Bike World News

Vino thinks he’ll have Contador as a teammate next year, Compton and Albert still atop UCI ‘cross rankings despite loss today, Skil-Shimano makes final roster additions and more….

Alberto via Vino:

• In an interview with the newspaper ProSport Kazakh, Alexander Vinokourov revealed that UCI president Patrick McQuaid advised Astana against the hiring of Andrey Kashechkin, saying that it would likely jeopardize their already shaky Pro Tour license application. Vino noted in the same article that Astana has paid him for September, but that he has yet to receive his salary for October.
• Vino has faith that Alberto Contador will continue with Astana in 2010 and says that he is willing to sacrifice himself and his goals to work with him. Vino says he’ll focus on the Giro this year if Alberto does not want him on the squad for the Tour de France.
• Dimitri Seduni will join Astana as one of their sporting directors, and will work alongside Giuseppe Martinelli and Guido Bontempi. The 38 year old former pro has been working in a technical role with women’s teams up until now.
• Contador’s manager and brother Fran Contador told reporters that they are very close to staying with Astana, citing difficulties in terminating the existing contract. He stresses that if he does stay, Alberto will just serve out the remaining year of his existing contract and take a wait and see attitude after that. Of course, if Astana does not get their Pro Tour contract, all bets are off.

The Rest of the News:

• Stuart O’Grady has left the hospital after collapsing on Sunday after a quick lap of the MotoGP race of Valencia. Doctors are saying that his collapse was the result of a phyiscal defensive reaction to a stressful situation. His heart rate and blood pressure went up and he had vision problems as well.
• Niels Albert and Katie Compton are both still sitting at the top of the UCI world rankings for cyclocross despite losses today at the Jaarmarktcross in Niel. Sven Nys won today for the men and Marianne Vos and Daphny van den Brand took advantage of a crash late in the race to get past Katie Compton.
• Skil-Shimano has completed their squad line-up for the 2010 season. Robin Chaigneau and Job Vissers both signed for the team this week. Robin Chaigneau (21) was a stagiaire at Skil-Shimano last season. He made a good impression, but at the time the management felt he was too young to make the switch to the professionals. Job Vissers became Dutch amateur champion in Ootmarsum last season, ending ninth among the pros. This season the 24-year-old did not manage a big win, but he made an outstanding impression during his time as a stagiaire at Skil-Shimano, giving a glimpse of what he is capable of as a valuable squad member with regular appearances at the front of the peloton.
• Robert Bartko (Potsdam) and Henning Bommel (Berlin) have extended their contracts with Continental LKT Team Brandenburg in 2010.
• With the addition of Radio Shack and Team Sky to the Pro Tour ranks, wildcard teams such as Skil-Shimano and Vacansoleil are likely to see their chances of getting in lessen. Cervelo and BMC are almost certainly guaranteed spots as they have former World Champs and Tour winners amongst their ranks. An increase in the number of teams, from 24 to 26, has been proposed.
• Bruno Risi is hoping to grab his ninth victory at the Six Days of Munich before his career draws to close at the end of the six day season. He’ll race with Franco Marvulli for this go around.
• Ivan Dominguez is joining the re-titled Jamis-Sutter Home team for 2010, adding some serious sprinter cred to a team already known for its speedmen. Dominguez, a native of Cuba and now a U.S. citizen, has ridden with Saturn, HealthNet, and Toyota-United. (VN)

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