Astana

[soulspinner]

The UCI recommends Astanas protour license be withdrawn. What does Nibs do now???

[Tandem Rider]

He just keeps on racing and training.

It's Vino's job to help the UCI make it look good for the public.

They have options, like in the past, a "donation" was required. Now that it's public, they might have to include a management change with the donation.

I suspect the money in Kazakhstan will make sure that the team continues to make a return on their investment.

[Gat64]

It seems this "ruling" will be challenged and dragged on for quite a while so I think Nibali is safe for the summer - right or wrong.

[bluesea]

I consider Nibali dirty--he followed the money to a dirty team. Lets see some consequences. Hopefully Cookson will get his ducks in a row.

[peanutgallery]

Sword rattling on the part of the UCI? Probably an end game, I'll believe when I see it.

A fitting and well deserved end to Astana if this is how it plays out and it should be followed by Katusha and Tinkoff. I get the felling that those 3 teams are the dirtiest and management actively push the cheating of all stripes

[PQJ]

The UCI recommends Astanas protour license be withdrawn. What does Nibs do now???

Find another team who can keep him on the same 'program'?

[FlashUNC]

Whether or not he's on jet fuel to get him uphill, those downhill skillz are all Nibali.

Incredible watching him descend.

[MattTuck]

Which is the lesser evil, UCI or Astana? sigh.

[soulspinner]

Whether or not he's on jet fuel to get him uphill, those downhill skillz are all Nibali.

Incredible watching him descend.

I had no idea he could descend like that. Stayed upright and aggressive on the cobbles. Stayed out of trouble...

[45K10]

Whether or not he's on jet fuel to get him uphill, those downhill skillz are all Nibali.

Incredible watching him descend.

No joke Nibali is one of the top descenders in the peloton. He is right there with Sagan, Cancellera and Kwiatkowski IMO

[bluesea]

Which is the lesser evil, UCI or Astana? sigh.


UCI as represented by Cookson, or UCI the entrenched euro bureaucracy?

[MattTuck]

UCI as represented by Cookson, or UCI the entrenched Euro bureaucracy?

Touché!

I guess time will tell.

[Uncle Jam's Army]

Apparently, they had one drink too many at the Last Chance Saloon.

[Waldo]

Too much Vino. Went to his head...

[Neil]

INRNG had a good article on this, worth a read.

I really hope the UCI sticks to their guns and Astana have their licence revoked - would prove that a corner has been turned.

[bikerboy337]

will be sad if they don't lose their license in my opinion... if they want to clean up the sport, get serious and toss the dopers and doping teams out...

[bikingshearer]

I consider Nibali dirty--he followed the money to a dirty team. Lets see some consequences. Hopefully Cookson will get his ducks in a row.

Going to Astana doesn't make Nibali dirty. It makes him eager to get the biggest possible salary (hardly a sin) and something of a risk-take with his professional life (his right). The known risk of associating with with a program clearly in the cross-hairs because of past bad acts appears to be biting him in the backside now, although it worked out okay for him last year. But that does not mean he is dirty. Doesn't mean he's clean, but it doesn't mean he's dirty, either.

[soulspinner]

Too much Vino. Went to his head...

:p

[bluesea]

Report: Astana facing March 20 deadline for licence defence

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-astana-facing-march-20-deadline-for-licence-defence