Astana Cycling Team

Alberto Contador today achieved a great result at the pavé stage, where only Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans managed to be better than him, among other reasons for failure of the rear wheel, which was braked in the last 30 kilometers and that prevented him from keeping up of its group in the final kilometer. Nevertheless, Alberto said that the result “is for being happy”, referring to the advantage over other leaders.

The mechanical problem he suffered was the first thing he said after crossing the finish line. "I've gone the last 30 km with the rear wheel absolutely braked so at the end and that I had taken a fall, the result is not so bad”.

On the result of Armstrong he would not comment before knowing the classification and to know the differences, but said it was not a matter of “look at what they have done one or another, but to take advantage of all rivals. The team also has been extraordinary and Vino, impressive".

Alberto explained that, despite knowing that the wheel was not right, he chose to continue rather than stopping to change it. "I knew that if I changed the bike would be much worse and I preferred to continue with the wheel braking. I could not stand up, but hey, we saved the day”.

About the differences obtained today he said that are "not so big, and I have to say the truth, I did not know who was ahead and who was behind. The differences are not insurmountable yet”.

His feelings during the stage were initially "pretty bad. I changed the bike at kilometer 100 and then the feeling was aweful, but after the change I've been feeling better and then with all the tension of pavé, I felt very, very comfortable. With the failure I could not done any relay, could not stand up on the pedals and knew I was spending more energy than normal, but could not stop”, and that's why he lost time in the final kilometer. “I could not do more”, he said.

The rest of the Astana riders managed to finish the stage without problems, except Benjamin Noval, also implicated in the crash of Frank Schleck. The Spaniard suffered a heavy blow on the thumb of his right hand and bruises on his back, and right leg and arm, but his general condition is good and will continue in the race normally.

(Automatic translation. Forgive inaccuracies).

Photo: (c) livestrong.com

- First of all, on behalf of all cycling fans in Kazakhstan and your supporters, congratulations on your Tour de France selection, we’ll be very happy to see you there!

- Thank you.

- And the first question, a common one maybe; how are you feeling, are you ready for the three-week marathon, what’s the mood in RadioShack?

- The mood is - to work just like in two previous Grand tours - the 2008 Vuelta and the 2009 Tour de France. So that the captains and the directors are happy; ready for hard work. I hope I am. I was preparing for the Tour since December, and I just rode 14 races in the first half of the year, while other riders rode at least 30.

- What do you think about Lance Armstrong’s form? Although he said in his interviews that he’s ready and that he’s in good form, but he didn’t rate his winning chances too high. What do you think about that? After all RadioShack’s roster looks like the strongest one.

- I think making the best possible result will be our goal, then we’ll see. We have three riders who were standing on the Tour de France podium.
Read the rest of this entry →

Photo: (c) Jacinto Vidarte

Alberto Contador held tomorrow, Friday at 15:00 hours, in the Astana team hotel (NH Capelle, Barbinzonlaan 2, 2908 MA Capelle aan den Ijssel) a Press Conference prior to the start of the Tour de France to all media accredited for the occasion.

On Thursday, the Astana team was training about 3 hours on the outskirts of Rotterdam, but not went the course of the first stage, which had planned to go by car during the afternoon.
Alberto Contador and Alexandre Vinokourov used the training to test their time trial bikes, to which shall ride on Saturday. Contador will take de start of the Tour with a new frame, after having been adjusting the measures in Madrid on a first model, still unfinished and unpainted.

Today's program will be completed this afternoon with the official presentation of the Tour de France teams, an act that usually takes place the day before the race, but this year will be advance to Thursday due that tomorrow will be played the first quarterfinals match of the Soccer World Cup.

The Astana Cycling Team has fixed its final squad for the Tour de France.
Here is the statement of the general manager of the team, Yvon Sanquer:

"The Team Astana that will guide Alberto Contador on the road of the Tour de France
is the result of a long collective team work.
It's a united group full of qualities that will attend Rotterdam on the 3rd of July.
Also with the experimented Alexander Vinokourov the 7 other cyclists that have been
called in to support Alberto Contador will bring their respective strength. They are
ready to help him in the mountains stages as in the flat stages until the arrival in Paris
on the 25th of July."

Here the list of riders engaged for the Tour de France 2010:

- Alberto Contador (SPA)
- Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ)
- David De la Fuente (SPA)
- Andriy Grivko (UKR)
- Jesus Hernandez (SPA)
- Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ)
- Daniel Navarro (SPA)
- Benjamin Noval (SPA)
- Paolo Tiranlongo (ITA)

Dani Navarro was already going strong at Paris-Nice (Photo by Kahane for the Alberto Contador Notebook)

All season, M M Rowe has been putting her support behind Spanish rider Dani Navarro as a sure bet for super-domestique to Alberto Contador in the Tour. M M had him pegged as a winner and a great team player as far back as April.

Astana will finalize the Tour roster any day now, and fans want to see the Asturian who won a brilliant stage at the Dauphiné at Contador's side. Will Dani be there? He must be there!

Here are some of M M’s thoughts from Tour of the Basque Country, multiply that enthusiasm x 100 now.

Dani Navarro Riding Into Form In the Basque Country

by M M Rowe (aka msquared)

I'm watching same day coverage of stage 5 of the 2010 Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco on Universal Sports TV. Coverage begins with 55km to go and Team Astana's Dani Navarro is in the 10-man break of the day. The camera focuses on him several times. I'm pleased to see he's taking his turns in the rotation and riding with relative ease. This is a tough, tough race.

Now it's 23km to go. The 12% grade causes the break to fall apart over the next to the last climb. Dani leads the surviving 3-man escape. Eventually Joachim Rodriguez (Katusha) bridges to Dani's escape group; his teammate launches him solo and he holds on for the stage win. But Dani continues to lead the chase until the final climb (8km left) where they are absorbed into the field. A climb so steep guys are walking their bikes like it's the Koppenberg! Not Dani. He's a warrior. Dani keeps pedaling. He keeps his place in the front group of 20-25 riders which is now the Valverde yellow jersey group containing all the contenders. Alejandro Valverde, Sammy Sanchez, and Chris Horner attack less than 2km from the finish and battle each other to the line for second place. Dani finishes 18th.

Not impressed? Well, how about this? Dani's final GC standing of 23rd was a comeback from over six minutes down in 94th place on stage 1. He only lost one additional minute over stages two through four. Significant names lost that much on stage 4 alone! The indomitable Jens Voight lost 3 1/2 minutes on stage 4; Bradley Wiggins over four minutes. There is no doubt in my mind I'm watching Dani ride himself into form.

Wait! What's that sound? Oh, it's Dani shouting loud and clear, "I want a spot on the Tour team!"

Can you hear him, Mr. Martinelli?

Alberto Contador has decided to renounce to the Spanish time trial Champioship due to a flu process that began to suffer on last Saturday.

"It's a pity, but I'm not able to attend the Spanish Championship because I'm having a little flu. I had wanted to defend the jersey, but unfortunately I am not in good condition and against this I can not do anything", Alberto Contador said today from his place of concentration in the Sierra de Madrid, where he is working in his preparation despite this setback.

Contador, with his teammates Paolo Tiralongo, Dani Navarro, David de la Fuente, JesЗs HernАndez, Benjamin Noval and Oscar Pereiro (the last to join the group, coming from the Tour of Switzerland), is doing an stage in Madrid which will run along this week as the final phase of his training for the Tour de France. During these days, Astana will decide the final roster for the French Tour.

Jacinto Vidarte
Jefe de Prensa / Press Officer

Photo by Jacinto Vidarte

The website of Alberto Contador today opened its online store, a space in which fans of Pinto’s champion will find various items for sale and merchandising related to their idol, since different models of T-shirts to the famous cap that Alberto always used to get on a podium.
The creation and launch of this online store is closely related to Alberto Contador Foundation, dedicated to supporting research on brain stroke and the promotion of cycling among children and cycling in general. Alberto Contador Foundation, which also is in the begining, will be partially suported by this online store as part of their profits will be devoted to the sponsorship of the activities of the Foundation.
Alberto Contador is especially pleased with the launch of this initiative as it responds to strong demand of its fans to be able to purchase any product related to the winner of the Triple Crown, but also by the altruism of the project, as purchases fans will also conduct a special purpose, of fighting cerebral stroke disease and help promote cycling as a sport and cycling as a healthy transport. Read the rest of this entry →

Contador finished the Criterium du Dauphine today sprinting for the green jersey points classification, which won over Janez Brajkovic, who also accompanied as second overall. ?I'm very happy with how I finished this race?, he said. Astana leader claimed victory in the prologue of Evian, his second victory of the season in a time trial, and on the legendary climb to Alpe D'Huez, who was visiting for the first time in his career.

Photo by Jacinto Vidarte

"The assessment I make of this week's competition is very positive. It was a very good preparation for the Tour de France and, furthermore, I have won two stages", said Alberto. "And it has been also a very good performance of the team, with the victory of Dani Navarro included. All team mates have been at a high level and that makes me very confident". Read the rest of this entry →