Giro to welcome Astana?

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http://www.velonews.com/article/73748/contador-wins-mountaintop-duel

"Rumors are flying in Spain that Giro d’Italia organizers are reconsidering their decision and might welcome Astana to the season’s first major stage race. Vuelta a España officials reiterated Wednesday that Astana will be welcome, but warned that any hint of scandal could see the team lose its spot. "


Just picked this paragraph from the Velonews race report from Vuelta a Castilla y León. Is this old news, just a rumor or some new turn I've completely missed? So what are your thoughts on this? Anyone (cyclingheroes) have any real info?

http://www.velonews.com/article/73748/contador-wins-mountaintop-duel

"Rumors are flying in Spain that Giro d’Italia organizers are reconsidering their decision and might welcome Astana to the season’s first major stage race. Vuelta a España officials reiterated Wednesday that Astana will be welcome, but warned that any hint of scandal could see the team lose its spot. "


Just picked this paragraph from the Velonews race report from Vuelta a Castilla y León. Is this old news, just a rumor or some new turn I've completely missed? So what are your thoughts on this? Anyone (cyclingheroes) have any real info?

So the Giro organisers are going to welcome an Astana team with question marks over Contador (OP) and Kloeden (dodgy vits) whilst the Vuelta, who have offered an invitation, are basically telling them not to let the Kloeden situation get out of hand or the invitation will be withdrawn?

Sorry, I think this 'rumour flying around in Spain' is more wishful thinking. And Contador's roid rage antics don't do him any favours.

Sounds like a rumour and that's it. But then again, in these days, I take all of these rumours somewhat seriously. Never say never in the world of professional cycling anymore... :o

The race will be better without Astana. As it stands there are several riders who could win. Simoni still has a shot at winning. Ricco will be there to challenge. et cetera.

If Astana is there then Contadope will walk away with it. It will be about as exciting as the 2006 Giro.

The race will be better without Astana. As it stands there are several riders who could win. Simoni still has a shot at winning. Ricco will be there to challenge. et cetera.

If Astana is there then Contadope will walk away with it. It will be about as exciting as the 2006 Giro.Maybe they should handicap the races... like they do with horse racing. The better riders have to carry weights on their bike... depending on their chances/palmares... :rolleyes: :D . That would make it interesting.

A close race is a bonus for us spectators... but obviously it shouldn't be the aim. That would be like saying that it would be boring watching Eddie Merckx ride today b/c he invariably wins. It is slightly hypocritical of RCS to chastise teams that don't send their best riders to their event... then to not invite the strongest rider in the world atm by not inviting his team... on the basis that Astana are probably doping.

But I don't want to start/open up this argument again. It is just going to be an interesting asterisk on premiere events like the TdF when beside the winner there is a footnote saying that arguably the strongest GT rider in the world wasn't allowed to compete that year because he wasn't invited.

Maybe they should handicap the races... like they do with horse racing. The better riders have to carry weights on their bike... depending on their chances/palmares... :rolleyes: :D . That would make it interesting.

A close race is a bonus for us spectators... but obviously it shouldn't be the aim. That would be like saying that it would be boring watching Eddie Merckx ride today b/c he invariably wins. It is slightly hypocritical of RCS to chastise teams that don't send their best riders to their event... then to not invite the strongest rider in the world atm by not inviting his team... on the basis that Astana are probably doping.

But I don't want to start/open up this argument again. It is just going to be an interesting asterisk on premiere events like the TdF when beside the winner there is a footnote saying that arguably the strongest GT rider in the world wasn't allowed to compete that year because he wasn't invited.Well, now that you opened it. I don't think it's at all fair either. They should invite the best teams. There's not a clean team out there, so why make a distinction. This year's racing (Paris-Nice) is already a farce. Although, MSR was pretty cool.

I guess the benefit is you can see Cadel attack this year since he has no real competition. I think I might head out for a ride and challenge the kids on their dirt bikes so I feel like Cadel.

Well, now that you opened it. I don't think it's at all fair either. They should invite the best teams. There's not a clean team out there, so why make a distinction. This year's racing (Paris-Nice) is already a farce. Although, MSR was pretty cool.

I guess the benefit is you can see Cadel attack this year since he has no real competition. I think I might head out for a ride and challenge the kids on their dirt bikes so I feel like Cadel.Let us see what happens in the Tour. With this year's results continuing to yield surprises, it just might be entertaining and we just might be surprised by who shows up being competitive...

Let us see what happens in the Tour. With this year's results continuing to yield surprises, it just might be entertaining and we just might be surprised by who shows up being competitive...Or maybe just as it seems clear who the winner will be they'll pull him from the race....just to keep us guessing. You can only get that kind of suspense and drama in pro cycling.

But I don't want to start/open up this argument again. It is just going to be an interesting asterisk on premiere events like the TdF when beside the winner there is a footnote saying that arguably the strongest GT rider in the world wasn't allowed to compete that year because he wasn't invited.
Contador isn't really the strongest. Basso, Ullrich, Rasmussen and Landis could beat him. Also Evans might have won last year if it wasn't for Rasmussen working with Contador.

Let us see what happens in the Tour. With this year's results continuing to yield surprises, it just might be entertaining and we just might be surprised by who shows up being competitive...
I think that's quite possible. A surprise winner for one of the GTs could very well happen.

Contador isn't really the strongest. Basso, Ullrich, Rasmussen and Landis could beat him. Also Evans might have won last year if it wasn't for Rasmussen working with Contador.Basso, Ras, and Landis..yes. Ullrich no - He would've been dropped like a rock on those climbs and couldn't make up the time in the TT. However, it sure would've been nice to see.

Well, now that you opened it. I don't think it's at all fair either. They should invite the best teams. There's not a clean team out there, so why make a distinction. This year's racing (Paris-Nice) is already a farce. Although, MSR was pretty cool.

I guess the benefit is you can see Cadel attack this year since he has no real competition. I think I might head out for a ride and challenge the kids on their dirt bikes so I feel like Cadel.As you said teams are doping, so to have more or less doped teams don't give a real sport value to the race. That is just entertainement. Finally with less doped teams, the Paris-Nice show was smarter and more exciting.

As you said teams are doping, so to have more or less doped teams don't give a real sport value to the race. That is just entertainement. Finally with less doped teams, the Paris-Nice show was smarter and more exciting.Is the ProTour true sport or entertainment? I'd argue it's the latter.

Basso, Ras, and Landis..yes. Ullrich no - He would've been dropped like a rock on those climbs and couldn't make up the time in the TT. However, it sure would've been nice to see.
I doubt it. Contador only beat Evans by 23 seconds. Ullrich was in another league.

I doubt it. Contador only beat Evans by 23 seconds. Ullrich was in another league.In 1996 and 97. The last couple years he looked terrible on the climbs, relatively speaking of course.

I think I might head out for a ride and challenge the kids on their dirt bikes so I feel like Cadel.ROFL... just remember that to attack... you have to stop wheelsucking before the finish line... :p

In 1996 and 97. The last couple years he looked terrible on the climbs, relatively speaking of course.
I think that in his last two tours he was the third strongest climber after Basso and Ullrich.

Here are the results from the stages that finished on a climb in 2005:

Stage 10:
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 4.50.35 (36.65 km/h)
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel
3 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 0.09
4 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne
5 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 1.02
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 1.15
7 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Lampre-Caffita 2.14
8 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
9 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile Team
10 Andrei Kashechkin (Kaz) Credit Agricole
11 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems
12 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir
13 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team



1 Georg Totschnig (Aut) Gerolsteiner 5.43.43 (38.491 km/h)
2 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel 0.56
3 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 0.58
4 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team 1.16
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 1.31
6 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems
7 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 1.47
8 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
9 Andreas Klöden (Ger) T-Mobile Team 2.06
10 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.20
11 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 3.06
12 Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi 3.35
13 Jörg Jaksche (Ger) Liberty Seguros-Würth 4.03
14 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto


1 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 6.06.38 (33.63 km/h)
2 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 0.06
3 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita) Credit Agricole 0.38
4 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 0.57
5 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.19
6 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC 5.04
7 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel
8 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) T-Mobile Team 6.28
9 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team
10 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank 6.32
11 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne
12 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 7.33
13 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner 7.54
14 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Credit Agricole 8.14
15 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 8.47
16 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto



1 Marcos Serrano (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth 4.37.36 (40.85 km/h)
2 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone 0.27
3 Axel Merckx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
4 Xabier Zandio (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne 1.08
5 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas-Bianchi
6 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.28
7 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC
8 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile Team 1.44
9 Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.03
10 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Française Des Jeux 2.38
11 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto 11.18
12 Lance Armstrong (USA) Discovery Channel
13 Ivan Basso (Ita) Team CSC
14 Jan Ullrich (Ger) T-Mobile Team
15 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile Team 11.55
16 Michael Rasmussen (Den) Rabobank
17 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner
18 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Illes Balears-Caisse d'Epargne
19 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 12.01
20 Floyd Landis (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems 12.07

I think that in his last two tours he was the third strongest climber after Basso and Ullrich.
Ulrich was sick during the at least the first half of the 2004 Tour. He crashed twice during the 2005 one.

Well, now that you opened it. I don't think it's at all fair either. They should invite the best teams. There's not a clean team out there, so why make a distinction. This year's racing (Paris-Nice) is already a farce. Although, MSR was pretty cool.

I guess the benefit is you can see Cadel attack this year since he has no real competition. I think I might head out for a ride and challenge the kids on their dirt bikes so I feel like Cadel. You obviously don't rate Sastre, Menchov, Cunego or Valverde very highly.

You obviously don't rate Sastre, Menchov, Cunego or Valverde very highly.Sastre, Menchov, and Cunego have never shown themselves to be potential winners. I thought Valverde would be the next heir to the crown, but something dramatic happened to him last year... We'll see what he looks like this year.