Is Johan Bruyneel “throwing a bone’ to Alberto Contador?

It’s 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 now.

There is little doubt that Bruyneel is headed to run Lance Armstrong’s Radio Shack Cycling team next year. Astana team management has reportedly asked him to resign immediately, but Bruyneel has refused. If the team is unable to replace Bruyneel, there is the potential that they could lose their Pro Tour license. Former Rabobank manager Theo de Rooij has made a verbal agreement to run the team, but nothing has been signed.

Contador’s brother fan is said to have asked three different people who was running Astana and received three different answers.

Just my opinion, here, but I have to wonder if Bruyneel’s moves (or lack thereof) are intended to allow Contador to get out of his Astana and contract and to possibly smooth over some of the difficulties between Contador and Armstrong.

UCI President Patrick McQuaid has said that the team has made all of their necessary financial guarantees through the end of 2010.

Tags: alberto contador, astana, cycling, johan bruyneel, Lance Armstrong, Patrick McQuaid, pro tour, Rabobank, radio shack, radio shack cycling, team management, UCI