Big Bikey News...

Hi All,

Some just-breaking news tonight, when it was announced by the UCI that Alberto Contador can leave his contract with Astana due to Astana missing a key administration deadline this week. Essentially, teams have until mid-November to submit to the UCI a budget, a list of riders, sponsorship contracts, etc. However, any team that didn't have this information submitted by the 20th of October (a month before the actual deadline) does open a loophole where riders under contract can leave their contracts without penalty. A number of pro teams did miss this deadline, including Astana, thereby allowing Contador the opportunity to seek employment elsewhere.

Anyhow, if Contador does leave Astana, it is still expected that 3 or 4 other ProTour teams will seek to sign him. Quick Step, Caisse D'Epargne, and Garmin-Slipstream have all expressed interest, and it will be interesting to see what team can provide both the financial backing for Contador as well as providing him a team that can help him win his 3rd Tour de France. Or the Giro d'Italia. Or both.

Quick Step has traditionally been built around Tom Boonen and his preference for one-day race success (Paris-Roubaix, etc) or his desire to compete for the Green Jersey at the Tour de France. They have never been a real Yellow Jersey contender and are not built to support a rider like Contador. However, they are a stable, well-run team.

Garmin-Slipstream is a team that needs Contador. They have been trying to develop a Grand Tour winning team for the past two years, with three stage wins in the Vuelta to show along with a whole bunch of second places. They have been successful in protecting their GC guys the last two Tours, as both Vande Velde in 2008 and Wiggins in 2009 being fairly well-protected by their teammates. Add in Tyler Farrar (who might be the second best sprinter in the world) and Garmin could be a threat on every Grand Tour stage next year with the addition of Contador. Hmmm...

However, the favorite right now might be Caisse d'Epargne. Despite being sponsored by a French bank, this team is filled with Spanish riders such as Alejandro Valverde and Luis Leon Sanchez. For 2010, the team has already signed Christophe Moreau and Mauricio Soler (Polka Dot jersey winner in 2007 Tour) to bolster their lineup. With Contador in the fold, they could field a Grand Tour team that rivals that of Astana in the 2009 Tour (with Contador, Armstrong, Leipheimer, and Kloden). This might be the most appealing option for Contador.

Who knows? Maybe he decides to stay with Astana for one more year. They have really bolstered their team for 2010 lately too, with Gilberto Simoni the latest to join Vinokourov's group for next season. Only Alberto knows right now...we'll keep you posted...