in ASO's events.

by ghisallo on Feb 13, 2008 10:55 AM EST reply actions

ASO- Not smart

ASO's attitude will come back to bite them in the near future.

by ursula on Feb 13, 2008 11:10 AM EST reply actions

Johan Bruyneel, the ultimate Spin Doctor

If you are a JB/Astana fan, it is easy to blame this perceived injustice on ASO. Somewhat lost in the translation is the bill of goods sold to all the riders. I wonder what JB told all the guys before they signed contracts. I'm sure something to the effect that he had assurances from ASO and the UCI that Astana would be at all the important races. Once again, another reason why Johann continues to leave a bad taste in this fan's mouth.

thevirtualmusette.com

by The Team Chef on Feb 13, 2008 11:34 AM EST reply actions