Astana team close to folding

[inc]

Looks like Astana are in financial trouble.
www.cyclingnews.com - the world centre of cycling

[αdαmsκι]

Ah ha. That may explain why Lance has been making noises about setting up his own team.

[Climberruss]

Latest on BBC suggests that Lance and Johan Bruyneel may take over the team.

BBC SPORT | Other sport... | Cycling | Armstrong ponders Astana takeover

[Zoidburg]

This is a tale of diminishing possibility, the rot set in when he broke his collar bone and now no bugger wants to be saddled with the vanity project of a rider who is getting on a bit to be honest.

How far Lance will take this I do not know, if he set up a team that would be possibly be a good thing but will he expect to be in it and for other younger and more hungry riders to carry him to some stage wins?

[GruB]

Yes, but from what I've been reading it will hinge upon the UCI transfering the licence to ARMSTRONG/BRUYNEEL.  With ARMSTRONG's power in the cycling world I can't see this being a real hurdle as long as the law books allow it to happen.

[JohnP]

"For a full season it's $14 to $20m. That's a serious decision and can't be made in 20 to 30 days."


Is that about the low end that is being suggested for a season of 2-car F1 ?  Maybe $30m.

Imagine the "man in the street" if it were widely known.  "F1 is known to be expensive but ... how much can it cost to ride a bike"


btw I'm not the man in the street.  Riders (stars, specialists, domestiques, acadamey etc), managers, coaches, transport, hotels for a full year.

[αdαmsκι]

F1 are currently talking about a £40 million budget cap & that will exclude stuff like marketing, driver salaries, hospitality blah blah, so $20 million for a cycling team, while still a lot of money isn't quite at the level of F1. And remember, without the budget cap F1 teams have been spending £100s millions.

[alexb]

F1 are currently talking about a £40 million budget cap & that will exclude stuff like marketing, driver salaries, hospitality blah blah, so $20 million for a cycling team, while still a lot of money isn't quite at the level of F1. And remember, without the budget cap F1 teams have been spending £100s millions.

Don't forget that F1 teams get an undisclosed sum from F1 management in fees and prizes for each race they turn up at.

[ChrisO]

If Armstrong means what he says about promoting Livestrong and cancer awareness one also has to wonder whether they could not find better ways to spend $14-20m.

There must be a fairly small number of people who will be exposed to the message by Armstrong and Astana who are not already aware of him and his story / campaign.

[Hot Flatus]

This is a tale of diminishing possibility, the rot set in when he broke his collar bone and now no bugger wants to be saddled with the vanity project of a rider who is getting on a bit to be honest.

Wrong on every count I think.  Armstrong is unpaid in Astana... he's hitching a ride for free, alledgedly in order to promote his cancer charity. Astana had nothing to lose and everything to gain by letting him in.  Just look at how many races wanted him in.... the giro are paying him a $2,000,000 appearance fee.

Astana includes Contador, the best grand tour rider, and Leipheimer who is a Giro contender.

I'd say if Astana folds it's a dead cert Armstrong and Bruyneel will pick it up.

[Rich753]

B~gger, I really hoped Armstrong would do a season then sod off to triathlon, where I'd expect him to perform reasonably well but I wouldn't need to take any notice of him