Financial Difficulties for Team Astana
by Jen See on Apr 16, 2009 11:39 AM EDT
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Vice President of the Kazakh Federation Nikolai Proskurin announced in a press conference yesterday that Team Astana faces serious financial difficulties. According to Proskurin, the team will need a new sponsor to continue. In his statement he explained, "The team has been facing serious financial problems over the last two months, and we do not rule out the arrival of a new sponsor: In that case, the team would have to change its name, and would race under a different banner."
So far, only Air Astana, the Kazakh airline, has officially withdrawn its support, but Proskurin confirmed that the team may not prove able to honor its contract obligations without a fresh infusion of cash. The team's problems derive from the widespread problems currently gripping the world economy. Said Proskurin, "Kazakhstan is not in any case among the nations most responsible for the crisis and we have a moral obligation to do everything possible so that the strongest team in the world can continue to ride in our colors."
The statement implies that the team needs not just a sponsor, but a new title sponsor. With the contract burden the team carries, it will need a sponsor with very deep pockets indeed. Riders like Alberto Contador do not come cheap. So far, the team has not issued any statement on the issue. Certainly, it adds a further twist to already convoluted Astana story.
Source, tuttobiciweb.it.
Update: According to the Associated Press, the team has not paid salaries "for around a month." Proskurin announced on Thursday that the management had received payment from sponsors and would forward the money to the team. The sponsors reportedly were late in paying their share of the team budget. Samruk-Kazyna, who provides the bulk of the team's funding, has also pledged to continue its support. — Source, AP, via USA Today.
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Veddy Intedesting...
Will selling Contador solve their problems? Well, no, they need to admit they’re a European team (already Swiss-based) and find a European sponsor. But the possibility of Contador being free just went up.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 16, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions
which would
make the game so much more interesting…
You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment.
CdE is likely to be short a GC contender real soon.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
then Contador would also not be 'safe' for the team
if they continue going after initials on the list
Yeah, but it also looks like they'll be racing Valverde until the license is physically plucked from his hand.
I think they’d be happy to pick up AC and trust that even if there is physical evidence (which there may not be), they’ll still get some good months/years while the case drags on.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
They might get away with that once
but I can’t see their sponsor being too keen on it happening a second then third time
Jesus... why do you ALWAYS have to pick on Contador??!??!
:)
Dude... why WOULDN'T Thor ride the chicken?
if Coni had something on Bert/AC,
wouldn’t they have acted already? He did the Giro last year, plenty of samples to match with I’d guess?
I'd guess that Valv is the easiest case to prosecute
and then they can see what sort of case they need to make something stick. Valverde should be easy: documents, laughable code-name, genetically identifiable blood bag complete with EPO. It could be harder to make a case if there’s just blood in the bag, or even no blood bag but case notes instead.
who knows how much they have on any of the others on the list
Is it only initials? Is it initials + schedule? Is it more? And even if it is more, are they willing to go after more riders?
After reading that piece Capodacqua wrote in Repubblica a while back
saying how the judge had stalled and wasted time I’d be quite happy if they just banned all Spanish riders for a couple of years. No great loss to me. Let Flecha reregister as an Argentinian, maybe.
???
you mean the Sella’s, Kohl’s, Landis’ are all clean??? Ban one nation and let the others go. Ridiculous.
Even a Swede was doping, ban them too?
Nothing to do with who's dirty and who's not
it’s about which countries are making some sort of effort, however half-assed, to clean things up, and which countries are inviting well-known doping doctors to lecture all their coaches in “Sports Medicine” and generally finding as many ways as possible to keep their hands over their eyes and their fingers in their ears.
true.
wasn’t Coni also asking Bert and Piti in the beginning of last year for some kind of questioning? Nothing came out of it iirc? Or am I mixing it up?
not you are not.
but I’d think Bert is a even bigger target than AV.
if they have anything, surely they’d use it by now?
Livestrong...
doesn’t have that deep of pockets. It would be a significant hit to how much they donate to cancer research, which would be contrary to the brands existence..
Nike could do it.
But Nike doesn't sponsor teams.
They always veer away from being that close to any one team, U of Oregon aside.
Ja, it would be very contrary to their pattern
Are they still making cycling product? Haven’t seen their shoes around much lately, but maybe I’m just spacin’
er...
So the answer is no?
Heh, not the ideal candidate to sponsor a cycling team, I’m thinking. They have oodles of brand awareness already, plenty of high profile spokespeeps, and no cycling product.
definitely no
I am unfortunately well-acquainted with the Nike site, after trying to find some replacement lenses for my riding shades a few weeks ago.* Search “cycling”, and what do you get? Livestrong t-shirts and shorts.
*My future lesson for products that I really like: just buy two.
they're about
promoting individual athletes, methinks – better marketing strategy, at least in “hero”-worshipping North America
You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment.
Of course the company most interested in taking over Twitter
appears to be already in the cycling biz:
via googlestore.com
yikes!
lol, any number of people in the bay area have tried to get the googler to throw money at their teams. not much luck.
Their name does pop up an awful lot
whenever there’s talk of a vaguely americanish team looking for a sponsor. I’m sure I read at one point that they had all but signed the contracts to sponsor Bob Stapleton’s team, and nothing ever came of that.
The word "fugly" comes to mind
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 16, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Because it's not enough of crashes?
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 16, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes!
Based in Seattle! With lots of training rides open to the public! I so want to do High Rock Road with Chris Horner…
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 16, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Ride, carried
either way.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 16, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I was hoping that you might make sense of that other story over at Tuttobici
this one that they seem to have got from the print version of Espresso. The headline reads “Even cycling is shaking” but the story itself is a long (very long) and confusing (very very confusing) about possible links between the mafia and russian oil and gas interests. The only cycling link seems to be that the head of Itera is Igor Makarov, a one-time cycling champion, apparently. Itera seemed to come close to buying an Italian refinery but then pulled out suddenly. Does this mean that the cycling team was a PR gesture and they may not need it now? Or is it safe as a pet project of the boss? And why does an otherwise cycling only news site print such a long and vague report?
Astana
budget about 15M PA?
emm, I wonder how much they need now.
story is they are actually behind on wages…
Interesting
I don’t know much about that holding company, Samruk-Kazyna, but I’m guessing that the kazakh currency is a part of the problems. Unless it does a lot of business in either Euro, Dollar or whatever Team Astana needs, the money that was reserved for the team was not enough since the Kazakh central bank devalued the Tenge 18 percent (which is a LOT) in february, and it has depreciatad a bit more since then. Suddenly the riders became 20 percent more expensive.
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
by TheFigurehead on Apr 16, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
here's a link in Russian
I originally saw this story at DPF with the translated link… it says something about no salaries for more than a month, but I wasn’t clear whether that has happened already or whether that’s just a benchmark of when they know they’re in real trouble…
I had no idea
Does anyone here know anyone that works at Competitive Cyclist? Do they spend half their days trading stories about customers and laughing?
So to sum up
It seems like the team will last through the year (90% chance?) but at the end of the year.. who knows. I’d think Bruyneel for one would get tired of teams under him losing sponsorship, and the Astana folks will need to reassess their commitment particularly since this recession won’t be over.
On the other hand, if he finds a new title sponsor, JB won't have to deal with Vino's comeback.
Also, those 8-10 spots reserved for Kazakhs will be freed up.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
Did Saxo ever find a second sponsor? What does this mean for other teams looking for
sponsorship? Not promising.
Problem Solved?
Thanks to a reader who passed me this link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=4072902
This is an AP story, the gist of which is:
Kazakhstan’s cycling federation said Thursday it will resume paying salaries to Lance Armstrong’s Astana team now that it has received money owed by its sponsors.
Astana cyclists, including Giro d’Italia winner Alberto Contador, have not received salaries for around a month, prompting fears the team could be disbanded.
“We started receiving the first payments yesterday … and now that money will be forwarded to the team,” Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy chief Nikolai Proskurin told the Associated Press.
Two theories: the Astana PR machine got fired up this morning, or the first story was planted in order to embarass the delinquent sponsors.
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 16, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions
Believe it or not
I read it first… well, my eyes ran across the letters. d’oh!
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 16, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Isn't the solution obvious?
get (a fit) Vino back on the team and the funding is assured ….. isn’t this how it all started in the first place
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
Thank you Will
I just scrolled through the whole thread wondering when someone would make the connection. Of course the issue here is Vino. With him and/or Kash Johan has a sponsor next year, without them he is on his own. I may be prone to believe conspiracy theories but lets face it , the Astana folks only have one interest in cycling and it isn’t what they’re getting this year.
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
Vino will never return to some sort of competitive level
I liked him as a punchy attacker on rolling terrain but it was getting really ridiculous when he started winning time trials and high mountain stages. Him and Schumacher alike.
on the other hand
American tourists have been flocking to Astana since HWWNBN signed for this great Kazahk cycling team
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
I never thought of the Vino angle
So thanks you two for saying it. Sounds obvious in retrospect.
So Vino is due for reinstatement after the Tour; Kash later in August, right?
So maybe the next installment of this story happens post-Tour?
From what he says in interviews
you can sense that Bruyneel is mighty grateful for the breathingroom the UCI and ASO give him with their firm stance. How he will handle it when Vino & Kash are eligable to race again is beyond me.
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
You mean like Contador did..
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
Ok that was rude..
Blame attacking Vino and me pissed because soemone refuses me to send something to me AAH!
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
What does that mean? Has she denied me?!?!
And yeah it sucks.. Pressing ‘z’ in hotmail also don’t make the trick
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
So that was grammatical correct? Woow.. English is hard.. I will do math instead
And lol.. I surely don’t get everything I want! I think to imprese a girl I have to try a little harder.. Van Dik Hout said it nice: “ik doe voor alles je, je zegt het maar. al moet ik 10x rond de evenaar” Maybe this will impress some girls.. If I’m 40.. The woman is 70.. Didn’t have sex for 40 years.. And I’ll take care of her walker!
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
Ouwe Dikke?!?!
Haha that was the stamcafe of my studievereniging.. (Too lazy too look those words up)
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
Haha fack off with there and their!
But it was UTV.. UCS is a hockeyclub isn’t it? Gonna register their(?!?!) next year..
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
D'uh.. UHC Utrecht hockey club..
But you are a ‘USC bal’?
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
Nvm.. I'm not gonna get it
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
or subscribe..
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
This is all a plot by Quickstep
to get Bert and Levi by the time the Tour starts, so they can actually compete in a race after April.
First place in monuments so soooooo overrated, 2nd is were it's at.
Must. Resist. Being. Baited.
They just need to replace Bettini, the greatest cyclist of his generation. Beyond that, 5 stages of the Vuelta and the win on the Champs-Elysses was almost comptitive last season, wouldn’t you say?
Brooklyn Chewing Gum: Vlaanderens Mooiste
Natch
still one dimensional to me.
First place in monuments so soooooo overrated, 2nd is were it's at.
They should just pick up Contador and Horner.
Then they might just be the greatest dynasty of all time. GT’s, Hilly Classics, Northern Classics, and some sprints. Then they might be alright.
by Vlaanderen90 on Apr 16, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Erm
The posts that disappeared were replies to a post that has been hidden. Nothing nefarious – just Not Safe for Most Workplaces.
Deleted
Sui hid the picture til I had a chance to look at it. WE DO NOT ALLOW POSTING NUDITY OR OVERLY SEXUAL CONTENT HERE. I am not personally troubled by it but it complicates people’s access to this site, so since it has no value to the Cafe besides a little laugh, the rule is that you cannot post it.
Frinking is now on double-secret probation. Well, maybe not secret…
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 16, 2009 6:15 PM EDT reply actions
First they came for the Olsen Twins . . .
and when they finally took the Benna down, there was no one left to speak for him.
Search for Olosn twins in google (images) and I think you know which picture I posted :)
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
"WE DO NOT ALLOW POSTING NUDITY OR OVERLY SEXUAL CONTENT HERE"
then how the hell have the gals gotten away with all those hotitude threads?
First place in monuments so soooooo overrated, 2nd is were it's at.
Um. Tasteful arty sport nudes vs. party snapshots of tackily-clad breastful girls?
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
How is Tom Boonen getting a nude mud bath tasteful?
that image has given me many nightmares!
First place in monuments so soooooo overrated, 2nd is were it's at.
That was Benna.
No wonder you have nightmares.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
I'm pretty sure there was one of Boonen as well
First place in monuments so soooooo overrated, 2nd is were it's at.
In a mud bath? I think I would remember.
We’ve had the nude helmet ad and a couple of massage pics of Tommeke—oh, and the video of the commercial where he takes a shower—but if there are mud bath pics, I haven’t seen those.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
I bet it's not memory
but a very clever spreadsheet that’s simultaneously collating statistics for those cold winter off-season nights.
All the naughty bits were covered
Has to be Work-safe. For sure, some of the hottitude threadies flirt with crossing the line. But generally it’s all good.
So a naked Thomas Dekker
generously greased in baby-oil is tasteful?
Oh, man. Time to work on the ol' winter spreadsheet again.
"Sean Kelly? Sorry, I am not so good with cycling history. I just want to race." --Edvald Boasson Hagen
I agree Monty. Definitely a double standard.
Greased up naked from the rear Dekker is not safe for work and it is overly sexual. IMO anyways. Not that I didn’t enjoy it but fair is fair.
by ZoeRochelle on Apr 16, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, I wasn't objecting as such
that photo’s become part of the syntax of this place, something structural, and it would be quite different without it. Now we just need to find some female equivalent, to provide a bit of balance. A Yang for Dekker’s Ying, as it were, and the Olsen Twins just don’t fit the bill. So I guess that we just need to look a bit harder.
Now we just need to find some female equivalent, to provide a bit of balance.
nah, 99.9 % of the internet is the balance.
I ignore the hotitude threads usually, but don’t object ….. but the female version (with the pushing of boundaries)? No thanks. ….. I am fine with a little bit of a double standard.
Regardless, I have been cycling really hard this year motivated by Dekker’s fabulous butt …..
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
Oh I didn't mean anything seedy
more something fun, or funny, or at least non-serious. I don’t usually enter the hotitude threads either (actually I’m too scared to go in there), but whenever hotitude pops up in other threads I’m impressed with how good natured it all is. I doubt very much if men could do the same thing without it attracting weirdos, lechs and general nastiness.
Sorry Chris.. My apoligize...
Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Franzoi wins Parijs-Roubaix and I win a date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak..
don't worry
CQRanking.com, you complete me.
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 17, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
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