Oh. ok seems there just has been an American press silence on this but
apparently, Bruyneel told the Belgium press, Tuesday, that he was leaving
Astana because the Kaz want their local hero, Vinokourov to come back and
they made that announcement before Bruyneel had ok-ed the deal. More in the
Soap opera "As the Wheel turns" :(



Bruyneel done with Astana (note the date of this article which never made
the American news. I love how they tell us the truth. NOT. ** sigh **)



By:

Laura Weislo

Published:

July 21, 19:35,

Updated:

July 23, 18:39

Edition:

Second
<http://www.cyclingnews.com/editions/second-edition-cycling-news-tuesday-jul
y-21-2009> Edition Cycling News, Tuesday, July 21, 2009

<http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/bruyneel-done-with-astana/65107>
Astana Team Manager Johan Bruyneel before the start of stage one.

Astana Team Manager Johan Bruyneel before the start of stage one.

Armstrong hints at new venture

The Astana team, which has so dominated this year's Tour de France, may be
continuing into the future, but it may well be doing so without the
leadership of manager Johan Bruyneel.

After the Dutch mediator Rini Wagtmans, who has been working with the Kazakh
cycling federation, announced the team's sponsors had intentions of
increasing its budget in the future and extending their contract with Lance
Armstrong and Alberto Contador, Bruyneel told the Belgian media he was done
with the team at the end of the season.

The Astana team has had plenty of troubles with its funding this year, and
the team nearly imploded after weeks of non-payment led the riders to strip
the logos from their jerseys during the Tour of Italy in May. But the
supposed departure of Bruyneel is not just due to the financial problems,
but the return of Kazakh star, Alexander Vinokourov.

"We cannot pretend that nothing happened," Bruyneel said to Het Laaste
Nieuws. "I feel that the Kazakhs don't appreciate what I did. Secondly,
there is the return of Vinokourov.

"I made an appointment with Vino the day before the Tour in Monaco. We would
have discussed a possible return, but a day before that meeting he organized
a press conference in Monaco, in our own hotel!

"He said there that he will ride with Astana and described his program -
without consulting me - and, he says that I have to go if I don't agree.

"One day later the Kazakh Cycling Federation supports Vino and says that
they can fire me very easily, that I made mistakes, etc. I don't think they
still like me. How can I imagine that I will still be with Astana next
year?"

Rumors of a new team being formed by Armstrong have been rife, with the
names Trek and Nike being bandied around as sponsors. Armstrong himself
hinted on his Twitter on Tuesday that "a very cool announcement" will be
made on Thursday regarding "a new American partner for our team in 2010 (and
beyond)".

Whether or not the partner will be affiliated with the Astana team or if a
new team will be created remains to be seen. Wagtmans, who worked with the
Kazakh federation in negotiations with Bruyneel's management company, said
to NRC Handelsblad on Saturday that Vinokourov must remain with the team.
However, he also said that there has been an agreement to continue the team
with Bruyneel, Contador and Armstrong.

"Vinokourov is to Kazakhstan and Asia what Johan Cruijff is to the
Netherlands and Europe. Without their figurehead, the Kazakhs will be
discouraged, and the cycling project will no longer be supported by the
country," said Wagtmans.

"In Kazakhstan they have only one goal: compete in the 2010 Tour with
Contador, Bruyneel and Armstrong."

Regarding the comeback of Vinokourov, he would only say, "Bruyneel and I
have agreed that we will announce Vinokourov's future three days after the
finish of the Tour."





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