The road ahead is murky for “Astana” cycling team
Culture and History, Kazakhstan2 Comments
Team Astana zooms through in California. (Photo by Roberto63, Creative Commons usage.)
Unfortunately most latest news about Astana are about its financial problems and not the results. Cash problems have been haunting Astana since April. Before the start of this year’s first Grand Tour - Giro d’Italia - it was revealed that all the team’s Kazakh sponsors except KazMunaiGaz oil company had not fulfilled their obligations.
The team wore outfits with those sponsors’ faded logos starting second week of Giro in protest. The only one who refused to do so was Andrey Zeits - the only Kazakh in this year’s edition. 22-year-old made an amazing Grand Tour debut having finished among 6 strongest young riders in the field.
UCI officials claimed that Astana’s problems harm the image of cycling therefore they threatened to withdraw team’s licence if all the debts wouldn’t be paid till June 10th. The team met the deadline - Kazakh government paid reportedly about 9 million dollars.
But then there was another deadline – June 16th, 17-00 (CET) – UCI required extra guarantee - 6 million euro to ensure team’s licence.
On Wednesday, June 17th it was revealed, that Astana failed to meet that deadline. Although some lawyers claim those requirements are illegal, the team could still be suspended, and consequently, some Tour de France podium finishers may not be participating in this year’s Tour, as well as legendary Lance Armstrong.
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[...] made famous by Lance Armstrong’s arrival). This was at the end of May. However, NewEurasia reported in the last few days that it looks as though the team could be suspended ahead of the July deadline [...]
Why are racers punished for a countries cycling federation
inability to conform to the rules. Why is the World Cycling
Federation a participant to such skewed rules. Why are not
dummy teams set up in the event of a catastrophe such as
Astana. The World Cycling Federation knows only how to
punish the wrong party and defraud riders and their world
audience!
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