Pro-cycling thread

@inrng reporting this morning that the UCI have recommended that their License Comission withdraw Astana's license following the audit undertaken by the University of Lausanne.

UCI showing muscle. wonder whether they'll press on.

UCI never press anything on powerful(&moneyworth) affiliates - the statement is a free lunch (without the good taste).

Do it!

They, under McQuaid, got their fingers burnt last time they tried this with Katusha. Id guarantee that this time they have a water tight case.

Vino 4 eva!

The UCI considers that the ISSUL audit has, among other things, revealed a big difference between the policies and structures that the team presented to the Licence Commission in December and the reality on the ground.

Hopefully tinkov can't afford good lawyers.

Nibali to Etixx-Quickstep, Aru to Sky

Already the rumours and vultures are circling

Would Sky dare go with an ex Astana rider?

Depends on how their bio-passport data looks.

Let us not forget that despite lots of digging, no-one has yet managed to turn up some dirt on Nibali. Talk is cheap, but he's been consistently vocal against doping since he was a neo-pro.

I also really hope Fabio is clean, I really like him as a rider.

Does this make Aru cheap for my velogames league?

+1

I like Nibali too. I hope they can move on (relatively) undamaged.

I'd expect Astana to appeal to CAS. So that'll take time, and they'd probably appeal in the meantime to suspend any ban from racing. Only Nibali, his advisers and the team know where he stands contractually so this could take some time to resolve.

Poor Boom!

[edit] As above, they will surely keep racing in the interim, at least allowing riders time to jump ship.

Supposedly Nibali's contractual arrangements with Specialized could facilitate a move to E-Q, according to the Twitter rumour mill

He's going to Alonso's team

And subject Nibali to the Leferve kiss of death when it comes to GC aspirations. Do not want.

How do these Twitter people get access to private contractual obligations so easily?

As I said, just a rumour, but presumably because Specialized sponsor both teams, and prominent individual riders will have other clauses built in to promote the brands. Perhaps Specialized foresaw the demise of Astana...

Ha... That's how rumours start.

Sshh, don't tell anyone

I heard the P in AndyP actually stands for Pee.

And a great big "Happy Birthday" to Geoffrey Pizzorni who is Astana's press officer, hope you had a great day.

Rote Karte für Astana

The interview with Freddie Kessiakoff on Velonews gives a bit of perspective of Vino's management style :/