No Tour for Astana

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http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo/alberto-contador-correra-tour/dasclm/20080213dasdascic_1/Tes

Too bad, I would have liked to see them race there...

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo/alberto-contador-correra-tour/dasclm/20080213dasdascic_1/Tes

Too bad, I would have liked to see them race there...

If its true thats good news....... we just don't need them in the Tour..... Jorge Jackse just about confirmed that Contador was involved in Puerteo........ I also read that Graham Watson had signed on to be the official photographer for Astana... whats all that about ?

If its true thats good news....... we just don't need them in the Tour..... Jorge Jackse just about confirmed that Contador was involved in Puerteo........ I also read that Graham Watson had signed on to be the official photographer for Astana... whats all that about ?Le Tour has to seriously consider that no one believes in their most recent winners. Can they really take the chance on having yet another winner with a suspicious victory. I don't see how Basso and Ulle can be DNA tested/sanctioned over Puerto but AC cannot. If this is true then ASO will have to ban Valv(Piti) too - unless both riders are willing to undertake DNA tests against the Puerto blood bags.

http://lalomagne.blog50.com/images/medium_champagne.jpg

:D

It's the beginning of a new era....

I hope it's right

Can anyone else confirm this?

Yes I can, It's on L'Equipe web site, so it should be right.
http://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/20080213_145644Dev.html
Information L'Equipe : L'équipe Astana et son leader, Alberto Contador, vainqueur du Tour de France 2007, ne sont pas retenus sur le Tour de France 2008 ni sur aucune autre course d'Amaury Sport Organisation, cette saison.

ASO a justifié sa décision par « des dommages causés par cette équipe au Tour de France et au cyclisme en général, tant en 2006 qu'en 2007. L'équipe Astana a en effet trahi, l'année dernière, la confiance des organisateurs qui l'avaient invitée sur la foi, déjà, d'une rénovation affichée par ses dirigeants. Toutefois, l'équipe ayant à nouveau changé, ASO restera attentive aux efforts qu'Astana mettra en oeuvre pour vivre une saison 2008 sans affaires et sans soupçons, et pourra alors considérer son éventuelle candidature pour ses futures épreuves ».

En 2007, plusieurs affaires de dopage avaient concerné l'équipe Astana. Elle avait même dû quitter le Tour de France après l'annonce du contrôle positif de son ancien leader, le Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov.

L'Américain Levi Leipheimer, qui était monté sur la troisième marche du podium du Tour 2007, et l'Allemand Andreas Klöden sont, du coup, eux aussi, privés de Tour de France cette année.Machine translation:
Information Team: The team Astana and its leader, Alberto Contador, winner of the Tour de France 2007, are not retained on the 2008 Tour de France or any other course of Amaury Sport Organisation, this season.

ASO has justified its decision by "damage caused by the team in the Tour de France and cycling in general, both in 2006 and 2007. The team Astana has indeed betrayed last year, the confidence of organizers who had asked about faith already a renovation shown by its leaders. However, the team that has changed again, ASO remain alert to efforts qu'Astana implement to live a 2008 season without trade and without suspicion, and will then consider its possible application for future tests. "

In 2007, several cases of doping were concerned the team Astana. She had even been forced to leave the Tour de France after the announcement of the positive control of its former leader, the Kazakh Alexandre Vinokourov.

American Levi Leipheimer, who was mounted on the third step of the podium of the Tour 2007, and German Andreas Klöden are, in fact, also deprived of the Tour de France this year.

:D

It's the beginning of a new era....

I hope it's rightNot if Valv (Piti) gets to ride it's not.

Yes' it's true:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13022008/58/tour-de-france-2008-contador-miss-le-tour.html

ASO is using its powers to get even for past hurts... really just looking at the 08 teams, why invite Caisse d'Eparge (with Valverde) over Astana (with Contador).

But add in the years of Bruyneel & UCI 'friendship', UCI trying to strongarm ASO, the humiliation brought by Vino, et voila, Discatana is out.

and now we get months of french bashing on cycling forums.... sigh

ASO is using its powers to get even for past hurts... really just looking at the 08 teams, why invite Caisse d'Eparge (with Valverde) over Astana (with Contador).

But add in the years of Bruyneel & UCI 'friendship', UCI trying to strongarm ASO, the humiliation brought by Vino, et voila, Discatana is out.

and now we get months of french bashing on cycling forums.... sighThe DP forums must be lit up like a Christmas tree right now! I think it is a good thing. It is a clear signal. I would just like a clear signal sent in Valv(Piti)'s direction as well. What does this mean for Levi and Andreas? Where exactly are they going to race this year? California? Will AC get the Vuelta nod? Perhaps not of ASO buy the race from Unipublic as has been mooted.

ASO is using its powers to get even for past hurts... really just looking at the 08 teams, why invite Caisse d'Eparge (with Valverde) over Astana (with Contador).

But add in the years of Bruyneel & UCI 'friendship', UCI trying to strongarm ASO, the humiliation brought by Vino, et voila, Discatana is out.

and now we get months of french bashing on cycling forums.... sighShould we put musette back on suicide watch?

Should we put musette back on suicide watch?What about the rest of us who have felt suicidal watching Johan and his merry blood doping men steal the Tour every year since 1999?

BTW, is there a list of who has actually been invited? Did Slipstream get an invite?

If Astana doesn't get invited to any of the GTs, it might fold...

The DP forums must be lit up like a Christmas tree right now! I think it is a good thing.
Forget about DP, the paceline members will be jumping off of bridges, buildings, and highway overpasses. This could rival Jonestown.

Vuelta is confirmed (well, if there's not a new dope scandal of course)

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Astana_out_of_Tour_2008_article_180550.html

I still think this was a bad desicion, why allow teams like Rabobank who have done nothing to clear up the mess they caused last year.
Leaving the previous Champ out without failing a dope test is not good for cycling in any means...
Contador is furious.

What about the rest of us who have felt suicidal watching Johan and his merry blood doping men steal the Tour every year since 1999?Were you part of some suicide list? If yes, you can be taken off now. :p

Vuelta is confirmed (well, if there's not a new dope scandal of course)

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/Astana_out_of_Tour_2008_article_180550.html

I still think this was a bad desicion, why allow teams like Rabobank who have done nothing to clear up the mess they caused last year.
Leaving the previous Champ out without failing a dope test is not good for cycling in any means...
Contador is furious.
I guess that Rabobank and the ASO came to an agreement when the ASO was pressuring the team to get rid of Rasmussen. Ras was one case. Astana had Kessler, Vino, Kash, Eddy M., and the team was the new name for Liberty Seguros, which had all its top riders plus its manager involved in OP.

Forget about DP, the paceline members will be jumping off of bridges, buildings, and highway overpasses. This could rival Jonestown.Nah! It may come to that in the end, but right now, the emotion will be anger. There may be more petitions, or even talk of lawsuits. Someone should keep an eye on how they react (do you volunteer Bro?).

All rothen eggs in the same basket, easier to throw its all once !
:D

Nah! It may come to that in the end, but right now, the emotion will be anger. There may be more petitions, or even talk of lawsuits. Someone should keep an eye on how they react (do you volunteer Bro?).
I'll go pick out the choice posts and put them in the Other Forum Follies thread. :)

I'll go pick out the choice posts and put them in the Other Forum Follies thread. :)
I read the posts from Paceline, and I can say that I couldn't be happier. I not only feel contempt for JB and his band of merry centrufuge warriors, but emence contempt for the asshats that post there.

I especially like the conspiracy theory.

Tonight, I will be nestled all snug in my bed, with visions of stomping feet and red faces dancing in my head.