Astana Cycling Team

Team Astana 2009 was the first team for Lance Armstrong after his super comeback.
Alberto Contador wearing jersey of the same team won the main Grand Tour – Le Tour de France.
The history is made on our eyes. And now the last chance to buy original Astana 2009 team kit.

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• Astana Team Replica Short Sleeve Jersey
  

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According to Kazakhstan Cycling Federation the Astana Team has signed two Australian riders - Davis brothers.
We would like to remind that Allan Davis (born in 1980) is sufficiently strong sprinter, winner of the Tour Down Under-2009 (PT-race), he has also wins on stages of Eneco Tour, Tour of Poland, Deutschland Tour and other prestigious races.
His elder brother is much less well-known rider, Scott Davis (born in 1979) raced for Ceramica Panaria and T-Mobile teams, in 2009 he was part of the continental Fly V Australia. Among the most outstanding achievements - his gold medal in the team pursuit on the track among riders under 19 years.

New Astana team taking shape in Tuscany - CyclingWeekly.co.uk

Friday, 11 December 2009, Stephen Farrand

The 'new' 2010 Astana team is slowly taking shape with team leaders Alberto Contador, Alexandre Vinokourov and Oscar Pereiro joining their team mates for training at the squad's first training camp in Tuscany.

Contador, Vinokourov and Pereiro happily posed for photographs on Friday morning before heading out for a two-hour spin around Pisa.

The team has gathered in Tuscany to undergo medical checks with the team's new medical staff based in Pisa. A lack of official team vehicles and equipment showed the team is still scrabbling to get ready for the new season. However, the atmosphere seemed relaxed and jovial. Contador seemed a lot happier without the overbearing presence of former team mate and rival Lance Armstrong. Read the rest of this entry →

siol.net

Rajko Petek, December 10, 2009

Štangelj showed Pisa to Contador

 Slovene cyclist Gorazd Štangelj, who'll be competing for Team Astana next season, had his first training with two-time Tour champion Alberto Contador on Tuesday.

The cyclists of Astana started their first trainings for the new season in Pisa on Tuesday. Since not all arrived in the morning, everyone did their individual training. "As I went for a ride, Contador did the same. Therefore, we went on training together. Since I know the roads around here very well, we were both satisfied. The first impression I got of him is that he's a modest and relaxed guy," so Gorazd Štangelj to Sportal about his first impressions of the team leader. Read the rest of this entry →

Original from Gazzetta.it

Translation - from albertocontadornotebook.info/

MARCA - EFE - Alberto Contador revealed in an interview published in Friday’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport that he had to buy wheels with his own money for a time trial stage at the Tour de France because Astana couldn’t guarantee him the best wheels.

“It happened before the time trial in Monte Carlo. They didn’t have the best wheels for me. So even though it seemed incredible, I had to buy them myself,” he explained.

The winner of the Tour de France, on the other hand, confirmed that he will stay with Astana “only if it’s a ProTour team.” Contador announced yesterday, Thursday, that he will remain with the Kazakh team if they keep their ProTour license and adhere to the code of ethics.

“The license is essential. I want to stay with Astana, but only if it’s a ProTour team. If not, I consider myself a free man,” he explained. Read the rest of this entry →

By PETER LEONARD, Associated Press Writer – Fri Nov 20, 6:58 am ET

ALMATY, Kazakhstan – Kazakhstan's state sovereign fund pledged $22 million in financial backing to the Astana cycling team Friday, ensuring the squad stays alive and Tour de France champion Alberto Contador remains in its ranks.

Astana's current racing license is due to expire at the end of next year, but recurring delays in paying salaries to riders have prompted the International Cycling Union to demand guarantees on the team's financial viability by this week.

"Samruk-Kazyna (state holding) has provided UCI with a guarantee of financial backing worth euro15 million ($22 million) for this season," Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy president Nikolai Proskurin said.

About $3.7 million has been transferred this week to the paying agency that handles team salaries, Proskurin added. Read the rest of this entry →

Thу transfer of Dmitriy Muravyev to the Radioshack team was unexpected for all Astana fans. But he prefered to follow ex-Astana manager Johan Bruyneel and cycling star Lance Armstrong.

Let's wish Dmitriy every success and greatest wins in the new team!

Stangelj alongside with Contador

by Rajko Petek

Slovene cyclist Gorazd Štangelj will be competing for team Astana next season. He signed a one-year contract with the team who is expecting to get the Pro Tour license.

"That's true, I signed a one-year commitment a day prior to the Giro di Lombardia. What forced me to do so was the behaviour of my team that again waited till the last moment to give me an option to extend the contract. They then brought me the contract, but it was just because they've heard that I have a number of other offers. But I told them that this time, I'm determined not to stay. Now everyone is offended, but that's tipical for this kind of deals. That's how it is. I'm sorry that I must leave, but I'm still happy that I decided to join Astana," so the first comments of the most experienced Slovene professional cyclist. Read the rest of this entry →