Will Alberto Contador jump ship?
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It’s settled. It’s over and done with. At least that’s what Astana team management would lead you to believe regarding Alberto Contador’s commitment to the team for 2010.
After asserting last month that “he remains under contract, a transfer is not negotiable and he will honor his contract,” the Kazakh team has to be frustrated at comments made by the Tour de France winner in which he talks about three “concrete” proposals from other teams for next year. He says that Caisse d’Epargne, Quick Step and Garmin all had expressed interest and offered him a contract.
A move has to be attractive to the Spanish star, who said, “I have my doubts about Astana.” Even with Lance Armstrong leaving Astana to form his own team next year, the arrival of Alexander Vinokourov back in the fold must give Contador pause. Vino has pledged his support to Alberto to help him repeat at the Tour next year. On the other hand, he also made it very clear when speaking to the media just before the TdF prologue in Monaco that the Astana team was formed around him and it was his team.
Doesn’t exactly sound like the hierarchy is clear yet.
Financial problems add to the turmoil at Astana. The team came under fire from the UCI earlier this year for not making their financial guarantees for the riders and saw their Giro d’Italia squad ride in nearly blank jerseys. It was only just before the Tour de France that (seemingly) Lance Armstrong was able to bring in an American sponsor to buoy the team. Not to minimize Contador or his achievements, but with Armstrong gone, can Astana expect to attract and keep the sponsors that they need to stay afloat?
A rider of Contador’s skill and palmares deserves to ride free of loyalty and salary worries. While teams above may be able to afford to buy Contador out, none have a spot open for an undisputed star.
Caisse d’Epargne still looks to Alejandro Valverde for Grand Tour wins.
Garmin seems to have an up-and-coming stage race contender in Bradley Wiggins. Rumors have linked him to the new Sky TV team, which could open up a potential slot, but Garmin owner Jonathan Vaughters seems to not be giving him up.
To me, the combination of Tom Boonen and Alberto Contador at Quick Step feels like the best fit. The team’s strong contingent of Belgian hard men could certainly work hard for Alberto in the big races.
Tags: alberto contador, Alejandro Valverde, alexander vinokourov, Bradley Wiggins, Caisse d'Epargne, garmin, Giro d'Italia, Jonathan Vaughters, Lance, Lance Armstrong, Madrid, Quick Step, team management, Tom Boonen, UCI
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Tags: alberto contador·Alejandro Valverde·alexander vinokourov·Bradley Wiggins·Caisse d'Epargne·garmin·Giro d'Italia·Jonathan Vaughters·Lance·Lance Armstrong·Madrid·Quick Step·team management·Tom Boonen·UCI
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[...] no secret that Alberto Contador wants to leave Astana for a team where he can be the indisputed leader, but he is contractually tied to the team for [...]
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