2008 Astana season
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|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Johan Bruyneel | ||
| One-day victories | 2 | ||
| Stage race overall victories | 8 | ||
| Stage race stage victories | 18 | ||
| Previous season • Next season | |||
The 2008 season for the You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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Astana changed drastically between the 2007 and 2008 seasons, with its former manager Marc Biver replaced by Johan Bruyneel from the dissolved Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. Following Bruyneel to Astana were several riders from that team, including Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer, who had finished first and third, respectively, in the 2007 Tour de France for Discovery. Numerous riders also left the team, including Matthias Kessler, Andrey Kashechkin, and Alexander Vinokourov, who had all tested positive for doping.
The team's biggest successes in 2008 were the overall victories by Contador in the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España. As the team was barred from competing in the Tour de France that year, as well as other events organized by the Amaury Sport Organisation, Contador was unable to defend his championship from the year before.
Just as the team's competitive season was nearing its end, Lance Armstrong announced that he planned to return to competitive cycling in 2009 after a four-year absence. As Bruyneel was Armstrong's team manager for all seven of his Tour de France victories, there was much speculation immediately that Armstrong would sign with Astana in his comeback, which he eventually did.
2008 team roster
Ages as of January 1, 2008[1]
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One-day races
Spring classics
By their own admission, Astana does not aim for the classics.[4] The team first participated in Omloop Het Volk on March 1, with Dmitriy Muravyev in 31st their best-placed rider.[5] Sergei Ivanov's 7th in the Amstel Gold Race[6] proved to be one of the team's best results all season, as in the other spring races in which they competed, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, the Tour of Flanders, and Gent–Wevelgem, they did not have a rider place higher than 13th.[7][8][9] Due in part to the ban imposed by the Amaury Sport Organisation from participating in races they organized, the team did not compete in Milan–San Remo, Paris–Roubaix, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, or other races in which a team of their caliber would normally take part. In March, Tomas Vaitkus earned the team's lone one-day victory of the spring season, winning a sprint finish to the Ronde van het Groene Hart.[10]
Fall races
The team entered the Clásica de San Sebastián in August, with Contador in 26th their highest-placed finisher. Contador, like many riders in the event, rode it as preparation for the road cycling events at the 2008 Olympic Games.[11] Astana also took part in Vattenfall Cyclassics, the Coppa Sabatini, Paris–Bourges, the Giro dell'Emilia, the Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli, Milano–Torino, and the Giro del Piemonte in September and October, but did not obtain a place higher than 11th (by Janez Brajkovič in the Giro dell'Emilia).[12] In August, Leipheimer and Contador took the top two spots in the Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama, a race they rode as preparation for the Vuelta a España.[13]
In the Giro di Lombardia, Astana's final race of the season, they were more successful than they had been most of the season, attaining a fourth podium finish in a one-day race on the year. While Damiano Cunego had broken away from the field with 15 kilometers left to race to win the event, Brajkovič won a sprint over You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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Stage races
Astana attended the Tour Down Under for the first time in 2008, as it was the first year the event was part of the UCI ProTour. The team was not very competitive in the event, with a fifth place in a sprint finish to Stage 2 from Aaron Kemps as their best stage result. They also led the teams classification after that stage.[15] The team's best-placed rider in the final overall classification was José Luis Rubiera, ranked 31st.[16] The team then attended the Tour of California in February. Leipheimer was the team leader for the event, as he was the defending champion from 2007 with Team Discovery.[17] Leipheimer assumed the race lead after Stage 3, having worked with You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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With the team disinvited from Paris–Nice and Tirreno–Adriatico,[23][24] their next stage race was the Volta ao Distrito de Santarém,[25] a race which neither Astana nor Discovery Channel had participated in the year before.[26] The team did not win any stage, though Andreas Klöden finished on the event's final podium, in third.[27] Astana next entered the Vuelta a Castilla y León with a squad that was thought to greatly outclass the squads entered by other teams.[28] Contador won the opening time trial[29] and the mountainous fourth stage[30] en route to winning the race overall.[31] Leipheimer also showed well, finishing 4 seconds off Contador's winning time in the time trial,[29] and falling only on Stage 4, where he rode in support of Contador, to finish in fourth overall.
In April, the team achieved great success in the Vuelta al País Vasco, with Contador winning the opening stage, which had seven categorized climbs,[32] and the final individual time trial, to win the race overall.[33] Just after the tour of the Basque country was the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, an event in which Astana won a stage with Grégory Rast and the points classification with Assan Bazayev.[34][35] Later in the month, the team sent a squad headed by Leipheimer and Chris Horner to the Tour de Georgia. They did not win any stage, but Leipheimer took third overall, and Antonio Colóm fourth.[36] The team was greatly successful at the Tour de Romandie later in the month, with Maxim Iglinskiy and Klöden both winning stages,[37][38] and Klöden the race overall.[39] In the Volta a Catalunya, which was concurrent to the Giro d'Italia, the team did not win any stage, with Janez Brajkovič's second in Stage 2 their closest result,[40] though they did win the teams classification.[41]
At the Tour de Luxembourg in June, Rast entered as defending champion and was considered among the favorites,[42] but the team did not win any stage or finish on the podium. Leipheimer won the prologue time trial to the Dauphine Libéré later in the month,[43] and wound up finishing third overall in the race.[44] Klöden next took second overall in the Tour de Suisse, later in June.[45] The following month, Leipheiemer and Horner raced as Astana (though they were the only Astana riders in the event) at the Cascade Cycling Classic, and Leipheimer was able to take the overall win there, largely thanks to a convincing victory in the third stage time trial.[46][47] On the same day, René Haselbacher won a stage in Tour of Austria.[48] Later in the month, Sergeui Ivanov won the Tour de Wallonie, without winning a stage.[49]
The team sent squads to the Tour de Pologne, Tour de l'Ain, Tour of Ireland, and the Eneco Tour, but did not obtain a stage win, classification win, or podium finish in any of them.
Grand Tours
Giro d'Italia
Astana was at first not invited to the Giro.[50] Six days before the race began, RCS Sport (the organizers of the Giro) went back on the decision to exclude Astana and extended them a late invitation. This change of heart was at least partly contingent on Contador, Leipheimer, and Klöden participating in the race.[51] Having thought for two months prior that they would not compete in the Giro, most of Astana's riders had planned to take a break during the Tour of Italy,[52] and Contador was actually vacationing on a beach when Bruyneel called him to tell him the team was headed to the Giro.[53]
The team mostly lay low in the race's first week and a half, with only fourth in a sprint from Assan Bazayev in Stage 4[54] and fifth in Stage 6 by Maxim Iglinsky from a breakaway to show for themselves through nine stages.[55] Contador and Klöden both showed strongly in the Stage 10 individual time trial, with Contador missing the stage win by just 8 seconds (Klöden was third, 20 seconds off Marzio Bruseghin's winning time) and moving from eighth to fourth in the overall classification.[56]
The high mountain Stage 14 into the Italian Alps saw Contador rise to second overall, just five seconds behind race leader Gabriele Bosisio.[57] The next day, Contador finished twelve minutes ahead of Bosisio and took the race leader's pink jersey. His main rival at that point was Riccardo Riccò, who had gained 16 seconds on him that day and was only 33 back overall.[58] Contador padded his lead over Riccò slightly in short time trial in Stage 16,[59] and stayed out of trouble in Stages 17 and 18, stages where the contenders all finished together. The long and mountainous Stage 19 saw Riccò and Danilo Di Luca both put time into Contador with late attacks, but not enough to take the jersey from him.[60] Di Luca found himself effected the next day, losing over five minutes and falling from contention, but Contador and Riccò finished together and were separated by just 4 seconds entering the Stage 21 time trial.[61] Riccò was unable to challenge Contador in the Giro's finale, finishing 68th on the stage and losing close to two minutes to Contador, who was 11th. Though neither Contador himself nor anyone from the team won any stage in the Giro, Contador took the overall victory in the General Classification.[62]
Vuelta a España
Astana entered the Vuelta with Contador as a big favorite to win the overall title and complete the career sweep of the Grand Tours.[63] Astana's Vuelta actually began with a disappointment, an 8th place finish in the Stage 1 team time trial, which either they or You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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The next stage, after the first rest day, was the longest in the Vuelta and contained numerous mountain climbs. It was made even more difficult by a consistent downfall of rain and cold temperatures. Contador and Leipheimer both marked the competition and finished well on the stage, third and fifth respectively, to maintain their high overall placings.[67] Leipheimer regained the race lead the next day essentially by default, as Alessandro Ballan, who had won the difficult Stage 7, quickly faded on Stage 8.[68] Again Astana did not work to keep Leipheimer in the race lead, affording a breakaway that included Egoi Martínez sufficient time that Martínez took the golden jersey.[69] The next day, several local newspapers criticized Astana for the move, as You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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Following several stages won by sprinters and breakaways, the next test for the riders was the legendary Alto de El Angliru in Stage 13. The morning breakaway was afforded over eleven minutes, but it was dropped to nothing on the ascent of what has been called the most difficult climb in all of professional cycling.[71] Astana and Caisse d'Epargne both had many support riders in the leading group going up the climb, and they alternately tried to set paces to protect either Contador or Alejandro Valverde while isolating the competition. It was left to Leipheimer to pace Contador to the conclusion as the climb reached its hardest part, 7 kilometers from the finish. Contador indeed went on to win the stage, and took the race lead as well.[72] Contador added another stage win the next day when only he and Leipheimer could respond to the repeated attacks of Ezequiel Mosquera, and Contador won the sprint.[73]
The top ten in the general classification finished together in the next five stages, which were mostly friendly to sprinters and breakaways. Stage 20 was another time trial, one with an uphill finish. This time trial was won convincingly by Leipheimer, as only Contador and Valverde were within a minute of his winning time. This ride put Leipheimer 46 seconds off Contador's time.[74] With the Vuelta's final stage flat and largely ceremonial, akin to the Champs-Élysées stage in the Tour de France, this stood as the final result, with Contador winning the Vuelta to complete his career triple; he also won the combination classification and its white jersey.[75] Minor controversy followed the Vuelta; Contador alleged that Leipheimer was not being a team player by seeming to ride the Stage 20 time trial with the aim of winning the Vuelta, after Contador had apparently been decided as the team's leader,[76] though the team had not firmly chosen a leader as the race began.[63]
Away from competition
Exclusion from ASO races
On February 13, it was announced that the Amaury Sport Organisation would not invite Astana to any of their races that season, which included the Tour de France, Paris–Nice, and numerous one-day races. The decision was made because of the doping perpetrated by Astana in its previous seasons; chief among these scandals was the blood doping perpetrated by Alexander Vinokourov in the 2007 Tour de France.[77] The team reacted with surprise and disappointment, particularly since the ban seemed to punish a team that no longer existed, and as a result Contador would not be able to defend his Tour de France championship.[78]
Dismissal of Vladimir Gusev
On June 26, the team fired Vladimir Gusev for "irregular values"[79] given in an internal doping check as part of the program run by Dr. Rasmus Damsgaard, proprietor of a noted anti-doping system previously used by You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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Miscellaneous
- {{Contentious topics/list}} and {{Contentious topics/table}} show which topics are currently designated as contentious topics. They are used by a number of templates and pages on Wikipedia..[80] Though the values did not by themselves confirm doping on Gusev's part, they were taken as an indication of it.[81]
The firing also caused Gusev to be removed from Russia's team for the 2008 Olympic Games,[82] though he originally intended to sue the team in time to still take part in the Olympics.[83]
On September 1, Gusev began his appeal of the firing, with the case eventually reaching the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On June 18, 2009, the CAS ruled that Astana was in the wrong regarding Gusev's dismissal and ordered the team to pay his lost wages, legal fees, and compensatory damages.[84]
Return of Lance Armstrong
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong revealed in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine published on September 9 that he intended to return to competitive cycling in 2009, after four years of retirement. Aside from trying to win an eighth Tour de France, his goal would be to raise public awareness and money for cancer research. He would ride for no salary.[85]
It was speculated immediately that Armstrong would return with team Astana, as it was now headed by Armstrong's sporting director from each of his seven Tour de France victories, Johan Bruyneel.[86]
Though spokespeople for the team first denied any plans to sign Armstrong,[86] Bruyneel commented two days later during the then-ongoing Vuelta a España that he had spoken to Armstrong about his return, and could not imagine him riding for any team but Astana.[87] On September 24, Armstrong signed with Astana.[88]
Armstrong's return was not well received by Contador, who asserted that he had earned the right to be a team leader and said he would consider leaving the team if he were relegated to a role supporting Armstrong.[89]
The team gave Contador assurances in the offseason that he would remain Astana's team leader,[90] and Contador remained with the team for 2009, though the controversy over who would in fact be the team's leader lasted well into the 2009 Tour de France.
Season victories
| Date | Race | Competition | Rider | Country | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 21 | Volta ao Algarve, Stage 2 | UCI Europe Tour |  Tomas Vaitkus (LTU) |
Portugal | Lagos |
| February 22 | Tour of California, Stage 5 | UCI America Tour |  Levi Leipheimer (USA) |
United States | Solvang |
| February 24 | Tour of California, Overall | UCI America Tour | Levi Leipheimer (USA) |
United States | |
| March 5 | Vuelta a Murcia, Stage 2 | UCI Europe Tour |  José Luis Rubiera (ESP) |
Spain | Totana |
| March 23 | Ronde van het Groene Hart | UCI Europe Tour | Tomas Vaitkus (LTU) |
Netherlands | Woerden |
| March 24 | Vuelta a Castilla y León, Stage 1 | UCI Europe Tour | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain | La Granja de San Ildefonso |
| March 27 | Vuelta a Castilla y León, Stage 4 | UCI Europe Tour | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain | Montaña Palentina |
| March 27 | Vuelta a Castilla y León, Overall | UCI Europe Tour | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain | |
| April 7 | Vuelta al País Vasco, Stage 1 | UCI ProTour | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain | Legazpi |
| April 12 | Vuelta al País Vasco, Stage 6 | UCI ProTour | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain | Orio |
| April 12 | Vuelta al País Vasco, Overall | UCI ProTour | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain | |
| April 13 | Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, Prologue | UCI Europe Tour |  Grégory Rast (SUI) |
Turkey | Istanbul |
| April 20 | Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, Points Classification | UCI Europe Tour |  Assan Bazayev (KAZ) |
Turkey | |
| April 30 | Tour de Romandie, Stage 1 | UCI ProTour | Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ) |
Switzerland | Saignelégier |
| May 2 | Tour de Romandie, Stage 3 | UCI ProTour |  Andreas Klöden (GER) |
Switzerland | Sion |
| May 5 | Tour de Romandie, Overall | UCI ProTour | Andreas Klöden (GER) |
Switzerland | |
| June 1 | Giro d'Italia, Overall | None | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Italy | |
| June 8 | Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Prologue | UCI ProTour | Levi Leipheimer (USA) |
France | Avignon |
| June 22 | Tour de Suisse, Mountains classification | UCI ProTour | Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ) |
Switzerland | |
| July 11 | Tour of Austria, Stage 5 | UCI Europe Tour |  René Haselbacher (AUT) |
Austria | Bad Vöslau |
| July 11 | Cascade Cycling Classic, Stage 3 | National event | Levi Leipheimer (USA) |
United States | Bend |
| July 13 | Cascade Cycling Classic, Overall | National event | Levi Leipheimer (USA) |
United States | |
| July 30 | Tour de Wallonie, Overall | UCI Europe Tour |  Sergeui Ivanov (RUS) |
Belgium | |
| August 24 | Clásica a los Puertos de Guadarrama | UCI Europe Tour | Levi Leipheimer (USA) |
Spain | Guadarrama |
| September 3 | Vuelta a España, Stage 5 | None | Levi Leipheimer (USA) |
Spain | Ciudad Real |
| September 13 | Vuelta a España, Stage 13 | None | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain | Alto de El Angliru |
| September 14 | Vuelta a España, Stage 14 | None | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain | Fuentes de Invierno |
| September 20 | Vuelta a España, Stage 20 | None | Levi Leipheimer (USA) |
Spain | Alto de Navacerrada |
| September 21 | Vuelta a España, Overall | None | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain | |
| September 21 | Vuelta a España, Combination classification | None | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Spain |
References
- ^ a b c "Astaná 2008". The Cyclingwebsite. 2008-12-31. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
- ^ Gusev was fired by the team on July 26 for failing an internal doping check
- ^ a b "Astaná 2007". The Cyclingwebsite. 2007-12-31. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
- ^ Cathy Mehl (June 15, 2009). "The Dirk Demol Interview, Part 1". Astana Cycling Team. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
Of course Quick Step is a big Classics team and they always get important wins during the spring season. That isn't the case with Team Astana—it is not a huge objective for this team.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Gregor Brown (March 1, 2008). "Gilbert returns with solo Het Volk victory". Cycling News. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
- ^ Brecht Decaluwé and Gregor Brown (2008-04-20). "Cunego a man for all seasons". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Gregor Brown and Brecht Decaluwé (March 2, 2008). "De Jongh puts icing on Quick Step's cake". Cycling News. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
- ^ Gregor Brown and Brecht Decaluwé (April 6, 2008). "Devolder shines in Belgian driekleur". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Bjorn Haake and Brecht Decaluwé (April 9, 2008). "Oscar 'The Cat' Freire takes revenge". Cycling News. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
- ^ Susan Westemeyer (2008-03-23). "Easy sprint win for powerful Vaitkus". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
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- ^ Gregor Brown (2008-10-18). "Damiano Cunego King of Lombardia". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
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{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Mark Zalewski (2008-02-20). "Leipheimer takes ownership in California". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Mark Zalewski (2008-02-22). "Leipheimer owns TT in Solvang". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Mark Zalewski (2008-02-24). "Hincapie redeems High Road". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "Astana's Vaitkus sprints to win". Cycling News. 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "Rubiera takes snow-capped queen stage". Cycling News. March 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ Hedwig Kröner. "High noon in France". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Gregor Brown. "Big sprinters choose race of two seas". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "3rd Volta ao Santarém - 2.1". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "2nd Volta ao Santarém - 2.1". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "Stage 4 - March 16: Alcanena - Santarem, 149.9 km". Cycling News. March 16, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "Astana to hit hard with Tour-quality squad". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ a b "Stage 1 - March 24: Valsain - La Granja de San Ildefonso (ITT), 9.7km". Cycling News. 2008-03-24. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "Contador on top in the mountains". Cycling News. 2008-03-27. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "Fernandez tops on spectacular final stage". Cycling News. 2008-03-28. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Monika Prell (April 7, 2008). "Contador smokes competition in Basque Country". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ Monika Prell (April 12, 2008). "Contador time trials away from his greatest rivals". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Jean-François Quénet (April 13, 2008). "Rast shows Astana's motivation on the cobblestones". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ Jean-François Quénet (2008-04-20). "Presidential welcome for Garcia Dapena's triumph". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ Mark Zalewski (2008-04-27). "High Road closes out Georgia with stage win". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Susan Westerneyer (2008-04-30). "Iglinsky takes wet stage - Albasini steps into yellow". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Ben Atkins (May 2, 2008). "He's back! Klöden seizes control in time trial". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Susan Westerneyer (May 4, 2008). "Klöden caps comeback with Romandie title". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Dessel solos to queen stage win". Cycling News. 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "Stage 6 - May 25: Pallejà - Barcelona, 124.0km". Cycling News. 2008-05-25. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "Home rider to win five-day Luxembourg race?". Cycling News. June 4, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Jean-François Quénet (June 8, 2008). "Leipheimer uses Giro form to beat Hushovd". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Jean-François Quénet (June 15, 2008). "Fofonov beats Trofimov as Valverde seals overall". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Shane Stokes (2008-06-22). "Cancellara repeats, Kreuziger takes overall". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ Kirsten Robbins (July 11, 2008). "Leipheimer takes yellow after blazing TT". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ Kirsten Robbins (July 13, 2008). "Escuela successful on final stage, Leipheimer claims yellow". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ "Haselbacher delivers first home victory". Cycling News. July 11, 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
- ^ "Stage 5 - July 30: Welkenraedt - Aubel, 175.3 km". Cycling News. 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ Stephen Farrand (February 1, 2008). "ASTANA AND HIGH ROAD NOT INVITED TO 2008 GIRO D'ITALIA". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
- ^ AFP Direct (2008-05-04). "Astana Will Race The Giro". Bicycling (bicycling.com). Retrieved July 11, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Chris Brewer. "Astana Cycling Team Season Review (part 2 of 3)". Astana Cycling Team. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
- ^ Andrew Hood (2008-05-09). "Contador: from the beach to the Giro". VeloNews.com. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Shane Stokes (2008-05-13). "'Manx Express' Cavendish takes first Grand Tour win". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Shane Stokes (2008-05-15). "Priamo nets first Giro win while Visconti lands big catch". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Gregor Brown (2008-05-20). "Wet Urbino run sorts out classification". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
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- ^ Gregor Brown (2008-05-26). "Franco Pellizotti is king of Corones". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Gregor Brown (2008-05-30). "Contador proves tough under Di Luca's pressure". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Gregor Brown (2008-05-31). "Contador one step closer to pink dream". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Gregor Brown (2008-06-01). "Hola! Contador conquers second Grand Tour". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ a b Shane Stokes. "Contador aiming for Grand Tour treble". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Liquigas surprise over time trialling favorites". Cycling News. 2008-08-30. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Shane Stokes (2008-09-03). "Double success for Leipheimer". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
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- ^ Gregor Brown (2008-09-07). "Moncoutié delivers solo punch ahead of Astana show". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ a b Shane Stokes (2008-09-08). "Van Avermaet scoops biggest triumph, Martinez grabs lead". Cycling News. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ "What the papers say: Astana's tactics turn Egoi into new race-leader". Web Oficial de la Vuelta a España. 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ "Tales from the peloton, September 11, 2008". Cycling News. 2008-09-11. Archived from the original on 30 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
They either hate it or detest it. No sane cyclist - professional or otherwise - would climb the Alto del Angliru for fun. But for all those whose sentiments for the hardest climb in the world are the polar opposite of affection, no one will argue that whoever wins this stage of the Vuelta a España will become a legend.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Gregor Brown (2008-09-13). "Contador reigns in Vuelta's most feared day". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Gregor Brown (2008-09-14). "Contador puts golden stamp on Vuelta". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Gregor Brown (2008-09-20). "Leipheimer and Contador deliver one-two Astana punch". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Gregor Brown (2008-09-21). "Breschel tops sprint ahead of historic Contador win". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ ESPN.com news services (2008-09-24). "Contador says Armstrong could pose 'difficult' situation on team". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ Cycling News (February 13, 2008). "Astana banned by ASO - Contador unable to defend Tour de France title". Cycling News. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
- ^ "Press Release: Astana Team Not Invited by ASO". Astana Cycling Team. February 13, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
That the happenings of last year in Tour de France, prompted the Tour organizers to leave Astana out of the season's most important race, sounds understandable. However, Astana Cycling Team 2008 has nothing to do with the team of last year. We have done everything to change the dynamics of the team. New management, new riders, new philosophy. Only the name of the sponsor remained.
- ^ Edward Wyatt (2008-07-26). "No Failed Test, but Rider Is Fired". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ^ Cycling News (2008-02-14). "Astana in disbelief over ASO decision as Leipheimer vows to fight back". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ^ "Astana sacks Gusev for "irregular values"". Cycling News. 2008-07-26. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ "Four cyclists scratched from road race". The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ Cycling News (2008-08-01). "Gusev to sue Astana, ride Olympics". Cycling News. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ Jean-François Quénet (2009-06-18). "Gusev back in action after CAS decision". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Douglas Brinkley (2008-09-09). "Lance Armstrong Rides Again". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Neal Rogers (September 8, 2008). "Source: Lance Armstrong coming back". VeloNews. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Bruyneel has spoken with Armstrong". Web Oficial de la Vuelta a España 2008. September 10, 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Armstrong to return with Astana". BBC Sport. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ "Contador Could Leave Astana If Armstrong Signs". ESPN Sports. The Associated Press. 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ The Associated Press (2008-09-26). "Contador says Astana assured him he's still team leader despite Armstrong". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-07-15.