Kazakhs Support Astana Despite Setbacks, Sponsors Stick With Bruyneel
By Andrew Hood
Feb. 20, 2008
Any race invitation is good news for Team Astana these days. After weeks of reeling from exclusions from such races as the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and some of the major spring classics, the beleaguered team learned Tuesday that organizers of the Circuit de la Sarthe have welcomed the squad to the April race.
That news comes as Astana team boss Johan Bruyneel traveled to Kazakhstan this week to huddle with sponsors to gauge support following the devastating news that Tour champ Alberto Contador would not be allowed to defend his title come July. Despite the cold shoulder from Giro and Tour organizers, team sponsors are firmly backing the new-look Astana team moving forward into what will be a much-depleted racing calendar.
“I am very appreciative of the unconditional support the team has received from our Kazakh sponsors and Prime Minister Danial Akhmetov,” Bruyneel said in a team communiqué. “Though they are frustrated and disappointed by the news and cycling’s political battles, they continue to have faith in this team and new program.” Bruyneel said the team would move forward with an adjusted race schedule that likely should include most of the ProTour events.
Contador, for example, will be racing at the Tour of Murcia in Spain instead of defending his title in Paris-Nice while other team leaders Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Klöden are studying their options. Bruyneel, who led Lance Armstrong to seven straight Tour crowns and pushed Contador to victory in last year’s scandal-plagued Tour, was brought in by team sponsors to help right the Astana ship.
VeloNews
