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Vinokourov says he WILL ride for Astana when his ban ends…

And anyone who doesn't like it can leave, that means you Johan...

Speaking at a press conference in Monaco yesterday banned Kazakh rider Alexander Vinokourov was adamant that he would be returning to the Astana team, come what may, when his current ban from cycling ends on 24 July. If the any of the current management set-up don't like that fact, they can leave – and that includes team boss Johan Bruyneeel.

"I will return to professional cycling on July 24," Vinokourov told the press conference.
"Astana was created in 2006, it is our baby, I would not want to join another team.

"I am negotiating with Johan Bruyneel, but the Kazakhstan cycling federation wants me to ride in this team.

"This team was created for me and it is down to me and I don't see why I should not return.

"If he doesn't want me then he should leave the team."

Bruyneel's silence on the subject of Vinokourov's return to Astana has been telling, although he was a rival respected by Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador seemed comfortable with the possibility of his return talking to the Associated Press last year:

“…the truth is that the relationship I had with him whenever we happened to meet was always good.

"It would be like just another normal rider coming to the team."

Indeed Contador went on to say that he would find it easier to work with Vinokourov than this season's big comeback story, Lance Armstrong:

"The only thing is that at the Tour de France, where we have the same objective, it's better that the whole team knows who the leader is," Contador said back in September. A situation that's been sorted to his satisfaction.

Given the funding problems that have beset Astana in recent months there has to be some doubt as to wether the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation can afford a team containing Vinokourov and Contador plus the likes of Klöden and Popovych. Luckily for the Kazakhs Armstrong currently rides for nothing. The team has found a new Kazakh backer: Samruk-Kazyna – a body which administers Kazakhstan' national assets – has stumped up $9 million dollars to fund the team for 2009.

The possibility has to be that Bruyneel and his management compnay plus the majority of the current riders will move on for 2010. If Bruyneel is resistant to Vinokourov's return and the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation back their country's most famous rider the crunch will come quickly after the Tour because Vino insists that he wants to ride the Tour of Poland and then the Vuelta.

Vino meanwhile dreams of competing in the Tour de France again and clearing his reputation with HIS team.

"I will race for one or two years maximum, for my children and to rehabilitate my image on the world stage.

"Over the last two years I have followed cycling on television, it is my passion.

"I only stopped riding for a few months in 2007, I have cycled with friends a lot in the last two years.

"It was always my dream to compete in another Tour de France."

road.cc's founder and first editor, nowadays to be found riding a spreadsheet. Tony's journey in cycling media started in 1997 as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike, acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus. He launched his first cycling website - the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century. In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008, when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc - finally handing on the reins in 2021 to Jack Sexty. His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ - which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994. His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes, though he'd like to own a carbon bike one day.

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4 comments

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sockpuppet | 14 years ago
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pro cycling is a funny place...

convicted drug cheat attempts to take moral high ground

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Alankk | 14 years ago
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Doesn't he look like a Roman God, certainly speaks like one  1

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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Yes, as far I understand it the riders, or at least the top ones, have contracts with Bruyneel's management company and that has a contract with Astana, the Kazakh Cycling Federation hold the team's Pro Tour licence.

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cat1commuter | 14 years ago
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I think Contador has too close a relationship with Bruyneel to stay behind in Astana if Bruyneel leaves for a new team.

And isn't it Bruyneel who holds the ProTour licence?

I don't think ASO would be very happy to see Vinokourov in any of their races, including the Tour de France.

Vino was incredibly stupid to do what he did when he did. He was set up for life with the Astana team, and was very popular with the fans as he battled on despite his injuries in the 2007 Tour. I just hope he gets properly punished for his stupidity and the whole thing comes crashing down round his ears.

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