Astana Cycling Team

Alberto Contador powers past a safety barricade of heavy machinery in Tour of Missouri 2007 time trial (Photo by Liz Kreutz)

Wouldn't you like to see our fantastic new Astana team prove their talent in the USA? That would be significant for several reasons.

They are about to lose an opportunity.

The Tour of Missouri is in danger of being cancelled!

Citizens of Missouri and the state legislature have all approved the $1,000,000 sponsorship of the race, but the tourism commission says they will not allocate the money.

Medalist Sports, the Tour of Missouri organizers, say that they will withdraw immediately if the funds are not in place.

If you would like to send a friendly, non-political message in support of the Tour of Missouri, please contact Katie Steele Danner at the tourism office immediately.

Popo, Alberto and Benjamin at the Tour of Missouri, 2007 (Photo by Elizabeth Kreutz)

Today there has been the press conference organized by RCS before the start of the Giro d'Italia, with few riders guest: Cadel Evans, Ivan Basso, Damiano Cunego, Gilberto Simoni, Stefano Garzelli, Carlos Sastre and Alexander Vinokourov.
Here are the answers of the Kazakh leader for the team Astana to the press inquiries:

What is your goal in the Giro in 2010?

I'm here to ride on the Giro for the first time, I think it can bring me a good experience. The legs are there, the motivation too, but we will see day after day, without pressure.

After your victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, do you feel more confident for the Giro, or you're just there to get ready before the Tour de France?

It's hard to judge a race on one day over a three-week race. I currently have a good physical condition, my legs are ready but the last steps will be very hard with very steep climbs. Today, my first objective is to win a stage and wear the pink jersey during few days, but not necessarily the final victory of the Giro.

Why back from your suspension of 2 years you have been invited for the Giro, while Ricco in the same situation can not participate?

I think I showed in the Tour of Trentino that I have good legs. But, I am not the person who decides, it is the organizer and perhaps the UCI. Whatever, if he had been there he would have been a serious opponent for all of us.

Dear Friends / Дорогие друзья,

Is there anyone who is going to Dam Square in Amsterdam on May 8 / Есть кто-то, кто собирается 8 мая на Dam Square в Амстердаме?

Would be grateful if we all could meet at the same place! / Было бы здорово, если бы мы встретились в одном месте!

Thanks / Спасибо

Regards,
Gulshat

One week after his victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Alexandre Vinokourov return in northern Europe. He ride tomorrow the Critérium in Van de Made (Holland)
Astana Cycling Team
Communication Department

Here is the list of riders to be present for the GIRO D’ITALIA:

• Alexandre VINOKOUROV (KAZ)
• Alexandr DYACHENKO (KAZ)
• Enrico GASPAROTTO (ITA)
• Andriy GRIVKO (UKR)
• Valentin IGLINSKY (KAZ)
• Josep JUFRE (ESP)
• Roman KIREYEV (KAZ)
• Gorazd STANGELJ (SLO)
• Paolo TIRALONGO (ITA)

--
Astana Cycling Team
Communication Department

Alberto Contador in the stage of the pavé of the Tour de France

“It was important to come to the pavé for more security”

Photo ContadorInfo

Alberto Contador today hold a press conference few kilometers from the finish of what will be the third stage of Tour de France 2010, after recognizing the seven sectors of pavé including on this event. Contador was joined by Oscar Pereiro and Benjamin Noval, as well as Peter van Petegem, a former Belgian professional and winner of 2003 double  Paris-Roubaix / Tour of Flanders, who did as a guide for the Astana Spaniards.

Alberto Contador said that making this reconnaissance, with a visit to the Arenberg Forest included, facing the stage finish, “is very important. It was essential to know and test the material. That give more security. My conclusions have been good and I finished happy, with good feelings about the behavior of the bike in the pavé sectors, although I am a little tired after Liege. I go back home with a good taste”.

Have you been impressed by the pavé, you're afraid of losing some time?

I have not fear, I have respect for the stage. It will be very complicated, with high tension by being ahead, but in the end the differences will not so important or even not there. It is an important stage, but I do not obsess.

Do you think it is okay to occasionally have a pavé stage in the Tour?

There opinions for all tastes. It is true that this is spectacular, you only need to see how many you are on these reconnaissances, but can also cause a fall on a favorite for the overall and he had to abandon the race. Personally, I prefer not pavé, because it can distort the classification, but the course is there and we have to accommodate to it. Read the rest of this entry →

" While reading the press comments regarding my last victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege I was deeply saddened. I don’t understand this persecution against me. I can’t do anything against the doubts hanging over me since the 2007 case, but I reject all the accusations brought against me today, without any evidence. Since my return in August, I have always been honest with the press, I responded to all requests for interviews, I have hidden nothing.
Ironically, my victory in Liège seems to revive old jealousies for which I am not responsible. The media comments contrast with the hundreds of congratulatory messages from fans that I keep getting on my website and my Facebook page. I don’t understand this discrepancy.
As if I had to be forbidden of success on my bike to leave everyone with a clear conscience. In which sport are we allowed to be at the start of a competition without the right to win?
I love cycling, it gave me everything and I want to give its good things in return. I paid two years on suspension for the dark years of my career. If I repeated that I didn’t want to talk about it, it’s only for the sake of my sport. I don’t think cycling needs to reconsider all these dirty stories to move forward. This is my personal vision of this problem, everybody is not obliged to share it. Obviously my attitude that I consider the most correct and most respectful way possible is one more time misinterpreted. I'm sorry.
Again, I have nothing to hide. Since my come back I have been the subject of more than 30 doping tests, all negatives, including 21 in the context of the Adams. This allows me to validate my biological passport and therefore to run. In Tenerife, where I had my recent training before the Tour of Trentino that rosed the indignation of some journalists, I was subject to two unannounced blood and urine tests in two weeks. I can’t do more than what the sport regulations ask me, to prove my honesty.
Today, I only wish to be respected as I respect everyone, my colleagues in the peloton as the journalists. I don’t want to be the only and too easy target for all the ills of cycling. " Alexandre Vinokourov

Five years after his first victory in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Alexandre Vinokourov has won the double today in Liege arriving alone on the finish line after getting rid of the Russian Kolobnev. Three days after his victory in the Tour of Trentino, the Kazakh leader of Team Astana, is back to the forefront. This is also his first major win since his comeback in August 2009. Alexandre Vinokourov has responded to our questions, just after arrival.

Photo from Astana Team Communication Department

What do you feel after this victory?
An immense happiness. Since my comeback in August 2009, I dreamed of a great victory that would give credit to my decision to return to competition. I always said that if I came back, it was not to make up the numbers. My victory today is the reward for all the sacrifices I made to be again one of the best of the bunch. It is a dream!
What a difference with your victory in 2005?
Everything is different. At the time, I still had many years ahead of me. Since then he a lot of things happened. The suspension of two years, I accepted without denigrating my sport. My return to competition in 2009 was also made to prove who I am. And I'm not a cheater. I knew that my response to this suspension would come on the bike, with my results and nothing else. Therefore, today the victory had an incredible value.
When did you really thought about this victory?
I played with the other of the bunch when Alberto Contador attacked before the final. I almost hidded me a little bit, to let the other favorites take their responsibility. Everything went as we had imagined, with an incredible work of Team Astana for its two leaders. It is also the victory of the Kazakh team. After the final, we had to get rid of Kolobnev, I did not want to risk a sprint double. You never know...
Do you think your current shape will enable you to continue your momentum in the Giro?
I’ve often said that at my age, it was more difficult to target a victory over a long ride. By winning the Tour of Trentino this week just before coming to Liège, I was afraid to be too exhausted. Finally, I had energy remaining and it's a good sign for the Giro. This is the first time in my career that I will participate and I'm going there with ambitions. I can’t forget that even before I came back last August, Angelo Zomegnan the organizer of the Giro immediately assured me that I was welcome on his event. So, I’ll be there in few days with pride. And that victory today opens new perspectives. "