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Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
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Contador free to quit as Astana in status limbo
Source: Agencies |
October 24, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TOUR de France champion Alberto Contador is free to leave Astana since the Kazakh team has not yet been granted its elite status for 2010, according to the International Cycling Union's regulations.
Spaniard Contador has repeatedly said he wanted to leave Astana in order to join a team with the capacities to support him in his bid for a third Tour de France victory next year.
On Thursday night, the UCI published a list of teams whose ProTour license, which gives a team the right to take part in the biggest races, had been granted. Astana, along with Team Sky, Caisse d'Epargne, Saxo Bank and Euskaltel Euskadi, were not on the list.
Although they have until November 20 to meet the UCI's requirements to get a ProTour license, the governing body's regulations state that a rider is free to go if his team has not had its license renewed by October 20.
"The rider may terminate the present contract, without notice nor liability for damages if on 20 October of the year preceding a year of registration covered by the present contract, the UCI ProTeam has not submitted a registration file containing the essential documents," the UCI regulations say.
Contador has been contacted by Quick Step and has expressed interest in the Garmin-Slipstream and Caisse d'Epargne teams.
His brother and agent, Fran Contador, told www.as.com: "If this clause exists, we must look at the options that it offers."
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong is expected to miss next May's Giro d'Italia after announcing he will race in the Tour of California.
"I've decided to ride the Tour of California in 2010," the American told Twitter.
The Tour of California starts on May 16 while the Giro, the world's second-biggest stage race, begins on May 8 in Amsterdam.
The full route for next year's Giro will be announced today.
Armstrong raced this year's Giro for the first time as part of his comeback after three-and-a-half years in retirement.
He ended up 12th before going on to finish third in the Tour de France, which he had previously won seven times. Armstrong, who like Contador raced for Astana this year, has set up the new RadioShack team for next season.
Spaniard Contador has repeatedly said he wanted to leave Astana in order to join a team with the capacities to support him in his bid for a third Tour de France victory next year.
On Thursday night, the UCI published a list of teams whose ProTour license, which gives a team the right to take part in the biggest races, had been granted. Astana, along with Team Sky, Caisse d'Epargne, Saxo Bank and Euskaltel Euskadi, were not on the list.
Although they have until November 20 to meet the UCI's requirements to get a ProTour license, the governing body's regulations state that a rider is free to go if his team has not had its license renewed by October 20.
"The rider may terminate the present contract, without notice nor liability for damages if on 20 October of the year preceding a year of registration covered by the present contract, the UCI ProTeam has not submitted a registration file containing the essential documents," the UCI regulations say.
Contador has been contacted by Quick Step and has expressed interest in the Garmin-Slipstream and Caisse d'Epargne teams.
His brother and agent, Fran Contador, told www.as.com: "If this clause exists, we must look at the options that it offers."
Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong is expected to miss next May's Giro d'Italia after announcing he will race in the Tour of California.
"I've decided to ride the Tour of California in 2010," the American told Twitter.
The Tour of California starts on May 16 while the Giro, the world's second-biggest stage race, begins on May 8 in Amsterdam.
The full route for next year's Giro will be announced today.
Armstrong raced this year's Giro for the first time as part of his comeback after three-and-a-half years in retirement.
He ended up 12th before going on to finish third in the Tour de France, which he had previously won seven times. Armstrong, who like Contador raced for Astana this year, has set up the new RadioShack team for next season.
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