Contador free
CN reporting that Astana app not complete and Contador is free to terminate his contract.
3 months ago
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Well.. If this is true..
And Contador founds a new team.
Caisse signed Cobo. So they are out of money.
Garmin and QST could be other contenders but does he have the support there he want?
by Frinking on Oct 22, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Quick Step will allow him to bring on 4-5 (can't remember which) guys of his choosing...
it seems like if he is going anywhere that is where he’ll go.
by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 22, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
HAH
Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/
by flying dog on Oct 22, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Will that be as easy as you say that?!
Where are those guys coming from.. It’s late.. Moerenhout, Raboguy ust for the sure, had his first teammeeting for 2010 this week already. So dragging 5 superhelperguys to QST would be some big achievement
by Frinking on Oct 22, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I also think that Caisse might have a little extra money stored up for Contador because they still have 4 spots on the roster open
for the maximum 30 and they have the biggest known budget for a team, not icluding Sky because they don’t have a number as of yet, at something like 16 million euro
by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 22, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Woow.. Ok.. Still, A Contador and Valverde in one Team?!
That’s 3 miljon of salary.. It seems a little to much
by Frinking on Oct 23, 2009 3:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You realize that Vino may not even be allowed to ride right?
and Astana may not be in the race without a PT license.
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
by Phil H. on Oct 22, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The PT teams from this year have a guarantee that they are riding the Tour for the next 2 year..
Wel it’s a guarantee from the ASO but it is one
by Frinking on Oct 23, 2009 3:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
one from the ASO and one from the ass-"o"?
What more could one ask-o!
by JFS_PGH on Oct 23, 2009 7:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A few points
- Only the 16 remaining ProTour teams from September, 2008 agreement have automatic entry (assuming no ethical violations of course) to the 2010 Tour (ditto for 2009). This does not apply to newer ProTeams.
- Teams that were part of 2008 agreement but that have now lost ProTour licenses (Cofidis, Bouygues…) are still guaranteed entry to the 2010 TDF. So Astana losing a ProTour license doesn’t in and of itself disqualify them from their automatic TDF invite in 2010.
- ProTeams NOT part of 2008 agreement that surely will be invited in 2010: RadioShack, Sky, Garmin.
- According to L’Equipe, Prudhomme seems to be leaning toward inviting the maximum 22 teams in 2010 (there were 20 this year).
- It all changes in 2011 though as the top 17 teams, regardless of status (ProTour or not) get in.
by Pete-CF on Oct 23, 2009 7:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Booyah! Go Sasha!
And I have to thank you, Frinking.
The other day, you got me thinking about different ways that this whole thing could play out. You opened my mind up to new possibilities ;-). And I can imagine several different ways that the story might end…
by Lou... on Oct 23, 2009 3:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm.
What CN are reporting is
‘Contador free to go?’
The answer clearly being ‘uh… we don’t know.’
by Mark T1979 on Oct 22, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This would suggest otherwise. From CN link above. YAY!
By UCI regulations, riders of all five teams which have not yet met the requirements for a ProTour license can terminate their contracts if they wish.
The standard UCI rider/team contract (2.15.139 article 8.1.f) states, “if, on 20 October of the year preceding a year of registration covered by the present contract, the UCI ProTeam has not submitted a registration file containing the essential documents,” the rider may terminate the contract “without notice or liability for damages”.
Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/
by flying dog on Oct 22, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But the UCI can always come out of left field with another answer and say they found a missing paper or something
He might be free but I would like to have a few other sites confirm this and then Contador actually quit before I believe it.
by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 22, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sporza is reporting it too
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris... on Oct 22, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
more
Contador is one step closer to another team
It’s starting to look increasingly penibeler for Astana. The team is (now) again failed a ProTour license for 2010 to get. This means that the riders, including Alberto Contador, their contract may be loose.
Same gist: writer thinks the riders MAY be free to terminate now, even though the teams can still patch up their applications. Til then, things look very penibeler. Very penibeler indeed…
Lees ook: Read also:
Boonen: “Hoop dat Contador naar Quick-Step komt” Boonen: “Hope for Quick-Step is Contador”
Kazaks staatsbedrijf reddende engel voor Astana Kazakh state saving angel for Astana
Contador past voor WK en blijft bij Astana Contador and remain fit for World Cup in Astana
Belga Belga Astana voldoet nog niet aan enkele administratieve en financiële eisen van de UCI. Astana not comply with some administrative and financial requirements of the UCI. Hetzelfde geldt overigens voor Caisse d’Epargne, Team Saxo Bank, Team Sky en Euskaltel. The same applies for Caisse d’Epargne, Team Saxo Bank, Sky Team and Euskaltel.
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris... on Oct 22, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
er
ignore that last blot of Englutch.
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris... on Oct 22, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If that's the clue.. Valverde FREEEE!
As they also failed their attempt to renew their PT license..Euskaltel-Euskadi, Team Saxo Bank and Team Sky the other one who failed
by Frinking on Oct 22, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
technically perhaps
but Contador is the only big-name rider who has rather openly longed to get out of his contract. The others probably won’t bother to exercise this purported right.
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris... on Oct 22, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How about the other Astana guys
who wanted to go to "the Shack’ (I fell so dorky typing that), but reportedly were stuck at Astana?
by Katiek on Oct 22, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
*Are still working on PT license.
I seriously doubt Saxo (or the others) will be penalized if they are a bit tardy. I doubt riders under these other teams are shaking in their boots about PT status.
by dansel on Oct 22, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not tardy...the real deadline is November 20th
by steph- on Oct 22, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ahh, cycling news sources
One reports something, all hop on the bandwagon.
by dansel on Oct 22, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
schleck bros free to go to the shack!
oh joy!
by yeehoo on Oct 23, 2009 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“penibeler” hehe, I’m going to use that one
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 22, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Me, too! Uh, but, um...how are you going to pronounce it?
by Ruthann on Oct 22, 2009 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pe-nie-beh-ler
ut how you say that in English?!?! EEh?!
by Frinking on Oct 23, 2009 3:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sounds good to me! ;)
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 23, 2009 6:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Er...
You might include the question mark in the original headline. Lots of confusion about this story.
by gavia on Oct 22, 2009 5:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
if this was likely to actually happen, i reckon that the existence of the deadline would have been uncovered by journalists long before now. lionel bernie, perhaps my favourite cycling journo, sounded pretty sceptical on twitter earlier, and i trust his opinion..
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
by benrazor on Oct 22, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really
It’s pretty simple. In January 2009 the UCI implemented this new re-certification process. In July 2009 they added a penalty for teams that failed to comply with the October 20 deadline—that the riders would have a right to terminate their contracts. The team still has until Nov 20th to submit the requisite documents, but they cannot prevent a rider from terminating his contract under the new provision that is included in all contracts (art 2.15.111 stipulates that all rider contracts must contain the terms in the standard contract (described in art 2.15.139)).
So technically any rider under contract with any of the five teams can terminate their contract. Whether or not that happens is another question. What we can be certain of is that AC is going to terminate his contract.
I pulled this from an article on cyclingnews weekly from a couple of days ago. McQuaid confirms the reality:
“Union Cycliste Internationale president Pat McQuaid told Cycling Weekly during the Gran Gala awards evening in Italy that Contador has made a mistake of naming today as a key deadline for his future.
The Astana team only has to supply basic details and guarantees for today’s deadline such as naming sponsors and a minimum of 12 riders. McQuaid explained that Contador would only be free to change teams today if those requirements were not met. Otherwise Astana’s ProTour application would then continue and would be decided by the UCI licence commission in several weeks’ time."
by MambaFan on Oct 22, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
my understanding is that the Oct 20 date is linked to a team not having sent in the docs to register as a ProTour team
which Astana has done. this one is one for the lawyers to dissect what the exacts words in the contract are.
by lyne on Oct 22, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then why were they not on the list?
The list today was about the teams that had complied with the October 20th deadline. Are you suggesting this is an error on the UCI’s part?
by MambaFan on Oct 22, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
“Following this opinion, the UCI shall indicate on its internet site which UCI
ProTeams or licence applicants have submitted a registration file containing the
essential documents.”
Astana was one of 5 teams not on the list of teams that have “submitted a registration file containing the essential documents.” Failure to do so by October 20 means riders can terminate contracts “without notice”. Still look forward to UCI comment though…
by Pete-CF on Oct 22, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here's the Press Release.
22.10.2009
Description:
In October each year the UCI ProTeams are required to submit an application for registration the following year to the UCI. The UCI, in association with Ernst&Young, evaluates whether the teams are in compliance with the regulatory requirements, particularly in terms of their administration and financing.
In accordance with a new article added to the rules on 1 July 2009 (2.15.169b), the UCI is today publishing the list of teams that by 20 October 2009 had submitted an application file containing the following required documents:
• budget
• the sponsorship contracts duly signed with the main partners
• the bank guarantee
• at least 12 contracts with riders duly signed by the two parties
• for new teams only, a description of the structure of the team together with a copy of the deed of incorporation of the paying agent.
The teams are:
• AG2R La Mondiale
• Française des Jeux
• Footon-Servetto
• Garmin-Slipstream
• Lampre Farnese Vini
• Liquigas-Dommo
• Quick-Step Cycling Team
• Rabobank Cycling Team
• RadioShack
• Omega Pharma-Lotto
• Team Columbia-HTC
• Team Katusha
• Team Milram
This information is being published with a view to keeping all parties concerned informed about the progress of UCI ProTeam registration applications.
The UCI and Ernst&Young will continue to evaluate all applications, including those of teams not in the above list, which have until 20 November to submit their completed applications. The UCI ProTour Council will make a final decision on UCI ProTeam registrations for the 2010 season after the official deadline of 20 November.
Any team whose application is rejected will have its file passed on to the Licence Commission. In the event that the application is subsequently rejected by the Licence Commission the team’s UCI ProTeam licence is automatically withdrawn.
Astana didn’t submit the paperwork by October 20th. AC has a right to terminate his contract. It’s pretty cut and dry.
by MambaFan on Oct 22, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only if that Oct 20th part was actually in his contract
It may be standard but that doesn’t mean it was there in this specific case. Also, the failure to comply may be open to interpretation (thus Team Astana litigation).
by tedvdw on Oct 22, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
his contract
might predate this standard. It’s not clear whether his contract was amended to include the new requirement.
"The road is our agony, but also our daily bread; and at night, when it is deserted and the moon glistens on the asphalt, the ridiculous dreams of racers like us pass up and down it."
--Dino Buzzati
by nrs5000 on Oct 22, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clear instructions for all Aigle postal workers
“ALL packages from Kazakhstan will not be delivered to UCI headquarters until October 22.”
by R Mc on Oct 22, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt that a contract can overrule a provision such as this,
which seems clearly designed to supersede previous individual agreements.
After all, it’s clearly designed to prevent teams that are financially on the rocks from holding their riders hostage, in the hopes that some company will take pity and decide to sponsor. It would be meaningless if it didn’t trump past contracts.
by JFS_PGH on Oct 23, 2009 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Art 2.15.111
Makes it clear that all rider contracts include the standard provisions outlined in Art. 2.15.139 of the UCI regulations.
The fact of the matter is, the UCI implemented new regulations that were applicable to all licensees that they were required to submit what the UCI called the essential documents by October 20th. The enforcement mechanism that the UCI used to ensure compliance was the creation of a new termination right that was triggered if a licensee failed to file the requisite document. McQuaid himself said that AC could only get out of his contract on the 20 October if Astana failed to satisfy the condition. Based on the press release, Astana failed to satisfy that condition and therefore AC can terminate his contract without notice.
by MambaFan on Oct 22, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I pity the next tester
that gets sent by the UCI out to Kazakhstan.
by Monty. on Oct 22, 2009 5:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not so sure on this one.
Like Gavia et al, I want to see this confirmed, and not just by Velonews, aka “lets take the stories from CN!”
by dansel on Oct 22, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hmmm...the deadline appears to be 11/20 and not 10/20
In accordance with a new article added to the rules on 1 July 2009 (2.15.169b), the UCI is today publishing the list of teams that by 20 October 2009 had submitted an application file containing the following required documents:
• budget
• the sponsorship contracts duly signed with the main partners
• the bank guarantee
• at least 12 contracts with riders duly signed by the two parties
• for new teams only, a description of the structure of the team together with a copy of the deed of incorporation of the paying agent.
The teams are:
• AG2R La Mondiale
• Française des Jeux
• Footon-Servetto
• Garmin-Slipstream
• Lampre Farnese Vini
• Liquigas-Dommo
• Quick-Step Cycling Team
• Rabobank Cycling Team
• RadioShack
• Omega Pharma-Lotto
• Team Columbia-HTC
• Team Katusha
• Team Milram
This information is being published with a view to keeping all parties concerned informed about the progress of UCI ProTeam registration applications.
The UCI and Ernst&Young will continue to evaluate all applications, including those of teams not in the above list, which have until 20 November to submit their completed applications. The UCI ProTour Council will make a final decision on UCI ProTeam registrations for the 2010 season after the official deadline of 20 November.
by steph- on Oct 22, 2009 5:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wow
seems clear that there is no issue …..
which seems common sense given that 5 teams were included ….. not just Contador’s
is this just bad reporting?
Moo
by Willj on Oct 22, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No. The November 20 deadline is still applicable for the licenses. The October 20th deadline triggered the termination clause.
by MambaFan on Oct 22, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right
This really isn’t that complicated.
And it’s not about a story with sources that have to be confirmed. It’s all about UCI rules (which anyone can look up) and interpretation of said rules. We’ll see what the UCI have to say in the morning. You never know with them.
I posted the applicable UCI articles on my site a few hours ago, preferring to use the exact texts rather than cut and paste snippets like CN eventually did.
by Pete-CF on Oct 22, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
cyclingweekly has quoted McQuaid already
“Union Cycliste Internationale president Pat McQuaid told Cycling Weekly during the Gran Gala awards evening in Italy that Contador has made a mistake of naming today as a key deadline for his future.
The Astana team only has to supply basic details and guarantees for today’s deadline such as naming sponsors and a minimum of 12 riders. McQuaid explained that Contador would only be free to change teams today if those requirements were not met. Otherwise Astana’s ProTour application would then continue and would be decided by the UCI licence commission in several weeks’ time.
According to a report in Tuesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, Astana has already presented its dossier to the UCI and new team manager Yvon Sanquer is confident the squad can continue as a ProTour team in 2010. "
Again, as I said before, it’s one for the lawyers to dissect the meaning of every word… what do you mean by ‘is’ comes to mind.
by lyne on Oct 22, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why have so much faith in Astana to actually follow the rules?
And that article does not state that Astana had definitely met their obligations. Their sponsor for next year is new and maybe they haven’t been able to meet their deadlines for establishing a bank guarantee or even sign the necessary paperwork. And who who is responsible for writing the budget (insert snide Borat reference here)? Their house is in disarray so who’s dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.
Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/
by flying dog on Oct 22, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think that Astana 'following the rules' is an issue, somehow.
Call it a gut feeling…
There is too much going on here for me to buy any simple explanation.
Here’s a thought, just as an example – the JB thing. He was apparently tearing his hair out over resolving the issue of his contract with Astana… and suddenly the matter was resolved. Do you think that they just gave up and said: “Oh, OK then. Off you go. Best of luck!.”…? (Maybe they did – I don’t know…)
by Lou... on Oct 23, 2009 3:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
JB had a well written contract.
What he was going to do next year at the worst was not work at all. His frustrations were in large part due to, you guessed it, Vino. He couldn’t control Vino.
I think that there is a good chance that all the required paperwork involved was not completed as required. They are going through a big shake up in their organization so technicalities will trip them up somewhat. Not all the established teams were able to fully comply on time, you have to have a very good organization for these things to go seamlessly.
Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/
by flying dog on Oct 23, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I quoted this above.
But I am happy to point this out again:
The Astana team only has to supply basic details and guarantees for today’s deadline such as naming sponsors and a minimum of 12 riders. McQuaid explained that Contador would only be free to change teams today if those requirements were not met. Otherwise Astana’s ProTour application would then continue and would be decided by the UCI licence commission in several weeks’ time.
Basically McQuaid is spelling out the events that would have had to happen if AC were going to be able to walk. Those events apparently transpired. At least according to the UCI press release.
by MambaFan on Oct 22, 2009 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And you also pointed out that this was relased not today, but a couple of days back...
when Astana could still have rushed the documents in by midnight, I guess. Which they may or may not have done, I suppose.
by JFS_PGH on Oct 23, 2009 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Again
there are two issues, the status of Astana as a ProTour team and an individual rider’s rights as protected by UCI rules.
As for the Gazzetta report, no one is suggesting that Astana is out of the running for a ProTour license. Yvon Sanquer has deep ties in this sport that should serve them well. However, a date, October 20, specified in the rules, has come and gone. If the date has no meaning, why is it even in the rules? Sure, it’s always open to interpretation but the rules do link the October date to a rider being able to terminate the contract “without notice”. Not sure how anyone, including McQuaid, could thus conclude that October 20 is not an important date.
These rules are separate from individual rider contracts. Contador’s contract may very well state that said contract is null and void if the team does not have ProTour status. But again Astana’s ProTour status isn’t an issue yet, the next deadline on that is November 20. So it’s not a clause in Contador’s contract at issue here, it’s an article in the UCI rules as pertains to ProTour team registration. I suspect the reason it is there is to protect riders by giving them a chance to still find spots on other teams before it is too late; it’s already late.
Further, Pat McQuaid has demonstrated time and again that he doesn’t have a firm grip on the rules.
As for the lawyers, you can be sure that this will be hotly contested if Contador considers the contract void.
by Pete-CF on Oct 23, 2009 3:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well.. Sportwereld was suggesting the second deadline was important..
Me thinks also
by Frinking on Oct 23, 2009 3:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the second hand.. They retreat..
You are probably right
by Frinking on Oct 23, 2009 4:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm trying to get my head around this...
Who’s retreating? :(
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Oct 23, 2009 4:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks. It was either them or UCI...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Oct 23, 2009 4:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
nope, that's a different deadline, as I read it.
Your riders can cut and run as of October 20th, but that does not affect the status of your pro-tour application, which will still receive full consideration for pro-tour status if you get your documents in by Nov. 20.
by JFS_PGH on Oct 23, 2009 7:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I had a few million Euros in the bank and a real strong desire to move along,
I’d be talking to any body who could my desires into reality. Technicalities, schmechnicalities. We’ve seen young dudes blow their fortune on far less worthwhile causes. Can’t someone free this accountant, I mean Contador.
Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/
by flying dog on Oct 22, 2009 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The year he goes to Euskatel
Will be the year the tour brings back the TTT. Just his luck.
by dansel on Oct 22, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh please be true.....PLEASE BE TRUE!
I have some doubts just because the UCI is so damn incompetent, but it is their rules and they better live by them!
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
by Phil H. on Oct 22, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully Contador gets free and Quick Step gets him...oh how amazing that team would be.
and if they happen to wear those retro jerseys next year then it would make it even better
by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 22, 2009 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
For what it’s worth, L’équipe opines that Astana receiving their licence is “probably just a matter of time.”
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 22, 2009 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
but
the issue is not whether they’ll get the licence here, no?
by rbjhan on Oct 22, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
guess I didn’t read closely enough, what’s the issue
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 22, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh, the “termination clause,” I think I get it.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 22, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
in any case, they've updated now, "Contador can leave Astana"
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 23, 2009 6:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay, this is how I read it.
The contents of Contadors contract don’t matter. What matters is that the UCI demands that any contracts with any riders can be broken if the Oct. 20 deadline is not met. The licence application is seperate from this clause. It gives the teams an extra month to meet the licence requirements. But for right now, any rider on any of those 5 teams is allowed to reject his contract – not on legal grounds, but based upon UCI rules. Astana can, of course, hold Contador to his contract in any case. But if they do, then the UCI can refuse to licence Astana. And if the UCI refuses to licence Astana, then Contadors contract says that he is free. Different path same result. Astana will have to honor the UCI rule.
When I read the new rule information that was added by the UCI I’m tempted to think that it may well have been Astana’s refusal to pay salaries and give bank guarantees earlier in the year that caused those provisions to be added in the first place. Talking about the chicken coming home to roost. Now Astana is caught in a Catch 22. If they don’t let Contador – assuming that he wants to – then the UCI will have cause to reject their liscence. If Astana allows Contador to go, then the UCI has reason to reject the licence based upon the low quality of the team. If Contador goes, Zuibelda and several others will as well. Nothing left but Vino, and I doubt that they want to include a team built around an unrepentant doper. By the way, who will Kasheshkin be riding for?
by saluki on Oct 22, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Just letting my imagination run wild here,
but wouldn’t Andy Schleck now be free to join some other team? Of course he probably doesn’t want to – but just thinking . . . .
by saluki on Oct 22, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Any rider on any of the five teams
The question can the teams cure by filing before the rider terminates his contract? Or are the contracts terminable at any point after the 20th, regardless of what the team does?
by MambaFan on Oct 22, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt if there is a horse race option in the UCI rules
I would think that after the 20th, the team has no recourse. On the other hand, I can’t see letting the rider opt out for an indefinite time period.
You have to think about just how badly the Kazakhs screwed this up. Bruyneel built the best stage racing team in the world for them. A team operating at a level that was the envy of every other team. A third world country like Kazakhastan had no right to expect such spectacular results. And what do they do. They start screwing with the salaries; threatening Bruyneel; backing up Vino in his demands on Bruyneel; telling Armstrong he needed to go. It’s the worst case of ownership stupidity that I have ever seen. It’s dumber than the DS decisions made by T-Mobile during their races a few years back.
by saluki on Oct 22, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
quick political question
why the assumption of imperial hauteur about what a “third world coutnry” can or can not expect?
by R Mc on Oct 23, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My question is whether the clause is applicable in contracts signed before it went into effect.
This language in question is a clause in the standard UCI team/rider contract. According to UCI rules, team contracts must include the provisions of the standard contract—but what I can’t find is language that states that new provisions are retroactive to already-existing contracts.
But it’s late here and I’ve been scanning—maybe I missed it?
by majope on Oct 22, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not just ASchleck
but, if I understand it right, so could Cance, Valverde, SamSan, or any of the guys on that team.
For that matter, so could Vino, though that seems especially unlikely to me.
by Le Comte on Oct 23, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"that team" = "those teams"
/brain fart
by Le Comte on Oct 23, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and incorrect information mentioned Saxobank.. They have a licence.. so no-one leaving SexyBank
"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"
Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009
by CycleGirl on Oct 24, 2009 4:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not incorrect.. They just have made it ok
by Frinking on Oct 24, 2009 6:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No incorrect from what I read...
"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"
Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009
by CycleGirl on Oct 26, 2009 8:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The story was..
They sended copies and not the official documents.. (Somewehere don’t know where. Would be some Duych site) That’s why it was refused
by Frinking on Oct 26, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup,
That’s what I saw on a couple of Danish sites. But anyway, I doubt very much that there was ever any serious question of anyone leaving The Great Bjarne, simply because it may have suddenly become possible ;-).
(In fact, if I am not mistaken, we have not yet hear of any rider – on a team which supposedly missed the dealine – breaking their contract… yet.)
by Lou... on Oct 27, 2009 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can imagine what a day I've had
My internet access at work is limited to industry-related site, and Google. You know, the preview function in Google really does not give enough of a preview :-(. (I even resorted to emailing a link to the ex, and having him send me back the article as a text file… in cyrillic… you know, I’m not a fan of the google translation gizmo either…).
My initial reaction to the news had my boss coming over and asking what was wrong, LOL. But on reflection… I’m actually somewhat excited. Things are gonna get really interesting now :-). And I’m having fun trying to figure out how this is gonna play out. I’m pretty sure about one thing, though… Astana are gonna be OK. (I’d even wager that this situation is very much under control, for them…). W
The first interesting question is gonna be whether the Accountant actually terminates his contract…
by Lou... on Oct 23, 2009 3:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that's the big question
and I’m not so sure it’s as cut and dried as some imagine. I think things are really interesting too, but Bert is as measured as his name implies so who knows. it seems to me that recently Astana has been trying to construct a Bert friendly team ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Oct 23, 2009 4:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Minor details ...
Why Team Saxo Bank is not on the list: They submitted the copy of some documents instead of the original. UCI got the originals yesterday. Should that be enough to break a contract??
by El-Ve on Oct 23, 2009 6:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Fran Contador speaks:
“Our lawyers are studying the details of the UCI regulations to make the right decision in coming days. Lawyers should clarify whether it is possible to implement the new article introduced last July in the model contract proposed by the UCI for riders to sign with a UCI ProTour team. According to experts, the interpretation of the law can be confusing and we want to be sure before making any decisions”Link
by majope on Oct 23, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You missed the crucial
“estoy muy tranquilo” off the front of that quote… ;-)
by civetta on Oct 23, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not even several lawyers can make out the UCI rules
how can you expect the not so sharp people at the UCI to do so?
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
by Phil H. on Oct 23, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Today's headlines:
AS.com: Contador can terminate his contract with Astana
But the article says his lawyers are studying it.
Reuters (Majope’s link): Contador waits on lawyers over leaving Astana
That sounds more right.
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris... on Oct 23, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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