photo by: NickBarlow
It’s been a constant part of the rumors surrounding Armstrong’s comeback, that should Lance return he would most likely ride for his longtime friend and manager Johan Bruyneel. But it was complicated, Astana had been suspended from last year’s tour as a penalty for doping charges in the previous tour (though almost none of that team remained on the 08 squad), but most importantly the team was already loaded with talent, and GC contenteders including ‘07 Champion Alberto Contador, Andres Kloden and fellow American Levi Leiepheimer.
But at a press conference in New York following his speech at the Clinton Global Initiative, Lance officially declared his intention to join Astana for the 09 season. Lance won’t receive any salary or bonuses as a member of Astana.
“Everybody in cycling has a team and takes a team salary,” he says. “I am essentially racing for free. No salary. No bonus. Nothing on the line.… This one’s on the house. And you know what? At the end of the day, I don’t need money.… Not only will I be fine, my kids will be fine, my grandkids will be fine.1”
Armstrong has made it clear that his main motivation for returning to cycling is to take his fight on cancer to the global stage and not neccesarily to win an eight Tour de France. Anyone who knows Lance though knows he’s not going to half ass his comeback. Since retiring he’s already run two marathons (which he called the ‘hardest physical thing he’s ever done’ and keeps in top physical shape, most recently competing in one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world.
As Lance says:
“I don’t like to lose in anything. Anything.1”
photo by: Bob AuBuchon
Early reports of a Lance comeback had Astana leader and fresh Tour of Spain victor Alberto Contador on the defensive about his role as team leader and the possibility of Lance joining his team. Contador even suggested that he might quit the team if Lance was added.
“It would be quite complicated. I think I’ve earned the right to be the leader of a team without having to fight for it,” Contador said.
“And with Armstrong, there could be difficult situations in which the team would put him first and that would harm me. 2”
Nonetheless early interviews with Contador following Lance’s formal announcement to join Astana have revealed he has no plans as of yet to quit the team and that his manager has assured him he’s still the top rider on the team. Bruyneel also added that Lance has clear motive for returning and that Contador was under contract with the team anyway for another two years.
“I have invested a lot of my time into Alberto’s development and he will remain with this team for the next two years,” said the Astana manager (Johna Bruyneel) in a team statement on Thursday.
“Actually, it’s pretty simple – there’s a contract and there are no options to leave. 3”
- Vanity Fair: Lance Armstrong Rides Again [↩] [↩]
- Velonews: Contador hesitant to ride with Armstrong [↩]
- USA Today: Astana chief seeks teamwork from Contador and Armstrong [↩]
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