2009 Astana season

2009 season for the Astana cycling team Astana 2009 yes Volvo 4X4 Astana 1.jpg The Astana Volvo team car in 2009. AST UCI ProTour team 1st (1100 points)UCI Rankings https://www.uci.org/road/rankings uci.org 13 March 2019 31 August 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180831022401/https://www.uci.org/road/rankings live Johan Bruyneel Samruk-Kazyna Kazakhstan Trek SRAM none 5 13 1 2 Alberto Contador (10 wins) Alberto Contador (1st) 2008 2010 The 2009 season for the AST 2009 cycling team began in January with the Tour Down Under and ended in October with the Giro di Lombardia. As a UCI ProTour team, they were automatically invited to and obliged to attend every UCI ProTour event, and were invited to every event in the inaugural UCI World Calendar as well. With a strong identity as a stage racing team, Astana's leaders in 2009 were Alberto Contador, Levi Leipheimer, and Lance Armstrong, who returned to competitive cycling in 2009 after a four-year absence. The team's manager up through the Tour de France was Johan Bruyneel. The team's biggest success in 2009 was Contador's overall victory in the Tour de France. Elsewhere, their main successes in 2009 were in small stage races, with Contador winning the Volta ao Algarve and the Vuelta al País Vasco as well as two stages in Paris–Nice, and Leipheimer winning the Tour of California and the Vuelta a Castilla y León. The team also won the team classification at numerous events. The team failed to live up to lofty expectations in the Giro d'Italia; Leipheimer was widely considered a favorite for victory, as was Armstrong before a collarbone injury sustained weeks before, but Leipheimer finished sixth overall and the team did not win any stage. Away from competition, the team's season was marked by financial troubles with their sponsors in the Kazakhstani government, which threatened the team's makeup and very existence for a time. The return of Alexander Vinokourov from retirement and a ban for doping, which ended just as the 2009 Tour de France did, changed the team's makeup for 2010. 2009 team roster Ages as of January 1, 2009 Lance Armstrong USA 2009 1 1 1971 9 18 Assan Bazayev KAZ 2009 1 1 1981 2 22 Janez Brajkovič SLO 2009 1 1 1983 12 18 Alberto Contador ESP 2009 1 1 1982 12 6 Valeriy Dmitriyev KAZ 2009 1 1 1984 10 10 Alexsandr Dyachenko KAZ 2009 1 1 1983 10 17 Jesús Hernández ESP 2009 1 1 1981 9 28 Chris Horner USA 2009 1 1 1971 10 23 Maxim Iglinskiy KAZ 2009 1 1 1981 4 18 Roman Kireyev KAZ 2009 1 1 1987 2 14 Andreas Klöden GER 2009 1 1 1975 6 22 Berik Kupeshov KAZ 2009 1 1 1987 1 30 Levi Leipheimer USA 2009 1 1 1973 10 24 Steve Morabito SUI 2009 1 1 1983 1 30 Dmitriy Muravyev KAZ 2009 1 1 1979 2 11 Daniel Navarro ESP 2009 1 1 1983 7 8 Benjamín Noval ESP 2009 1 1 1979 1 23 Sérgio Paulinho POR 2009 1 1 1980 3 26 Yaroslav Popovych UKR 2009 1 1 1980 1 4 Bolat Raimbekov KAZ 2009 1 1 1986 12 25 Grégory Rast SUI 2009 1 1 1980 1 17 Sergey Renev KAZ 2009 1 1 1985 1 3 José Luis Rubiera ESP 2009 1 1 1973 1 27 Michael Schär SUI 2009 1 1 1986 9 29 Tomas Vaitkus LTU 2009 1 1 1982 2 4 Alexander VinokourovVinokourov joined the team on August 29, at the beginning of the Vuelta a España KAZ 2009 1 1 1973 9 16 Andrey Zeits KAZ 2009 8 29 1986 12 14 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 2009 1 1 1977 4 1 Riders who joined the team for the 2009 season2008-10-27 Rider transfers for 2008-2009 http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2008/transfers08/riders Cycling News 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090629030929/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road%2F2008%2Ftransfers08%2Friders 29 June 2009 live Rider2008 teamLance Armstrongex-pro (DSC 2005, 2005)Valeriy DmitriyevUlanAlexsandr DyachenkoUlanJesús HernándezRelax–GAMYaroslav PopovychSIL 2008Bolat RaimbekovUlanSergey RenevUlanHaimar ZubeldiaEUS 2008 Riders who left the team during or after the 2008 season Rider2009 teamAntonio ColomKAT 2009Koen de KortSKS 2009Thomas FreiBMC 2009Vladimir GusevNo contract (signed with KAT 2010 in 2010)René HaselbacherVBG 2009Sergeui IvanovKAT 2009Benoît JoachimContinental Team DifferdangeAaron KempsRRC 2009Julien MazetAuber 93 One-day races Spring classics By their own admission, Astana did not aim for the classics.Steve Frothingham Bruyneel on Astana: There is no stronger Tour team http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/01/road/bruyneel-on-astana-there-is-no-stronger-tour-team_71649 https://archive.today/20120718044550/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/01/road/bruyneel-on-astana-there-is-no-stronger-tour-team_71649 dead July 18, 2012 VeloNews 2008-01-30 2011-01-30 Astana's first one-day race of the season was Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Their best-placed rider was Michael Schär in 35th.Bjorn Haake Hushovd delivers in messy finale http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/feb09/hetvolk09/?id=results CyclingNews 2009-02-28 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090624131857/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/feb09/hetvolk09/?id=results 24 June 2009 live Aside from their one podium finish, with Maxim Iglinsky in E3 Prijs Vlaanderen,Pozzato blasts Boonen in Belgium's E3 Prijs http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/E3prijs09/?id=results CyclingNews 2009-03-28 2009-12-13 2009-07-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20090712064041/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/E3prijs09/?id=results live the seventh place attained by Daniel Navarro in the Gran Premio di LuganoPauriol claims second Grand Prix in Lugano http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/mar09/gplugano09 CyclingNews 2009-03-01 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090619200550/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road%2F2009%2Fmar09%2Fgplugano09 19 June 2009 live was the team's best result in a one-day race in the spring season. Through Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, Milan–San Remo (which saw the participation of Armstrong), the Tour of Flanders, Gent–Wevelgem, Paris–Roubaix, the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège–Bastogne–Liège they did not have a rider finish higher than 16th (Assan Bazayev in Milan – San Remo)Bjorn Haake and Susan Westemeyer Cavendish pips Haussler at the line http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/msr09/?id=results CyclingNews 2009-03-21 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090620233434/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/msr09/?id=results 20 June 2009 live Fall races Astana raced a light schedule in the fall, with the pinnacle of their season having come at the Tour de France. The team sent squads to the Clásica de San Sebastián, Vattenfall Cyclassics, the GP Ouest-France, the Giro dell'Emilia, the GP Beghelli, the Giro del Piemonte, and the Giro di Lombardia. Their best results from this crop of races came from Alexander Vinokourov, who finished seventh in Lombardy and fifth in the Giro dell'Emilia.Shane Stokes http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/103rd-giro-di-lombardia-his/results Gilbert triumphs in Lombardia 2009-10-17 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091121191510/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/103rd-giro-di-lombardia-his/results 21 November 2009 liveGregor Brown http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/103rd-giro-di-lombardia-his/results Gesink rules on San Luca to win Emilia 2009-10-10 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091121191510/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/103rd-giro-di-lombardia-his/results 21 November 2009 live Stage races left|thumb|Armstrong being interviewed by Paul Sherwen before his first race back from retirement, the Tour Down Under.|alt=A man in his late thirties in a blue and white cycling jersey with yellow trim stands next to a man in his mid-fifties wearing a light blue collared shirt and holding a microphone. They stand in front of a red backdrop, and a woman in a cowboy hat is partly visible behind the cyclist. The first event in which the team participated in 2009 was the Tour Down Under. As it was Armstrong's first event back after four years of retirement, he made many headlinesLance is the word... but not the favorite http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jan09/tdu09/ Cycling News 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090628210347/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jan09/tdu09/ 28 June 2009 live and was even specially promoted on the event's webpage, though neither he nor the team were especially competitive in the event. Armstrong finished 29th overall, with the same time as Jesús Hernández in 28th as the best-placed Astana riders.Les Clarke Chicchi claims in messy finale http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jan09/TDU09/?id=results/TDU096 Cycling News 2009-01-25 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090624134021/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jan09/TDU09/?id=results%2FTDU096 24 June 2009 live The team did not finish in the top ten in any stage. In February, the team competed in the Tour of California, where Leipheimer won the individual time trial in Solvang and the Tour itself for the third straight year. The team also won the teams classification.Kirsten Robbins Levi proven unbeatable in the Solvang Time Trial http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/feb09/california09/?id=results/california096 Cycling News 2009-02-20 2009-07-07 2009-09-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20090902203936/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/feb09/california09/?id=results%2Fcalifornia096 live Laura Weislo and Kirsten Robbins Leipheimer's triple tour triumph http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/feb09/california09/?id=results/california098 CyclingNews 2009-02-22 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090617223004/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/feb09/california09/?id=results%2Fcalifornia098 17 June 2009 live While the Tour of California was ongoing, the team sent another eight-man squad including Contador and Andreas Klöden to the Volta ao Algarve. Contador and Klöden were first and third, respectively, in the time trial in Stage 4,Gregor Brown Tour champion Contador makes early-season mark in Algarve http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/feb09/algarve09/algarve094 Cycling News 2009-02-21 2009-07-07 2009-07-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20090712061655/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road%2F2009%2Ffeb09%2Falgarve09%2Falgarve094 live giving Contador the overall lead which he retained through the conclusion of the race the next day.Gregor Brown Haussler wins final Algarve stage, Contador overall http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/feb09/algarve09/algarve095 Cycling News 2009-02-22 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090624134245/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road%2F2009%2Ffeb09%2Falgarve09%2Falgarve095 24 June 2009 live right|thumb|Leipheimer dons the yellow jersey after stage 2 of the Tour of California.|alt=A bearded man in his mid-thirties stands in front of a partly visible woman who is zipping up the back of his yellow cycling jersey. He wears a black baseball cap with sunglasses on the cap. At Paris–Nice in March, Contador appeared well in line to repeat his victory there from two years prior, winning the opening individual time trial Bjorn Haake and Jean-François Quénet Contador quickly steps up to favourite's status http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/parisnice09/?id=results/parisnice091/castillaleon095 Cycling News 2009-03-08 2009-07-07 2012-10-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20121016071524/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/parisnice09/?id=results%2Fparisnice091%2Fcastillaleon095 live and the mountainous sixth stage.Bjorn Haake Contador takes control http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/parisnice09/?id=results/parisnice096 Cycling News 2009-03-13 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090618162748/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/parisnice09/?id=results%2Fparisnice096 18 June 2009 live He dramatically faltered in Stage 7, however, losing the yellow jersey and three minutes to Luis León Sánchez, and ultimately finishing fourth. He was unable to chase down Sánchez because of what was later blamed on dietary problems.Bjorn Haake Sánchez topples Contador http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/parisnice09/?id=results/parisnice097 Cycling News 2009-03-14 2009-07-07 2009-07-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20090704190753/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/parisnice09/?id=results%2Fparisnice097 live The team experienced both success and hardship in the Vuelta a Castilla y León later in the month. Leipheimer won the event overall, with Contador having ridden the event in support for him.Bjorn Haake Valverde takes another stage, Leipheimer the overall http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/mar09/castillaleon09/castillaleon095 Cycling News 2009-03-27 2009-07-07 2009-07-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20090704190726/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road%2F2009%2Fmar09%2Fcastillaleon09%2Fcastillaleon095 live The first day, however, Armstrong was involved in a crash and taken to the hospital with was later revealed as a fractured clavicle.Sobrino scores one for the locals http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/mar09/castillaleon09/castillaleon091 Cycling News 2009-03-23 2009-07-07 2009-07-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20090701114234/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road%2F2009%2Fmar09%2Fcastillaleon09%2Fcastillaleon091 live The injury was thought to take away from Armstrong's previously high odds to win the Giro d'Italia, and there was briefly speculation that he would even pull out of the Giro because of the injury.Samuel Abt Armstrong Faces Race to Compete in Giro d'Italia https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/sports/cycling/31iht-BIKE.html The New York Times 2009-03-30 2009-07-07 2009-04-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20090401214749/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/sports/cycling/31iht-BIKE.html live In April, Contador claimed a convincing victory in the Vuelta al País Vasco, taking the race lead by winning the mountainous Stage 3 and dominating the final time trial.Monika Prell Contador storms to stage, overall lead http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/apr09/paisvasco09/?id=results/paisvasco093 Cycling News 2009-04-07 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090623020223/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/apr09/paisvasco09/?id=results%2Fpaisvasco093 23 June 2009 live Monika Prell Contador untouchable in Basque country http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/apr09/paisvasco09/?id=results/paisvasco096 Cycling News 2009-04-11 2009-07-07 2009-07-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20090712052248/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/apr09/paisvasco09/?id=results%2Fpaisvasco096 live Though they did not race as Astana due to UCI rules, Armstrong, Leipheimer, and Chris Horner took part in the Tour of the Gila at the end of April and early May in what was Armstrong's first race back from the collarbone injury, with Leipheimer and Armstrong finishing in the top two places.Kirsten Robbins Flying Zajicek shows V means victory http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/apr09/gila09/gila095 Cycling News 2009-05-03 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090624133947/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road%2F2009%2Fapr09%2Fgila09%2Fgila095 24 June 2009 live With a squad made up of riders that normally ride in support for others, the team took a stage win (Klöden) and second overall (Janez Brajkovič) in the Giro del Trentino, also in April.Astana 1-2 in Arco http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/apr09/trentino09/trentino091 Cycling News 2009-04-22 2009-07-07 2009-07-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20090712071014/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road%2F2009%2Fapr09%2Ftrentino09%2Ftrentino091 live Gregor Brown Basso back, Di Luca stage http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/apr09/trentino09/trentino094 Cycling News 2009-04-25 2009-07-07 2010-06-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20100621033406/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road%2F2009%2Fapr09%2Ftrentino09%2Ftrentino094 live Astana participated in the Volta a Catalunya in May, while the Giro d'Italia was ongoing. The team did not win any stage, but Haimar Zubeldia took third overall in the event, and the team won the teams classification.Henderson takes F1 finale http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/may09/catalunya09/?id=results/catalunya097 Cycling News 2009-05-24 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090606052649/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/may09/catalunya09/?id=results%2Fcatalunya097 6 June 2009 live In the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré in June, Contador was thought to be a favorite for victory,Jean-François Quénet A surprise winner on a surprising parcours? http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jun09/dauphinelibere09/ Cycling News 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090624132205/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jun09/dauphinelibere09/ 24 June 2009 live but he did not seem to try his hardest to win, not attacking or taking any pulls on the mountainous Stage 5 and seeming to work for Alejandro Valverde on the race's last two days.Jean-François Quénet Moncoutié wins again 10 years later http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jun09/dauphinelibere09/?id=results/dauphinelibere097 Cycling News 2009-06-13 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090625185539/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jun09/dauphinelibere09/?id=results%2Fdauphinelibere097 25 June 2009 live Jean-François Quénet A first for Clement, a last for Valverde? http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jun09/dauphinelibere09/?id=results/dauphinelibere098 Cycling News 2009-06-14 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090629021254/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/jun09/dauphinelibere09/?id=results%2Fdauphinelibere098 29 June 2009 live The team next took part in the Tour de Suisse, with Klöden in fourth their highest-placed rider.Gregor Brown Cancellara captures Suisse victory http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/73rd-tour-de-suisse-2009-upt/stages/stage-9/report Cycling News 2009-06-21 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090624003853/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/73rd-tour-de-suisse-2009-upt/stages/stage-9/report 2009-06-24 dead Astana sent squads to the Brixia Tour, the Tour de Pologne, the Tour of Ireland, the Eneco Tour, the Tour of Missouri, and Franco–Belge, but did not obtain a stage win, podium finish, or classification victory in any of them. The squad sent to the Tour de l'Ain was more successful. Chris Horner obtained the race lead after the individual time trial in stage 3B, which was won by Alexander Vinokourov riding for the Kazakh national team.Vinokourov returns to winning in l'Ain TT http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-2-1/stage-3b/results Cycling News 2009-08-11 2009-12-13 2012-09-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20120905131853/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-2-1/stage-3b/results live Though Horner fell to second behind Tour de l'Ain champion Rein Taaramäe the next day as the race concluded, he did win the points classification.Cofidis sweeps Horner aside http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-2-1/stage-4/results Cycling News 2009-08-12 2009-12-13 2012-09-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20120905131935/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-2-1/stage-4/results live Grand Tours Giro d'Italia Astana was one of 22 teams which participated in the Giro d'Italia. Contador chose to skip the Giro, despite his status as reigning champion, in order to concentrate on the Tour de France.VeloNews.com Contador watching Giro on TV as he prepares for Tour http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/05/news/contador-watching-giro-on-tv-as-he-prepares-for-tour_91653 VeloNews 2009-05-06 2009-07-07 2012-09-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20120927190939/http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/05/news/contador-watching-giro-on-tv-as-he-prepares-for-tour_91653 live The squad Astana sent to the Giro included Armstrong, in his first Grand Tour since the 2005 Tour de France and first ever Giro, and Leipheimer, who was considered to be a favorite to win the event.Juliet Macur Leipheimer Is Poised to Break Away in the Giro d'Italia https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/sports/cycling/10cycling.html The New York Times May 10, 2009 2009-07-07 2022-06-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20220613224726/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/sports/cycling/10cycling.html?_r=1 live Gregor Brown Garzelli tips Leipheimer for Giro https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/sports/cycling/10cycling.html Cycling News May 10, 2009 2009-07-07 2022-06-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20220613224726/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/sports/cycling/10cycling.html?_r=1 live Support riders on the squad included Yaroslav Popovych, Chris Horner, and Janez Brajkovič. The team started well, coming in third place in the team time trial in Stage 1, putting Leipheimer and Armstrong 13 seconds off the race lead.Anthony Tan A tale of two teams, as Columbia puts Cavendish in pink http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results/giro091 Cycling News 2009-05-09 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090621002900/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results%2Fgiro091 21 June 2009 live In the first mountain stage three days later, Leipheimer finished with Popovych and Horner with the same time as stage winner Danilo Di Luca, while Armstrong lost 15 seconds.Anthony Tan Di Luca still the cold-blooded killer http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results/giro094 Cycling News 2009-05-12 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090628192517/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results%2Fgiro094 28 June 2009 live The next day, Armstrong lost nearly three minutes and effectively lost any chance in the General Classification, while Leipheimer remained within ten seconds of stage winner Denis Menchov.Anthony Tan Six firm favorites http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results/giro095 Cycling News 2009-05-13 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090629015052/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results%2Fgiro095 29 June 2009 live Leipheimer was fourth overall after that stage and remained there until Stage 12, the very long and irregular individual time trial in Cinque Terre, where he was the only rider within a minute of the winning time put up by Menchov and moved to third overall.Anthony Tan Russian juggernaut's pedals pound their way to pink http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results/giro0912 Cycling News 2009-05-21 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090628050304/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results%2Fgiro0912 28 June 2009 live Horner withdrew from the race after Stage 10, after sustaining a leg injury that for a time prevented him from even being able to stand.Juliet Macur Teammate of Giro Favorite Is Out After Injury https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/sports/21cycle.html The New York Times 2009-05-20 2011-01-30 Leipheimer would fall from a podium position days later, though. After stages won by sprinters and breakaways, Stage 16, with a summit finish at Monte Petrano, was the next real test for riders aiming for the General Classification. Leipheimer was dropped by other leading riders on the climb and wound up losing almost three minutes on the stage, to fall to sixth overall.Anthony Tan "I came here for a fight": Sastre launches bid for victory http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results/giro0916 Cycling News 2009-05-25 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090624132159/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results%2Fgiro0916 24 June 2009 live With their GC hopes all but dashed, Astana decided to try for stage wins on the remaining mountain days in the Giro. Armstrong attacked on Stage 17 and got clear of the leading group, but was unable to bridge to the man in first position on the road, Franco Pellizotti, who went on to win the stage.Anthony Tan Menchov tightens grip on pink – but still room for a crisis or two http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results/giro0917 Cycling News 2009-05-26 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090623015817/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results%2Fgiro0917 23 June 2009 live Ultimately, Astana did not win any stage at the Giro, but they did win the Trofeo Fast Team, beating THR 2009a by over 24 minutes.Anthony Tan From Russia to Roma, with love: Menchov falls for maglia rosa http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results/giro0921 Cycling News 2009-05-31 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090623003414/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/giro09/?id=results%2Fgiro0921 23 June 2009 live Tour de France right|thumb|2009 Tour de France champion Contador|alt=Close-up of a cyclist in a yellow jersey, wearing yellow-rimmed sunglasses and a yellow helmet. His bicycle is not visible, but he is in riding position. A spectator is partly visible behind him. The team was one of 20 to receive an invitation to the Tour de France. Contador, Leipheimer, and Armstrong were all named to the team. There was much speculation and controversy, which began when Armstrong first signed with the team,ESPN.com news services Contador says Armstrong could pose 'difficult' situation on team https://www.espn.com/olympics/cycling/news/story?id=3604414 ESPN 2008-09-24 2009-07-07 2008-12-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20081201155406/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=3604414 live over who would be the team's protected rider in the Tour. Though Armstrong's express goal in returning from retirement was to win an eighth Tour de France,FOXNews.com Lance Armstrong to Return for 2009 Tour de France https://www.foxnews.com/story/lance-armstrong-to-return-for-2009-tour-de-france 2008-09-09 2009-07-07 Fox News 2009-08-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20090803133752/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,419862,00.html live Contador had won his last three Grand Tours and insisted that he deserved leadership of the team and hinted that he might leave if forced to support Armstrong.Dale Robertson Cycling Notebook:Contador an Armstrong rival? http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6021406.html Houston Chronicle 2008-09-25 2009-07-07 2008-09-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20080928060236/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6021406.html live Bruyneel assured Contador that he would be the leader before the season began. Contador was also publicly named team leader shortly before the Tour began.AFP & Bike Radar Contador named Astana's Tour leader http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/contador-named-astanas-tour-leader-22177 Bike Radar 2009-06-25 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090628084304/http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/contador-named-astanas-tour-leader-22177 28 June 2009 live The team showed well in the Stage 1 individual time trial, with Contador, Klöden, Leipheimer, and Armstrong all finishing in the top ten, and Contador just 19 seconds off the time put up by stage winner Fabian Cancellara.Anthony Tan Spartacus pounds his way to maillot jaune; And guess what: Contador is right up there with him http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-1/results Cycling News 2009-07-04 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090810223403/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-1/results 2009-08-10 dead Two days later, a surprising move made by THR 2009b resulted in the field being split, as eight members of that team pushed a 28-man breakaway toward the finish line ahead of the main peloton. Armstrong, Popovych, and Zubeldia were in the first group, as Popovych and Zubeldia had helped to drive the break, while Leipheimer, Contador, and the other members of the team were in the second group 41 seconds back. This resulted in Armstrong rising to third overall and displacing Contador as the team's best-placed rider.Anthony Tan Cavendish wins dramatic stage into La Grande-Motte http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-3/results Cycling News 2009-07-06 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090726024419/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-3/results 2009-07-26 dead Speculation ensued that this move was meant to firmly install Armstrong as the team's leader, and Contador was visibly stunned by the stage result when interviewed afterward.Richard Moore Armstrong tactics leave Contador reeling http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrong-tactics-leave-contador-reeling Cycling News 2009-07-07 2009-07-07 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090707221614/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrong-tactics-leave-contador-reeling live right|thumb|Armstrong climbing the Col de la Colombière during stage 17.|alt=Close-up image of Armstrong with a strained look on his face as he climbs a mountain. Spectators are visible behind him. Astana won the Stage 4 team time trial the next day, putting Armstrong a mere 22/100ths of a second off the race lead and Contador, Klöden, and Leipheimer behind him third through fifth, with Zubeldia also in the top ten at seventh.Anthony Tan Four years on, it's still Armstrong's team who lays down the law http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-4/results Cycling News 2009-07-07 2009-07-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20090709061053/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-4/results 2009-07-09 dead After a couple of sprinter-friendly stages where the main contenders stuck together out of trouble, the high mountain Stage 7 shook the standings, and Astana, again. Coming to the finish line, a group of overall contenders was in ninth position on the road, as remnants of the morning's breakaway were scattered ahead of them. Instead of finishing as a cohesive group, Contador attacked from this group and gained 21 seconds, putting him ahead of Armstrong as Astana's best-placed rider again, though both were within 8 seconds of new race leader Rinaldo Nocentini.Anthony Tan Feillu wins first mountainous stage http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-7/results Cycling News 2009-07-10 2009-07-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20090711114834/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-7/results 2009-07-11 dead Armstrong said of Contador's attack that it "wasn't really the plan", but that he was nonetheless unsurprised by it.Richard Moore Contador's Attack Not Part of Astana Plan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contadors-attack-not-part-of-astana-plan Cycling News 2009-07-10 2009-07-11 2009-07-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20090712163508/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contadors-attack-not-part-of-astana-plan live The team was dealt a major blow in Stage 12, when Leipheimer, after crashing with Cadel Evans in the final kilometers of the stage, was forced to leave the Tour with a broken wrist.Anthony Tan and Les Clarke Haussler escapes to claim Tour's 13th stage http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-14/results Cycling News 2009-07-17 2009-07-18 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090720073948/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-14/results 2009-07-20 Stage 15 proved to be a crucial one, as the Tour entered Switzerland in a stage with many high mountain climbs. With about three kilometers gone by in an 8.8 km final climb to Verbier, Contador attacked and got free of the leading group, that included Klöden and Armstrong, soloing to the line for the stage win and the yellow jersey.Anthony Tan Contador king of Verbier http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-15/results Cycling News 2009-07-19 2009-07-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20090802032420/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-15/results 2009-08-02 dead Armstrong said after the stage that he had given it everything he had in the climb and Contador was simply the stronger rider; it was seen as settling any lingering controversy over the squad's leader and protected rider.Gregor Brown Armstrong's dream of Tour yellow over http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrongs-dream-of-tour-yellow-over Cycling News 2009-07-21 2009-07-21 2009-07-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20090722072137/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrongs-dream-of-tour-yellow-over live Contador all but cemented the Tour title by winning the time trial in Annecy in Stage 18, just beating out Cancellara to post the day's best time. Armstrong gained a little over a minute on Fränk Schleck by finishing 16th, and climbed back into a podium position, third, with the result.Anthony Tan Tour title set in concrete for Contador http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-20/results Cycling News 2009-07-23 2009-07-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20091113042942/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-20/results 2009-11-13 dead The two finished the Tour in those positions after holding them on Mont Ventoux,Anthony Tan Garate grabs emphatic Ventoux victory http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-20/results Cycling News 2009-07-26 2009-07-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20090725194413/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-20/results 2009-07-25 dead and then riding home safely in the Tour's largely ceremonial finale in Stage 21.Cavendish celebrates with number six on the Champs-Élysées http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-21/results Les Clarke Cycling News 2009-07-26 2009-07-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20090725200202/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/96th-tour-de-france-gt/stages/stage-21/results 2009-07-25 dead Vuelta a España The team was one of 22 to receive an invite to the Vuelta a España. After having first been named only as a reserve, the returning Alexander Vinokourov was named to the squad five days before the race began.Vinokourov to head to the Tour of Spain with Astana http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vinokourov-to-head-to-the-tour-of-spain-with-astana Cycling News 2009-08-24 2009-08-24 2009-08-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20090827095830/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vinokourov-to-head-to-the-tour-of-spain-with-astana live Astana's Vuelta was a quiet one. Vinokourov placed in the top ten of the opening individual time trialhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-1/results Gregor Brown Cancellara motors to win in Vuelta's opening time trial 2009-08-29 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091203153528/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-1/results 3 December 2009 dead dmy-all but he fell out of the top ten of the overall standings the next day due to a crash.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-2/results Gregor Brown Ciolek wins Vuelta's stage to Emmen, Cancellara retains overall lead 2009-08-30 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091203153620/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-2/results 3 December 2009 dead dmy-all Haimar Zubeldia's 18th-place finish on stage 8, which was the Vuelta's first high mountain stage, propelled him into eighth overallhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-8/results Susan Westemeyer Cunego conquers Vuelta's first mountain finish, Evans takes lead 2009-09-06 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091203153718/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-8/results 3 December 2009 dead dmy-all until the next day, when he lost time and fell to ninth.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-9/results Susan Westemeyer All hail César in Xorret de Cati 2009-09-07 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091202160600/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-9/results 2 December 2009 dead dmy-all In stage 10, Vinokourov figured in a winning breakaway, but his poor positioning in the four-man sprint finish meant the stage victory went to CTT 2009's Simon Gerrans.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-10/results Richard Tyler Gerrans wins cat and mouse game to take the stage win 2009-09-08 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091203153533/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-10/results 3 December 2009 dead dmy-all Before stage 12, Astana held ninth overall. They continued to hold it after the stage, but the rider in that position changed; Zubeldia had been in the top ten, but finished further behind stage winner Ryder Hesjedal than Daniel Navarro, so it was Navarro who was the team's highest-placed rider after the stage.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-12/results Gregor Brown Hesjedal wins Vuelta's Velefique mountain battle, Valverde leader 2009-09-10 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091203153543/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-12/results 3 December 2009 dead dmy-all After the next two stages, Navarro also fell from the top ten,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-14/results Cunego conquers La Pandera 2009-09-12 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091203153554/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-14/results 3 December 2009 dead dmy-all and the team did not achieve anything further, with Navarro in 13th their highest-placed rider in the race's final standings.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-21/results Susan Westemeyer Valverde crowned Vuelta king, Greipel wins Madrid sprint 2009-09-20 Cycling News 2009-12-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20091203135231/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/64th-vuelta-a-espana-gt/stage-21/results 3 December 2009 dead dmy-all Away from competition Financial troubles Shortly before the beginning of the Giro d'Italia, it was reported that many of the team's sponsors in Kazakhstan had not paid their full obligations to the team, and that most of the riders had been underpaid to that point in the season as a result. One sponsor, the Kazakhstani state carrier Air Astana, dropped its sponsorship entirely. There was concern that the team itself may fold, as UCI ProTour teams must meet certain financial parameters to stay active, or risk losing their UCI license.Associated Press Astana facing money trouble https://www.espn.com/olympics/cycling/news/story?id=4145429 ESPN 2009-05-07 2011-01-30 2011-06-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20110616131624/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=4145429 live left|thumb|Armstrong during the first individual time trial of the Giro d'Italia, sporting the "faded" team jersey.|alt=A cyclist in a blue and white jersey with yellow trim, bereft of any writing on it. He is riding out of the saddle as he climbs a hill, as a spectator watches on from behind a barricade. In protest to the underpayment by the team's sponsors, the team decided to change their jersey a week into the Giro.Steve Frothingham Astana will wear new kit at the Giro this week to signal upcoming changes at the team http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/05/news/astana-will-wear-new-kit-at-the-giro-this-week-to-signal-upcoming-changes-at-the-team_92036 VeloNews 2009-05-13 2009-07-07 2012-09-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20120927191214/http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/05/news/astana-will-wear-new-kit-at-the-giro-this-week-to-signal-upcoming-changes-at-the-team_92036 live The new jersey was revealed on May 15, the date of Stage 7 when the Giro returned to Italy from Austria, as having the names of the underpaying sponsors faded out to the point of being unreadable. Of the nine Astana riders in the Giro, eight wore the new jerseys – Andrey Zeits, who is from Kazakhstan, was the only one to stay with the original jersey.Andrew Hood Astana changes jersey over money row http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/05/news/astana-changes-jersey-over-money-row_92087 VeloNews 2009-05-15 2009-07-07 2009-12-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20091215190209/http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/05/news/astana-changes-jersey-over-money-row_92087 live The squad at the concurrent Volta a Catalunya did not wear the faded jerseys. It was announced on June 19 that the situation had been resolved, with the Kazakh Cycling Federation agreeing to pay what the sponsors were indebted to the team.Andrew Hood Astana Financial Problems Resolved http://www.roadcycling.co.nz/TeamTalk/astana-financial-problems-resolved.html Roadcycling.co.nz 2009-06-19 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090625220054/http://www.roadcycling.co.nz/TeamTalk/astana-financial-problems-resolved.html 25 June 2009 dead dmy-all The team reverted to its normal jerseys in the Tour de France, with nothing faded out. Shortly after this announcement, rumors circulated that GRM 2009 had been close to signing Contador away from the team, should the Kazakhstani government have failed to pay its obligations and the team defaulted to the ownership of Armstrong or Bruyneel.Joe Lindsey Lance's Team Split http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2009/06/23/lances-team-in-turmoil/ Boulder Report 2009-06-23 2009-07-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20090628074017/http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2009/06/23/lances-team-in-turmoil/ 28 June 2009 dead Other unspecified Spanish Astana riders were also said to be close to jumping to the American team to follow Contador. Garmin team manager Jonathan Vaughters refused to address the rumors, saying that all negotiations are confidential until finalized,Neal Rogers Mr. Rogers' neighborhood – Checkin' in with the argyle king http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/06/news/mr-rogers-neighborhood-checkin-in-with-the-argyle-king_93785 VeloNews 2009-06-24 2009-07-07 2012-09-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20120928091207/http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/06/news/mr-rogers-neighborhood-checkin-in-with-the-argyle-king_93785 live but Contador himself commented in September that he had been close to switching before the 2009 Tour began.Andrew Hood Garmin still an option for Contador http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/09/news/garmin-still-an-option-for-contador_97956 VeloNews 2009-09-18 2009-09-18 2010-07-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20100715205514/http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/09/news/garmin-still-an-option-for-contador_97956 live Return of Alexander Vinokourov and departure of Johan Bruyneel right|thumb|Alexander Vinokourov, pictured here in 2006, returned to professional cycling and to team Astana in 2009 after serving a suspension for doping.|alt=A blond-haired man in his mid-thirties, wearing a white polo shirt bearing an Adidas logo. He is looking to his right. While riding for Astana in the 2007 Tour de France, Alexander Vinokourov tested positive for blood doping,VeloNews.com Vinokourov tests positive; Astana withdraws from Tour http://velonews.com/article/12910 VeloNews 2007-07-24 2009-07-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20090703083124/http://velonews.com/article/12910 2009-07-03 dead causing the entire team to be removed from the race and Vinokourov to retire after being banned from the sport by his national federation and the UCI.Gregor Brown Vinokourov retires, vows to fight on http://www.cyclingnews.com/editions/first-edition-cycling-news-december-7-2007 Cycling News 2007-12-07 2009-07-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20090817200024/http://www.cyclingnews.com/editions/first-edition-cycling-news-december-7-2007 2009-08-17 dead After confirming in October 2008 his intention to return to competitive cycling,Agence France-Presse Vino' confirms plans to ride again http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/10/road/vino-confirms-plans-to-ride-again_84011 VeloNews 2008-10-05 2009-07-09 2011-08-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20110811090552/http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/10/road/vino-confirms-plans-to-ride-again_84011 live Vinokourov stated on the eve of the 2009 Tour de France that he would rejoin Astana, the team he believes was created expressly for him, at the expiration of his two-year ban on July 24. He indicated that Astana manager Johan Bruyneel will be bound by the team's sponsors to accept him, or else Bruyneel would be forced from the team.VeloNews.com Vino' says he will be on Astana ... or heads will roll http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/07/news/vino-says-he-will-be-on-astana-or-heads-will-roll_94137 If Bruyneel does not want me, it will be Bruyneel who is leaving the team. VeloNews 2009-07-02 2009-07-09 2011-08-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20110811090655/http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/07/news/vino-says-he-will-be-on-astana-or-heads-will-roll_94137 live Bruyneel publicly stated in April 2008 that he did not want Vinokourov on a team he ran.Susan Westemeyer Bruyneel "does not want" Vinokourov http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bruyneel-does-not-want-vinokourov It is one hundred percent certain that Johan Bruyneel does not want Alexander Vinokourov in our team Cycling News 2008-04-28 2009-07-27 2012-03-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120322153749/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bruyneel-does-not-want-vinokourov live The next day, it was further revealed that not only Bruyneel stood to be forced from the team according to Vinokourov, but also Armstrong and other riders from the former Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. The team would be built around Vinokourov and Contador, who would be able to choose which riders he wanted his teammates. It would contain almost exclusively Kazakhstani and Spanish riders, in the image of the former Liberty Seguros team, for which Contador previously rode. The matter was even addressed by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. The new team organization would be in place by the Vuelta a España, which Vinokourov would ride.Susan Westemeyer Kazakh coup to oust Armstrong and Bruyneel from Team Astana? http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kazakh-coup-to-oust-armstrong-and-bruyneel-from-team-astana Cycling News 2009-07-03 2009-07-09 2009-07-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20090706042908/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kazakh-coup-to-oust-armstrong-and-bruyneel-from-team-astana live On 21 July, with Contador, Armstrong and Klöden holding three of the top four places in the Tour de France, Bruyneel told Belgian channel VRT that Astana as currently constituted was "finished" and that he would be leaving the team, as Vinokourov and the Kazakh federation had discussed, after the season.http://tdf.sbs.com.au/tdf2009/news/article/15881/Bruyneel-says-it-s-time-to-quit-Astana Bruyneel says it's time to quit Astana 2009-07-22 Special Broadcasting Service 2009-07-21 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090725101424/http://tdf.sbs.com.au/tdf2009/news/article/15881/Bruyneel-says-it-s-time-to-quit-Astana 2009-07-25 Disposition of riders for 2010 In the wake of Bruyneel's announcement about leaving Astana during the Tour, Contador said that he would not consider his future until after the race was over. On 23 July, Lance Armstrong announced the formation of a new U.S. cycling team, Team RadioShack, for 2010. Whether Bruyneel would take part in this venture was not addressed at the time,https://www.espn.com/olympics/tdf2009/news/story?id=4349772 Source: Lance's team lands sponsor 2009-07-23 Bonnie D. Ford ESPN 2009-07-23 2009-07-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20090726092856/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2009/news/story?id=4349772 live but Armstrong then announced Bruyneel's participation on 25 August.https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aapVgx7rq1NI Armstrong Says Bruyneel to Join New Team, Landis a Possibility Fergal O'Brien 2009-08-25 Bloomberg.com 23 January 2011 2012-11-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20121104112019/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aapVgx7rq1NI live On 31 July, Contador's agent announced that Contador had turned down an offer to remain with Astana under a new four-year contract because he had felt uncomfortable being caught between the Kazakhs on one side and Bruyneel on the other, and he was hoping to leave Astana before his contract expired in 2010.https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE56U1J420090731 Contador turns down Astana offer, says agent 2009-07-31 Reuters 2009-08-01 However, on 11 August, Contador's close friend Sergio Paulinho accepted a two-year contract with Team RadioShack, indicating that Contador might not be able to leave Astana as he and his agent wished.http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/08/news/paulinho-follows-armstrong-to-radioshack-azevedo-new-ds_96556 Paulinho follows Armstrong to RadioShack; Azevedo new DS Andrew Hood 2009-08-11 VeloNews 2009-08-18 2016-03-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025852/http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/08/news/paulinho-follows-armstrong-to-radioshack-azevedo-new-ds_96556 live This was confirmed on 15 August, when a spokesperson for the Kazakh sponsors of Astana said that they intended to sponsor the Astana team on the UCI ProTour through 2013 and that they intended to enforce the last year of Contador's contract with Astana in 2010.http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/08/news/astana-intends-to-enforce-contadors-contract_96670 Astana intends to enforce Contador's contract AFP 2009-08-15 VeloNews 2009-08-18 2012-09-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20120928091632/http://velonews.competitor.com/2009/08/news/astana-intends-to-enforce-contadors-contract_96670 live Once Bruyneel's move to Team RadioShack was confirmed, the squad began filling with transfers from the 2009 Astana team. In addition to Armstrong and Paulinho, Tomas Vaitkus and Grégory Rast joined Team RadioShack as one-day classics specialists,http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrong-brings-classics-riders-to-radioshack Armstrong brings Classics riders to RadioShack Gregor Brown 2009-08-25 Cycling News 17 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091016172053/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/armstrong-brings-classics-riders-to-radioshack 16 October 2009 live and Jose Luis "Chechu" Rubiera joined for Grand Tour support. On September 1, Levi Leipheimer's move to Team RadioShack was confirmedhttps://www.espn.com/olympics/cycling/news/story?id=4436339 Leipheimer joins Armstrong's team Bonnie D. Hunt 2009-09-01 ESPN 17 October 2009 2009-09-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20090904142426/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=4436339 live and on October 2, Andreas Klöden's move was confirmed.http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/home/regularieninhalte/sports-ticker/sports,rendertext=9966616.html ANDREAS KLODEN: Cyclist joins Armstrong at RadioShack Das Bild 2009-10-02 17 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091008092602/http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/home/regularieninhalte/sports-ticker/sports%2Crendertext%3D9966616.html 8 October 2009 dead On October 4, Chris Horner also signed with Team RadioShack for two years."Horner signs on with RadioShack for two years" https://web.archive.org/web/20091007011536/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horner-signs-on-with-radioshack-for-two-years 2009-10-07 , Cycling News, 2009-10-04. Retrieved on 2009-10-04. On October 15, Yaroslav Popovich's move was also confirmed. It was also reported that Haimar Zubeldia was to remain with Astana, on order from Contandor,http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/more-radioshack-transfers-confirmed More RadioShack transfers confirmed Hedwig Kröner 2009-10-15 Cycling News 17 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091017220251/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/more-radioshack-transfers-confirmed 17 October 2009 live though for unclear reasons this changed, as Zubeldia's transfer to Team RadioShack was confirmed weeks later.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zubeldia-radioshack-is-the-best-option-for-me Zubeldia: RadioShack is the Best Option for Me Peter Cossins 2009-11-24 2009-12-13 Cycling News https://web.archive.org/web/20091127082334/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/zubeldia-radioshack-is-the-best-option-for-me 27 November 2009 live With Dimitry Muravyev's transfer, Astana's entire 2009 Tour de France squad, Contador aside, had moved to Armstrong's new team.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/muravyev-out-of-astana-stangelj-in Muravyev out of Astana, Stangelj in Peter Cossins 2009-11-21 2009-12-13 Future Publishing Limited https://web.archive.org/web/20091123120243/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/muravyev-out-of-astana-stangelj-in 23 November 2009 live Two other Astana riders moved with former Discovery Channel rider George Hincapie to team BMC for 2010: Steve Morabito and Michael Schär.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-strengthens-team-for-2010-with-world-champ-ballan-and-usas-hincapie BMC strengthens team for 2010 with World Champ Ballan and USA's Hincapie Gregor Brown 2009-09-01 Cycling News 17 October 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091005175801/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bmc-strengthens-team-for-2010-with-world-champ-ballan-and-usas-hincapie 5 October 2009 live Season victories Date Race Competition Rider Country Location February 20 Tour of California, Stage 6 UCI America Tour Levi Leipheimer USA United States Solvang February 21 Volta ao Algarve, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador ESP Portugal Tavira February 22 Tour of California, Overall UCI America Tour Levi Leipheimer USA United States February 22 Tour of California, Team classification UCI America Tour The riders on the squad were Levi Leipheimer, Lance Armstrong, Janez Brajkovič, Chris Horner, Steve Morabito, Yaroslav Popovych, José Luis Rubiera, and Grégory Rast United States February 22 Volta ao Algarve, Overall UCI Europe Tour Alberto Contador ESP Portugal March 8 Paris–Nice, Stage 1 UCI World Calendar Alberto Contador ESP France Amilly March 13 Paris–Nice, Stage 6 UCI World Calendar Alberto Contador ESP France La Montagne de Lure March 15 Tirreno–Adriatico, Stage 5 UCI World Calendar Andreas Klöden GER Italy Loreto March 24 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Stage 2 UCI Europe Tour Levi Leipheimer USA Spain Palencia March 27 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Overall UCI Europe Tour Levi Leipheimer USA Spain April 8 Vuelta al País Vasco, Stage 3 UCI ProTour Alberto Contador ESP Spain Eibar April 11 Vuelta al País Vasco, Overall UCI ProTour Alberto Contador ESP Spain April 11 Vuelta al País Vasco, Stage 6 UCI ProTour Alberto Contador ESP Spain Zalla April 17 Sea Otter Classic, Stage 2 National event Levi Leipheimer USA United States April 22 Giro del Trentino, Stage 1 UCI Europe Tour Andreas Klöden GER Italy Arco May 3 Tour de Romandie, Sprint classification UCI ProTour Grégory Rast SUI Switzerland May 24 Volta a Catalunya, Team classification UCI World Calendar The riders on the squad were Roman Kireyev, Alexsandr Dyachenko, Jesús Hernández, Benjamín Noval, Sérgio Paulinho, Sergey Renev, Tomas Vaitkus, and Haimar Zubeldia Spain May 31 Giro d'Italia, Trofeo Fast Team classification UCI World Calendar The riders on the squad were Lance Armstrong, Janez Brajkovič, Chris Horner, Levi Leipheimer, Steve Morabito, Daniel Navarro, Yaroslav Popovych, José Luis Rubiera and Andrey Zeits Italy June 3 Tour de Luxembourg, Prologue UCI Europe Tour Grégory Rast SUI Luxembourg June 14 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Team classification UCI World Calendar The riders on the squad were Alberto Contador, Alexsandr Dyachenko, Jesús Hernández, Benjamín Noval, Sérgio Paulinho, Sergey Renev, Tomas Vaitkus, and Haimar Zubeldia France July 7 Tour de France, Stage 4 UCI World Calendar Team time trialThe riders on the squad were Alberto Contador, Lance Armstrong, Andreas Klöden, Levi Leipheimer, Dimitry Muravyev, Sérgio Paulinho, Yaroslav Popovych, Grégory Rast and Haimar Zubeldia France Montpellier July 19 Tour de France, Stage 15 UCI World Calendar Alberto Contador ESP Switzerland Verbier July 23 Tour de France, Stage 18 UCI World Calendar Alberto Contador ESP France Annecy July 26 Tour de France, Overall UCI World Calendar Alberto Contador ESP France July 26 Tour de France, Team classification UCI World Calendar France August 12 Tour de l'Ain, Points classification UCI Europe Tour Chris Horner USA France Footnotes N References 30em collapsed Category:2009 road cycling season by team Category:XDS Astana Team Category:2009 in Kazakhstani sport